Paymaster Sergeant c1867

The date of this photo of Paymaster-Sergeant Taylor is unknown but it is pre-1872 when the shell jacket was discontinued. The jacket is close-fitting but has baggy sleeves with pointed buff cuffs. There are nine buttons down the front, the lowest one probably a flat button, hidden under the belt clasp. It is not clear if the shoulder straps are buff like the collar or just edged in the same white piping that traces the front and lower edge of the garment.
The medal ribbon is not easy to identify. At that time ribbons were spaced out, not bunched together as they are these days, so it must be a single ribbon. If the dating is correct he would probably have a medal for the Second China War but that ribbon is maroon with narrow yellow edges. He may well have served in the Crimean War for which he would have the pale blue ribbon with yellow edges, and the Turkish Crimea medal, vermillion with green edges.
He has an officer's style sword in a black leather scabbard with brass fittings. Just out of shot, on the chair is an undress cap like the officers, blue with a black silk cap-band, and a flat horizontal peak.

Uniforms | Regimental Details