Sergeant in Mess Dress c1905


Photos of mess dress for other ranks are rare so it is useful to see this picture, borrowed from the Linker and Dine book of cavalry NCO arm badges. The regimental history says that stable dress was discontinued for other ranks in 1899 and that the officers only wore them as mess kit. It seems that the sergeants' mess insisted on mess dress as well. The blue stable jacket is worn open with a braid fastening at the neck. The braid on his collar, cuffs and shoulders looks yellow rather than gold; Warrant Officers would have had a different pattern with gold edges. The chevrons are quilted and formed into a long lower point. They are backed with red cloth. The metal arm badge is bleached out in the photo but is silver with a gilt hawk. This is unusual in having a serated red cloth backing.


Regimental Details | Uniforms


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by Stephen Luscombe