Sir James Charles Chatterton

James Chatterton commanded the 4th Dragoon Guards from 1831 to 1848 and was Colonel of the regiment from November 22nd 1868 until his death in January 1874. He is identified in this painting by John Fernley Jr because of the medals. The right hand medal is the Military General Service Medal awarded in 1847 to officers who had served in the Peninsular War approximately 35 years earlier. At that time he was in the 12th Light Dragoons. He has four clasps on the ribbon for SALAMANCA, VITTORIA, NIVELLE and NIVE. The next medal is the Waterloo Medal issued in 1816, and the left-hand medal is the Cross of a Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order, granted in 1832. The painting depicts him in full dress as it was before the Crimean War. His coatee is waist-length at the front with tails behind. The collar is 3 inches high, of dark blue velvet with gold lace on the front. The ornate epaulettes are gold and the pouchbelt (see Pouchbelts) is gold lace with blue velvet edge. His sabretache is the final pattern for full dress (see Sabretaches). Round his waist is a gold and crimson silk sash with heavy tassles hanging on his left side. The shabraque was not worn at this time, having been discontinued for heavy cavalry in 1847. The bridle is richly decorated with brass and has a black horsehair throat-plume. The helmets of Col Chatterton and the trumpeter are of the Albert pattern issued in 1847, although the 4th DG did not receive them until 1848. They were gilt metal or brass with gilt or brass fittings. The plume was black for all heavy cavalry until 1855, but the musicians had a red plume. The trumpeter has an elaborately embroidered banner on a light blue velvet cloth. He has no pouchbelt. He has gold fringed epaulettes which indicate that he is a senior NCO (Trumpet-Major).

Regimental details | Colonels | Lieutenant-Colonels