Other Ranks c1835

The Bays were in Ipswich in 1834 and moved to Ireland in May 1835 until 1839. This painting probably depicts the cavalry on manoeuvres, or keeping the peace, in Ireland. They wear the all-brass helmet that was adopted between 1834 and 1843. The black bearskin crest was often detached for campaigning and reserved for parades. There is an officer in the background on the left of the picture who has a gold-laced shabraque and wears white gauntlets. The men are not wearing gloves but other prints and paintings of this period show the other ranks also wearing white gauntlets. Their jackets have brass shoulder scales, intended as protection against sword cuts in battle. They have a red valise on the back which has 2 D G in yellow embroidery on each end. This normally contained the rolled-up cloak and cape for wet weather. There is also a rolled red blanket on the front of the saddle which indicates that they intend to spend the night away from their billets. On parade they had a black sheepskin to cover the saddle, valise and pistols holsters on the front of the saddle. The man in the foreground is firing a short-barrelled flintlock carbine. He has a sword and plain black sabretache suspended from his white leather waistbelt.

Regimental details | Uniforms