Bandsman 1914


This illustration of a clarinetist in the Grenadiers Band by D Macpherson is extremely useful in that it provides confirmation of the colours that cannot be seen in contemporary photos. The scarlet tunic has dark blue collar and cuffs as we would expect, and the shoulder wings have gold lace on blue cloth. The grenade badges on the collar and shoulders are almost certainly of silver wire embroidery. And we can see that there are four buttons, and gold, pointed button loops on each cuff. The short sword on the back of his waistbelt is only seen in profile, with the hilt hidden, and it is probably the same as the sword carried in the Corps of Drums except that the bottom of the scabbard is of white metal instead of brass. He is a man of long service as can be seen from the four gold-laced long service stripes on his left forearm.


Regimental details | Band


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by Stephen Luscombe