Adjutant, Drill Order 1854

This illustration by Brian Fosten is based on a painting by P W Reynolds, depicting the adjutant in undress around the time that the Royal Irish Regiment went to the Crimea in 1854. The forage cap is dark blue with a black silk cap-band and gold embroidered badge which consists of a harp and crown based on a wreath of shamrocks. The shell jacket is scarlet with dark blue facings and gold shoulder cords. Because he is below the rank of major he has no rank badges. The gilt buttons are placed in pairs. Mounted infantry officers (adjutant, CO and 2ic) wore their swords differently to dismounted officers. Instead of a white shoulder belt the sword was slung from a black leather undress waist-belt, and the adjutant's scabbard is steel instead of black leather with gilt fittings.