The Yeomanry


Officer's Shako 1840-1856


The regiment first adopted a shako in 1817; it was black (red for the band and trumpeters) with a white-over-red short upright plume. In 1820 the shakos were changed to light blue (red for band and trumpeters) with a tall black horsehair plume. The drooping black plume was introduced in 1924. Some sources state that the red shako was adopted in 1830 but Barlow and Smith's history of the uniform claims 1840 (and so does B T A Griffiths). A painting of a Yorkshire Hussar by 'L Bulmer Pinxit', dated 1833, published in an auction catalogue in monochrome describes the uniform but does not say what colour the dark shako is. This indicates that it is a black shako, as a red one would have elicited a comment.

The scarlet shako is taller than the ones worn by regular hussar regiments in the 1830s and early 40s. The 1834 Dress Regulations state a height of 6 inches whereas this shako looks like 8 inches. The rose at the front is a silver metal badge with silver Russia braid around it. The silver circles around the top are formed from double width Russia braid. Two silver lion heads on either side of the top hold rings in their mouths which keep the gold cap-lines in place. The silver chin-scales are purely decorative and come from rose shaped ear-bosses, and join above the peak with a smaller rose clasp. The peak is black patent leather with a silver edge. The gilt plume holder is fixed to the front, on the top, and a black silk boss with plain button forms the base. The red shako continued to be worn by all ranks (light blue for band and trumpeters) until the introduction of the busby in 1856.


Regimental Details | Uniforms


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by Stephen Luscombe