Light Company Officer 1824

The officer’s uniforms in the British army became very showy and extravagant in the 1820s. The scarlet coat had a high Prussian collar fastened at the front rather than open as in the Regency period. The King’s Regiment were authorised to have gold lace on their lapels with ten large buttons on each side. The lapels were dark blue and fixed back all the way to the waist. The 1822 Dress Regulations describe ‘Undress’ as the same coat but with the lapels buttoned over to hide the gold lace. This would require at least two coats, one for dress occasions and one without gold lace for field days and campaigns.
The gold fringed wings were worn by flank company officers i.e. Light Company and Grenadier Company officers below the rank of major. The wings in this portrait appear quite plain, without the rows of chains. On each shoulder, just inside the bullion fringe are round badges with silver bugle horns. The shoulder-belt is of white buffalo leather, 3 inches wide, supporting his sword. The gilt plate in the middle has the regimental badge of a silver galloping Hanoverian horse.

Regimental Details | Uniforms