Officers, Dress & Undress c1860

The officer in the blue frock coat is dressed according to regulations, with the crimson silk sash and white leather sword belt. The 1855 Dress Regulations states uncompromisingly:
‘The blue frock-coat, according to regulation, with the waist-belt and the sash over the left shoulder, is to be worn, as the common morning dress, by officers when riding or walking in the neighbourhood of their quarters; but it is to be understood that this coat shall not be worn on any parade, or on the march, or at exercise with the troops, or any description of duty.’
However, the 1861 Dress Regulations is more measured:
‘The blue frock-coat…is to be worn in quarters, on fatigue or orderly duties, at drill, and on parade, when the non-commissioned officers and men are dressed in shell jackets.’
The artist, Orlando Norie, produced this contemporary watercolour based on observation, however, the double-breasted front is too wide. Contemporary photos support the Dress Regulations that say 8 inches between the rows of brass buttons at the top, tapering to 4 inches at the waist. The cuffs had slash flaps with three buttons. There are no rank badges on his collar; only field officers could display their rank in undress.The frock-coat ceased to be worn in the infantry in 1867, replaced by a blue patrol jacket. His blue forage cap has a red cap-band, as worn by Royal regiments, and the peak is level with the base of the cap, not sloping.
The whiskered officer in dress uniform wears the second pattern tunic, introduced in 1856, which was single breasted. There were no epaulettes or gold shoulder cords, only a crimson twisted cord on the left shoulder to hold the crimson silk sash which had previously been worn around the waist. His blue cuffs had a blue slash flap with three gilt buttons and gold lace loops. There was one row of gold lace around the cuff, and the top and front of the new low collar. Badges of rank were embroidered and sewn on the collar. The crown, with the single lace edge, denotes this officer as a lieutenant. Ensigns had a star rank badge, captains a crown and star. These grades were repeated for field officers but with gold lace on the top and bottom of the collar.
The 1855 shako for officers was similar to the men’s but with a finer gilt 1855-1861 pattern badge. The red velvet centre had a silver horse and gilt VIII. He has no chin strap or chain. The top edge of the shako was plain for Company officers but majors had a band of gold lace around the top, lieutenant-colonels had two bands.
The swords, from 1855 were suspended from a white leather waist-belt fastened with a circular clasp. This was for dress as well as undress. The scabbards for these two officers were black leather and brass. They wear the Oxford mixture trousers for winter wear. Summer trousers were by this time no longer white but dark blue with a red stripe.

Regimental Details | Uniforms