Private, Walking Out 1890

The artist Richard Simkin made several studies of the uniforms of the King’s Regiment around this time. This one is unusual because it shows a pattern of tunic that was regarded as undress, often called ‘the second tunic’. It is the same serge frock as worn by the Private of 1889 in marching order. Normally soldiers visiting the town or anywhere outside barracks would wear the dress tunic with the glengarry cap. This frock differs from the tunic in that the collar and cuffs are not blue, only the shoulder straps. These have the regimental title embroidered in white on the blue material. Most other regiments had frocks almost identical to the tunic, with the same facings on the collar and cuffs. Frocks had no white piping on the edges of the garment, and according to this illustration, no pockets.
The glengarry, first adopted by Scottish regiments, became the standard undress cap for the British infantry in the 1870s. They were replaced in the mid 1890s by the field service cap. In 1881 the rank and file were authorised to have the detachable central circle of their helmet plate as their glengarry badge with a small brass crown added. The collar badges are brass Lancaster Roses with KING’S on a scroll beneath. He has a single white good-conduct stripe, worn on the left sleeve since 1881.

Regimental Details | Uniforms