Officer and Sentry 1891

Simkin produced artworks for a series published as lithographic prints between 1888 and the early 20th century, titled ‘Military Types - Supplements to the Army and Navy Gazette’. The regular Regiments and Corps of the British Army were covered by the first 112 numbered prints, of which this one, the King’s Liverpool Regiment, was number 48, published on 5 Dec 1891.
The King’s Regiment had two regular battalions in 1891, the 2nd Battalion were stationed at Dinapore, India, and the 1st Battalion were at Aldershot. It is the 1st Battalion that is depicted here, wearing the experimental white helmet ordered for certain regiments serving at home as well as abroad. They also wear the regimental pattern serge frock, their ‘second tunic’, worn for normal duties, while the dress tunic was reserved for ceremonial parades. The officer’s pattern is different in that it has a dark blue collar and cuffs as well as blue shoulder straps. He has only five buttons down the front, described in the 1891 Dress Regulations as small regimental buttons. The DR also says,
‘A patch pocket with pointed flap on each breast. Cuffs pointed, 5 inches deep in front and 2 inches behind. Scarlet lining. No collar badge,’
The illustration clearly differs from the DR in that the cuffs are round like those on the rank and file dress tunic. Officers had pointed cuffs on their dress tunics, but apparently not on the serge frock. The other divergence from the regulations is the Collar Badge which Simkin has taken care to show accurately as gilt and red enamel, compared with the brass versions of the same Lancaster Rose badge worn by the sergeant and the sentry.
The sentry, on the right, is holding his Lee Metford rifle in the port arms position, with a fixed bayonet. The scabbard can be seen on his hip, kept in a white frog. He has no other equipment attached to his waist-belt. His frock is all scarlet apart from the shoulder straps which have the regimental title in white embroidery. There are 7 buttons down the front. He and the sergeant have hip pockets but no breast pockets. They all wear black leather gaiters or leggings.

Regimental Details | Uniforms