Bandsman & Private c1865

The two men posed for this photo in Malta where the 2nd Battalion was posted from 1859 to 1868. The 1st Battalion joined them there in 1866 so they may be from either battalion. Bandsmen were still wearing white tunics up until 1873. The collar, cuffs and shoulder wings were dark blue. There was red piping down the front edge of the tunic, along the top of the collar, and the edges of the shoulder straps. The blue wings had white tape on the edge and diagonally in stripes. The cuffs had blue slash flaps with 3 brass buttons and white tape button-loops. The flap was edged in red.
The dress tunic was normally worn with a shako but this bassoon-player is wearing the special pattern undress cap with blue and white cap-band and a regimental badge on the front. Around this time the ornamental swords carried by bandsmen were short and straight with a black and brass scabbard, but the sword seen here is the old pattern, curved sword (with blunted edge) in a brass scabbard. It is slung as for mounted troops with two white slings from a waist-belt. It could be hooked up to the belt when marching.
The other soldier is a private wearing a scarlet tunic with blue facings. He has white chevrons on his forearm which are four good conduct and long service stripes. He is not to be confused with a Warrant Officer who also wore four stripes on the right forearm, together with a crown badge. But Warrant Officers had gold stripes and gold lace on other parts of the tunic. Also the undress ‘pork-pie’ cap was worn by ranks below Warrant Officer. Senior NCOs had a peaked cap with red cap-band.

Regimental Details | Drummers & Musicians