The Result

Here we see the three young hussars, in this sixth and final cartoon of Chapman’s series of cartoons of the 10th Hussars during their service in Ireland in 1894. The scene is the parade ground of the cavalry barracks near Cahir in southern Ireland. At first glance it is difficult to make sense of what we are looking at, but it becomes clear that the three drunks have been given a punishment that involves carrying their equipment on their backs. The Commanding Officer was empowered to impose monetary fines for drunkenness from 2 shillings and 6 pence to 10 shillings (12.5p to 50p) depending whether they were first offenders or repeaters. But the CO had discretion to give them physical punishment and here we see the men dressed in their dress busbies, with breeches and plain blue frocks that have no cuff decoration. On their feet they have the studded work boots with puttees. They have their sword which weighs 2 pounds, normally fastened to the saddle when mounted. They also carry a Martini Henry carbine converted with a Metford or Enfield barrel. In 1894 these were replaced by the Lee-Metford bolt-action carbine.
The paraphernalia carried on their backs, that is visible, consists of pouchbelt, circular mess tins, dismounted dress trousers, riding boots with spurs, cloak with red cape, and a canvas valise filled with cleaning equipment, spare underclothes etc. These are all strapped together and somehow fixed to the man’s shoulders. This form of encumbrance seems highly unusual and may have been unique to this regiment. What they have to do now is not known. The sergeant standing next to them is in charge of administering the punishment. He wears stable dress which tells us his rank even though the stripes are worn on the right arm only. His jacket and cap have gold lace and braid which his rank allows, but he has yellow lace on his trousers, not gold like the RSM. He has proficiency badges on his left sleeve for shooting and swordsmanship. He is reading a piece of paper which probably provides guidance as to how severely the men need to be punished. Perhaps they are required to march or run around the compound for a given period of time.
The buildings in the background are not explained but the furthest building in the middle is the indoor riding school. There is a large doorway with double doors and a semi-circular window above. A stairway leads to a door high on the wall which opens up to a gallery that looks over the riding area. A NCO in the middle distance walks towards the building. He carries a walking stick and may be involved in the punishment which possibly takes place inside the Riding School. The other buildings have doors with numbers over the top. These may be stables as the right hand door looks like a stable door.

Regimental Details | 10th Hussars Cartoons 1894