Drumhorse & Others 1856

When the 10th Hussars returned to England in 1856 after their time in the Crimea, they were issued with radically new uniforms. The former waist-length jacket with closely placed buttons loops, and the similarly decorated pelisse, were replaced by a tunic with only six rows of gimp chain loops. The only men in this sketch made by Ebsworth, that are connected with the band are the drumhorse on the left, a trumpeter on the extreme left, and the Trumpet-Major on the extreme right. The drum banners are red with only a large Prince of Wales feathers badge embroidered on, with the two battle honours. The shabraque is blue, in line with the change of the officers’ and mens’ shabraques from red to blue. The kettle drummer is a corporal and has Crimea medals.
The undress uniform of the trumpeter is decorated with yellow and red mixed braid, more elaborate than the rank-and-file who had simple lines of thin yellow braid around the edges and up the back seams. Only the stable jackets were decorated with mixed colour, the dress tunics of trumpeters and musicians had plain yellow braid. The Trumpet-Major has gold lace and braid. Their pill-box caps are blue with yellow cap-band and braid, although the trumpet-major, again, has gold. Towards the end of the 19th century the band and trumpeters had scarlet pill-box caps. The trumpet-major has four inverted gold chevrons on his right sleeve with a Feathers badge in silver metal, and above that his crossed trumpet embroidered badge. Neither men wear a pouch-belt but they do have sword slings.

Regimental Details | Drumhorses and Trumpeters