Sergeants c1880

The sergeants of the 20th Hussars in this photo show the usual variety of appointment badges but they also show a special regimental distinction in the style of the dress tunic. The braid across the chest has the figure of 8 biased towards the outside drops and loops rather than placed in the middle. The RSM is distinguished by his gold cording and olivet buttons while the lower ranked sergeants and staff sergeants have yellow cord. There are two other 1st Class NCOs (WOs were instituted in 1881); the one seated on the extreme right is a sergeant-major instructor of fencing and gymnastics, wearing boots and breeches instead of trousers like the others. The third sergeant-major is almost off the picture on the right. The RSM sits between two sergeants in non-regimental uniform. The one in a peaked cap is the schoolmaster, and the other is a staff sergeant of the Royal Engineers wearing a red tunic. The blue pill-box forage caps have gold lace of varying widths.

Regimental Details | Uniforms