The corps of drums marches in front of the band with the Sergeant-Drummer (Drum-Major) out in front. The rest of the battalion marches behind, led by the CO who is mounted. They are in scarlet dress uniform with blue home service dress helmets. Drums are not being played but are carried to show the underside, exposing the snare wires of the side drums. Behind the Sergeant-Drummer are the tenor drummer and bass drummer, in leopardskin, who do not wear gloves; only the Sergeant-Drummer has gauntlets. The tenor drummer does not have drummers’ lace on his sleeves, nor does he have shoulder wings. There are two other drummers, either side of the bass drummers, who have no lace or wings.
The Sergeant-Drummer’s embroidered sash follows a pattern used by the Norfolk Regiment since at least 1864. The mace is ornately topped but there is no sign of the silver figure of Britannia on top. This photo must show the 1st Battalion as the 2nd was serving in India in the years before WW1. The 1st Battalion was stationed at Malplaquet Barracks, Aldershot from December 1909 to November 1912. On 20 Nov 1912 they moved to Palace Barracks, Holywood near Belfast. This photo was reproduced in Military Modelling magazine in 2002.
