24th Regiment of Foot


RSM and Officer 1879


The Sergeant-major's frock was of better quality than the mens' and had gold braid around the cuffs and shoulder straps instead of white piping. Although he does have white piping around the base of the collar. His gold chevrons are placed on the lower right sleeve whereas sergeants had theirs on the upper sleeve. Photos of sergeant-majors in other regiments show the chevrons similarly placed but inverted so that they point upwards. Because of his high rank he has a sword instead of rifle and bayonet.

The officer is dressed in blue patrols. This form of dress was used for general duties around the barracks or camp but when an officer was on parade he would wear a scarlet tunic or frock. Staff officers usually wore this type of jacket but in hot climates the helmet would have been worn. The jacket is of dark blue cloth with black braiding and lace. The braid was also on the back of the jacket, following the seams in a similar way to hussar tunics. Officers below the rank of major had no rank badges but field officers had them embroidered on the collar. Those officers wearing this garment had a slight advantage at Isandhlwana because the Zulus thought they were civilians and usually followed the order by King Cetchwayo that civilians should be spared. The forage cap was blue with a black lace cap-band and black button on top. The gilt 24 on the front was embellished with a gilt Sphinx in 1873 and can be seen clearly in the photo of Lieutenant Pope.


Uniforms | Regimental Details


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by Stephen Luscombe