Officer and Other Ranks c1854


In this watercolour by R Simkin, three ranks from a battalion company of the 50th are shown. The officer on the left has a shako with large gilt star (Officer's Shako Plate 1844-55) and chin-chain while the private in the middle and sergeant on the right have a round brass badge with a central 50, and a leather chin-strap. The officer's sword-belt is hung from the right shoulder, with an ornate belt-plate (Officer's Belt-Plate c1840).

The private and sergeant both have a single crossbelt on their left shoulders, to carry the black leather ammunition pouch holding 60 rounds. The waistbelt has a bayonet hanging from the left hip. Sergeants carried swords until 1852, thereafter, just a bayonet. The sergeant's percussion musket is shorter than the man's. They both carry the full equipment with rolled greatcoat. The sergeant's coat differs from the men's in that it is more scarlet, like the officer's coat, and has two rows of buttons down the front, in this case, white metal. The privates and corporals had plain white lace across the chest while the sergeant had lace only on the collar and cuffs.

There are two medals worn by each man. One of them is probably for the First Sikh War 1845-6. This was called the Sutlej Campaign medal and was silver with a blue ribbon edged in red. The reason for the second silver medal is not so obvious. The 50th gained the battle honour PUNNIAR in the Gwalior Campaign of 1843 but the medal for that was a bronze star with silver centre. The other explanation is that these are the two Crimean medals but they would have been given after the 1855 uniform change to tunics.


Uniforms | Regimental Details


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by Stephen Luscombe