13th Hussars

Pouchbelts of the 13th

This accoutrament worn by officers of the13th can be seen in portraits dating back to 1814 when the regiment took on the 1812 pattern uniform. Apart from the curved honours scrolls this item remained virtually unchanged for over a hundred years. The front of the belt has the light dragoon feature of chains and pickers made of hallmarked silver. The pickers were used in the days of flintlock pistols for clearing blockages. With the advent of the revolver, they remained on the belt as decoration.
The honours scrolls are peculiar to the 13th. Apart from the 19th Hussars, I can think of no other regular cavalry regiment that has honours fixed on the front. Up until the post Crimea period, of course, there were only two honours, Waterloo and Peninsula. After the Crimea, four more were added. they are, from the top, Alma, Inkerman, Balaklava and Sevastopol. The belt itself is of buff leather with 'train' lace sewn on. This lace is in a herring bone pattern with white silk down the middle.
The back of the belt is not often seen and this is a shame because the pouch is a valuable item, being constructed out of wood and leather with a flap that is of hall-marked silver emblazened with a gilt Victorian cypher and crown. There are three pther silver pieces on the belt, the buckle tip and slide. This belt was worn in full dress and stable dress.

Regimental details