Officer and Private 1894

The Private, on the left, is in marching order. The two white belts that are crossed on his chest are the white leather pouch-belt, on his left shoulder, and a white canvas strap, on his right, for a haversack. He also has no plume on his busby in this order of dress. He is armed with a Martini-Metford carbine which is kept in a bucket holster behind his right leg. This was issued in 1893 and was replaced in 1896 by the Lee-Metford magazine carbine. His sword is attached to the saddle on the other side. Before 1891 it was slung from straps suspended from his hidden waist-belt. These straps were still worn but clipped together when not carrying the sword. The hussars discontinued the sabretache for the rank and file in 1888. Other items carried are the cloak, on the front of the saddle, mess tins behind the carbine holster, boots for wearing in camp, spare horse shoes and nails. The items on the back of the saddle, where the valise used to be, are probably a wet weather cape and forage and nose bag.
The officer on the right is in mounted parade order. His saddle is covered by a black sheepskin with a yellow cloth edge but there is no shabraque. The embroidered light dragoon shabraque was discontinued for review order parades in 1897. The bridle has a white horsehair plume and a neck chain attached to the halter. This was supposed to have been replaced by a white head-rope in 1893. The sabretache he wears on his left side is the plain black patent leather undress type but suspended by gold laced dress slings from the concealed waist-belt. The uniform is as for review order, with gold laced pouch-belt and gold gimped tunic. The breeches have yellow cloth stripes; these were changed from gold lace stripes in 1893. His black fur busby has a yellow bag on the right side, like the private, but he is wearing his dress plume on the front. This is made of egret feathers and is 13 inches high. There is no gold boss on the front of his busby although the private has a yellow worsted boss.

Regimental Details | Uniforms