Band 1850

R Ebsworth made some very valuable sketches of military uniform in this period. This is a coloured copy made by Godfrey Brennen. The uniforms of these bandsmen are braided with distinctive red and yellow cords. The two men at either side of the painting are in undress and have red pillbox caps with yellow cap-bands. The corporal on the left has gold chevrons but no badge above them. The Trumpet-major next to him, however, has a silver metal harp and crown badge over what is supposed to be four chevrons.
The trumpeter shows us a back view of the uniform with plain black sabretache and coloured cords to sling the trumpet. Neither the trumpeter nor the trumpet-major have pouch-belts. The kettle drummer is also without a pouchbelt. His drumhorse is decked out with a red drum-banner and blue shabraque. The drum-banner has a double edging of gold lace, and two scrolls, one above and one below the harp and crown, presumably inscribed with HINDOOSTAN and LESWARREE, the two battle honours that the 8th Hussars were awarded in 1825. They did not receive any more battle honours until 1855 when four Crimean honours were awarded.
The band-master is named as Herr Koenig. He is an officer and wears an undress frock coat and peaked cap. He is not wearing a sword, but carries a silver trumpet under his arm. Brennen has given him white hair and whiskers, but the original has dark hair and a moustache. Behind him is a bandsman with a French horn. Brennen, in this copy, has removed two mounted men from the original painting. They appear between the 3 mounted figures, and are also in full dress. One is a trombone player, and the other has a euphonium.

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