Queen's Own Hussars

Drumhorse and Escort 1990

The 90th birthday parade for the Queen Mother at Horse Guards in London included the drumhorse of the Queen's Own Hussars Regiment, of which she was Colonel-in-Chief. This photo reveals at least two differences from the early years of the amalgamated regiment. One is the wearing of white leather gauntlets by the drummer. These may have been worn in 1985 but photos of the drumhorse in 1958 and 1974 show the drummer with short white gloves. The other difference is the pouch-belt which now has the silver flapped pouch similar to that worn by officers of the 3rd Hussars and other ex-Light Dragoon regiments. The belt also has silver chains and pickers on the front. This belt seems to have replaced the previous type worn by bandsmen featured in other photos in this section. The escort and the drummer are all wearing the belt, although since the beginning of the 20th century other ranks of cavalry regiments ceased to wear pouch-belts, except for trumpeters and bandsmen. Photos of the drumhorse and escort in 1958 show the escort without pouch-belts. The escorts are both staff sergeants with an embroidered crown above the arm badge. The drummer has sergeant's stripes although he is a corporal. It was a tradition in the 3rd Hussars that the kettledrummer should always be dressed as a sergeant irrespective of his actual rank.

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