Types in Undress 1849

This cartoon of a scene in the cavalry stables in Edinburgh was published in Whyte and Atteridge's History of the Queen's Bays. The officers in dark blue frock coats are named, from the left: Captain Hey, Lieutenant Carstairs Jones (who is portrayed as unkind to animals) and Lt Calvert. The other named figure is the very tall man leaning on the water outlet. He is Troop Sergeant-Major Brand. There is a sergeant with his back to us. Both NCOs are in stable dress, tight-fitting scarlet shell jackets with high collars. The TSM has dark facings while the sergeant has light-coloured facings. This is because, either the artist failed to colour in the sergeant's collar and cuffs, or because the facings changed in 1848, from black to buff, earlier than is generally recognised, and the TSM has not received his new jacket. The fact that the sergeant has a pale cap when it should be coloured dark is an indication that the artist is employing the tried and tested technique of making the background figures less prominent with lighter clothing. This would mean that the black facings were still being worn in 1849. The figure busy in the stable could be a farrier. His undress cap is like a pointed cloth hat falling to one side. This would be a more practical headwear for the kind of work required of a blacksmith.

Regimental details | Uniforms