Drumhorse and Bandsmen, Undress 1838


The prolific watercolour work of Michael Angelo Hayes in this period, of the late 1830s and early 40s, includes bandsmen in undress as well as dress uniform. The drumhorse has the copper drums exposed without banners. The men wear waist-length scarlet stable jackets having blue facings with gold lace on the edges of the collar and the pointed cuffs. There are no badges on the collar but there is a brass grenade badge on the front of their undress caps. This is the earliest evidence of the long-term Greys custom of this badge worn on bandsmens' and trumpeters forage caps. The caps themselves are white with a red cap-band. The gilt bandsmens' swords can be seen on all the figures.


Regimental Details | Band


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by Stephen Luscombe