The Drumhorse Plum Duff 1889

In 1885 the drumhorse Plum Duff was purchased in Dublin as a 5 year-old. He was dark grey and covered in white spots but by the time he retired c1898 he was almost completely white. He was a great favourite with the regiment and was ridden by Drummer A E Booth, seen here in this photo taken at Dundalk in 1889. Booth wears the famous white goatskin cap with a red plume curved over the top. At one time it was generally believed that the white fur cap was presented to the regiment by the Tzar of Russia who was Colonel-in-Chief of the Greys from 1894 to 1918 but this photo of 1889 pre-dates his connection with the regiment. Another photo which has the date 1892 inscribed shows the same horse (looking paler) and the drummer also wearing the white goatskin. A photo taken on the same day in 1892 shows Booth with the band wearing a black bearskin, so it seems that the caps were interchangeable. The white fur cap was introduced at some time between 1885 and 1889, possibly for the Golden Jubilee of 1887. It was discontinued after the Boer War but revived in the early 1930s.
The drum banner is the blue one produced for the 1887 Jubilee celebrations. It is the early version with the pointed grenade flame and long regimental title. The shabraque that covers Plum Duff's flanks is probably also blue with the Scottish circle, battle honours, Eagle, and two panels transposed from a redundant guidon. These last two additions make the design look cluttered and were removed after the Boer War when the shabraque was redesigned. The sheepskin over the saddle is white but was changed to black in the early 1890s. The pouchbelt worn by Drummer Booth has a large white band pouch on the back. This is not visible in the 1892 photo and must have been reduced in size.

Regimental Details | Band