Trumpeter Charging c1890

The Greys on exercise, charge in a perfect line led by the CO who leaps a ditch with sword held high. This Simkin lithograph is a good example of his work and shows the uniform of the trumpeter who stays close to the commander, sounding the bugle as he gallops along. The tassels of his trumpet cords fly over his shoulder showing red and yellow colours, but blue should be there as well, being the colours used by trumpeters of royal regiments. His bearskin plume is short at this stage. The longer curving plume came a few years later. The plume comes out of a brass grenade badge, and there is a hint of the back badge, the Hanoverian running horse. He has yellow aiguillettes on his left shoulder, unless he is the trumpet-major in which case he would have gold. The collar, cuffs and shoulder straps are blue, edged in yellow cord and his cuff has an Austrian knot. He wears short white gloves, not gauntlets. His sword is the same pattern as the rank and file, not the curved scimitar type, and it is attached to his sword slings. In 1891 the rank and file of the cavalry were ordered to have the sword attached to the saddle.

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