Drum-Major and Fifers 1855

A sketch by General Vanson, dated 8th May 1855, showing the drum-major of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in the Crimea. He wears his full dress coat with gold lace in groups of three across his chest. The slash cuff is different from the round cuff of the Drum-Major 1852. The interesting aspect of this painting is the field cap he is wearing instead of a bearskin. It is worn sideways with one side flap pulled down. He carries the short drill staff.
Behind the drum-major are some fife-players in undress. They are wearing the peakless forage cap that was part of undress uniform for nearly half a century. They have black leather chin straps and there are only two rows of dicing instead of the expected three. The sword is clearly shown in it's frog at the end of the white belt. Only the nearest fifer seems to have a cord to carry the fife case. The white drill jacket was retained up until the end of the 19th century.

Regimental Band | Regimental details