The Yeomanry


Officer, 1827


This is the first uniform of the newly formed South Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Cavalry (7th Aug 1826). It followed the pattern of the regular light dragoons, described as 'a blue coatee with a scarlet front, collars and cuffs (pointed) and scarlet turn-backs and seams piped scarlet. The lapels were half lapels and hooked down the centre, in the style worn by the light dragoons of the period, the buttons were brass and the men wore brass shoulder scales, as did the officers in the field. The officer's scales were of gilt plate work with a handsomely decorated crescent. In review order gold epaulets were worn by the commissioned ranks. The overalls were light grey with double scarlet stripes, but for evening wear the officers had blue trousers with gold stripes. The head-dress was a black beaver broad-topped light dragoon shako, trimmed with yellow lace around the top, which was glazed and recessed. The shako ornaments were of brass (gilt for officers) and consisted of an oval with the cypher GR on a fluted star, two lion's heads at the side, but a chin-stay of leather replaced the brass curb chain, and underneath the plume was a crown. The plume was white over red horsehair for all ranks, the officers having a fuller plume, and later adopting a scarlet under white cock's feathers. The belts were white, those of the officers being of gold lace, their girdles being gold and crimson, instead of yellow and scarlet worsted worn by the men.'

For the first time a dress sabretache was worn by the officers which was laced and embroidered with George IV's cypher. The pouchbelt is not described in the regimental history but the illustration shows a red belt with gold lace and silver chains and pickers. Another item that was new to the Notts Yeomanry was the shabraque, which here is mostly obscured but has a red edge to the blue round-cornered cloth. This style of uniform soon became obsolete in the regular regiments of light dragoons as they abolished the plastron front in 1828, but it seems that the Notts Yeomanry retained the uniform until 1840.


South Nottingham Hussars | Uniforms


Armed Forces | Art and Culture | Articles | Biographies | Colonies | Discussion | Glossary | Home | Library | Links | Map Room | Sources and Media | Science and Technology | Search | Student Zone | Timelines | TV & Film | Wargames



by Stephen Luscombe