Officer's Pillbox Cap

The peakless forage cap, known by it's shape as the pillbox cap can be seen in the group photo of 1888 and was worn for many years before that in undress uniform. When the regiment was formed in 1826 there was mention of an officer's forage cap with a drooping peak. In 1850 the men had a forage cap with a red band but no mention of a peak. In the last quarter of the 19th century the other ranks wore a blue cap with yellow band and yellow button on top although musicians had a red cap, with yellow band. Sergeants had a gold band with a gold button on top and officers had a wide gold band and Russia braid figuring on top in the shape of a 6 pointed star. Photos of the officers both in 1903 and 1888 show a stiff type of cap but the cap seen here has a rounded look in profile. The lace is Royal Artillery pattern and was also used on the pouch-belt. Some officers had gold piping around the top edge, others did not.