Officer's shako 1854-1863

The straight sided shako that was worn by the regular light dragoons from 1844 to 1856 was adopted by the Warwickshire Yeomanry around the same time that it was discarded by the regulars. The scarlet jackets were replaced around 1856 but the new shako may have been worn in 1854. However this style of shako is more associated with the new blue tunic introduced in 1856. The plume was made of drooping white feathers instead of the horsehair worn previously. The example shown here is deceptive in that the colours of the metal embroidery and lace look yellow. However, a coloured illustration by P W Reynolds of a shako that was on sale at Nathans in 1926 shows clearly that the oak-leaf lace around the top is silver, as is the embroidered peak and chin-chain. But the centre of the badge, the crown and the plume socket are gilt. The regiment exchanged this shako for the fur busby in 1863.