Captains' Rank Badges

In the 1890s the two stars worn on the officer's shoulder strap denoted Captain. One star for a lieutenant and no rank badge for a second lieutenant. The thick silver cord straps on the right are for the dress jacket and the silver gimp straps are for the stable/mess jacket. These shoulder straps were added to the uniform after 1881, before which time there was no way of telling the rank of an officer.