Officer’s Epaulette c1810?

This exhibit is of great interest but also puzzling. The early uniforms of the Cheshire Yeomanry do not show epaulettes being worn by officers. The style of this item does suggest that it is from the Regency period (1811-1820) or even earlier. But the painting of Sir John Leicester 1824 is evidence that the regiment did not have epaulettes in the 1820s, indicating that they did not have them in the earlier period. The angle of the photo does not allow a good view of the embroidery but the information provided says; Silver wire, Prince of Wales’s feathers over unusual county crest, embroidered lettering ROYAL CHESHIRE CAVALRY. It was on loan from the Cheshire Military Museum, Chester.
The coloured shield is the Arms of Chester, one side having the English three lions on a red ground and the other side having one and a half wheat sheaves (Garb) on a blue ground. The title ROYAL CHESHIRE CAVALRY is embroidered on a curved red scroll below the shield. But at no time was the regiment called this. The title Earl of Chester’s was the earliest title to cover all the various Cheshire Troops, changed to The Prince Regent’s in 1814. It is possible that the regiment used this title from 1811 to 1814 but there is no evidence for it. The colour of the shoulder strap and bullion fringe seems to be gold but the regiment had always had silver braid, lace and buttons. It is probable that the epaulette is silver but has yellowed with age.

Regimental Details | Cheshire Yeomanry Uniforms