Officers’ Mess Jacket c1850

From the 1840s the officers wore a blue stable jacket with scarlet collar and cuffs, which was edged all round the collar and cuffs with silver Russia braid. This formed a small loop above the pointed cuffs and loops on the front and back of the collar. The front and waist of the jacket were piped scarlet and there were dummies at the bottom of the back seams. Silver studs extended from the base of the cut-away collar to the bottom of the front edge and there were two silver buttons at the back of the cuff. A doubled silver cord was on each shoulder, buttoned near the collar. The buttons were inscribed EARL OF CHESTERS YEOMANRY. The height of the collar was reduced in 1858. The photos are courtesy of Stewarts Military Antiques. The information says that there are 63 studs down the front. The inside is lined with red silk quilting, a red Morocco leather waistband and black silk lining in the collar. The red striped trousers accompanying the jacket at the time of purchase do not belong to it and are in fact Life Guards trousers. The jacket would have been worn with silver striped trousers. There is no waistcoat with this item but it would have been worn with a scarlet waistcoat edged with silver Russia braid and having silver studs down the front.

Regimental Details | Cheshire Yeomanry Uniforms