Lieutenant’s Tunic c1865

Officer’s uniforms were corded and laced with silver and had the red facings colour on the collar and cuffs. This was the light dragoon pattern tunic adopted c1856 to replace the waist-length jacket. It differed from hussars in that cord was used instead of chain gimp, and there were six rows of frogging instead of the five seen here. The collar was quite high at this early stage, and edged with silver lace along the top and front inner edge, for subalterns and captains. The outer edge of the collar had silver cord. The rank of lieutenant was indicated by the gold embroidered crown on each side of the collar. Cornets had a single gold star, captains a star and crown. The cuffs for light dragoons were of the facing colour and had silver cord Austrian knots, traced with silver braid. Captains had the braid in circlets on the outer and inner edge of the cord. The shoulders had simple double silver cord with a button near the neck. The back of the tunic was decorated with a single cord up the back seam ending in a trefoil at the top, and an Austrian knot on the skirt with a netted button at the waist. As from 1863 this tunic was worn with the special pattern busby. Trousers were worn, with leathered ankles, until the mid 1870s when breeches and knee boots were adopted.

Regimental Details | Cheshire Yeomanry Uniforms