Private, Dress Tunic c1895

The dress tunic for other ranks was blue with red collar and cuffs, white cord in five rows across his chest, along the edges of the tunic and following the back seams. The red cuffs are edged with white cord that forms an Austrian knot. The tunic is fastened with hidden hooks and eyes, and the cords are buttoned with white metal ball buttons. His blue pill-box undress cap has a white cloth lace cap-band and a white worsted button in the middle of the top. The cap was always worn on the right side of the head and had a slim leather chin-strap.
His sword is the 1890 pattern cavalry sword with a slightly curved blade. The scabbard has fixed rings either side near the mouth of the scabbard. This meant that the slings attached to his hidden waist-belt were of equal length. Since 1891, when mounted, a cavalryman’s sword was attached to the saddle and the slings clipped together. In this case, the slings look as if they are semi-permanently strapped to the rings and would therefore not be easily detached. The white leather sword knot is long and hanging down loosely. It had a sliding toggle so that when in use it could be attached securely to his wrist.

Regimental Details | Cheshire Yeomanry Uniforms