Earl of Chester’s Legion

This portrait of Sir John Fleming Leicester is the best evidence of the early uniform of the Cheshire Yeomanry. A better known portrait of Sir John shows him in green light dragoon uniform which may have been the first uniform worn in the 1790s when the unit came under the title of Provisional Cavalry. The various Troops had differences in uniform; the Western Cheshire, Norton and Stockport Troops had red uniforms with black facings but when Sir John formed the Earl of Chester’s Legion in 1806 the uniform, as seen here, was a red jacket with blue facings and silver lace. He has a white leather pouch-belt on his left shoulder, and a pelisse slung from the left shoulder also. This appears to be dark blue with black frogging and cords. The light dragoon helmet has a large silver badge of the Prince of Wales plume badge and a tall white over red plume. His dark breeches are decorated with silver lace and braid, and he wears Hessian boots. A sabretache can be seen, which hangs from his sword belt, and he has a large crimson sash around his waist.

Regimental Details | Cheshire Yeomanry Uniforms