Middlesex Duke of Cambridge’s Hussars, Yeomanry Cavalry

Privates c1830

A small booklet on the Middlesex Hussars published in 1891 is illustrated with four coloured prints by A Roberson who was a sergeant in A Troop at that time. This first one shows the uniforms worn in 1830 but has made the mistake of dressing the mounted man in a long skirted tunic instead of a coatee. The standing private has a peaked forage cap but the contemporary account by Giles Huston does not mention a peak for ORs. In his ‘Recollections of Uxbridge’, Huston says:
‘The cartouche belts, sword belts, and pouches were of black patent leather for all ranks, though white gloves were ordered to be worn a few years afterwards. For undress a broad soft, round forage cap of green cloth was ordered to be worn with a scarlet band, the commissioned ranks having gold bands and drooping peaks. The undress jacket issued at the same time was quite plain and of green cloth, with black collar and cuffs, the sword belt being worn outside this garment, and not underneath, as was the case when the full-dress coatee was worn.’
Certain articles of saddlery were issued, such as bridles, breastplates and pistol holsters but the saddles belonged to the yeomen, as did the horse. There was also a blue cloth saddle cover which had a white laced edge and was embroidered with GWR and UYC with a crown above. The G was for George IV in whose name the raising of the regiment was accepted. And the W stood for William IV who was on the throne when the regiment was raised.

Regimental Details | Uniforms