Middlesex Duke of Cambridge’s Hussars, Yeomanry Cavalry

Various Types 1897

The men of the Middlesex Hussars pose in different ranks and orders of dress in this photo published in the Navy & Army Illustrated of 1897. On the right is an officer holding a cane and wearing the blue frock-coat with green and gold forage cap, and trousers. Next to him is a private in dress uniform. It is noticeable that the busby is quite tall, not conforming to the lower style worn by the regular hussar regiments at this time.
Next, holding the horse’s bridle, is the Regimental Sergeant-Major who is RSM F Langley, wearing his special pattern stable jacket. The gold braid on his left sleeve forms a trefoil. His cap is laced with gold and he has blue trousers with red stripes. The mounted corporal has a spur badge over his stripes to indicate that he is a rough-rider i.e. a riding instructor. The other three men on the left are a warrant officer with four chevrons, a corporal with two, and a private. These men and the mounted rough-rider are wearing the green serge frock which replaced the stable jacket for drill at around this time. Within a few years these tunics would have steel shoulder chains instead of plain shoulder straps. The warrant officer has a slung sword but the corporal and private have sword slings hooked together as their sword is fixed to their saddles. They have short carbines. Their breeches are blue with red stripes and are worn with knee boots.

Regimental Details | Uniforms