Lieutenant, Full Dress c1870

The blue dress uniform for officers of the RHA was almost at the point where its development ceased. The pattern of the heavy gold cord was now in its final stage but the low collar, rounded at the front, was so covered with lace that the red cloth could not be seen, especially on the collars of field officers. Majors and above had gold lace on the top and bottom of the collar while captains and subalterns had lace along the top and front of the collar only. The badges of rank were sewn on; a crown for lieutenants (as seen in this photo of Lt Bramley), a crown and star for captains, a star for brevet-majors and majors, a crown for lieutenant-colonels and a crown and star for a colonel. Sub-lieutenants had no rank badge. Rank was also indicated on the cuffs, which were now blue: for subalterns, cord formed into an Austrian knot and traced with gold braid on both sides. Captains the same but with the outside gold braid formed into circlets. Field officers had gold lace and braid as seen in the Crimea photo of Major Dames.
Dress trousers were blue with a gold stripe one and three quarter inches wide down the outside. Trousers for undress and parades had a red stripe, and leathered ankles for mounted duty. The dress sabretache is worn by this officer, suspended by two visible gold slings, although three were usually worn. His sword is slung from a gold lace belt which is fastened by a snake clasp. The sword knot is gold cord with a gold acorn end. He has a gold laced pouch-belt which has a richly embroidered pouch on the back. He holds his busby which is of black sable fur, with a black leather chinstrap and a white plume of egret feathers, 9 inches high, in a gilt socket and a gold ring a third of the way up.

Regimental Details | Uniforms