Army Lists

Military Head Dress 1831 - 1852

14th (King's) Light Dragoons		15th The King's Hussars
Officer's full dress shako 1831-46   Light Dragoons wore a bell-shaped shako of black beaver with a gold band of oak leaf lace round the top, and heavy plaited gold cords. Gold lines with tassels and flounders were worn for attaching the shako. The badge was a large gilt Maltese Cross, the centre of the arms being of white metal, diamond-cut, the whole being surmounted by a crown. In the centre was the regimental device, and on the edge of the arms of the cross the battle honours.		Officer's full dress shako 1834   All Hussar Regiments, except the 15th, wore a bell-shaped shako of black beaver. The 15th Hussars had a shako of scarlet cloth, with scarlet cloth top. The upper portion of the shako was bound with 2-inch gold regimental lace, the rosette being in front of being similar material. The shako had gold lines with flounders and bullion tassels. The gilt chin scales were fastened to the sides of the shako bu lion's heads, and the plume was a drooping one of dark green cock's tail feathers.

4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards		73rd Regiment of Foot
Officer's full dress helmet 1834-43   This handsome brass helmet was richly ornamented on each side of the skull and back peak with scrolls, the crest having oak leaf ornamentation. The crest bore a lion's head, which could be detached when a black bear-skin crest was worn. The gilt chin-scales were attached to the helmet by means of roses. The front-plate bore the Royal Arms encircled by rays, and below this was the name of the Regiment.		Officer's full dress shako 1840-45   The Infantry of the Line wore a bell-shaped shako of black beaver, with a sunk laquered top communicating by stitched side straps of black leather to a similar band encircling the bottom of the cap. When this shako was first issued a white hackle feather was worn, a white ball tuft being substituted later. The gilt plate with its diamond-cut star of white metal surmounted by the crown was worn by several units, each Regiment bearing its own number and honours. The chin strap and gilt chain was attahced to the lions' heads at the sides.

6th Dragoon Guards		21st Fusiliers Regiment of Foot
Officer's full dress helmet 1843-47   This sketch shows the brass helmet worn by the Dragoon and Dragoon Guard Regiments, with the exception of the 2nd Dragoons who wore a bearskin. The skull portion was plain with a scroll ornamented crest in which was inserted the long "mane" of black horse-hair falling down at the back, and terminating in front with a thistle-shaped "brush" confined by a gold-embroidered boss. The front-plate bore the Royal Arms surrounded by rays, the band below bearing the name of the regiment.		Officer's full dress shako 1844   This shako was common to all Line Regiments, distinctive regimental badges being worn in front. A red and white pom-pom was worn by Line Regiments, white by Fusiliers, and green by Light Infantry. The shako, which a glazed top, was of black beaver for officers and of felt for other ranks, and was bound at the top and bottom with black patent leather, the front and back peak being of similar material. It was known as the "Albert", and was said to have been introduced at the Prince Consort's suggestion.

3rd (King's Own) Light Dragoons		93rd (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot
Officer's full dress shako 1846-55   This shako was worn by all Light Dragoon Regiments at this period. It was of black beaver with gold oak leaf lace round the top. The badge was a gilt and silver cross place with a crown above and the regimental device in the centre, the borders of the cross bearing the battle honours. The drooping plume, which was 14in long, was of white swan feathers for officers' and of white horse-hair for other ranks. In India all ranks wore all the white horse-hair plume.		Bandsman's forage cap 1849   The Bandsmen of Highland Regiments from this date until about 1860, wore, as a forage cap, a tall "pork pie" shaped cap of thick white cloth, with dicing at the bottom, a scarlet line round the crown and a scarlet "tourie" on the top. The chin strap was of black leather and the number of the Regiment in brass was fixed to the front of the cap, which was worn cocked over the right ear.

43rd Regiment of Foot		4th Regiment of Foot
Private's forage cap 1852   The forage cap worn by privates of Infantry Regiments at this period until about 1866 was a round cap of woven worsted, quite plain, dark green in colour for Light Infantry Regiments and dark blue for others. On the front was the regimental number in brass, and in some regiments the badge, also in brass, was worn above the number. On the top of the cap was a worsted tuft.		Officer's forage cap 1852-1881   In 1852 a new type of forage of undress cap (commonly known as the "cheese cutter") was authorized for Infantry officers, smaller in the crown than the previous one, and having a straight peak. This cap was of blue cloth with black oak leaf lace at the bottom, Regiments styled "Royal" having a band of scarlet cloth in place of the lace, as in the example illustrated. In the centre, in front, was the regimental number, and in many regiments the badge was worn above the number, either in gold of silver.