UNDRESS UNIFORMS 1881-1902
UNIFORMS, ARMS & EQUIPMENT - HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY
FORAGE CAPS
When the line cavalry generally adopted the round peakless forage cap, the household regiments retained their peaked versions which they had worn before the Crimean War. The general appearance of the cap never really changed until after the Victorian era, even when the round peaked forage cap most of the staff, infantry and Departments became bell topped. The 2nd Life Guards had an additional gold lace pattern on the top and the lace on the peak of Royal Horse Guards cap was not ribbed . The new staff pattern forage cap was taken into use in about 1904. The Household Cavalry never wore the Broderick cap.
THE FROCK COAT
The Frock coat of the Household cavalry was almost identical to that worn by the rest of the cavalry. It differed mainly in the black mohair cuff decoration and at the rear of the waist where there was a black mohair “waterfall”. The officers of the Household cavalry did not wear the short patrol jacket like that used in the heavy cavalry and hussars.
STABLE JACKETS AND MESS DRESS
The stable jackets of the Household Cavalry were fairly typical. Field Officers had additional lace on their cuffs and collars. Before the 1900 Dress Regulations waistcoats were described as “regimental pattern”. The illustrated regulations of 1900 showed them to be a great deal less elaborate than those of line cavalry and the one worn by the 2nd Life Guards is quite unique at the time. The undress pouch belts of Household Cavalry officers was white leather with the flask cord down the centre. The pouch was the same as the full dress version.
