Honourable Artillery Company, Infantry Officer 1848

Head Dress,

The head dress was the Albert shako authorised on 4 December 1843 and introduced generally in 1844. The body was of black beaver, 6 3/4 in. high, with a black lacquered leather top, 6 3/4 in. in diameter. Around the top and bottom of the shako was a band of black lacquered leather. There were 2 peaks of black lacquered leather, 1 at the front and another, much smaller one and more sloping, at the rear. The chinchain was of stamped brass interlocking rings fitted at each side of the shako under large gilt rosettes. The chinchain was wide at the sides and tapered to narrow under the chin. A white ball tuft was worn in a plume holder on the top front of the shako. The plate was a stamped silver star with a gilt grenade in the centre.

 

 

Uniform,

The uniform was very similar to that worn by officers of the lst Foot Guards. William IV had, in fact, granted permission to wear the same dress as the 1st or Grenadier Guards, with silver lace instead of gold. The collar was 3 in. deep, of blue cloth, and closed at the front. The colIar was decorated both sides with a panel of silver embroidery on to which was fitted a grenade in gold embroidery. The coat was double-breasted, the buttons spaced singly, as the Grenadier Guards. The cuffs were blue with a slashed panel ornamented with silver-lace loops and buttons. The skirts were lined in white, as were the turnbacks held back by an embroidered grenade. On each side of the skirts was a slashed panel of silver embroidery with buttons. A crimson sash was worn around the waist. White trousers were worn in summer dress. The epaulettes were silver with a gold grenade.

 

 

Accoutrements.

A white buff crossbelt was worn over the right shoulder and terminated in a frog on the left hip. The belt was fastened on the chest with a large rectangular belt plate.