The last pattern infantry shako was worn from 1869 to 1878. It was basically a cork frame covered with blue cloth. The height at the front was 4 inches and at the back 6.5 inches. The flat peak was made of patent leather. The example shown here was worn by subalterns and captains, having two lines of gold braid around the top, each line quarter of an inch wide with one eighth of an inch space between. There was also gold braid around the base of the cap and up the sides, slanting forward, and up the back seam. Majors had a line of half-inch gold lace replacing the top line of braid, and lieutenant-colonels and colonels had two lines of half-inch lace.
The large gilt plate on the front had the regimental number inside the Garter surrounded by a laurel wreath. This was the universal pattern for all the line infantry regiments, however, 15 of the regiments were permitted a special device, which in the case of the 10th, was the silver Sphinx over Egypt.
The ball tuft is incorrect on this specimen. It did not have a brass button on top and it should be two thirds white on the upper part and one third red on the lower part. The chin-chain is gilt, on a black velvet lining. It was often worn above the peak as seen here, hooked to a rose ornament on the lower left side and attached to a small lion’s head hook at the back, near the top.
Other ranks wore a similar pattern shako but red braid instead of gold. The shakos were worn for dress occasions in the UK and abroad, but white helmets were worn on campaign, often coloured with khaki dye.
