The dating of this painting can be accurately placed at 1854 because this officer, James Hassell was commissioned as an ensign into the Royal Regiment in October 1853, and was a lieutenant serving in the Crimea in 1854. He wears the Crimea medal, with a clasp for SEBASTOPOL, issued in 1855 and was also awarded the Turkish medal issued in 1856. So when this was painted he had not received the second medal.
The uniform he wears is the old dress coatee that was discontinued in 1855 to be replaced by the less splendid tunic. Perhaps he already had his new uniform but preferred to be immortalised in the previous, very expensive uniform. The tall embroidered collar is clearly shown by the turn of his head, and one cuff just manages to stay in the picture. His epaulettes seem to be very large when the ranking is taken into consideration. Subalterns had smaller bullion fringes than captains, and the bullion increased with each rank up to colonel. His belt plate is seeded gilt with the Star of St Andrew in silver with a gilt and blue enamel centre.
James Hassell reached the rank of colonel and commanded the 1st Battalion from June 1885 to July 1887.
