This portrait of Ensign Sperling is probably a self-portrait. He joined the 9th Foot while they were serving in the army of occupation in France after the victory at Waterloo. The uniform is not very accurate but the shako beside the lamp is of great interest. General Order 315 dated 12 June 1816 declared that the Prince Regent had approved the new pattern to replace the 1812 ‘Waterloo’ shako. It was made of black felt with a napped surface and a glazed top 9 inches in diameter. The cap was 7.5ins high and had a polished leather front peak. Up until 1819 the cap also had a smaller peak at the back, although this painting does not show it.
As the 9th was a ‘silver’ regiment, the lace around the top was silver, as well as the chin-scales that were invariably tied up behind the plume socket. The socket is gilt in this painting and holds a tall feather plume, white with a red base of vulture feathers. The regulations called for a 12 inch high plume. There was a black cockade in front of the socket and below that a gilt domed badge with a silver figure of Britannia and a scroll with the battle honour PENINSULA above. The badge was surrounded by gold lace formed into a pleated rosette.
Regimental Details | Uniforms
