This photo shows sergeants of one of the battalions of the 9th East Norfolk Regiment. It is a photocopy of a picture that was published in a book (?) that claimed in the caption that it shows the 1st Battalion after 1884. The embroidered Britannia badge can be clearly seen on the peaked forage caps of the most senior sergeants seated in the front row. The uniform appears to be an early version of khaki service dress and based on the traditional Norfolk jacket pattern, with pleats in the form of braces on each side of the chest. The unusual features are the six-pocket ammunition-holders on either side of the wearer’s chest. These are not sewn onto the jacket because the red sergeant’s sash is worn underneath them. The method of attaching them to the front of the jacket is therefore unclear, perhaps with hooks and eyes.
The sergeants in the back rows wear glengarry caps which were worn by British soldiers in undress up until the mid-1890s. The badge on the side is round shaped with a crown above. They all wear collar badges and have their stripes on the right arm only. The pointed cuffs are decorated with a cord or braid (perhaps yellow) that forms a single loop. These can be seen clearly on the sergeant with his arms folded. Next to him is an officer who could be the education officer, and lying in front of him, perhaps the chaplain. Sitting on the other side of the education officer are two senior NCOs who do not have visible stripes on their upper arm, but are probably the RSM and the Quartermaster Sergeant, The seated sergeants all have swords, a mark of seniority.
In 1885 the 1st Battalion was stationed at Gosport (opposite Portsmouth) until December when they sailed to Gibraltar. They were only there for 6 months before returning to England. They returned to Gibraltar in Dec 1887 and in Feb 1889 sailed to India. In Dec 1890 they went to Burma for 3 years and returned to India.
The 2nd Battalion were in India in 1885, stationed at Morar, Bengal. They had been in India since 1874. They also went to Burma, in late 1888, and served there until January 1890. They left Rangoon for India at the same time as the 1st Battalion arrived in Burma. The uniforms worn in this photo could be especially adapted for service in Burma in which case the date of 1885 may be wrong and that this was taken in Rangoon or Mandalay c1890.
Regimental Details | Uniforms
