In April 1905 the Norfolk Regiment was authorised to change their unpopular white facings for their traditional yellow facings that had to be given up in 1881. This painting by J McNeill shows a sergeant and a man who may be a private, lance-corporal or corporal, as we cannot see if he has a rank badge on his right forearm. The stripes on his left sleeve are good conduct stripes for at least 6 years service. The artist has dated the painting as 1908 but the shoulder straps are scarlet edged with white which was the first version of the 1902 pattern tunic. The pointed cuffs indicate this pattern, replacing the round cuffs of the previous 1881 tunic. The 1902 pattern was revised in 1907 after which date regiments changed the shoulder straps to the facing colour.
These men are clearly 2nd Battalion which served in the Boer War. They both have the two medals for that war, the Queen’s and the King’s South Africa medals. They also wear the blue home service helmet which replaced the white experimental helmet worn c1890. They are in dress uniform holding Lee Enfield (SMLE) .303 rifles with white slings pulled taut for parade. The sergeant has a crimson sash of office on his right shoulder, so that the tasselled ends fall on his left hip near to the bayonet suspended from a white leather waist-belt.
