These drummers of the 1st Battalion the Norfolk Regiment were photographed in Gosport in 1885. The drum-major stands next to an officer who wears an undress blue patrol jacket. From 1881 drum-majors were down-graded to sergeant drummer but retained the embroidered sash of his office and the mace that had a silver figure of Britannia on top. The drummers all have a white drum carriage on their right shoulder. They also double up as buglers, and the dark green undress bugle cords can be seen on some of the drummers, ending in large tassels on the left shoulder. Some of them hold fifes. The drums are placed at the front, the bass drum has a tenor drum balanced on top.
The khaki jackets worn by the drummers are of a special pattern. They have what look like ammunition holders on either side of their chest, and the pleats down the front follow the style of the Norfolk Jacket. This style can be seen in the group photo of sergeants. A comparison with this photo confirms that the distinctive shoulder wings were not special to the drummers’ tunics.
Regimental Details | Band and Drummers
