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This accoutrament worn by officers of the13th can
be seen in portraits dating back to 1814 when the
regiment took on the 1812 pattern uniform. Apart
from the curved honours scrolls this item remained
virtually unchanged for over a hundred years. The front
of the belt has the light dragoon feature of chains
and pickers made of hallmarked silver. The pickers
were used in the days of flintlock pistols for clearing
blockages. With the advent of the revolver, they remained
on the belt as decoration.
The honours scrolls are peculiar to the 13th. Apart from
the 19th Hussars, I can think of no other regular cavalry
regiment that has honours fixed on the front. Up until
the post Crimea period, of course, there were only two honours,
Waterloo and Peninsula. After the Crimea, four more were
added. they are, from the top, Alma, Inkerman, Balaklava and
Sevastopol. The belt itself is of buff leather with 'train' lace
sewn on. This lace is in a herring bone pattern with white silk
down the middle.
The back of the belt is not often seen and this is a shame
because the pouch is a valuable item, being constructed out
of wood and leather with a flap that is of hall-marked silver
emblazened with a gilt Victorian cypher and crown.
There are three pther silver pieces on the belt, the buckle
tip and slide.
This belt was worn in full dress and stable dress.
