The dress uniform of the Hampshire Carabiniers was worn for ceremonial occasions, high profile escorts, church parades and levées. It was based on the uniform introduced in 1860 which, until 1884, was worn with a shako for all parades, ceremonial and normal. The photo is three quarter length so it is not clear if he is wearing trousers for dismounted duty or breeches and knee boots for mounted duty. The jacket is decorated with five rows of silver chain gimp frogging, linked by olivet buttons and ending in caps and drops. He has chain gimp Austrian knots (traced with silver Russia braid) on his cuff to denote 2nd lieutenant or lieutenant rank. The plaited silver shoulder cords have no rank star so he is a more junior 2nd lieutenant. The pouch-belt is laced with gold train lace, having a white silk central line. The chains and pickers are silver.
He holds his spike-topped helmet which is silver metal with gilt fittings. This was introduced in the Hampshire Yeomanry in 1884 and worn without a plume until 1894. His sword is slung from a belt worn beneath the jacket. The belt and slings were of similar pattern to the pouch-belt but narrower.
The officer in the photo is 2nd Lt Henry Albert Barclay who joined the Hampshire Yeomanry on 8 June 1889 and posed for photos to show his new uniforms. He left the Hampshires and raised the Norfolk Yeomanry in 1901. The photos have been kindly supplied by Humphrey Barclay.
