This watercolour by J A Atkinson has a look of authenticity, as if drawn from life, but depicts a trooper of the King’s Dragoon Guards wearing a jacket that does not relate to any clothing regulation. The helmet is correct but the new style collett or jacket adopted in 1812 is not apparent. It would be expected that an undress garment would be worn for campaigning to save wear on the laced dress jacket, but this jacket is double breasted and has epaulettes or shoulder scales. There are two yellow lace buttonholes on the collar which would suggest that this is the pre-1812 jacket worn as ‘battledress’, but that was a single-breasted garment, not designed to button over as light dragoon coats were able to do.
The method of securing the carbine agrees with the Hamilton Smith print, even down to the covering of the firing mechanism. There is a rolled cloak behind the saddle and he has pistols at the front that have a leather cover. He wears grey overalls that have a slim red stripe down the side, and a chain that goes under the instep as well as three small buttons at the ankle.
