The King’s Dragoon Guards wore a red horse-hair plume as from 1855 when Dress Regulations for officers allotted different colours of plume to the regiments of heavy cavalry. But the helmet itself dated from 30 July 1847 when the new pattern was authorised. Initially the plume was black horsehair for all the regiments. The helmet was gilt and well decorated with foliated peak and plume holder. The badge on the front was the gilt garter inscribed with KINGS DRAGOON GUARDS, on a silver cut star, placed on a gilt rococo shield surrounded by a laurel and oak wreath. Victoria’s cypher was in the centre and her crown above the whole plate.
This specimen is part of a uniform that dates from 1856. This pattern of helmet was worn until 1871 when it was replaced by a simplified version that lasted well into the 20th century.
