The uniform worn by the KDG in the Zulu War of 1879 is generally seen as being fought in home service uniforms. It seems that they were in so much of a hurry to get to South Africa that they had no time to prepare suitable campaign kit. Alex Baker’s painting of an officer and corporal depicts them wearing their dress tunics, breeches and knee boots but with hot climate foreign service helmets stained khaki. Gauntlets were not worn.
The officer has rank badges for captain on his blue velvet collar and double gold cord decoration on his forearms. This is based on a surviving captain’s tunic from the war. He has an undress white pouch-belt and sword belt, with the addition of a pistol holster attached to the latter. Both he and the corporal have canvas haversacks which are supported on straps over the right shoulder.
The corporal, also in dress tunic, has infantry pattern ammunition pouches attached to the front of his waist-belt. He has a strap for a water-bottle on his left shoulder, as well as his usual white pouch-belt. He holds a Martini Henry carbine but he does not have a sword. The sword slings can be seen hanging from his belt on his left side. This would indicate that his 1864 pattern sword was attached to the saddle but the official date when this was ordered for the cavalry was 1891.
