On 23 Oct 1937 the King’s Dragoon Guards held their final horse-mounted parade, in India. This photo was probably taken at that parade, as the drumhorse is fully dressed with the Victorian shabraque and decorated bridle. The metal chain-linked ornamentation had increased since before World War One. The red throat plume is of horsehair but the red hackle on the headband is made of red feathers instead of the red horsehair brush.
The Victorian drum banner was in its final form and had all the battle honours up to that date. The emblazoned honours for World War One were SOMME 1916. MORVAL and FRANCE AND FLANDERS 1914-17. There was also AFGHANISTAN 1919. The distribution on these drum banners was seven either side of the royal arms and two beneath WATERLOO. The dark horse was inherited from another cavalry regiment that had returned to the UK. The drumhorse was seen after World War Two while the regiment was posted to Germany. In 1955 the banners and shabraque were on show at Neuminster, and the drummer wore full dress along with a red plumed helmet. It is unlikely that the 12 emblazoned battle honours for WW2 were added to the banners which had been in service for more than 60 years.
