These two examples show the difference between a field officer’s doublet pre-1902 and a captain’s doublet post-1902. The Inverness skirts and false pockets are edged with gold lace, as for majors and lieutenant-colonels, but the right-hand photo shows how captains’ and subalterns’ skirts were devoid of lace. Although this doublet is post-1902, as indicated by the three star rank badges on the shoulder cords, the basic pattern of the garment applied to the 1881 pattern for company officers.
The field officer’s doublet also has extra gold lace (thistle pattern) on the cuffs, and gold braid forming ‘eyes’ around the collar. These distinctions were unauthorised after 1902 but many commanding officers retained their extra lace and braid in dress uniform after that date. Rank was shown on the shoulder cords after 1881, a crown for majors and crown and star for lieutenant-colonels. From 1881 to 1902 the rank of captain was indicated by two stars, lieutenants one star, and second lieutenants no badge.
