~ 20th Century Royal Dragoon Guards 1881 Pattern Uniform ~
This uniform belonged to an NCO of the 4/7th Royal Dragoon Guards.
Founded in 1922 in India as an amalgamation of the 4th and the 7th Dragoon Guards the regiment gained the title Royal in 1935.
The regiment Is no longer in existence having been amalgamated with the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1992 to form the Royal Dragoon Guards.
The uniform itself seems to be older than 1992, it appears to be an 1885 pattern Royal Dragoon Guards ‘other ranks’ uniform, handed down from NCO to NCO.
It is a scarlet tunic with black riding trousers. The tunic is still brightly coloured, the piping, the velvet and the wool all looking well preserved. The liner is cream wool, possibly faded from white and the gold corporals chevrons are gold but faded somewhat. The buttons and badges are all present.
The riding trousers are black with a single yellow stripe going from each waist to hem. The liner is also a cream coloured cloth, possibly originally white. The buttons are plastic and the leather and buckles are still present.
The standard design for the ‘other ranks’ uniform was made at this time to look more like the officers and is made to a more fashionable cut with braid work, velvet collar and cuffs as well as piping and an Austrian Knot design on the cuff.
The buttons are embellished with a ‘IV-VII’ under a crown, showing their heritage as an amalgamation between the 4th and the 7th.
The crests on the collar are the regimental crests with the motto ‘Quis Separabit’ that means ‘who shall separate us’ and ‘MCMXXII’ meaning 1922, the formation year of the regiment.
The regimental insignia on the shoulder strap reads ‘4/7DG’.
The label inside the right breast of the jacket has faded and is illegible.
There are multiple stamps on the inside of the sleeves, fragmented and slightly legible.
There are also handwritten labels on the liner, some illegible but with the rest reading ‘RADNEDGE 1960’, ‘BDSM WARD’, ‘FERREY 554’ also there is a ‘8’ written inside the right breast and ‘#8’ in the lining of the riding trousers.
~ Dimensions ~
The length of the outer arm is 24 inches (61 cm).
The length from collar to tail is 15 inches (38 cm).
The distance between the armpits is 18 inches (46 cm).
The diameter of the collar is 5.5 inches (13 cm).
The length of the leg in 44 inches (112 cm).
The diameter of the waist is 16 inches (41 cm).
It weights 2 Kg.
~ Condition ~
The tunic and trousers are in rather good condition, with minimal wear.
There are wear marks by the buttonholes from use.
The gold threading on the chevrons is slightly faded.
The piping has frayed a little bit.
The leather on the riding straps has frayed somewhat dried and worn but still supple and usable.
