~ 6th Dragoon Guards Carabiniers 1871 Pattern Helmet, Shirt And 1912 Pattern Dress Tunic ~
The tunic still bears its Royal Armoury Clothing Factory label giving its size details and October 1912 date of issue. It is also stamped for the War Department with their broad arrow. It bears a WW1 Victory medal named to “3790 PTE. C. H. SMITH/ 6TH D. GD.S”.
The helmet is the standard 1871 pattern trooper’s brass dress helmet for the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers). It has a laurel spray, rosettes, side bosses, remains of a leather line and leather-backed fish scale chin strap and cruciform spike with its original horsehair plume. Also included is a cotton sleeveless undershirt.
Please note the mannequin and helmet stand are not included.
~ 6th Dragoon Guards ~
The Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1685 as the Lord Lumley’s Regiment of Horse. It was renamed as His Majesty’s 1st Regiment of Carabiniers in 1740, the 3rd Regiment of Horse (Carabiniers) in 1756 and the 6th Regiment of Dragoon Guards in 1788. After two centuries of service, including the First World War, the regiment was amalgamated with the 3rd Dragoon Guards (Prince of Wales’s) to form the 3rd/6th Dragoon Guards in 1922.
~ Condition ~
The helmet skull has numerous dings, principally to the rear, but nothing major. The liner is a little less than half present. The shirt is sleeveless and frayed. The tunic is in excellent order, free from moth holes, all buttons are complete. The aiguillettes appear to be a modern replacement.
~ Dimensions ~
The tunic is a UK size 19 with a 36 inch (92 cm) chest and 32 inch (81 cm) waist.
The helmet is 36 cm (14 inches) tall, 25.5 cm (10 inches) fore to aft and 20 cm (8 inches) wide.
#11583
