Identify uniform

[barbatalice]

This is my first post. I am interested in a range of Victorian era conflicts that impacted on people in my family but have no “specialisation”.
So here goes with my first inquiry
Could someone please help me identify this uniform. In the family it is said to be a photo of Samuel COBBIN, a groom in the Royal Horse Artillery in India, possibly also China. He arrived in Madras in 1835 and was in the region until 1839.
Others think that the uniform is later than that period.
Thanks
Barb

[trooper]

The uniform is certainly not RHA c.1835 but rather an officer of infantry of about 1870 or 1880. Not possible to positively identify the regiment unless the buttons could be more clearly defined. Trooper

[Gogargirl]

1835-1839 is also too early for most photographs. The typical Victorian carte de visite really didn't become widespread 'til the 1870s.

Take a look at any small print on the front of the picture and especially on the back and you should be able to work out where the picture was taken and maybe even the dates of operation of the photographer. Roger Vaughan has an excellent website which helps to date old pictures: http://www.cartes.freeuk.com/time/date.htm.

If you can establish a location and date range you might be able to link to a regiment. Good luck!

[FROGSMILE]

I agree that he is an infantry officer in scarlet tunic and some time after 1880, as that is the year that badges of rank moved from the collar to twisted gold cord shoulder straps and we know it is early in the period as regimental collar badges are not yet being worn. He is also wearing a gold and crimson striped sash for levee order instead of the standard crimson silk for normal full dress. The sash was moved to the waist in 1902.

As well as the levee order sash he would also have been wearing gold (Instead of scarlet) striped overalls, or pantaloons and his belt and shord carriage (2 slings) would have been of red morrocco leather overlaid with gold braid. His most likely headgear would have been the spiked blue universal helmet.

If you can follow Gogargirl's advice above I might be able to help you ID a likely regiment.