It is generally understood that hussar musicians had no particular distinctions beyond the standard tunic and breeches worn by the rest of their regiments. However, this is not altogether true.
Like their counterparts in the other cavalry branches, the main form of undress head wear was the pill box cap. (Officially described as the “Round Forage Cap without peak).
For clarification, the main divisions were Warrant Officers, Staff-Sergeants 1st Class, Staff-Sergeants 2nd Class, Sergeants, corporals and Privates. Late in 1881, Regimental Sergeant-Majors, Bandmasters, and senior specialist ranks (Farriers, Quartermasters etc) were raised to Warrant status.
The style of other ranks busbies closely followed that of officers and the 1858 pattern busby was replaced with the shorter version in 1888.
The last decade of the century saw the Sam Browne system becoming ubiquitous for active service overseas. By the end of the century it was also becoming standard for domestic peace manoeuvres.
For hussars, the first pattern cap (also known as “Torin” or “Austrian” pattern) was also to be dark blue except for the 11th Hussars, whose cap was crimson and the 15th Hussars where it was scarlet. The edges and top were trimmed in gold Russia braid.
Although various editions of dress regulations referred to the lace on forage caps as being of regimental pattern, there was little to determine what that should be. The 1878 regulation states that the lace should match the trouser lace but photographic evidence suggests that it wasn’t so.
The sabretache was a centuries old piece of military equipment. Hungarian and Bavarian hussars carried them in the latter half of the 17th century.
As in other cavalry regiments, the pouch and Pouch-Belt were an important part of the regimental identity of hussar officers. The pouch was originally designed to contain “writing materials” but for the most part was entirely decorative by the 1880s.
In 1881 hussar officers wore the pattern of busby introduced in 1858. Made of black sable fur, it was 7 ¾ inches high in front, 9 inches at the rear and 8 inches on the sides. The top of the busby to be ½ inch less in diameter than the bottom which was shaped to fit the head.
