MOUNTED ESCORT, 1945.jpg

E: THE MOUNTED ESCORT, 1945 E1: Trooper E2: Lieutenant When the Artillery Corps was mechanized, a number of horses were retained to serve with a ceremonial escort established in 1931 with the official Gaelic title of ‘An Marc Sluagh’; however, they were popularly known as ‘The Blue Hussars’, reflecting the splendour of the uniforms. The bulk of personnel were drawn from the Artillery Corps, but were not permanently embodied, being called together for rehearsals and public duties as necessary. In addition to ceremonial duties the Blue Hussars performed displays at horse shows and gymkhanas until, with the coming of ‘the Emergency’, they were disbanded. In 1945 the unit was briefly revived, with some slight alteration to accoutrements (e.g. the disappearance of corner badges from the shabraque), before finally disappearing in 1949 in favour of a Cavalry Corps motorcycle escort (see Plate H3). The trooper’s busby is of black sealskin, with saffron yellow tuft, bag, cap lines and embellishments. The tunic is a rich sapphire blue, with yellow piping and frogging, the breeches white with a yellow stripe, and the riding boots of ‘Hessian’ pattern. His pouch belt and pouch are of plain black patent leather. A sword with nickel-plated guard and scabbard hangs on white slings from an internal belt; lances were also carried by rankers at displays, but not on escort duties. The officers’ uniform was similar, and this rear view shows the same pattern of cording as on other ranks’ tunics. The differences are the busby of black sable with a tall feather plume; the pouch of nickel silver, with the gilt Artillery Corps flap badge, on a belt with gold lace facing and gilt furniture; and the fact that all braiding and piping are in yellow silk instead of wool. This lieutenant’s shoulder strap rank bars are worked in gold wire embroidery on red mounts.