Cumberland and Westmorland Yeomanry Cavalry

William Ducksbury, 1860/70's

The photo shown above is of a private or NCO (William Ducksbury) of the Cumberland and Westmorland Yeomanry Cavalry. They wore scarlet jackets with white collars and cuffs, and white braid (silver for officers). His shabraque (saddlecloth) is dark blue. The letters are WCYC, for Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry Cavalry. This is an old style of uniform, although it was discontinued in the regular cavalry in 1855 it carried on in use in some of the Yeomanry units until 1914. The breeches and boots may have replaced the trousers in mounted duty at some point whilst the sword (shown below) is an 1853 model cavalry sword. Exact date is unknown but sometime after 1872. However the emblem on the right hand side of the above photographers card is for the Kendal and District Industrial Exhibition of 1872. The photographer was a J.H.HOGG. In the 1851 census he is listed as an apprentice to an artist whilst in the 1861 census he is a photographic artist. Then in the 1885 T. H. Bulmer Directory, he is listed as a photographer at 71 Stricklandgate in Kendal, (and later listed in the Town & Country directory directory of 1908-9). This photograph on the left is of the same person taken at the same location but he's wearing 'everyday' uniform as opposed to the full dress shown at the top (and bottom) of the page. Its also confusing as the vertical white braid strips on the forage cap are characteristic of the 17th Lancers but as mentioned earlier the Yeomanry Cavalry continued to wear regular cavalry uniforms after they had been discontinued.