Officer, London and Westminster Light Horse, 1829

Description

The “Light Horse Volunteers,” as they were generally called, was composed entirely of men of wealth and position in London and Westminster and, as was to be expected, it was looked upon as a model of what a Mounted Volunteer Corps should be. Its members, in many cases, were instrumental in the formation and training of other Corps of Cavalry formed in different parts of the country, and it was not uncommon for such corps to copy, more or less closely, its uniform and equipment. This regiment had the distinction of providing the cavalry guard at the Horse Guards while the Household Cavalry were abroad on the Waterloo campaign, and this no doubt explains the magnificence of their levee dress. A statement, drawn up in 1795, gives some idea of the financial position required of a private in the corps. This shows that the estimated expense was : For the first year: price of a horse, £50 ; keeping a horse, £45 10s.; diminution of value, £10; accoutrements and clothing, £31; proportion of general expenses, £10 10s. Total, £147.
For the second year: horse keeping, £45 10s.; diminution in value, £10; uniform and accoutrements, £12 10s.; proportion of general expenses, £10 10s. Total, £78 10s.
Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research V 28 No 116 p 168 via JSTOR