Fancy dress costume, Foot Guard (jacket, belt, trousers, busby); England, about 1935

Child's fancy dress costume representing a Foot Guard. The parts consist of:

1. Jacket made of red wool felt, with a stand-up collar made from navy blue wool felt edged with white cotton tape. At the shoulders are blue epaulettes. The jacket's cuffs are also made from navy blue wool felt and are edged with white cotton tape. The jacket fastens at the front with five brass buttons. Two metal hooks sewn into the side-seams support the belt.
2. Wide belt of white woollen material, with a square brass buckle.
3. Trousers made of navy blue wool, with a wide stripe of red felt down each outside leg.
4. Busby made of black fur, lined with white cotton. The plume is made of jute. It has a chinstrap made from a brass chain lined with a strip of imitation leather (to prevent chafing).

Given by Anne Pullar-Strecker, headteacher, on behalf of the governors and pupils of St Peter's School, Tandridge

Part of a collection of fancy dress costumes given to the V&A in 1978 which were made for and worn by the eight children of Dr and Mrs Andreae of Tandridge, Surrey (see MISC.319 to 351-1978). The names of the chidren were:

Caroline Constance (b. 22/06/1915)
Mary Charlotte (b. 03/02/1917)
Janet Frances (b. 16/08/1918)
Elizabeth Helen (b. 27/09/1919)
Bridget Beryl (b. 09/07/1921)
Edina Philippa (b. 03/08/1924)
John Edward (b. 20/12/1926)
Octavia Margaret (b. 26/07/1929)

The costumes passed into the ownership of St. Peter's School in Tandridge, whose headteacher, Anne Pullar-Strecker, donated them to the Museum.

This particular costume was known to the family as "The Soldier's Costume", it was worn by John. It is known to have been in existence at the time of a fancy dress party held on 01/01/1935.

MISC.340-1978