As another year ends, we go back to the interwar period with a marvellously clear photograph of a march past at a military barracks. This photo has been inked with the letters ‘proof No 5’ that indicates that this was probably an official photograph of a military event and if approved the photograph would go on to be published in a magazine or a postcard:

The other ranks are wearing a single white lanyard over their left shoulder, whilst the breeches, swords and leather guards and spurs on their boots indicate a cavalry regiment:

As one would expect, the men are led by their officers, also dismounted and very much wearing the uniform of interwar cavalry officers, with the fuller skirts to the service dress jacket than would be seen in later years and the contrasting breeches with high leather boots:

Behind the march past can be seen a range of buildings and the two part doors and high vents on the roof indicate that these are stable blocks, as one would expect for an army base housing a cavalry unit:

Note the door and platform in the end gable, high up. This was to allow a hay cart to be drawn up and the hay for the horses to be pitchforked directly into the hay loft above the stables ready to be passed down to the horses below.