This white serge frock is a British Army band uniform, likely dating to the mid 1860s. It is made from white wool serge and features a green collar—indicative of a regiment with green facings. Notably. gold braid denotes SNCO's in contrast to yellow braid.

The frock was made for a Bandmaster, who prior to 1881 held the rank of First Class Staff Sergeant. This was the highest non-commissioned rank at the time, and such individuals were entitled to bespoke clothing produced by the battalion’s tailoring workshop under the Master Tailor. The quality of the stitching, finish, and cut clearly reflect this.

The label inside the garment includes a faint inscription, possibly reading “Joe Carter,” which would be consistent with it being made for a specific individual. A “WD 12” stamp is also present. While it might appear to refer to a unit, it is more likely an inspector’s mark or depot code, as it does not conform to the standard format of unit stencilling required by Clothing Regulations.

Those regulations stated that garments should be marked with three elements: the soldier’s regimental number, the unit (either by name or number), and the date of issue. These were usually stencilled using Indian Marking Ink. On darker garments like rifle green or blue, white paint was sometimes used instead.

This frock is a rare survival and provides a clear example of high-quality, regimental tailoring from the late Victorian period circa 1865.