United Kingdom

Carte-de-Visite, studio G.Cooper in Hull

Sergeant in a Hussar Regiment

This bearded NCO has seen some action, as testifies his bemedalled chest.

The second medal from the right, only partly obscured by the beard, is the Indian Mutniy Campaign Medal (it can be recognized thanks to its typical suspender  and striped ribbon).

Recognizing the other medals is a bit difficult ; typically the medals to the left would be Campaign Medals from pre-Indian Mutiny Wars ; the Medal to the far right looks like it has a plain ribbon and typical British suspender ; it may well be a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

But let's get back to these previous Campaign Medals ; Let's have a look at the various Regiments engaged in the Indian Mutiny, and try to find out which previous service that may relate to (provided of course he did not change regiments...)

The 7th Hussars :
They had been sent in 1838 to Canada (where they stayed until 1842) but did not see acton there ; the next 15 years were to be peaceful, until they were sent to India. 

The 8th Hussars :
Previous to their service in India , the 8th Hussars had been in the Crimea (where they took part in the famous "Charge of the Light Brigade") ; before that were some 30 years of peaceful service. The Crimean war campaign however would entitle them to two campaign medals, the British Crimea and the Turkish one.

The 14th Hussars :
They took part as the 14th Light Dragoons in the 1848 Sikh War (entitleing to the Punjaub Campaign Medal), and a squadron was sent to Persia in 1856 (gaining the India General Service Medal with Clasp "Persia").

So we have two contenders, 8th and 14th Hussars. The photograph itself is a Carte-de-Visite that has a typical mid-1860s look and feel. In the 1860s, both Regiments were stationed in the UK :

The 8th Hussars :
They came back from India in 1864 and -interestingly- went to York ; in 1865 they moved to Aldershott ; Birmingham, Coventry and Weedon in 1866 ; Manchester in 1867 and Ireland from 1869.

The 14th Hussars :
They had gone to Ireland upon coming back from India ; in 1861 they moved to Manchester ; Staleybridge in 1863 ; Aldershott in 1864 ; Hounslow, Hampton Court and Kensington in 1866 ; Edinburgh in 1867 and then Ireland again.

It seems therefore that this sergeant probbaly belongs to the 8th Hussars, the photo dating from 1864-65. That would make sense as there probably was a limit of time for which soldiers on return from active duty were allowed to keep their beards. It should be noted that the 19th, 20th and 21st Hussars, raised after the Mutiny but from soldiers who had seen action in that campaign, only came back to England in (respectively) 1870, 1872 and 1873 (which does not match the document).
One provision though : a member of the 8th Hussars would most likely have been awarded the Clasp for Central India - that doesn't show here.

The key certainly rests in the undress cap pattern (very plain), that should allow to positively identify the regiment. I somehow lack documentation on the subject however. Any help welcome !

This research and questions should not prevent from admiring the composition of the photograph : notice how the stance of the sergeant matches that of the cherub carved on the prop pillar !