Senior NCO, most probably a CSM or SNCO Acting Officer
A portrait of a senior NCO, most probably a CSM (Feldwebel) or SNCO Acting Officer (not commissioned), known as an Offizierstellvertreter, in the walking out dress of Infantry Leib Regiment Groaherzogin Nr 117 based in Mainz (part of the, 25th Groaherzoglich Hessische Division with its HQ in Darmstadt). The peaked cap with red band, the split coloured high collar with white/silver trim and red with the jacket piping in red also is typical attire for an Infantry SNCO/junior (non-commissioned) officer at that time. As a Leib Regiment, it owed personal loyalty to the Hessian Duchy family. Not surprisingly, therefore, the A on the epaulette signifies Groahrezogin Alice von Hesse who was the Regiment's equivalent to the titular Royal / Ducal Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment. Anna Hillermann, (German) B.1875
