Norwegian Cavalry 1880

[Lisa Machan]

Hello! I have a couple military-based questions for someone with experience in this area.

 

I was recently sent a photo from a cousin in the hope that it could be identified. I believe this is my great-grand uncle from Eidsberg, Østfold (1854-1928) and was hoping that information on his uniform might confirm that. There were many early deaths in this branch of the family and stories were passed down only 1/2 understood by descendants. 

 

It is thought that he was in the Norwegian Cavalry and that perhaps he immigrated to America in 1881 to get out of the cavalry. (That last part may be family legend.)

 

--Does this look like the uniform of the Norwegian Cavalry in 1880?

 

--Was service in the military mandatory?

 

--Do you know what the duties of the Norwegian Cavalry (and of his rank) would have been in 1880?

 

--What color would the jacket have been?

 

I would be grateful for any insight!

 

Thank you in advance,

 

Lisa Machan

 

[Grethe Flood]

@Lisa Machan

It might be that the Armed Forces Museum (Norwegian: Forsvarsmuseet) can be of help in this matter. Contact information can be found at (see link to Kontakt oss): https://kultur.forsvaret.no/museer/forsvarsmuseet/. 

 

Cf.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_Museum_(Norway)