Vest, Surgeon John Smet, 8th (King’s Royal Irish) Light Dragoons, 1812 circa (fabric)

Vest, 8th (King’s Royal Irish) Light Dragoons, 1812 circa. White kerseymere and calico vest from a collection of uniform items worn by Surgeon John Smet (1773 circa-1840), 8th (King’s Royal Irish) Light Dragoons, 1812-1823 circa. During this era each regiment was provided with a surgeon and assistant surgeon, who were both commissioned officers. John Francis Smet joined the 8th (King’s Royal Irish) Dragoons in 1794 as a warrant officer, serving in the Low Countries. In 1796 the Regiment was moved to South Africa where Smett became Assistant Surgeon. The Regiment then moved on to India in 1802. In 1808 Smet was promoted to Surgeon and remained in India working in Meerut and Cawnpore, dealing with diarrhoea, various fevers, pneumonia, outbreaks of cholera and the effects of excess alcohol. In 1821 Smet, suffering from a recurrent eye infection, returned to England on sick leave. He retired from the Regiment in 1823 and died in 1840.