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Guards drummers have never worn reversed coats, their uniforms were red with blue facings and all the extra lace on them. By the time of the Southern campaigns the uniforms across the board would be fairly battleworn. But I am sure Brendan would give you a more detailed answer. But I do not believe there was much compliance with Royal warrants etc.goat major wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 1:52 pm Specifically targetting Brendan but as usual all thread divergence entertained.
Guards light companies in the Southern campaign . Black cross belts or white ?
Guards drummer in southern campaign - red coat or reversed ?
Give that man a cee-garr!!. Pretty much spot on, Tim. Whilst there indeed wasn't a great deal of compliance with the 1768 Warrant in the field, that was deliberate - and to some extent expected. With typical, and commendable, thrift, the Crown forces used last year's uniform to create "combat dress", leaving the latest issue for "best"; this includes officers too, by the way - almost all junior regimental officers would have a soldier's plain coat (augmented by a sash, possibly an epaulette, but probably not a gorget post-1776) made up for them to wear in the field to keep their regimentals for best.Tim Hall wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 3:21 pm Guards drummers have never worn reversed coats, their uniforms were red with blue facings and all the extra lace on them. By the time of the Southern campaigns the uniforms across the board would be fairly battleworn. But I am sure Brendan would give you a more detailed answer. But I do not believe there was much compliance with Royal warrants etc.
I have a quick look at that Simon. I cannot find evidence to say it was a "Light Infantry" thing. It appears some light companies adopted a black cartridge box strap, and also a black waistbelt, but other light companies also wore whitened belts. So it is not a hard and fast rule, but may just be a local adaptation. It might also reflect a lack of pipe clay supplies, or even to give less for Colonial riflemen to aim, at.goat major wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 7:08 pm Cheers !
So no views on light infantry belts/straps being black or white ?
I believe Brendan, that I am right in thinking that the 3rd Foot (The Buffs) would have been one of the few British regiments dressed in compliance with regulations, during the Southern Campaign, being newly arrived from Britain.BaronVonWreckedoften wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 5:59 pmGive that man a cee-garr!!. Pretty much spot on, Tim. Whilst there indeed wasn't a great deal of compliance with the 1768 Warrant in the field, that was deliberate - and to some extent expected. With typical, and commendable, thrift, the Crown forces used last year's uniform to create "combat dress", leaving the latest issue for "best"; this includes officers too, by the way - almost all junior regimental officers would have a soldier's plain coat (augmented by a sash, possibly an epaulette, but probably not a gorget post-1776) made up for them to wear in the field to keep their regimentals for best.Tim Hall wrote: ↑Wed Mar 31, 2021 3:21 pm Guards drummers have never worn reversed coats, their uniforms were red with blue facings and all the extra lace on them. By the time of the Southern campaigns the uniforms across the board would be fairly battleworn. But I am sure Brendan would give you a more detailed answer. But I do not believe there was much compliance with Royal warrants etc.
As Tim rightly says, Guards musicians - and indeed those of other Royal regiments (basically anyone with dark blue facings) - never wore reversed colours. Incidentally, a handy panting tip: a simple way to distinguish the Guards apart from mere "Royals" was that Guards lace would look white from a distance, whilst that of a Royal regiment would look yellow, which was the dominant colour of the Hanoverian dynasty (the Guelphs, since you asked).
There is some thought that the Guards were wearing new uniforms from around the time of Guilford Courthouse, maybe just after, but other info suggests that the entire Yorktown garrison got a fresh supply of new uniforms in October 1781. It seems unlikely - though not impossible - that both happened, but I suspect the Guards did get a new issue at some point in that year. Normally, a fresh issue would not be worn in the field straight away; usually, last year's "new" would be cut down and modified instead, but that may not have been possible for Cornwallis's force which had been in the field pretty much continuously since the capture of Charleston, SC. As modern-day chaps, we tend to change our clothes rather more often in a week than the typical 18th Century soldier did in a year. He'd carry spare shirts and socks and hopefully also a spare pair of shoes, in his pack (but no underwear - you tied the shirt tails tied together between your legs and hoped the knot didn't rub!). Such clothing would be washed/laundered regularly, but it would be expected to last him at least a year until the new issue arrived.
Hope that helps, if only with certain members' insomnia.