"FIW/SYW to AWI.When did British uniforms change?" Topic

Does anyone know when exactly British uniforms changed from the long gaiters and red waistcoat look of the SYW/FIW, over to the short gaiters and white waistcoats of the AWI.

Also was there any crossover, e.g. did some regiments keep the red waistcoat for a while longer?

I believe that the changeover happened in 1768. I tend to believe that there was some crossover given that these type of regulation changes were almost never implemented overnight.

Often, after uniform regulations changed, units received new uniforms as old stock was used up. As CFeicht states, there would be crossover due to this and other reasons.

There is a persistent story that at least one of the British regiments in Boston had its grenadier company still wearing cloth mitre caps around the time of Bunker Hill.

Even in "normal" times, there was a time delay between ordering items from contractors, and actually receiving them in the field (all of this was done through the regiment's agent, which further added to the time – and cost). New clothing was generally received in Spring and by the time it had been checked and fitted for the individual recipient, it was usually ready for the King's birthday in June (or at least that was what tended to happen in the AWI). The 1768 Warrant changed several items and new patterns and designs would have to be circulated to the regiments, and then via their agents, to the various contractors.

As a consequence, many units – especially those serving overseas – appear to have worn hybrid uniforms that were a mix of the pre- and post-68 Warrant clothing, doing their best to implement the Warrant using local materials to modify existing clothing. Equally, many regiments had their own interpretations of certain aspects of the Warrant and wore what their Colonel prescribed (or could afford).

Also, remember that items newly issued for that year were kept "for best" and last year's worn for fatigues and non-formal public wear etc. Surviving items from previous years would have been cut up to make "slop" clothing and provide spare material for the regimental tailors.

Several thoughts to add to the mix:

First the Royal Warrant of 1768 was to set the standard -and often only confirmed what some of the regiments were already doing. And while the Warrant listed what was to be done, enforcement was another issue. For those troops stationed in and about London – their conversion to the new style would be rather quick.

Units up in Scotland and in Ireland -might take years before they were inspected – so no hurry on any changes.

For troops stationed afar and out of range of inspectors in the "sticks" – the issue might worse. For example the 16th Foot and 18th Foot sailed for service in America in 1767 – before the warrant was issued – with the 16th scattered across West Florida – and the 18th sent out to Canada and shipped up the Great Lakes- where it remained till 1773-4 IIRRC and even then two companies remained on service out in Illinois for even longer.

When and how those two regiments converted to the new pattern would be interesting to check as the normal practice of assembling the regimental tailors and putting them to work would be difficult at best.

Another issue is the nature of the regimental system and the wishes of the regimental colonels. If they want to do something other then what is ordered – and they are willing to pay the difference out of their pocket – and don't care what the inspectors say on their reports they can do it. Use white bearskins instead of black – why not? Like red waistcoats instead of white – OK.

Bear in mind that most colonels are trying to make a profit out of their regiments – so they are interested in spending as little of their clothing allowance as they can get by with, but there are exception. A Cornwallis or Percy could do what they wanted with their regiments.

Bottom line – full conversion may not have happened until the army was concentrated in 1775-76

My .02

Greg Novak

Another issue to consider is the durability of eighteenth century clothing.

I once read that British soldiers (and no doubt soldiers of most nations) got a new coat every year, along with other items of replacement clothing. (Please pardon me for repeating some information that I can't confirm.) I imagine that having a limited amount of clothing to wear would make a soldier's clothes wear out all the faster, even in peacetime and even with some old clothes set aside for fatigue duty, etc.

So even though some crossover time would undoubtedly take place from the time the 1768 regulations were first issued, I would guess that the British army would be wearing the new style within a few years of 1768, certainly in time for the American Revolution.

From what I've read about American uniforms and clothing of the American Revolution, it seems to have worn out pretty quickly.

Anyway, these are my non-expert observations. I'd like to hear more from TMP's resident AWI . . . er, American Revolution enthusiasts.

Jeff

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Don Troiani does such a print of a member of the 29th at the time of the Boston Massacre.If you look at the original engraving,the British troops appear to be in SYW type uniform,and that is what Troiani was going for.A mix of pre and post 1768 Warrent uniform.

Bob

Thanks very much everyone

One last thing to share:

I was able to find a photo of a contemporary eighteenth century painting in one of my books, which is "British Infantry Uniforms since 1660" by Michael Barthorp and Pierre Turner. The painting (on page 44) shows British soldiers of various regiments of the Minorca garrison in 1770.

Grenadiers, officers and soldiers are depicted. They're all wearing the 1768 uniform. But there is one notable exception. The grenadiers of the 67th, 11th, and 13th regiments are shown wearing the new bearskins (a couple of which aren't completely regulation), but a grenadier of the 3rd Regiment is shown wearing an old-fashioned cloth mitre cap (the rest of his uniform and equipment conforms to the 1768 regulations.)

jeigh

I'm not sure there was actually a "regulation" pattern for the bearskin cap – there certainly wasn't for the light infantry cap at this time (although one design was popular, the one commonly used by figure manufacturers and often referred to as "the Keppel" after the major general who was Colonel of the regiment that first adopted it). In many overseas psots, patterns for new clothing might not have arrived and the local commander forced to adopt his own design – or just accept what was sent out to them from home.

Does anyone know when exactly British uniforms changed…

***This has been answered in some detail.

.. from the long gaiters…

***Long gaiters, either all linen, or linen up to the knee and then leather, were probably only worn early in the war – say 1775, maybe 1776 for some units. Many units had multiple gaiters, and were told by authority which to wear and which to put in storage. As the war progressed, there was less need for the high gaiters and a general movement to the shorter ones, often referred to as spatterdashes, or overall trousers, that came down over the shoe.

… and red waistcoat…

***The redwaistcoat was continued to be worn by the light companies – most of the time, per Royal Warrant. This is shown by the lights in 1777 paintings who attached their modified sleeves from their coats to the all read waistcoat to make the short jacket often referred to as the roundabout. But most period paintings show a general movement to white linen small clothes prior to the 1768 warrants, perhaps due to fashion. The length of the waistcoat also shortened, per prevailing fashion trends at the time.

…look of the SYW/FIW, over to the short gaiters and white waistcoats of the AWI.

*Answered.

Also was there any crossover, e.g. did some regiments keep the red waistcoat for a while longer?

***Also answered, but probably not, other than lights. Fashion seems to have preceeded warrants (as was often the case). So if you are trying to get double duty out of SYW/F&I figures, then you are most likely on the wrong historical track. The hats also significantly changed as well, as did the color of the leather equipment (though some old brown leather was simply redyed or painted white).