"British Line Organization for 7YW" Topic

I'm looking for a reference on the organization of British units during the Seven Years War. The British seem to be the only major combatant not covered in this respect by the articles in the Seven Years War Project.

Thank you,
Ed

TMP link

The grenadier company was usually hived off from the regiment and converged with other grenadier companies to form a grenadier battalion, such as Maxwell's Grenadier Btn in Prinz Ferdinand's army in Western Germany.

For the line regiments, I assume a general strength of 600 to 720 soldiers for all of the nations in the war.

A good scheme is to paint four British regiments ( single battalions) and then one stand of grenadiers from each regiment, then converge your grenadier stands to form one grenadier battalion.

The British (line) regiments of foot that served in Germany in the SYW arrived in two detachments,the latter in 1760. Each detachment consisted of 6 regiments. Each regiment had 8 battalion companies and 1 grenadier company. The 6 grenadier companies of each detachment formed a composite grenadier battalion. The establishment of a regiment (including grenadiers) was 998 men. Field strengh varied, of course, 75-80 per cent being a reasonable average.

I have enough Old Glory 15's to do a British battalion of 48 figures. I do not like the figures, but many do this battalion on 4 bases of 12 figures each to reflect the "grand division" concept of the Prussians and Austrians.

Years ago I used to belong to a 7YW group, and was told that the British did not have a fixed line infantry organization. Some "regiments" had 2 grendier companies and 4 musketeer companies. Some had six musketeer companies. This, coupled with figures I don't like, led me into doing Prussians and Austrians only – mainly by Old Glory

GdP glad to see you made it back to Paris ok.

Thanks, Reg. Back, down to College Station once, and back again!

Years ago I used to belong to a 7YW group, and was told that the British did not have a fixed line infantry organization. Some "regiments" had 2 grenadier companies and 4 musketeer companies. Some had six musketeer companies.

Never heard of that idea before. AFAIK all British battalions had 10 companies – 8 line companies, 1 grenadier and 1 light company. Often the "flank" companies (grenadiers and lights) would be detached and formed into composite units of grenadiers or lights. maybe that's where this idea orginally came from and got garbled in transmission?

Not sure but I believe the light companies did not start until after the 7YW/FIW, apparently they learned from the colonists and indians.

Not sure but I believe the light companies did not start until after the 7YW/FIW, apparently they learned from the colonists and indians.

The British certainly used composite light battalions at Quebec in 1759.

The size of British battalions varied, but usually they started the war with 9 companies, eight hat and one grenadier. The Light company was added sometime in late 1758, early 1759, at least in North America. Can't say if they had them in Europe or not. I believe the Light company was disbanded after the war, but made official somewhere around 1771 again.

I think it was standard practice, even in European armies, to mass the flank companies.

Lights had a history in Eastern Europe, and often time the Croats are cited as examples of the period. Certainly Frederick had Lights too. The Lights proved very useful in North America, and IMHO, were the finest troops in North American in 1759 – at least the ones with Wolfe anyway.

In my earlier post, I forgot to mention the two Highland Regiments that served in Germany, the 87th and 88th. These were on a different establishment from the other regiments of foot. IIRC, the 87th had five companies. Three additional companies were added to it when it was joined by the 88th. Both regiments then had eight "battalion" companies. Neither battalion had flank companies. Nominal company establishment was around 100 men, but both battalions were typically understrength.

From my reading, covering 1760 and earlier, it appears that the British did not form ad hoc light companies in Germany. Rather, they formed "picquets" similar in function to those formed by the French infantry. The Highland regiments could also be used for light infantry duties.

As said before, there were no regular light companies found with the British serving in Germany 1758-1762.
Only the Highlanders functioned as "light infantry". However, starting 1761, Ferdinand ordered battalions of so entitled "chasseurs" to be raised by drawing from each battalion of the line infantry a selected "elite" 50 men.
The British had one such unit in 1761 and a second one was raised in 1762. That would add some nice light infantry to your army. The men continued to wear their parent regiments uniform. Their mark of distinction being the missing lace at their hats. Instead they all added a green batch or cockade to their hats – i.e. same head gear as the Hanoverian Jagers or Legion Brittanique et. al.

Great info, Christian! Did you find it in Westphalen?

Toujours votre serviteur Thucydides.

The information stems from Rudolf Witzels more recent book "Hessen Kassels Regimenter in der Alliierten Armee 1762. Also Savory provides some bits. The first unit was Fraser's Chasseurs formed at the beginning of October 1761. Ferdinand ran short of light troops. A desease spread among the army and many fell sick, incl. most of his much trusted commandes of the lights. Especially along the English held positions, the very active French light troops beat the English posts several times. Something had to be done to put an end to this.
In 1762 four such units were raised. One per nation. Fraser's English Chasseurs,
Hartwig Brunswick, Quernheim Hanover, and Rall's Hessians.
There was only one English battalion. I need to correct myself. The entire brigade of "Chasseurs of the Army" was commanded by major-general Lord Cavendish. From memory I recalled there was a Chasseur battalion named Cavendish in 1762, but there wasn't one. He commanded all, instead.
The 1762 Chasseurs were formed by 40 men packets drawn from each regiment, not 50.

Many, many thanks, Christian! I have both sources and look forward to reading up on this.