"King's German Legion plume color" Topic

Putting the final touches on a line battalion of KGL and just noticed that a few illustrations have the centre companies with all white plume similar to the grenadier companies. In addition, I noticed a few figures on the web with this as well and now I am starting to wonder if this is correct. I have seen reference to one of the fusilier regiments (7th I believe) being granted the honor of all white plumes but had never run across a reference that line battalions of the KGL also had this distinction. Thanks in advance

BW

Always dangerous territory to go wandering in this for me but, I was under the impression that the only distinction between KGL and British Line Regiments was the Dark Blue back pack. I'm sure some of the Nappy experts will set you right.

The centre companies had white over red plumes, just like most of the rest of the British infantry arm.

kgl-linie.de/page04.htm

Paul :)

Forgive me for "hi-jacking" the thread, but how did the 7th Foot, City of London Regiment, the Royal Fuzileers, distinguish their grenadiers from their centre companies? (Did I get "fuzileers" and "centre" right?)

When on parade in London, all but the light company would have worn the "bearskin" or "sealskin" head dress, all with the white hackle? Is it true that the light company always wore the shako?

GdeP

Garde de Paris, the fusileers did indeed have a small bearskin headdress. This was used as parade dress only and not in the field.

I found the picture in Funcken's Napoleonic book and wanted to paint a couple of units. Research showed me the error of my way.

I think that the 7th Royal Fusiliers light companies may have worn green plumes, but I suspect that their centre companies were indistinguishable from their grenadier companies.

They themselves considered that all their companies rated as grenadiers, hence this white plume and wings for all companies distinction. It is also noteable that the normal British structure was for centre companies to have 1 captain, 1 or 2 lieutenants ( depending on size of company) and one ensign. 7th Royal Fusiliers were established to have no ensigns, and all their subalterns were lieutenants, a unique distinction.

The other two fusilier regiments, 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers, and 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers, followed the same dress conventions as the 7th but did have ensigns in their centre companies.

Rod

138Squadron: I inadvertently entered the world of "imagi-nations" in the 1970's when I acquired a number of Stadden 30mm British converted to Fusileers in bearskins, white breeches, black gaiters to below the knee, standing with musket straight up, and ready to level and fire. The bearskin was much larger than I later learned. But I have 40 of these to use – when gaming with "those who could care less" – as the 7th Foot, including 4 light company men in white breeches, black gaiters, stovepipe, wings, and green hackle – Staddens firing.

I also have enough Victrix plastic flank company British to do a 40 figure battalion of the 23rd Royal Welch Fuzileers to go with these, plus a Stadden battalion of the 1st Foot, Royal Scots, to form my own "Union Brigade" for Peninsular battles. The Victrix seem to be the exact same height as the Staddens, but much more bulky or chunky. I will do the 23rd, all with wings, grenadiers with white hackle on stovepipe; lights with green; and centre with white over red.

GdeP

Rod Mcalister

I think that the 7th Royal Fusiliers light companies may have worn green plumes, but I suspect that their centre companies were indistinguishable from their grenadier companies.

They themselves considered that all their companies rated as grenadiers, hence this white plume and wings for all companies distinction. It is also noteable that the normal British structure was for centre companies to have 1 captain, 1 or 2 lieutenants ( depending on size of company) and one ensign. 7th Royal Fusiliers were established to have no ensigns, and all their subalterns were lieutenants, a unique distinction.

The other two fusilier regiments, 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers, and 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers, followed the same dress conventions as the 7th but did have ensigns in their centre companies.

Rod

The 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers had white hackles throughout.

The officers also had the unique distinction of wearing a 'flash' of five black ribbons on the rear of the collar. This was originally as a protest by them at having to remove their queues by Royal order to the Army on the 20th July 1808. The 1st Battalion not receiving the orders to cut their queues off until the spring of 1809 whilst on outpost duties in Nova Scotia. So the flash would be seen on the officers from the Summer/Autumn of 1809. The Wearing of the flash was finally officially sanctioned by the approval of King William IV on 28rd November 1834.

Paul :)

I thought there was a discussion several months ago about Fusileer regiments, and someone posted this illustration from the Cent.Jours site, showing all of the 23rd with wings, but the centre companies with white over red hackles:

link

Does anyone have a clarification?

GdeP

Fizzy Pickles tell me more about the Dark Blue back pack. I had never heard of this, may need a touch up on my figs

Garde de Paris

I thought there was a discussion several months ago about Fusileer regiments, and someone posted this illustration from the Cent.Jours site, showing all of the 23rd with wings, but the centre companies with white over red hackles:

Cent.Jours should be used with caution. For instance, check out their 95th rifles bugler.

I do believe that I contributed to that thread you mentioned.

Or perhaps it was this:

TMP link

Paul :)

Fizzy Pickles tell me more about the Dark Blue back pack. I had never heard of this, may need a touch up on my figs

It's just one of those things that has always stuck in my mind. Some sources point toward KGL Line Regiments having Dark Blue backpacks and red insignia. Quite how one would corroborate that I'm not sure. One of the Nappy experts will probably point you in the right direction I'm sure.

Yes, according to Brandis dark blue painted back packs for KGL line infantry, p. 257

Übersicht der Geschichte der Hannoverschen Armee von 1617 bis 1866

von einem Hannoverschen Jäger, Hauptmann Schütz von Brandis

Hannover und Leipzig, 1903

Here is the link to a discussion about KGL backpacks

TMP link

Paul :)

Maybe the KGL just rubbed a bit more blue-black boot polish into their leather