"British Fusileer Officer coats?" Topic

Does anyone know when officers of the 7th Foot, Royal Fusileers; and 23rd Royal Welch Fusileers, begin to wear the short-tailed officer coat so common in 1815?

Would they have had the coat at Albuera in Spain?

Would they have worn to fore and aft bicorn, or the cylindrical shako?

GdeP

Franklin says that for the 7th,

"the undress jacket was unlaced with 10 twisted button holes placed in pairs. An extant jacket circa 1812 confirms these details, with white edging to the cuffs, collar, pockets and lapels. It is not known whether the officers adopted the later, even spacing."

For the 23rd he shows an illustration of an undress, short-tailed jacket with 10 evenly spaced buttons to the lapels and three horizontal pocket buttons.

The 7th Royal Fusiliers Colonel between 1789 and 1801, was the Duke of Kent (future father of Queen Victoria). He laid down standing orders which recorded, inter alia: 'All Officers are to understand that the terms "Right and Left Flank Companies" are fixed upon the application of what in other regiments are styled Grenadier and Light Infantry Companies, it being the Colonels pleasure that, in the Royal Fusiliers, the term "Grenadier" and "Light Infantry" should never be used….'

In 'THAT ASTONISHING INFANTRY. Royal Welch Fusiliers 1689-2006' by Glover and Reily.

"In 1709 Officers began to adopt the wearing of feathers in their hats, and this was officially sanctioned in 1789 when the colour of the feather plume, or hackle, was laid down for grenadiers and fusiliers as white, for line battalion companies as half red, half white, and for Light companies of battalions as green."

Seeing as all ranks of all companies of a fusilier regiment are fusiliers and not privates, they all wore white hackles and other elite distinctions.

Officers wore the shako in undress. Full dress and ceremonial tasks would be the Bearskin.

Paul :)

The short tailed jacket for non-light infantry officers came in with the change of dress regulations in 1812. The old long-tailed jacket would have been around for awhile until new officers arrived from Britain and the most motivated had the new pattern sent out. It is extremely unlikely therefore that short tailed jackets would have been in evidence at Albuera where most officers would also have been wearing bicornes.

They can not be sporting the 1812 Regulation in 1811,
Albuera 16th May 1811.

A good example of what an officer could have worn on campaign in 1811 can be seen in BLOODY ALBUERA by Ian Fletcher. Plate E2 by Gerry Embleton shows an officer of the 23rd, in a long tailed coat, non regulation dark blue trousers tucked into black leather boots that finish just below the knee (no stirrups) and a oilskin covered cocked hat. Oh! He also has a red and white striped civilian waistcoat just peeping out from under his sash.

Short and long tailed jackets could be seen on officers at the time of Albuera: "General order of 28th October 1797 stated: Officers of infantry of the line are to wear, when on duty, short coats with epaulettes, made up in the manner and shape like those approved for non-commissioned officers and soldiers, excepting that they are to be quite plain, without lace. When off duty and in dress they are to wear their uniform coat as present established."

The regulation wasn't adhered to by many until the order of December 1811 was issued (the 23rd were sticklers for not wanting to change dress regulations), but by all accounts, the long tailed coat could still be seen being worn for regimental duties after this date.

Paul :)

I was debating doing 32 – 40 Victrix plastic figures in the Peninsula, and want to do the 23rd, for the set is for flank companies – all with wings. The set has 4 offices with long-tailed coats, odd little bicorn, and short boots. It also has 4 sergeants with short coats, and I was considering doing 2 colour officers from 2 of the sergeants.

I'll go with the long-tailed coats and bicorns for the officers.

Thanks, all.

GdeP