"Flags for 2 battalions of 42nd Highlanders" Topic

As most know, the 42nd Highlanders fielded two battalions in the American Revolution rather than the standard single battalion. Would each of these battalions have the regimental flag and union jack, or would one battalion simply go without any standard?

The situation of the 42nd Foot in the AWI was different from that of other multi-battalion formations, such as the 71st. The 42nd had double-sized companies (almost 100 all ranks) and hence occupied twice the ground of a typical British line regiment/battalion of the AWI period. As a result it split into two "wings" – as did most British battalions in action, but those of the 42nd happened to each be of battalion strength and hence are usually listed as such (I suspect their size allowed these "wings" to operate with greater independence than those of normal 300+ battalions). This is a better way of thinking of the 42nd, rather than as a two-battalion regiment in the conventional sense – even though it is invariably referred to as such.

(Similarly, the 1/71st and 2/71st were, prior to losses, initially re-organised into 3 battalions; the Composite Brigade of Foot Guards was also re-organised on arrival into two battalions, rather than one large one.)

As a consequence, the 42nd only had one pair of colours in America, unlike the 71st which had two pairs. I'm not sure whether the 42nd's colours were divided between the two "battalions", or whether the senior half kept both and the junior half went without. I'm tempted to go with the former, partly based on instinct and partly on the comment by Roger Lamb that he carried the King's Colour of the 23rd in a specific place in the line (in the centre of the right wing "as usual", if memory serves) that suggests the colours were often split between the two wings of a regiment/battalion in battle.

Sorry that was a bit long-winded, but I thought that a more detailed description of the 42nd's situation might help others understand what can sometimes be a confusing arrangement.

The whole purpose of the regimental system in the British army is to confuse the unitiated. With Highland regiments, even more so.

I have my 43nd colours on two separate stands. Not sure how they did it either.

Interesting comment from Lamb's. I don't recall that from the Hagist version. Is that where you read it? Worth a second look if so. Thanks SM.

Oops, that should be 42nd. :-(

I think it was the action at Camden where he reports that – something like "I was carrying the King's Colour in my usual place in the centre of the right wing" or something like that.

Hmm. I wonder if they assigned colours (sometimes) to both wings?

link

None here though

themockattack.blogspot.com

A "wing" sounds like an ad hoc administrative measure, unlike a battalion.
Battalions can expect Colours. A wing, probably not.
If the colonel commanding in the field wishes, he might give one wing the King's Colour and the other wing the Regimental Colour. Maybe.

This sounds a bit like converged battalions composed of diverse parts from many different regiments. Converged battalions carried no Colours, particularly as hoc ones.

A wing was a tactical formation, not an administrative one. It became such an important element in British infantry tactics in the Napoleonic Wars that battalions were assigned two majors to command each wing, and leave the CO free to oversee the entire battalion.

Wait, wait…
Does it mean that British did not carry both colours in the centre of the battalion ?
Do we have any other reference than (important, I know) mention by Lamb ?

Often they apparently did not carry any colours at all.

maciek – That's the only reference I've seen to that practice (in fact, I can't recall many references to colours at all in British accounts of actual battles, which is telling I think) and it makes sense if each wing carried one colour because they were operating relatively independently of each other, for it to be in the centre of the wing. That said, I suspect in most battles the battalion remained together (when the colours would be together in the centre of the battalion), and it was only the smaller actions where British battalions fought dispersed. Again, as historygamer says, they often did not carry colours at all in the field (a practice started in the F&IW).

thanks !