"23rd British Light dragoons uniform Waterloo" Topic

One of the first books on Waterloo Uniforms (apart from the Funckens) I owned was Haythornthwaite's Uniforms of Waterloo. In it there is this plate of the 23rd Ld wearing a light blue dolman and a new shako. (I had a unit of them from old minifigs 25mm long time ago). All other references including the Mont Saint Jean site etc seem to describe them as wearing the ordinary dark blue uniform. Where does this uniform depicted in the book come from? Any chance it was actually worn at Waterloo? Maybe by a portion of the regiment? Thanks for any info on the subject.

C.E.Franklin's "British Napoleonic Uniforms" has some info on this. Kind of confusing, but ..
The 23rd was raised in the West Indies in 1795 as the 26th.
When raised they wore a grey (French Blue) dolman. Franklin shows a number of units in this early lighter coloured dolman.
Supposedly they should have switched to a Dark Blue dolman by 1803 when they were renumbered, Franklin shows them in the latter Dark blue and the New jackets by 1812.
Given that uniforms were usually retained until they wore out, it's possible the 23rd had the old dolmans for some time, but stretching it to 1815 seems a bit much.
That said, Haythornthwaite says his plate is based on a number of paintings and a print of 1818.

Cliff

"When the regiment was inspected in Hounslow, in February 1815, however the inspecting officer remarked that the clothing was according to regulation, and in good condition, altough the officers were 'not yet equipped with pouches and belts accdg. to order, but they are about to be furnished.'

page 41

Mollo, John, Waterloo Uniforms 1. British Cavalry – London 1973, 4 pounds and 80 pence

Thanks Cliff an vonW. I would like to actually see that print Haythorhthwaite mentioned. I also tend to believe they were dressed like every othre LDG regt, but hte light blue dolman/new shako combination is quite nice.

Link to Philip Haythornthwait's Thin Red Line

link

And this from Waterloo men. Again, by Philip Haythornthwait

He seems to have walked away from the light grey/blue cavalry jacket that was illustrated in his Blandford press, UNIFORMS OF WATERLOO in colour.

Paul :)

Great reference Paul, I still haves some foundry 1815 light dragoons lying around, maybe I'll just paint them as the 23rd and forget about the fancy dolman.

"… but the light blue dolman/new shako combination is quite nice."

Indeed so, and with the Perry plastic set, could now be built. Just sayin'…