"Did British trumpeters ride grey horses?" Topic

Starting a new thread because there seems to be some doubt on this question. There was a general order in 1799 which said: "The custom of mounting trumpeters on grey horses is to be discontinued, and they are in future to be mounted on horses of the colour or colours prescribed for the regiments to which they belong". However, there are contemporary illustrations showing trumpeters on grey horses long after this order, and the Kings Dragoon Guards apparently purchased grey horses for its trumpeters in 1805. So what is the evidence on whether or not British trumpeters actually rode grey horses in the period 1799 – 1815? Was the general order obeyed, or was it widely disregarded?

I believe the regulation was to allow Grey horses to be used by a certain Scottish regiment, but the colonels probably tried to use them for trumpeters anyway!

I am no expert though!

Cavalry regiment colonels sneered at petty regulations like that.
Who do they think they are, by Jove!

The British Army being the British Army, it is most likely that the order was most significant in its being ignored rather than obeyed. Regimental colonels had a lot of leeway and from experience I think it most likely that the trumpeter on the grey horse would have gone on 'unofficialy' for as long as possible whilst in barracks. On campaign, I suspect that it would soon fall by the wayside. In short, I think you can get away with grey horses or horses the same colour as the other troopers whichever you prefer throughout the period.

That's what I was thinking, there is probably no right or wrong answer on this. I'd still be interested to see evidence one way or the other for trumpeters in 1815.

you would have to ask Paul Dawson who did quite a lot research into cavalry horses – amonst else sellings list of horses from regiments, like browns or bays from the 2nd North British Dragoons !!

Whilst thumbing through my old Military Modelling magazines, I came across this interesting 1973 article by Dino Lemonofides.

I have made up a montage of the article for perusal.

Paul :)

Paul

Many thanks! Not only a grey horse but also uniform details for the lifeguard trumpeter. I have an old Hinchliffe figure of that very chap. You've made my day! I

I usually paint mine on one. Just because it looks nice.

The Military Modelling magazine was truly the best of its type from about 1973 up to when the editors went almost all armour. It killed it for me. I got my first issue from a W.H Smiths newsagents in September 1971 waiting for a train to take me to my first day at boarding school from Paddington station, I was with my Mum 'bless her'.

I stopped my subscription in 2008 with a heavy heart and a very, very annoying feeling of disgust. It was the second superb magazine I had subscribed to and witnessed being ruined by stupid editors who think they can improve on an already excellent formula. The other magazine was Military Illustrated, excellent up to about issue 75 then it went to rat poo!

Paul :(

A similar order banning grey horses for trumpeters was issued in 1811, or thereabouts, which implies that the original 1799 order was disregarded.

I am not at home at present but will dig out the order later. It was one of a number of supplementary orders bound into the back of my copy of General Orders and Regulations for the Army 1811.

Rod

Dibble

how I agree with you. MM is at least still going. Military Illustrated started brilliantly and I have many a cutting saved, ranging from Waterloo Uniforms to Landing craft scale drawings. Almost overnight it totally went off……….

Letter addressed by the Adjutant-General to the Colonels, or Commanding Officers, of Regiments of Cavalry, respecting the Allotment of the Horses.

Horse Guards
12th October, 1811

Sir,
I have received the Commander-in-Chief's Commands to inform you, that it is His Royal Highness the Prince Regent's Pleasure, that the Horses belonging to the Regiment under your Command shall not hereafter be allotted to Troops according to Colour, but that they shall be indiscriminately placed in Troops, as the circumstances of the Service may render most expedient.

I have likewise to inform you, that it is His Royal Highness's Pleasure, that the Trumpeters shall not hereafter be mounted on Horses of any particular Colour, but that Horses shall be allotted to them (without any reference to Colour) which are best calculated for their Service.

I have the honour to be,
Your most obedient
Humble Servant,
HARRY CALVERT
Adjutant-General

Marvellous piece of dodging the issue…bureaucracy as only Horse Guards could do

If the colonel thinks that one particular grey is the best horse for a couple of trumpeters "best calculated for their service", so as to be quickly identified…………

Still, a very useful find indeed. Does confirm the intention anyway

Many thanks Rod. As Deadhead says, an order that's easy to ignore if the Colonel was so minded…