"British Officer Epaulettes" Topic

Usually I just paint whatever is on the figures, but in assembling the Warlord British I see I have options. For captains lieutenants and ensigns especially, did they wear just an epaulet on the right shoulder or did they wear them on both? Was the practice different for light or grenadier officers? If light or grenadier officers only wore one epaulet did they have a wing on the other shoulder. Or, given that some carried fusils and took other steps not to stand out, did they not wear epaulettes at all on campaign?

Bill,

Prior to the 1768 Warrant, the aiguilette in the form of a shoulder knot, was the symbol of both commissioned, and non-commissioned rank. Some regiments had adopted epaulettes priro to that date, but officially everyone who was entitled to do so was to be wearing them after then, and by 1770, Inspection Returns suggest that everybody was.

Field officers (ie Col, Lt Col, Major) wore epaulettes on both shoulders, as did light dragoon officers, highland officers and fusilier officers, and officers of flank companies. Captains and subalterns of centre companies of the line infantry wore one epaulette only, on the right shoulder (left only for dragoon guards and dragoons, except the 2nd Dragoons who wore them on both, but this need not concern us).

Depending on regimental practice, flank company officers might wear wings under their epaulettes – more particularly the light company, but sometimes the grenadiers too.

Whilst a lot is made of officers removing their epaulettes, gorget, metallic lace, and other symbols of office at the start of the war, it was increasingly the physical damage of campaigning to the expensive uniforms that led them to wear a converted private's coat, leaving the plain crimson sash as their sole badge of rank in the field.

SM:

My research, and almost all period portraits, have led me to believe that all officers – except the flank company, Marine, and units you named above – wore only one epaulette on the right shoulder. I did read somewhere that while serving on land, some of the Marines officers may have removed the left epaulet as well.

Here is what the 1768 Royal Clothing Warrant states:

The Officers of grenadiers to wear an epaulette on each shoulder. Those of the battalion to wear one on the right shoulder. They are to be either of embroidery or lace, with gold or silver fringe

Me again. I would also say that almost all general officers only wore one epaulette on the right shoulder as well, though a bit later in the period you see the odd officer wearing two (the portrait of the siege of Gibraltar comes to mind with the Commanding General wearing two epaulets – which was unusual but perhaps was setting the coming fashion).

Note all the period portraits of Howe(okay, a rather bad tin type/drawing), Clinton, and Cornwallis all show only one epaulet on the right shoulder.

thepeerage.com/p19799.htm

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Take a look at this Major General's coat (buttons are grouped in twos for a MG). You can clearly see the button used to fasten the epaullette on the right shoulder, and also see there is none on the left shoulder.

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Note, the senior Marine General was a Lieutenant General (only one, I believe). Admiral Lord Richard Howe was passed over for this rank just before he left for North America, and he was none to pleased about it. I suspect the Marine general's wore the same coat as Army generals – on other words, a general officer as a general officer, no matter the service. I say this as Marines had white facings during this time period, but this is the exact dress general's coat as pictured in dozens of period portraits for Army generals. Note they also had an undress coat, as pictured by a couple of Cornwallis paintings done in 1780 or 1781, as show in the post above. No embroidery, but the cut of the coat (standing collar, sweeping skirts not hooked, one epaullette) is the same in all the portraits.

I will add this, apparently there are some portraits of Majors (Lt. Cols?) with two epaulettes for some foot units. They are rare, but I have to wonder if they might have been commanders of flank companies. I know that was rare, but I think you (SM) posted some instances. Someone would have to run the portraits down and check against their command at the time.

Thank you gentlemen. I guess whichever way I go I will be right and wrong.

"For captains lieutenants and ensigns especially, did they wear just an epaulet on the right shoulder or did they wear them on both?"

Line units, right only, with exception of Highlanders, fusiliers and marines = they all wore two, regardless of company they commanded.

"Was the practice different for light or grenadier officers?"

Yes, they wore two.

"If light or grenadier officers only wore one epaulet did they have a wing on the other shoulder."

Yes, generally so. Light wings were smaller, then grens.

"Or, given that some carried fusils and took other steps not to stand out, did they not wear epaulettes at all on campaign?"

See what SM said. :-)