rufouswargamer | 22 Feb 2017 5:44 a.m. PST |
Hi everyone, this is my first post. Did a British line battalion's light company officers wear long coat tails and bicornes like the centre company officers or did they dress like the officers in the light infantry regiments? I am especially interested in the 41st Foot in North America in the War of 1812. |
Artilleryman | 22 Feb 2017 6:39 a.m. PST |
Light company officers tended to ape the light infantry dress as much as possible. Therefore they would wear shakos instead of bicornes and short-tailed jackets(before 1812). Of course all officers went to shakos and short coats in 1812 but it would take some time for the new regulations to filter through. For the light company of the 41st in North America I would go with stove pipe shakos and short coats until 1814 and then have them adopt the 'Belgic' shako. |
IronDuke596 | 22 Feb 2017 11:46 a.m. PST |
Artilleryman is spot on. I would add that the 41st (both 1st and 2nd battalions) wore the Belgic shako by April of 1814. |
attilathepun47 | 22 Feb 2017 12:21 p.m. PST |
IronDuke596, Let me remind you of this previous TMP thread from 26 Oct. 2016: "41st Regiment uniform" Topic |
SJDonovan | 22 Feb 2017 1:16 p.m. PST |
If you want to make your light infantry officers really stand out you could probably get away with giving one of them a totally non-regulation hussar-style pelisse. These are particularly associated with officers of the 43rd rather than the 41st but I reckon any light company officer who wanted to impress the ladies might have adopted one.
If you are using 15mm figures it is easy to do a 'paint conversion' of a rifles officer to get a dandified light infantry officer. |
42flanker | 22 Feb 2017 1:28 p.m. PST |
You might want to avoid the post-1829, spherical, light infantry 'ball tuft', though (winky smiley face). |
SJDonovan | 22 Feb 2017 1:32 p.m. PST |
Good point. I was so entranced by the chap's coat I failed to look at his hat. Happens a lot to me. (sickly blue grin) |
AOORHB6 | 26 Feb 2017 11:06 a.m. PST |
Just ahead of his time fashion wise :) |
McLaddie | 26 Feb 2017 12:06 p.m. PST |
Remember that officers provided their own uniforms and 'regulations' about such were fairly loose for officers, particularly those at higher ranks. That's why light officers [particularly the 95th] could ape light cavalry/hussar fashions with impunity… So, the 'ball tuft' could well have been seen… |
42flanker | 26 Feb 2017 1:11 p.m. PST |
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rufouswargamer | 27 Feb 2017 4:36 a.m. PST |
I'm wondering would the officers' stovepipes be just like the men's (in other words would a simple head swap onto a light infantry or post-1812 officer's body do it)? SJDonovan, I'm modelling with 1:72 figures and I'll be doing the 43rd later for New Orleans. I was thinking about using one of the Italeri 95th rifles officers link for that regiment. Thanks for the advice. |
SJDonovan | 27 Feb 2017 2:41 p.m. PST |
As far as I know the officers' stovepipes were essentially the same as for the rank and file but I have a feeling that for regiments that had silver lace the regimental badge for officers would have been white metal but the rank and file would have had yellow metal. However, I am not sure about this so you might want to check before you get painting. Glad to hear you are doing the 43rd as well. One of my favourite regiments. That Italieri officer is a really nice sculpt. |
dibble | 27 Feb 2017 6:12 p.m. PST |
link link 43rd Coatee of William Napier
Paul :) |
42flanker | 28 Feb 2017 3:16 a.m. PST |
I think Signor Italieri might also be wearing something closer to an 1844 shako. Shhh… |