"Grenadiers with broad rimmed hats?" Topic

If the general consensus is that British Grenadiers did not wear their Bearskin hats in the later years – what did they wear? I assume they wore broad rimmed hats – but is this wrong? Also, did they retain their "wings" on their shoulders too? Any help is always appreciated!

If grenadiers wore uniform coats then that would include their 'flankers' shoulder wings. I don't think there is any indication that the rank and file in the principal theatres of operation wore any other form of coat. Officers on occasion would have worn a plain field service frock.

In place of the bearskin cap, they would have worn the uniform felt hat whether cocked in the regulation manner, or with one or more of the 'leaves' let down.

Interesting….I took a Brandywine Battlefield tour with Michael Harris, who wrote about the battle.

Asked him the same question. He stated they actually wore the bearskin in battle. They normally wore the broad brimmed hat as it was most practical. However, they put the bearskin on before battle because of its psychological impact.

Despite its size, the bearskin hat I saw in the Troiani exhibit at the American Revolution museum in Philly was collapsible for carrying, so this claim does seem credible.

Take it for what it is worth. My guys wear bearskins anyway because I like them.

Mine too wear bearskins. I'm not prepared to build one British army for Bunker Hill, a second for Saratoga and a third for Guilford--and I want to look at the table and tell troop types, not consult a roster which has to be around here somewhere. But that's me. No one right way to wargame.

Well, lucky1oldman seemed to be asking for factual information rather than how he should act upon it. It always strikes me as odd the defensive response that can be elicited by questions like this.

Clearly, during the Pennsylvania campaign, some grenadiers still carried their caps with them as indicated by the account from Brandywine, and also by description of the grenadiers' entrance into Philadelphia a fortnight later. On the other hand we also have reference to grenadiers wearing hats during the fighting for New York the year before.

However, the OP's question referred to the 'later years.' We do for instance,have reference to the single remaining Grenadier battalion wearing hats (decked with a white feather) when stationed on Long Island in December 1778.

What lucky1oldman does with such information is, naturally, his own business. He or anyone else can have his grenadiers riding to battle in scarlet-painted horse-drawn charabancs if he chooses. It is indeed just a game and folk can do what they want with their soldiers.

And history is history. Or then again, perhaps not.

Thanks for all the input. I'm not a wargammer, it's just my covid. project to paint some of the 54mm (mostly BMC) figs I have around. I'm trying to be as accurate as possible but I realize that it can be impossible at times due to the lack of primary sources. As my units are not that large I think i'll do both.

You're right, 42flanker.

Truth is (a) I don't know, and (b) there may not be one right answer, even confining ourselves to--well, which are the "later years" anyway? There are still new regiments arriving in the south between Hobkirk's Hill and Eutaw. I doubt they arrived from Ireland dressed like the ones who'd been campaigning in Georgia and the Carolinas for two years.

Mine also wear bearskins for every theater and year.

Mine are in bearskins for all the reasons cited.

The rest is history

Mine are bearskin guys too. I do have a couple units in floppy hats that I use to show guards units. Thought they needed some attention too.