"British overcoats and shako covers" Topic

Hello everyone ,

It appears that one of Wellington's general orders during the 1815 campaign was to have overcoats sent to the rear and stored. Supposedly to lighten the load on the infantrymen?

This applied to British and possibly KGL and Hanoverian infantry units?

This is very interesting, but particularly annoying because all wargame miniatures for these infantry generally have it on their backpack.

And for the shako covers?

Did all the British infantry carry them at Waterloo?

And the KGL and Hanoverian units had them?

And did the same?

That is a grey blanket on the backpack. Considering the weather conditions, I would be very surprised at any unit turning out without covers for expensive headgear on June 18th and that includes cavalry and gunners.

I believe that by the time they got to Paris many of the 1812 'bang up' caps were fairly wrecked.

Cavalie Mercer was not impressed : "their cap is
perhaps the meanest, ugliest thing ever invented."
\

@deadhead
Would British horsemen have worn shako covers and helmet covers during the 1815 campaign?

@42flanker
So if by the time they arrived in Paris, most of their 1812 bang up caps were pretty destroyed, is that because they weren't wearing shako covers?

Little doubt that the Scots Greys did, even if one could still get one's plume famously shot off. Helmeted Dragoons are often shown with black oilskin covers and surely Light dragoons similar.

I have an original aquatint by Charles Hamilton Smith, from his book of prints of the 1812 regulations, showing the 1st Foot Guards marching, wearing overcoats and shako covers with a separate cover for the plume. On their backs they carry a black, folding pack – not the rigid 'Trotter' – with a mess tin or plate strapped to the middle. There is no blanket roll atop the pack.

Some of the Jones sketches of Waterloo show men without a greatcoat or a blanket strapped on top of the pack while others have the blanket on top.

"Costume of the Army of the British Empire, according to the last regulations – 1814" by Charles Hamilton Smith has the following illustration for cavalry:

However trying to use your sword arm wearing a cloak would likely be difficult as your movement would be impeded.

Paskal

A letter/report by Capt. Jacobi, Luneburg Field Bn. (The Waterloo Archive Vol. II) confirms the lack of greatcoats for the Hanoverians. "The men had to give up their overcoats several weeks ago, and every man had received a woollen blanket that was strapped to the top of the knapsack."

What color woolen blanket?

And for the shako covers?

If the British infantry carry them at Waterloo.

The KGL and Hanoverian units had them?

And carry them at Waterloo?