Military Answers

Q8. Jacobite Flags

from Kenneth Clark


Readers wishing further information on these regiments would be best starting by checking out a recent publication from Raider Books - THE BRITISH ARMY OF WILLIAM III by Alan Sapherson. A good if difficul(to find article was written in 1911 in the PROCEEDINGS OF THE HUGENOT SOCIETY OF LONDON by Charles E. Lart. It is entitled THE HUGENOT REGIMENTS and is full of fascinating information about them and their personnel.

As to uniforms and colours nothing definite is known. However a perusal of the deserter notices in the London Gazette of the times and the Treasury Books for the period gives us a clue as to some of the uniforms. The coat for the infantry was certainly white. As for facings:

Melonierie's Regiment of Foot (Col. Isaac de la Meloniere). - no information found.

Cambon's Regiment of Foot (Cambon was killed in 1693 and thereafter the Colonel was Fred William, Conte de Marton). The LONDON GAZETTE of March 14th 1691 gives a deserting surgeon of this regiment a light grey coat (suit of clothes) with a silver seam. No facings are mentioned which could mean the faciing colour was white.

Callemotte's Regiment of Foot (Col. Pierre Massue, Conte de. la Caillemotte, younger brother of the Marquis de Rivigny. He was killed leading his men accross the Boyne) The new colonel was Pierre de Belcastel. The Treasury Book for 1691 page 1113 gives a list (in French) of material sent to this regiment including "justeaux corps et veste blueu" with "surtouts gris blanc". Grey coats faced blue?

Duke of Schomberg's Regiment of French Horse fourth regiment: On his death at the Boyne the new colonel was the Marquis de Ruvigny (Henri de Massue) subsequently created Viscount Galway (loser of the Battle of Almanza - a battle where a Frenchman led the British against the French led by an Englishman). Lawson in vol. I page 126 ascribes the following uniform to this regiment: "light grey coats, lined red, brass buttons laced galoon, buff shoulder belts, swords carbines and pistols". However the note is dated from 1688According to information I have the above regiment was not raised until July 1689. I believe that Lawson confused this regiment with Galmoy's regiment of horse in 1688 but it is anyone's guess.

All of the above regiments fought throughout the Irish campaign. Indeed so bad was the English component of the Williamite army there that without these, the Dutch and the Danes, it is extremely unlikely that they would have survived the first winter.

A fourth regiment was raised of dragoons in 1695 from deserters in Flanders under the Marquis de Miremont, subsequently disbanded in Ireland in 1698 like the rest. (Aimand de Bourbon Marquis de Miremont). He had previously commanded an English cavalry regiment under James II and was to fight again in The War of the Spanish Succession leading French Hugenots.

I know of no information regarding their flags.

PS. Mr. Sapherson's subsequent book WILLIAM III AT WAR gives info on Irish Jacobite Regiments, colonels facing colours and flags - some at least, most remain unknown.


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