As a supplement to Mr. Gilbert's articles in Newsletter No. 149 and 150, readers contemplating the assembly of a wargames army of this period might be interested in the details given below. While, as Mr. Gilbert says, the cut and design of these uniforms is readily available in numerous reference works, there were a number of regimental distinctions which are not generally known, but would add colour and individuality to a model army. Head-dress: Although the "stovepipe" shako was a regulation wear a stated by Mr. Gilbert, many units wore a variety of "round hat" (similar in shape to those of the Royal Marines), with tal 1 or low crowns; some officers favoured civilian beaver or straw hats with sombrero-type brim to act as protection against the sun. Fur grenadier caps, "round hats" with fur crests, and narrowbrimmed hats closely resembling seamen's head-dress were also popular. All types of head-dress, including cocked hats, were frequently worn with a "havelock"-style neck-curtain. Regimental distinctions: The following notes list regimental facing colours, officers' lace, and any unusual features of uniform used by the British regiments serving in the campaign. 2nd and 3rd Guards - Facings blue, lace gold. 1st Foot - Facings blue, lace gold. 2nd Foot - Facings blue, lace silver. In 1803 the Light Company were wearing unofficial "leather caps". 8th Foot - Facings blue, gold lace. 10th Foot - Facings yellow, silver lace. 13th Foot - Facings yellow, silver lace. Until forbidden in 1801 (May) officers wore moustaches to give the appearance of "affected singularity". 18th Foot - Facings blue, gold lace. 19th Foot - Facings green, gold lace. 20th Foot Fanings yellow, silver lace. 23rd Foot Facings blue, gold lace. Officially wore fur fusilier caps, though in 1798 were wearing "helmets", apparently of "Tarleton" (light dragoon) pattern. 24th Foot Facings green, lace silver. 25th Foot Facings yellow, gold lace, In 1803 the pioneers and drummers were wearing fur caps. 26th Foot Facings yellow, silver lace. No grenadier caps in 1802. 27th Foot Facings buff, gold lace. Buff breeches. 28th Foot Facings yellow, silver lace. The Grenadier company and possibly others had captured French knapsacks. 30th Foot Facings light yellow, silver lace. 36th Foot Facings green, gold lace. Prior to the Egyptian campaign the Light Company wore fur-crested "round hats" with green plumes, the remainder having cocked hats. 40th Foot Facings buff, gold lace. Buff breeches. 42nd Foot Facings blue, gold lace. Conventional "Highland" uniform with kilts of "Government" tartan. 44th Foot - Facings yellow, silver lace. 50th Foot - Facings black, silver lace. 54th Foot - Facings green, silver lace. 58th Foot - Facings black, gold lace. A watercolour of February 1802 shows dark blue breeches in use. 61st Foot - Facings dark buff, silver lace. Dark buff breeches. Watercolours executed in Egypt show a variety of "round hats" used by all except the Grenadiers; they are shown in fur caps with brass front-plates, the caps being flat-topped and exactly resembling a peakless "stovepipe" shako in shape. 79th Foot - Facings dark green, gold lace. "Highland" uniform, kilts of Cameron of Erracht tartan. 80th Foot - Facings yellow, gold lace. Apparently all companies wore white plumes, not just the Grenadiers. 86th Foot - Facings yellow, silver lace. 88th Foot - Facings yellow, silver lace. 89th Foot - Facings black, gold lace. 90th Foot - Dressed and equipped as light infantry; facings pale buff, gold lace. Grey breeches; "Tarleton" helmets worn by all ranks, these having green plumes and turbans. 92nd Foot - Facings yellow, silver lace. "Highland" uniform with kilts of Gordon tartan, though on previous Mediterranean service in the 1790's had worn white trousers or tartan trews, "round hats", leather caps or featherless bonnets. 96th Foot - Facings buff, silver lace. CAVALRY 8th Light Dragoons - Uniforms of regulation cut, but of grey/blue-grey tropical material, with red facings and silver lace. Tarleton helmets with red turbans worn up to 1800; thereafter "tin" helmets with iron skulls and black-painted peaks, brass crests with long red horse-hair mane, and black turbans. 11th Light Dragoons - Conventional light dragoon uniform, with buff (actually pale cream) facings and helmetturbans, blue jackets, silver lace and buff breeches. 12th-Light Dragoons - Blue light dragoon uniforms, buff facings and helmet-turbans, silver lace white breeches. 26th Light Dragoons - Light dragoon uniform, officially blue with blue facings and silver lace; but a watercolour of c. 1800 shows French-grey jackets with scarlet facings, grey breeches piped white, and a "stovepipe" shako. Sabretaches covered with leopardskin. "FOREIGN CORPS" The uniforms of the several "Emigrant" and mercenar,; regiments which served with the British army are listed below: De Roll's Regiment - Standard infantry uniform, light blue facings, silver lace. "Round hats" with bearskin crests and red turbans worn by all except Grenadiers, who had fur caps with white plumes. The remainder wore red-tipped white feathers; officers wore "round hats" without crest and turban, or wide-brimmed "sombrero"-type hats with plumes at left-hand side. De Watteville's Rpgiment - Infantry uniform; black facings, silver lace. Dillon's Regiment - Infantry uniform; golden-yellow facings. Blue overalls worn with black light infantry gaiters. Chasseurs Britanniqaues - Wore Russian uniforms of green with yellow collars; Russian accoutrements. Hompesch's Chasseurs a Cheval - Red "stovepipe" shako with brass front-plate, black turban and whiteover-red plume. Dark green jackets with red facings and half-plastron; red breeches; gold lace. Some sources show black shakos with red turbans and white-over-black plumes, and bright blue breeches. Shabraques were dark green with red "vandycked" edges. Lowenstein's Chasseurs - Black or grey "round hats", with wide brims fastened up on one side, edged with green lace; green or white plumes. Light blue jackets with green facings and half- lapels, light blue breeches with green piping. Corsican Rangers - "Stovepipe" shakos with green plume, "round hats"v or black cocked hats with white plumes; green coats with black facings, white breeches with black gaiters. Black leather equipment. Minorca Regiment - (Became Queen's Own Germans in 1801). Infantry uniform, yellow facings. INDIAN ARMY UNITS Artillery: The Indian artillery corps (Bengal Horse Artillery, Bengal, Madras and Bombay Foot Artillery) wore uniforms of the same colouring as those of the British artillery, i.e. blue faced red with gold lace; natives wore their own version of peakless, bell-topped shako, whilst Europeans generally wore "round hats". Engineers: Generally uniformed in a similar manner to the Royal Engineers. Engineers of all three Presidencies were present in Egypt. Infantry: Natives wore the dark blue sepoy shako, with red jackets and short white trousers. The 1st and 2nd Bombay Native Infantry regiments served in Egypt; their facings were yellow. Also present was a battalion of volunteers from the Bengal Native Infantry. OTHERS The Ancient Irish Fencibles also served in Egypt, being one of the few Fencible corps employed outside the British Isles; they were uniformed as a line regiment. SOURCES Most of the above information comes from contemporary paintings, written accounts of the campaign, dress regulations and Inspection Returns. For more intricate details, W.Y.Carman's "Indian Army Uniforms" and C.P.P.Lawson's "History of the Uniforms of the British Army" are the best references. Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 152 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1974 by Donald Featherstone. 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