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Osprey - Men-At-Arms 114 Wellington's Infantry 1 (Osprey MaA 114)

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Osprey - Men-At-Arms 114 Wellington's Infantry 1 (Osprey MaA 114)

Osprey
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AT-ARMS SERIES WELLINGTON’S INFANTRY 1 114 BRYAN a Composition of the Infantry 1763 the infantry comprised three regiments of Guards, 124 ‘marching regiments of Foot’, Aida few Fencible regiments—in all, some 150 Tuttlions’ In addition there were overseas a umber of Provincial and similar units raised Teioreor during the Seven Years’ War. The return ‘peace brought inevitable disbandments, and the only permanent additions to the subsequent few establishment were the 5oth to 7oth Regi- smentsofFoot. The outbreak of the War of American Inde prudence saw a further expansion of the infantry Wo 105 regiments, the last being the so-called Wolunteers of Ireland’ raised in North America Dut subsequently taken into the Line in 1782. Several regiments received second battalions; and jn addition the war produced more than 90 Provincial (American loyalist) corps, ranging in Jporiance from one unit with only 4o members, Aothe very strong Queen's Rangers, taken into the Linein 1782 with 1,000 officers and men, and De Lancey’s Brigade, with a strength of 1,750. ‘The end of this war saw the infantry again feduced, this time to 75 regiments by 1785. When Britain went to war with Revolutionary France in ‘7ge the arm was expanded to 135 regiments plus many more second battalions. For example, in 1993 the following battalions were raised: 1 and ajglth; 7oth to 88th inclusive; grst, ogra, o4th, gjth;and 1o2nd. In 1794 they were augmented by the 2/81st, 2/8and, 1 and 2/goth, 2/gzst, gand, sloth, 97th, goth, tooth and rorst; and by single- battalion regiments numbered 1oged to rgoth and selrandsly or theduratn ike canfi quien Hdllingtons Infantry (i) rgand to 134th inclusive, The following year the 27th, 2[83rd, 5(6oth, gist and 135th were ‘commissioned, and in 1800 the 95th (Rifles) (Coote-Manningham's) In addition, many French émigré and other foreign regiments were raised for service, together with a German Legion largely based upon exiled Hanoverian troops. There was a corresponding ‘expansion of the Militia and Volunteer establish- ments. The Regular Militia was a conseripted force of infantry, levied by ballot, supplementary to the Regular Establishment for which it was intended to provide reinforcements. Each county was responsible for raising its own force out of funds provided by the local rates. Command of the try shaka ofthe eype worn between c.tBogand 1a6-—the i beayy eather pacer of ths cp, The back alt, sarobded Lee, was normaly folded wp ted besked im plse {Retinal Army Muscum-ae are all she in Specially credited nochersanrecs) Fores’ New Manual Exercize of {nfunery company sldiers wenn Panch chore The ecb fee 4 ape of facing The Tandlbntwithafer Note he dark (green?) eather tthe cocked hn of he Srensed dpe with battemieftyhetoowenrsaahortaiedjacket forces was vested in the Lord-Lieutenant. igHamilton Smith produced chartsidentify- units in Great Britain and 38 in Ireland; were alo three regiments on Guernsey and companies on Sark. The Militia became nbodie’ when it was called out for permanent iesand organized into bodies capable of taking field; and in the 17908 this was done. Special ‘were passed enabling militiamen to be d into the regular Line regiments and to ‘oerseas; one of 1708 also promised a large ry to recruits, but failed to achieve worth- results Local Militia was the reserve force of the \gsmall rural companies, lometimes larger unit, of rank and file with a INGOs and one or two officers, usually local “They were also raised by ballot, for periods four years; unlike Regular Militia, they were allowed to escape service by means of provid- substitutes, and had to serve personally he Volunteers were privately raised units of totic citizens subsidised by local magnates and tons. In 186 the force had 328,956 officers men in units which bore the name of their lghbouthoods followed by ‘Infantry’ or funters’—cg, Clapham Volunteers. With fewexceptions the Volunteer units were disbanded iniBi3. Under subsequent Acts second battalions were tated for many existing regiments: e., in 1802 “forthe grd, 8th, 26th, goth, goth, 42nd, 44th, 47th, ‘yr, 57th, 58th, Bist, 65th, 67th, and gand, A finilae Act of 1803 gave second battalions to the sho roth inclusive, 14th, fagth 27th, gist, g2nd, 36th, 38th, goth, goth, sand, 56th, 5oth, Agr, 87th, 88th, (Royal Scots) were granted an additional third “battalion, and added a fourth later; while the thand 27th each received third battalions. Tn 1797 six regiments—the 9th, 16th, 22nd, ‘ith, 55th and 65th were given leave to recruit boys under 18} years of age, offering a special tounty. Many ofthese recruits were barely in their teens, and consequently these units became known asthe Boy Regiments’ ‘The eflective infantry strength rose by a factor af three between 1793 and 18or, and the three Infantry shako of dhe type worn between ¢stoGand 8:0. This nthe lighter patera sudo ele, bat inthis eat thas ben lgeere for protection; nose dhe are exposed at top lettyaad eyed Pak cometfocton Tan pat ef cheenirtoes [Piinbetphrepnental erento dat are recorded pment Samiere re smneimes somped Ino he regiments of Foot Guards strengthened. Oman gives the similarly fantry a rise from 31,979 to £17,953 men, and the Foot Guards from 2,885 t08,725, The overall strength ofthe infantry in 1803 was 126,677 (privates and corporals—add approximately one-cighth for senior NCOs and From 1792 county titles were offically bestowed on the numbered infantry regiments not already in possession of particular designations. However, they also continued to be referred to officially by their colonels’ names, especially in Parliamentary s, until at least 1803. Colonels were given junctions to create positive inks with the s associated with their regiments ‘Most major Army reforms between 1795 and 1803 were the direct result of the work of Prime Minister William Pitt and of Frederick, Duke of York, the Commander-in-Chief, following the disastrous campaigns in Holland; Sir John Fortescue gives his opinion that these changes were the most significant in the history of the Army up to that time, Commanders and Staff ‘When war broke out with the French Republicans there was no true commander-in-chie of the Army, Lord Amherst had been the so-called ‘“General-on-the-Stafl” between 1778 and 1782, and held thesame appointment between 1793 and 1795 but, in most respects, it was Pitt who formally created the triumvirate of Secretary of War, Under-Secretary of State for War, and Com- mander-in-Chief. From about 1798 the Secretary of War became responsible for the Colonies; and in April 1798 the Duke of York was appointed Commander-in-Chiet. The Duke of York's Reforms HRH Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany, xo, the second son of King George IIT, had been a Field-Marshal for three years; in 1798 Infantry shake of 12 pattern worn by an ‘Sfantry company afte sged Foot ‘Regiment at Waterloo ‘beg hore badge he was 35 years of age. At 16 he had been sent by his father to Berlin to study the art of war under Frederick the Great. He proved a good student, and returned home with many sound, practical ideas. He was given command of the British contingent in the campaigns in the Low Countries in 1793 and 1794 and, probably unjustly received much of the blame for its poor showing The famous nursery rhyme became popular at that time as a cynical broadsheet commentary af hisleadership Although the Duke became the scapegoat for many of the Army's shortcomings, they wert actually of long standing. He was not the bes of ficld commanders, and there seems little doubt that his talents lay in the and reform. His most important achievement was ield of administration the restoration of discipline and morale in the officer corps The British force in Holland received scathing criticism from foreign military observers and Allied commanders. ‘There were damning com ments on the appalling behaviour of officers, helt lack of care for their men and their generally nken demeanour. The Army as a whole showed up badly in the field. The drill manual were out of date, the battalions were of poor quality ‘or medical support, and uniform clothing was old-fashioned and of disgraceful quality. The men were prone to ill-discipline, mainly because of ar there was litle or no effective commissary their conditions, and the fact that the time they had to serve overseas was far too long—ten years abroad for every five served at home. Some unt had been abroad in foreign stations for more than ‘The Dukeset himself the daunting task ofcurng these problems as quickly as possible, and theres little doube that during his term of office much was achieved—by the standards of that time, Field ses were revised; strict codes behaviour for officers and senior NCOs were introduced; medical services were improved and and manual exe the Treasury was coerced into giving the Come) RRS el ‘Shapulled dawn squareon thebead. Lend fib Bay 1805 le Nas 0 See missariat a better formal structure than the old, out-moded Corps of Captain-Commissaries and Drivers. Additional measures were introduced to improve and standardise much of the uniform clothing, 8 Besides being Commander-in-Chief, the Duke was created Captain-General of the Armed Services in Great Britain and all forces of the Crown employed in Europe, although the Home Secretary control of the Milita, Volunteers and Yeomanry Cavalry the Duke reduced the number of infantry regiments to around 100, and made the battalions of uniform strength; formed depét companies to facilitate training and recruiting; and tant formed inefficient battalionsinto second battalions for stronger existing regiments. He also helped create a better General Staff structure linking his office at the Horse Guards, Whitehall, with generals commanding armies, districts, brigades and divisions. He helped raise the Royal Stall Corps witha strength of five companies. A superior technical Staff body, this served Abercromby ia Egypt, and came into its own in the Peninsula where it blossomed into a highly efficient corp under the Duke of Wellington. In addition the Duke of York saw to the formation of the Royal Waggon Train from the cumbersome Corps of Waggoners and Drivers—also known as the ‘Newgate Blues'—and generally considered tobe arascally crew ofblackguards. ‘Under the Commander-in-Chief were two main military branches of the General Staffs the Departments of the Adjutant-General and the Quartermaster-General, each with an establie ment of Deputies, Assistants and Deputy: Assistants. The C-in-C himself had a stall consisting of a military secretary, aides-de-camp and brigade majors, and commanders in the fill had similar support The Adjutant-General was responsible for all matters relating to discipline, regulation armsand clothing; the QMG, for the provision of certain ‘quartering, marches, movements and intelligence. Financial matters came under the control ofthe Treasury, which also controlled the provision of food, forage and transport via the Commissariat, A subsidiary of the Treasury wat the Paymaster-General’s office, which dealt with pay; this was delivered, often tardily, to the battalions under the auspices of Agents who acted as regimental bankers. In addition a specially convened Board of General Officers wai responsible for the inspection and selection ofall Bilorms and equipment which were approved Saerscaled pattern by the Sovereign, There remained the Board of Ordnance, an Wficent traditional body which was a law unto fuel controlling the design and manufacture of illey and firearms of all kinds. The Duke fonidered itan inefficient body. Inthe early 1790s there were few purpose-built Famicks in England, although more existed in Tieand, and fortified farms and manor houses Seer used in Scotland. Large bodies of troops had fobe quartered in alehouses, farms, and domestic Wurllings provided by local watch committees. In yg the post of Barrackmaster-General was Geeated, the first incumbent being a Deputy ‘Adjatant-General, to launch a major programme fer the construction of barrack blocks at selected. pints throughout the United Kingdom. One Tundeed such establishments, mostly of poor standard, were built within the first 25 years ofthe Iythentury, enabling the Army to develop from. A losely-knit force depending entirely on an ad hie civilian-based quartering system into an Wiicient and self-sufficient organization totally hused in specially provided cantonments. Tn1799the Duke of York was further responsible foe the formation of a school for aspiring young Saif oficers at High Wycombe, and personally selected the irst go pupils. This later became the Staff College. He is also said to have been mainly responsible, during much the same period, for the formation of a Royal Military School at Great Marlow Tn March 1809, due to indiscretions by his mistress who had been corruptly selling com- mnisions, the Duke was forced to resign, His succesor was Sir David Dundas, QMG between 96 and 1803, Dundas was elderly and tentative and much less effective in office than the Duke the Army heaved a collective sigh of relief when, theDuke was re-instated in 1811, remaining in the postuntil 1827 In 1806 William Pitt died, and in the ensuing palitical upheaval William Wyndham assumed } sponsibility for the War Department. In April of that year he determined that the compulsory Aspects of recruitment, and drafts via the Militia tsa result of the Additional Forces Acts, should (ease; thereafter enlistment should be on a purely voluntary basis. To encourage recruiting it was decided to make the Army more attractive and additional measures were introduced. Hence forth each two years’ service in the dreaded West Indies counted as three years of normal service pensions were introduced and men were per- ‘wenn in plee of Ch vatliaen ialaety plat. td beter peak, posd-qualty fl ren, and ribbed uk ribbons worn ‘Shin apes The nh Regiment revained this patter ofcap. Complete with back and fron plates during the Wateroa mitted to enlist for short periods rather than for life. ‘There were three successive enlistment periods, each being of seven years in the infantry, and each re-enlistment attracted higher pay. ‘Apart from the influence of the Duke of York, several general officers in the field influenced the development of infantry and tactics during the period. The most important was Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington; but Sir John Moore's important part in the development of Light Infantry and Rifle Corps, and the trust and affection which were given to Sir Ralph Aber- cromby by al the troops under his command, also materially affected the development of the British infantry Wellington It is obviously impossible to give more than the briefest summary here of the man whose profes- sional and personal dominance over the British Army in a critical period had such enormous results, for the Army, Britain, and Europea large; excellent biographies are readily available. It should perhaps be mentioned, however, that his predominance among British military figures of the Napoleonic era isso far beyond challenge tht the form we have chosen for the title of this book and future companion volumes will, we feel sum beaccepted as entirely just and natural. Arthur Wellesley, third surviving son of the second Lord Mornington, was probably born on 30 April or 1 May 1769—the exact day and place are slightly obscure. His family were minor and impoverished Anglo-Irish aristocrats; as a boyhe was considered to be quite without promise. He went to Eton, and from there to the Military Academy at Angers, France, where he wat instructed by strategists including Pignerol. (At the same period Napoleon Bonaparte, also bom in 1769, wasa studentat the Academy at Brienne) On 7 March 1787 Wellesley was gazetted an ensign in the 73rd Foot, and on 25 December the same year he was promoted toa licutenancyin the 76th, Shortly afterwards he served for some time with the cavalry, in both the 12th and 18th Light: Dragoons. In April 1793 he obtained his majority in the ggrd Foot, and in September the same year hhe became its Ticutenaintcolonel; this rapid progress from ensign to lieutenant-colonel was obtained by the usual purchase system of that period His active service began in May 1794 when he ‘went to Flanders with the Duke of York, and: later commanded the rearguard during the rere to the River Waal. On his return to Eng deeply disturbed by the sights he had scen i Flanders, he worked hard to bring the 3rd up ‘a higher standard of efficiency, and to improve ‘own professional education. Posted to the We Indies in the spring of 1795, he was obliged return when the fleet sustained storm damage. ‘was with his regiment at Poole until April 17gh ‘when he was granted the colonelcy and the te ment was posted to the East Indies. In Feb 1797 the gjrd was on the Bengal establishment. ‘Wellesley served with dedication and d in India until 1805, His elder brother ‘ment as Governor-General of Indi him to advantageous commands, but in them was due to his own growing sionalism. In 1799 he commanded a division inti ‘campaign against Tipoo Sahib, Sultan of Myao d was made governor after the capture of the ian’s capital, Seringapatam. Promoted major. in May 1802 after further action against Mahrattas, he achieved his first major victory fan independent command at Asaye in ber 1803. With 1,800 British and 5,200 troops and 22 guns, he defeated 40,000 hrattas with roo guns. After another victory at “Athough much feted in India, at home he was another ‘sepoy general’, and avery junior one. fs late 1805 he commanded a brigade under athcart in the abortive expedition to Hanover ad next saw action at Copenhagen in August 7, where his Reserve Brigacieof excellent light gops captured Kjoge. In 1808 he was promoted eatenant-gencral, and sailed for Portugal; there ad some 17,500 men on a vaguely undertaking operations against French occupicrs of the Iberian Peninsula 108 and 1814 (with one short absence) ‘eld the Peninsular Field Army in a series of fealating victories, which made his name a Household word, and the professional ‘eputation ofthe British Army toa level unknown fice MarIborough. Created Viscount Wellington Talavera for his victory outside that town in log, he returned home in June 1814 to a hero's welcome. AMiera year of diplomatic missionsat the highest, Ire he took command ofthe Anglo-Allied army inthe Waterloo campaign of June 1815. Here he fiught Napoleon in person forthe ist time; and hare the lesons he had leamed during the long Peninsular campaigns bore ther final fruit. The Trish infantry fought in their usual exemplary Syle and held the feld unsil evening brought the Prosians, and the final rout of the French. It is alleged that as Napoleon lft the field he turned to lisaide, Gen. Comte de Flahaut, and exclaimed, ‘Ithasalways been thesame, ever since Crécy!" 5 favoured too, in raising its standards of excellence. He used it carefully, on ground Iwhich he selected to give it maximum advantage and protection; and he came to understand its and weaknesses exactly. A. strict Aisciplinarian, he knew when to turn a blind eye He asked a great deal from his men, but always tried to ensure that they had the equipment, the training and the officers they deserved. He intro- duced reforms which improved their career structure and their comfort and health alike. He never bullied them over pointless details, but insisted on the highest standards of professional behaviour in the field. He was nearly always ‘outnumbered and far from reinforcements; it became his invariable habit to use his men's lives sparingly, and in return he gained their trust— though never the sentimental affection they had given Moore or Abereromby. Establishment In March (o6 the strength of the infantry was approximately 160,000 officers and men, includ- ing the large and prestigious King’s German Legion. In 1807 the bounty for a militiaman transferring to the regular Line was £10, and an ‘Omicers sword belt breastplate of the ggrd Foot, of the pattern worn from sao to iiss after that date the aver Platehnd the word wartiso added beneath the Garter Earp ued ene inberge wees” censigney was given to any Militia officer who Drought 4o volunteers with him. 1809 Establishment In 1809 there were 25 18t Bus. and 42 and Bas. serving in the United Kingdom, together with three grd Bns.—although the 3/tst Foot had been at Walcheren and was with Moore at Corunna. Eleven 1st Bns., 15 and Bns. and one grd Bn. served with the Peninsular Army; of these the sth Rifles had been with There were 10 1st Bns., three and Bns. and one 3rd Bn, in Sicily with Sir Charles Stuart, Two 1st Bas, served at Gibraltar, and two rst and two ‘and Bns. on Madeira ‘Twenty-one ist Bns. and two and Bns. were in the East Indies; in the West Indies were 21 1st Bns,, two and Brs., and four grd Bns.; four 1st Bas. ‘were at the Cape of Good Hope, and a further six 1st Bns. were in Canada and Nova Scotia. Two 1st Bas, served in New South Wales. The deployment produced a total of 179 active battalions, which varied in strength from unit to ‘unit and from time to time. Examples are the 1st Foot, the Royal Scots, with four battalions tot ling 4,026 all ranks; the 7th Fusiliers, with two battalions totalling 2,031; the 23rd Fusiliers, with ‘two battalions and 2,079; the gand Foot, whose ‘two battalions totalled 1,829; the 42nd High landers, with two battalions totalling 2,031; the seven battalions of the Goth Rifles, with 4,8475 the 61st Foot, with two battalions and 1,820 men; the 88th Foot, with two battalions and 2,031; the ggrd Highlanders, whose two battalions totaled 1,820; the 1o1st Foot, with one battalion of go and thesingle-battalion rogrd Foot, with ony 488 all ranks. This cross-section gives an average strength of g80 officers and men per battalion. the three battalions ofthe 1st Foot Guardshad 4,619 all ranks; the two battalions of the 2nd Foot Guards, 2,887; and the two battalions of the gl Foot Guards, 1,887. Both stand and Foot Guards sent their flank companies to Walcheren, and detached companies of the 2/2nd and 2(grd were sent to Cadiz in 18ro. Inaddition to the active regiments the establis ‘ment included Veteran and Garrison units; in Bog there were 12 of the former and eight of the latter. Veteran Battalions varied in strength from 693. to 1,129 officers and men; the Garrison Regiments each had an establishment of 906. At ‘one time there were as many as 16 Garrison and 13 Veteran units, ‘There were also several foreign corps in Brit service, including De Meuron’s, De Natteville’y and De Roll’s, besides several regiments named ‘York’ which seem to have had the character af penal units, Apart from these there were the French émigrés of the Chasseurs Britanniques; and Dutch, Italian, Corsican, Sicilian, Greek, Maltese and even Albanian corps. The excelleat King’s German Legion had ten infantry battic Tions, four of which the 1st, and, 5th and 7th= served in the Peninsula; the ged, 4th, 6th and were in Sicily, and the gth and roth werestationed in the UK, although they served at Walcheren Four of these battalions had strengths of 1,062 all ranks in 180g; the others had establishments 62. Horse Guards occasionally allowed active regiments of Foot to recruit foreigners; these mostly Germans, or other Europeans who. been occupied by, or prisoners of, the French jiment of Frenchmen from the prison hulks ot encouraged. The foreigners serving King Poles, Duteh, Italians ians, Swedes, Danes, Russians, and even although the later were normally seen in fof Music as ‘Jani included sary Percussion’ players. Infantry in the Peninsula: ive Strength, January 1814 strength in bracket Diss (Lt.Gen. Sir Jobn Hope) ... (8,230) land's Brigade: 1/15t Foot Guards (785); Ygrd Foot Guards (776) Sopford’s Bde: 1/and FG (767); 1/3rd FG (864 Hinuber's Bde: 13t Line Bn. KGL (574); 2nd Line Bn. KOL (532); 5th Line Bo. KGL (gla); 1st Lt. Ba. KGL (568); and Lt. Ba KGL (585) Aylmer’s Bic: 1/62nd Foot (427); 76th (546) 7th (170); 85th (go); and from March iBrg, 1/37th (strength not included). ‘ad Divison (Lt.Gen, Sir Rowland Hill Tames Bde: goth (345); r/718t (498); sjgand (391); 1 company 5/60th (49) “Byne’s Bae: 2/31st Foot (271) and 1/66th (178) (6.270) ‘combined as 1st Provisional Bn.; 1 coy. 5/60th Rifles (45) Pringle’s Bee: 1/28th (485); 1/34th (410) 1gath (565); 1 coy. 5/60th (47) Harding's Bde: 6th and 8th Portuguese L {th Portuguese Cacadores (total 1,918) Unattached Portuguese Division (Maj.Gen, Le Cor) ... 7) Da Costa's Bee: and and 14th Portuguese Line (total 1,802) Buchan’s Bde: 4th and roth Portuguese Line; oth Cagadores (total 1,969) get Ditision (L.Gen. Sir Thomas Picton) (537) Brisbane's Bde: 1/45th Foot (496); 1/74th (438); 1/88th (738); 4 coys. 5/6oth Rifles (197) Keane's Bde: 1/5th (640); 2)83rd (371); 2/87th (305); t/o4th (350) Power's Bde: gth and rath Portuguese Lines rth Cagadores (total 1,782) ath Divison (Lt.Gen. Hon. Sir G, Lowry Cole) 389) Anson’s Bde: 3/27th Foot (564); 1/4oth (468); 48th (113); and Provisional Bo, partly 2/594 (total 480); t coy. 5(6oth Rifles (45) Ross's Bde: 1/7th (604); 7oth (395); t/aged (420); 1 coy. Brunswick-Oel (42) Vanconcelle’s Bde: rrth and agrd Portuguese Line; 7th Casadores (total 15058) th Division (Maj,Gen, Hon. C. Colville) (3.597) Hay's Bde: 3/1st Foot (320) ; 1/oth (482); 1/8th 84) a/a7th (298); # coy. Branawick-Oels 25) Robinson's Bde: 1/4th (344); 2/ 99th (268); 284th (agg); 1 coy. Brunawick-Ocls (20) De Regoa’s Be: ond and 1gth Portuguese Line; ‘th Cagadores (total 1224) 6th Division (L1.Gen. Sir H. Clinton) ... (5,243) Pack’s Bde: /42nd Foot (669); 1/79th (594)3 t/g1st (458); t coy. 560th Rifles (37) Oficers jacket of she tt Bn, Goth (Royal American) Regi Sevens shipping verses were tl Lang pattern or wide the i Sthudesie wereequipped withihelater Lambert's Bde: 6th (365); Douglas's Bde: 8th and 12th Portuguese Line ith Cacadores (total 1,775) 3,925) h Rifles Light Division (Maj.Gen. C. Alten) Kempt’s Bde: 1/4grd Foot (724); 1/95} (422); glosth Rifles (365) Colborne’s Bde: 1) and (714) ; a/asth Rifles 350 plus 17th Portuguese Line; rst and grd Cagadores (total 1,350) Unattached Maj.Gen. Bradford’s Bde: 1gth and 24th Portuguese Lines 5th Cagadores (total 1,449) Brig.Gen, Campbell's Bde: 1st and 6th Portuguese Line; 4th Cagadores (total 1,561) Capt. Gibson: 13th Royal Veteran Bn. (871 Army Life Recruiting A ‘beating order’ was obtained from the com- ‘manding officer of the battalion, and the sergeant- ‘major was usually entrusted with the task of selecting men for the detail. The recruiting party consisted of an officer, two sergeants, a drummer, and from two to five men. Their orders were to 4 ‘beat up’ an area. Members of the party were supposed to be picked for their smart appearance, to be ‘chosen men’ permitted to improve their uniforms by the addition of bunches of national coloured ribbons, or favours, pinned to their caps Inreality many appear to have been elderly NOOs who could easily be spared, along with sub: standard privates, Experienced officers of avuncular manner were naturally chosen rather than hard-nosed, foppish subalterns. In such areas as Chatham, Portsmouth, Falmouth and Dover the recruiters steered well clear of the waterfront ‘where the voracious naval press-gangs roved. In 1808 there were 26 District Surgeons ready 0 ‘check recruits; and during the whole period of the Napoleonic Wars doctors ‘surgeries’ and martial recruiting parties were prominent features of life in cities, towns and villages: ‘Drumming and fifing was heard in the streets from dawn until dusk .. The reeruit saw the doctor after taking “the King’s shilling’. If he was passed fit—and most were—he received his bounty. This was usually about £2.12s.; it was increased in 1812, reduced in 1814, and increased again in 1815 From this sum he had to pay two guimeas for is knapsack, leaving him only some os. from what had at first appeared a sizeable sum. Mustered under a sergeant, the party of recruits would thea be marched off to the nearest depdt, where they were ‘sized’ and allocated to their companies They messed together, receiving two meals daily—breakfast and dinner. Drills began almest immediately, to the new standards laid down by the Duke of York. Mondays and Fridays were given over to Battalion Drill, Thursdays and Saturdays to Brigade Drill; Wednesdays were Field Days, and Thursday was the soldier's Dayof Rest. They were drilled two or three times daily under the eye of tough NCOs; and this pattem lasted six or seven months. Once they had mastered the intricate drill movements they Proved onto drilling with the musket, orfielock’ Recruits were not allowed out ofthe depot until Ber Tattoo, which was beaten at dusk. When Sberinitial training was complete they were given ihe pay of a fully trained soldier, and their first fipimental headdress. They were then considered fit for active service, However, training did not fh there; even after being posted to their manent company ‘home’ they continued t0 freciveregular drills wherever they werestationed, In they were finally posted overseas, Glothing provided on enlistment varied, but in igs they were given linen trousers, waistcoats, fd plain red ‘slop’ jackets in summer; in winter they were also given cotton drawers, and sleeved ‘yastcoats of flannel. At a later date this ‘slop’ thing was changed to ‘a red jacket made to Tatton all the way down, with a collar of the facings, and the button of the regiment, a short waistcoat lined with flannel, a pair of mixed- {eloue cloth trousers and a plain “round” hatand fockade’ (WO!72/1795) Ageand Height Th793 Major Murdoch Maclean raised 100 men forthe 8th Regiment. We are fortunate that he farciully recorded their ages and heights, giving aneat break-down of what we may estimate are fore or less typical percentages. The recruits ranged in age from 15 to 5 years. The highest percentage (33%) were between 30 and 95 There were gt% between 18 and 24; 19% Iesween 25 and 29; and only 17% between 15 ad 17. OF the 100 men only three were 5ft. toins. or taller. Of the remainder, 23% were sft. 4ins., and 21%, were below this height; 27% were 5ft. 6ins tosft.7in. tall, and 16% 5ft. 7ins. to 5ft. gins. A memorandum sent out by Horse Guards in Bog concerning the standards of recruiting records that of 106 men on their list, eight were af tll; 15 were 5ft. 7ins.; 21 were sft. 4ins.; 28 were sft. 6ins.; 14 were 5ft.roins., and only one ‘man was Gt.—in other words, the majority were onder st 6ins. tall. ‘The Foot Guards seem to have had the pick of the taller men. The average height of their irenatiiers was 5. in 1814. Battalion Company men averaged sft. 7ins., and the Light Rear ofthe Gordons ocr’ Jacket. Note the thistle arnbach, onthe false pocket Hap ‘Qticers jacket, 27d (Royal Welch Fusilers) Regen of nnd orm ae eee Infantry company, oddly enough, averaged sft. Bins, ral. ay The weekly pay ofa ‘privatecentinel’in 1797 was 7s. (seven shillings gp. in moder currency, but this does not reflect ite purchasing power, of course). Out of this he had to pay 1hd. a day for read and meat, Inall 4a week was taken for his messing, and another 186d. was stopped for ‘necesaries. ‘The remainder was paid to him, subject to his finding suficient to pay for washing and cleanings personal equipment. Incampand quarters he actually received about 5fd. a week, which was the difference between the gros pay {and the various stoppages. the price of meat and bread exceeded 6d. a pound and 1fd. a pound respectively the extra was paid by the authorities, ‘upto total offtb. of meat and 1b, of bread daily Tables of Pay Rank Foot Guards Regiments of Foot Colonel Li-t0s.6d. £1.25.6d. LtColonel fr-rs6d, rpsitd, 6 copa vies astd TR ty rns were wooden backs or ube a aut 95d MEM adr vhing, Nght sol we tae ie aap iia esata haa, MER Boo 8 sg pp wih [=n toe ee couple of buckets Sac nt 7088 ait sng on rps tomake arid feat Sa gue ting © inal rary ete Corporal she. sabe. iin with wives. Here children were born, often pn seat) dM hers comes soul, Some ie ie Te RRs cy pipes Tiber Drummer ts2hd, ts. and rheumatism were rife Jd no recourse but to visit alehouses and other das in the town, where they got drunk on cheap fn—beer was comparatively expensive at that fime, At a later date canteens were formed and salers were licensed; but many were rogues who told bad liquor at high prices. ‘The Paymaster received a. daily, asergeatl major asold., a quartermaster sergeant 25.0 and a paymaster sergeant 15.63¢. ‘At the end of the r&th century a record wa rade of the items a soldier had to provide ali ‘own expense: onc pair ofblack cloth gaiters@ 4s cone pair of breeches, besides those called ‘ammus 6s.6d.; one one-inch hail nition breeches, leather @ afd. one worm, trnserew, picker aa brush for his muskct every five years (@ 1s 3 emery, brick dust and ol for keeping his med bright @ an.6d. a year; and the cost of alerig thewatchcoat, Barracks The few early barracks had been virtually for situated mostly in Ireland and Scotland, Thos constructed at the end of the 18th century we larger, but equally forbidding. Cheerles, prison like buildings, they had no provision whatsoex for recreation, comprising little more than fl walls containing sleeping quarters each providi| soldiers with about 300 cubic feet of air per mam Twenty men were allocated a room seldom mor] than seven feet high, go to aft. long and a0 wide. Only about ‘six inches separated tht primitive ‘cribs’ from the central eating table. Insuch rooms the soldiers ate, drunk and seg four to.a ‘crib, sleeping on malodorous straw covered by a few threadbare blankets, Their a light was from tallow dips, two to each room. this atmosphere, foetid with stale sweat and pi smoke, men might cluster round literate com Food The infantryman’s diet was monotonous. The major basic commodity provided by the Com- nissriat was flour, made up by field bakeries into large loaves of coarse bread. This was supported, and often replaced in the field, by issues of thin, hard, round biscuits known as ‘navy biscuits’ they were the same weevil-infested ‘hardbakes’ isued to sailors of the Fleet ‘ammunition bread’ was about 1 or tb, per man, When neither bread nor biscuit were available they were often replaced by issues ofrce, flour, or lentils. The bread ration was supplemented by fib, of beef, when available, At intervals there wnere issues of peas, beans and local cheese. Having bought his ration out of his subsistence ‘twas usual for the soldier in the field to prepare it with a group of comrades, often accompanied by tompany women, The bee! was sometimes boiled ometimes simply broiled over a fire on a make- shit spit of twigs or ramrods. The biscuit was mostly crushed and dropped, along with stale bread, into water or the thin beef soup to make ruel. Peas, beans, lentils and rice were all added ‘available, When only the flour ‘came up' it was rubbed with lard and formed into greasy dump- lings which were also added to the pot. Soldiers The daily issue of became expert at concocting more or less savoury messes from pounded biscuit and bread with added flavouring; this kind ofimprovised porridge was popularly known asst Poor as this food seems to us, it was better than that provided for the French soldier. Napoleon expected his men to live off the country by foraging, apart from a basic bread issue. Even this often depended on the army harvesting local ‘crops. Although this gave the French greater manoeuvrability through a simplified logistic ‘rail’, it often proved disastrous. Licence to rob was all very well when advancing through a fat countryside in summertime, with poultry and pigs for the taking; on a hard winter retreat, or in ‘4 terrain deliberately stripped by the fleeing population, it could mean starvation. In contrast the British normally had something to eat, even if not very palatable or nourishing. There were, of about’ course, exceptions at times of severe emergency, such as the retreat to Corunna. Supplementary food and alcohol were available scram the dalla The convex a (SF Wales's Plomeaina Garver withthe reimenal le below ‘canvas knapeack of eos of the pattern carried atl the fate Gk bos praca designe ey rotor of SeEGESSowes" punch Cri te slo MOV preeooably MENACE Wtameesr ont above Gremt Comps Line shes had hs roganesat meer plated on ouch 8 ue, cpparenty of facingcalour from the sutlers. Bach regiment had a ‘grand sutler, a civilian contractor with a staff of assistants who sold extras at company level. Besides beer, wine or brandy they often contrived to provide vegetables, a necessary addition to the soldiers dit if they were to avoid scurvy. Many prints of the period show sutlers’ quarters in the background, usually open-fronted tents with a iltspread on poles to give overhead cover, and furnished with a few tables and benches. Soldiers are frequently depicted being served by women—whether members of the sulers’ teams orother camp fllowersitisdificult to say. In the ficld there was certainly some issue of alcohol, though the details are rather obscure. The ‘was supposed to bef pint of rum or a pintof per man. Gin was often substituted; the famous memoirs of Sgt. Tom Morris describe his drawing dead men's gin rations on the field of Waterloo itself. Bivouacs and Tents Until the latter part of the Peninsular War there ‘was no universal issue of tents to the Army. Consequently the troops became proficient at building temporary shelters from boughs, foliage, straw, and odd materials gathered at the nightly halts on the march. When they were halted at one place for some time these bivouaes became more sophisticated. Glieg records how he and his fellow officers adapted primitive peasant cottages by 18 knocking holes through to temporary chimney) which they built against the outside walls. Offices usually monopolised available buildings wher shelter was hard to find; but there isa record ofthe Duke of Wellington reacting furiously when be found thata group of them had put wounded mer ‘out into the night in order to take over thei shelter. In occupied towns in the Penins soldiers and officers alike were billeted on loca civilians. Where no bivouac material was to be found th troops simply rolled up as best they could in sgreatcoats and blankets, sometimes contri ‘crude but effective sleeping-bags. Many of Wel Tington’s army spent the night before Wat lying in deep mud, or sitting on their knaps In extreme conditions officers were no better of than their men, although some carried privat purchased tents around with them on campaige ‘There is one splendid memoir of an officer having his countryman soldier-servant ‘thatch’ him i nest of bracken and weeds each night! ‘Drawings by St Clair and others give som indication of the variety of tents which becam available afier 1813. Some are simple bell ten designed to hold ten or a dozen men. These wet issued on a company basis, as was a smaller ta with a horizontal ridge-pole which housed abo five men. St Clair shows officers’ tents to be: claborate affairs, with flys and porches propp on poles. The wives who did manage to follow the talons abroad did so through entire cam- gs; they played an important part in camp ‘washing, mending and cooking not only for irhusbands but often for his comrades as well, providing these small services for a handful of many women who had no official status m the ration strength seem to have contrived to their sweethearts. Most seem to have been aryloyal; there are records of them searching the tlefields for their men, and even carrying their ded or exhausted menfolk on the march. a husband was killed most seem to have en practical enough to marry another soldier in ‘company without delay, to protect their status, nd there was seldom any shortage of applicants. ‘camp women came under military discipline, tnd any misbehaviour was ruthlessly punished by theProvostlepartment, Organization The Battalion ‘Ac full strength this comprised a headquarters, ‘ight battalion companies, and two flank com- pnies—the grenadier or right flank, and light infantry or left lank companies. ‘The headquarters consisted of: one lieutenant ‘alonel; two majors (one called the Senior Major) ; one adjutant; one surgeon and two asistant surgeons; one quartermaster; one sergeant major; one staff sergeant paymaster; one sergeant ‘rmourer; one drum major; one corporal pioneer and ten pioneers. Each company consisted of: one captain; two lieutenants or ensigns; two sergeamts; three ‘orporals; one drummer; in some battalions, one filer; and 85 to 100 privates. (Foot Guards battalions had larger establishments.) In practice these figures were seldom achieved. Examinations of the Orders of Batlle for the Peninsular Army reveal that while the Foot Guards usually fielded around 1,000 men per Battalion, the regiments of Foot varied from less than 500 to around 800. ‘The eight battalion companies were divided fgo four ‘grand divisions’ of two companies each; 16 ‘sub-divisions’ or half-companics; or 32 Women and Marriage Soldiers were discouraged from marrying, b ‘many were already in that ‘happy state’ when enlisted. Only five women per company could taken on the ration strength and were allowal accompany their husbands on overseas seri Selection was by ballot atthe port of depar and contemporary accounts give heart-ren ‘descriptions ofthe distress of those unlucky ind draw. The unlucky ones were issued with certificate from a Justice of the Peace in the ‘of embarkation to assist her and her family return to her home town. The Overscer ol Poor ofany place through which she travelled directed t provide her with 14d. per mile fort umber of miles to the next place, not exces mils. sections, When the battalion was insufficiently strong it was split into 24 sections for the purposes ‘ofthe march, rather than 2. The battalion could also be divided into two ‘wings’, the right and left. ‘The battalion (or ‘centre’) companies were numbered from right to left, 1 to 8, always identified by Arabic numerals. The sub-divisions were numbered e.g. 1/6th’—the first sub-division ‘of the 6th Company. The files were also numbered eg. ‘1, 2, 3, ete. The grenadier and Light com- panics were numbered separately but in the same fashion, with the addition of their ttle. ‘The Colours were usually placed between the 4th and 5th battalion companies in the front rank of the battalion line, each covered by an NCO (latterly, the ‘colour sergeant’) or by a steady man jn the rear rank. There was another sergeant between the two Coloursin the frontrank, covered by a second in the rear rank and a third in the supernumerary rank. The sole function of these NCOs was to advance and direct the line of march when the battalion moved, and to protect the Colours with their pikes when the battalion was in nal NCOs might fen ace of sh Cupand) Reimen of ot thee ere tre ach fear iow eres the Gvensllver etensbavessimpieindeed'sf be detached from their companies to increase the Colour guard, or to replace casualties. For details of the design of regimental Colours, see Men-at-Arms 78, Flags of the Napoleonic Wars (2), by Terence Wise. Véapons and Equipment Muskets ‘Arms were provided by the Board of Ordnance fom stocks held in the Tower and other armouries. ‘Brown Bess’ was the popular name given to the British infantry’s most famous weapon. The name isfirst mentioned in early 18th century documents, but its origins are obscure. Some believe it derives, from the German buchse, meaning rifle; others that it refers to the rich brown colour of the polished walnut stocks, or even to the browning of barrels at certain periods. There can be no doubt, however, on one score: that this lintlock ‘musket, in various updated patterns and modified jis isue seems generally to have. been ced to sergeants of Light Infantry regiments flight companies within Line regiments Tn the field the British infantry enjoyed an ge over their enemies in that they used a rier al. This had greater stopping power and more serious wounds, an advantage when inline formation against troops advancing tolumn. ‘The comparative shortness of the Js ofthe later patterns made loading and tasir and, according to Mercer, this was ally appreciated by shorter men, The use of eheaver ball had an additional advantage: the Tish could, at need, use captured French nition, but the French Charleville could not the British bal The infantry had learnt, as British soldiers hays will, that there was a short cut loading The odier could prime ensimply drop the powder, torn papercartridge ani ball into the barrel and jog them doven into ce by banging the butt on the ground, rather fan ramming, This wil scem strange to anyone wih experience of firing muzzle-loading muskets jiny, given the relatively tight fit of a paper= mapped ballin the bore; perhaps there is some- fing we do not understand about the contempo- try descriptions, for both Sergeant Lamb and Seaeant Cotton record that the method was grevalent. During the Peninsular War the French fr described as having adopted this Joaging” fcthod on a wide scale. They also sometimes thst their ramrods into the ground at their fet Setween loadings, to avoid repeatedly pulling them fom che pipes and returning them; this was probably done by most soldiers of the day Tks well known that the fir volley, from Insets loaded without bast and in the offically peseribed manner, was the mos destructive. The Insequent volleys were invariably less effective Toading was hasty fire discipline became ragged, andmishaps wereeommon. Excited soldiers would shen forget to remove their ramrods from the Farrel and would fie them away; others might guises, was the principal weapon of the Brith infantryman from 1730 to 1830, during the whole period when the redeoat won his world-wide reputation and laid the foundations of empire. In 1 form modified for percussion fire it was even used aslateas the Crimean War. The pattern which first figured in our perad was the ‘Long Land Pattern’, with a 46in. barr ‘a wooden ramrod held in place by three meal ‘pipes’, and a more elaborate ‘tailpipe’ where the ramrod slid into the stock. One sling swivel wat fixed to the trigger guard, the second to the stock about midway between the two upper rammad pipes. The weapon was furnished with a 17in socket bayonet ‘By about 1725 steel ramrods were being issue and in about 1740 a ‘Short Land Pattern’ began tobe issued. ‘This was essentially unchanged apart from a 4ain. barrel. Both ‘Long’ and ‘Shor! versions were soon in concurrent use, with either steel or wooden ramrods, the latter now with metal heads. During the French-Indian Wars in Ameriay lighter and handier weapons were found to te necessary for forest fighting and irregular wari By 1765 the need for a shortened barrel was officially acknowledged and a warrant was issu specifying that in future all barrels were to be {gzins, long, The ‘Short Land” thus became the standard infantry weapon until it was superseded in its turn by the ‘New Land Pattern’ —although probably for economic reasons, much of the Ara adopted the ‘East Indian Land Pattern’, witha 39in. barrel and plainer furniture, in the 17906. In 1802-03 the ‘New Land Pattern’ val formally introduced, although many of the ‘Ea Indian’ muskets continued to be used. The ‘New Land" was an amalgam of the ‘Short Land’ and “East Indian’ patterns, Ithad a brass butt plata plain trigger guard, a steel ramrod, two ram pipes and an ornate tailpipe. The muzzle end) the stock had a metal eap. The barrel was 4a ongand hada bayonet-locking stud at the muzae which doubled as a foresight. A later, improve version of the ‘New Land” had a ggin. ba notched backsight, and a scroll or ‘pistol gi trigger guard; it was issued to some crack Lig Infantry regiments, and is today sometis referred to as the Light Infantry Musket; but 1d close his pan, and Jad several chargesone on top of the other without fring, with fatal results when they did pull the tool and well-disciplined in action. Oman reports: “They loaded their pieces, ramming charge and bullet well home, and there was no loss of windage.” accounts from French eye-witnesses and veterans of French columns moving forward to the sound of massed drums playing the Pas de Charge, with officers exhorting them onward with waving swords and hats on high, confronted by a wall of silent redcoats. When the range wasright the order ivas given, the muskets came up as one, and the resulting volley would tear away the front of the French column, causing panic in the rear. The French infantry invariably knew what would happen, and there was seldom any marked enthusiasm to occupy the front ofthe column. ‘The British invariably fought in two ranks, the French in three. British battalion of 600 ‘occupied a front of some 200 yards, but a French battalion in line would only cover about 135 yards: they were thus overlapped at each end, and ‘There are several contemporary often rine tage, Siete cereet ee aetna ‘arkedaligiely om cxampletoceampe A ong skirted cote war yan ose fh ah (Bani oe sive The back quilted acrone the at with atoms cyery British musket could be brought into action, giving greater immediate firepower. This had an even more devastating effect when British line faced French column; British muskets could be brought to bear on the face and both flanks of the head of the column, and the effect of 600 muskets firing into such a closely packed formation can hardly be imagined. The two-rank formation also tended to minimise casualties from artillery roundshot, of course; a cannon ball might take three to six men out of a three-rank line, but only ‘sso tofour from a British line. “The basic characteristics ofthe different musket patterns were as follows; note that weights and dimensions of individual weapons varied some- what Long Land Patter Barrel: gft. roins. Bayonet: tft, ‘mouth fiting with a stud to engage a frog, la brasschape Tn1803 a new sword was prescribed. This had a Foui-head pommel, and a knuckle-bow guard rating the Royal Cypher. The blued blade sharply curved; the gilded brass scabbard fitings included two suspension rings, as the ‘word was carried on slings rather than a frog. It seems that it was never carried by the majority of Tntalion company offices, but became popular ‘sith flank companies, especially light infantry, as ‘yell as with field officers and generals. Foppish tiers carried it on long slings from a ring set in Iheshoulder belt, so that the chape clattered over ‘nocobbles. Sergeants of battalion companies, grenadier fompanics, fusiliers and light infantry carried swords the last-named in addition to the musket, Jyonet and cartridge pouch. These NCO swords were probably of special pattern, in some cases of fegimental patterns; but no actual specimens have een traced. The 1st and grd Foot Guards fertainly’ carried special-pattern weapons, of which examples survive. gins, Length incl. bayonet: 6ft. Bins. Weight: tolb. 1202, (with bayonet: 111b. 102.) Short Land Pattern Barrel: gf Gins. Bayonet: 1 sins, Length incl. bayonet: Gf. gins. Weight: tolb. 8o2. (with bayonet: 111b. goz.) Indian Land Pattern Barrel: ft. gins. Bayonet i. gins, Length incl. bayonet: 6ft. gins. Weighs lb. 1102. (with bayonet: 1olb. 1102.) Waw Land Pattern Battel: gft. Gins. Bayonet: 18) bins, Length incl. bayonet: 6ft. gins. Weight rolb, 602. (with bayonet: 111b. 602.) “Light Infontyy’ Pattern Barrel: 3. gins. Bayonet ft. gins, Length inel, bayonet: 61. rin. Weight: rolb. toz. (with bayonet: 11Ib. 102.) Pikes In February 1792 the cumbersome sergeant halberds were abolished. Henceforth, until 1839 battalion company, grenadier company and fusilier sergeants carried pikes. ‘The new weap had a oft. ash staff with a spearhead whit screwed into a stel socket, and a crosspicce made separately, ikea German boarspear. Thee was intended to prevent the point penetrating deeply. The blade was tadins. long, the sins. wide, and the socket, with two ornamenal Fing-picces, gbins. deep from the crossbar to point where two gin. flanges projected down sides of the staf or strength. The foot ofthe ‘wasshod with iron abns. deep, with similar abins. long extending up the sides of the staf Pistols Ikis known that many officers of German units fghting in the Peninsula carried flintlock pistols in belted holsters. There are several mentions of Britsh officers carrying pistols, but no direct ‘idence of their using holsters has been traced. Since some method of carrying these cumbersome ‘weapons must have been adopted, the use of holsters scems logieal; they were not unknown in ‘heBritish Army, since we have the example of the oltered pistols of Royal Horse Artillery Rocket Troop personnel. Another practical solution, much seen in the navies of the day, was the use of a fiat brass or iron ‘belt hook’ on the side of the pistol, fixed near the breech and lying parallel to ‘hebarrel. Apart from heavy cavalry horse pistols, lighter eapons of private acquisition were probably quite common, Usually purchased in pairs, they had barrels between eight and ten inches long, of 20 oF 24 bore, and locks fitted with sliding safety bolts behind the cocks, which could be fixed at half-cock. These pistols were used extensively by naval officers. Swords ‘An order issued in May 1796 ordered inf officers tocarry uniform swords: a necessary since many regiments had procured swords different—and sometimes indifferent!—pattes as inspection reports make clear. (Even so, nt units observed the order: e.g. the 1st Foot, continued throughout the Peninsular War carry swords with blades resembling those Scots broadswords.) The 1796 pattern infantry sword had a knuckle-bow guard, a ball pommel and sie: all gilded. The grip was covered twisted wire; the blade was straight, blued, made tocut and thrust. It was an inch broadat shoulder and gains. long. Its leather scabk heelballed black, had a thin wooden lining. Ammunition Charges for muskets were prepared in cartridges. A waxed or greased paper tube was rolled up around a powder charge suficient for priming and firing, and a .753 calibre lead ball; the cartridge paper was cut to a regulation size and rolled with the aid of wooden former. The powder end of the tube was tightly folded and bent over, to prevent spillage; the ball was at the other end, ‘tied off” with a thread round the outside of the paper. The folded end was tofn off with the teeth when the cartridge was used. ‘The Cartridge Pouch Cartridges were usually issued in tied bundles of ten; the soldier untied these and inserted them in his pouch, This was of black leather; for the Foot Guards alone it was fitted with two small straps and buckles for attachment to the erossbelt, but the normal pattern had loops on its rear face and bbuckleson its bottom surface toaccept the tapered, pierced ends of the crossbelt. For regiments of Foot the flap was plain, but the Foot Guards had Hamilton Sms plate ofthe dram mio,» igre iecnmer as ier of at of Foot, ‘he ——— ota jest wth avr nce ed ‘ke Tacrin cop's Bowiy ned conn ofthe drummer Sey Rit These thee all reat cote in reversed colours in is cae ren ore i eee sce Ro hie feiting ae sung onthe Lett ip |

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