Saturday 9 February 2008

Generic British Grenadier Type 1


The typical British cloth grenadier cap was a rather crude item, although they were impressive when seen en masse. The back and the small front flap with the white horse of Hanover were in red cloth, with white tape edging. The GR cipher with its decorative scrollwork was in various colours, with the crown depicted in natural colours of white, red and yellow. The front and the band at the base at the back were in the regimental facing colour. The tape binding was white and the tuft at the top in regimental colours. By contrast, officers' mitres were often beautiful objects, elaborately embroidered in coloured silks, and silver and gold thread.

The only other item on the uniform that differed from that of the "hatmen" or privates of the battalion companies was the addition of wings, of red cloth bound with regimental tape. Before 1752 it seems that the grenadiers of only 19 regiments wore them (according to the artist David Morier) but they were ordered for all regiments in that year.

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