And here it is at last - the first highlander template. It's a rather simple but quite elegant uniform, with little decoration. This regiment was short-lived and served exclusively in North America, where kilts were generally quickly changed for breeches and canvas gaiters. This is the feileadh beag or little kilt worn in the field and as worn today, not the full or belted plaid, the breacan-an-feileadh. As requested, I have left off the tartan pattern but will probably try drawing it at some point.
Thursday, 16 August 2007
1st Highlander - Private of the 78th Foot (Fraser's Highlanders) 1757-1763
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Nice! I like them both. I think this might serve as a good stand-in for some Jacobite Highlander-type troops. What do you reckon?
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them! :-) I think the first one would certainly be plain enough for Jacobites - especially if you wipe out the cuff detail in a graphics program, which would be easy to do.
ReplyDeleteDavid.
Very handsome - as a side comment, I sometimes use my RSM Jacobites interchangeably with the RSM "Highlanders" to give a "on campaign" look.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Greg
Thanks, Greg. :-) Yes, the uniform is really just standard highland costume with a few adjustments and slight additions so that makes sense. It's surprising that the government of the time allowed this, given the general persecution of all things highland in the mid-18th century (for rather obvious reasons!). The lowland Scots' regiments often had very little to distinguish them from English regiments so in the light of that it is perhaps even odder.
ReplyDeleteThe 78th were a regiment raised in a hurry to serve in North America. They were sucking hind tit in respect to their arms and equipment, and most of their gear came from the Dublin Castle armory. It should be noted that the Black Watch (modern) tartan was used and not the Frazer tartan. In the field they often wore the sleeved waistcoat instead of the full jacket. This did not have cuffs, and was modified by removing the sleeves or cutting holes in the armpits for ventilation. The grenadier company also switched to using the Scotch bonnet of the line companies as this was more practical in the field. Add tomahawks, hangars, pistols, in fact any weapon of the period - the 78th carried them all - the better to kill Frenchmen with. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, AJ. It tallies closely with what I've found, plus further info. which is interesting to know. One definitely wouldn't want to meet them on the rampage on a dark night in a North American forest - or perhaps anywhere else at any time of day. ;-)
ReplyDelete