Uniforms of the Royal Artillery

Introduction
It is the nature of British military uniforms, and of this period in particular, that while the regulations may say one thing, commanders and men, often catered to their own whims.

The reader is reminded that what was worn on a given occasion was often more dependent upon the personal foibles, fashion and necessities of the time rather than the regulations in force.

Uniforms
The limited information on Royal Artillery uniforms fails to explain several anomalies. The braiding of the Royal Artillery shown in the contemporary illustrations of this period are clearly similar to those of the foot guards, but later illustrations clearly show a pattern similar to line regiments.

In the main these later illustrations are based upon the drawing of two gunners by Hamilton Smith dated 1815.

It now seems that these figures may be those of an invalid company (indicated by their red turnbacks) and do not necessarily reflect the uniform worn throughout the regiment at this time.

It does seem that the uniform followed that of the guards and the use of the oblique pocket became general as the distinctions of horizontal pockets for grenadier and battalion companies were abandoned.

The use of the 'Belgique' shako was not adopted by the Royal Artillery until 1813 and it is most improbable that it was worn during this period.

1	View of an officer dressed for a levee, ball or the dining room. He wears scale epaulettes and his dress coat open to reveal the buttoned waistcoat. The sash is worn under the jacket and he carries his sword on a black waist belt. To indicate that he has seen overseas service he wears his hat for and aft, a style soon adopted by all when not on parade.
2	A senior officer in parade dress. His rank is shown by his two epaulettes and the hat is worn in the parade manner. He wears an unlaced coat with the top three buttons undone and the lapels turned back to reveal the facings and shirt frill.
3	Officer is field dress. He wear the short laced jacket and stovepipe shako authorized for this dress. The trousers are the loose white version commonly worn although blue pantaloons were also worn at this period.
4	Rear view of a senior non commissioned officer in parade dress. His uniform has gilt lace and he wears the crimson sash of his rank. He is armed with a spontoon and 1796 style SNCO sword and wears his stripes on the right arm only in accordance with the regulations for the army.

A - Officers Hats

Officers generally wore the unlaced cocked hat or bicorn. The style often depended more upon fashion and the purse rather than regulations. A black cockade with a central regimental button with a loop of regimental lace was placed at the base of the all white plume or feathers for the Royal Artillery.

Originally cords passed round the crown to tighten it or to pull in the sides, but these later become decoration and two gold and crimson cords passed around the crown each passing through the loop of the other.

The cords terminated in gilt tassels which were allowed to hang from the ends of the hat. This hat is a typical cocked hat of the period and when on parade was worn across the head, off parade and for walking out the hat was worn slightly off centre fore and aft as the pronounced droop made it difficult to see straight ahead.

Originally, the regulations prescribed the hat to be worn across the head, but artillery officers returning from abroad used to wear their hats in the French fashion when off duty to show their overseas service.

This style soon became de rigueur for all aspiring young subalterns and rapidly became the accepted norm. During this period it was very fashionable to stuff a white silk kerchief into the fold of the hat !

The 'stovepipe' shako was also worn by Officers in undress, The style was similar but examples are of better quality beaver, often with black lace around the base, and carried a gilt plate.

This version of the 'Stovepipe' shako was introduced about 1803. It was a lighter pattern made of felt and slightly shorter being about eight to nine inches high with a top diameter of some seven inches. The Royal Artillery wore a white plume mounted at the front behind a black cockade with a small regimental button at its centre. The plume was about eight to ten inches long.

The thin gilt shako plate was six inches tall and some four inches wide. It followed the style of the infantry plate with a crown over a garter belt containing a 'GR' cypher. The garter belt carried the title ROYAL REG OF ARTILLERY and around the garter were trophies of flags and arms. At the bottom of the plate is a mortar with piles of shot on either side.

Prior to 1808 the hair was worn in a queue and powdered. The long tail was tied and bound with a ribbon starting at the nape of the neck and ending just short of the end. A rosette and hanging ribbons often covered the tie.

B - Breeches and Overalls

Shoes
The shoes were generally badly made and lasted for only a short time. Each man was supposed to have two pairs. Most shoes and boots of the period were made on straight lasts and were supposed to be worn on different feet each day, a practice generally ignored. For dress shoes with gilt buckles were usually worn, particularly when wearing stockings. Officers also wore hessian style boots when the occasion or style demanded. Officers usually purchased ankle boots for wear with trousers.

Breeches
Breeches were of a similar material to the coats. They came well up over the hips and below to the calves of the leg. There were small buttons or tapes at the knee and a button at the back to keep up the gaiters. Some had pockets but the front flap was a standard feature. On campaign and for undress white loose trousers were worn. The breeches were supported by suspenders of linen or light canvas.

Overalls
On campaign and for undress white or blue trousers were worn.. Originally they were worn over the breeches and gaiters (hence the term overalls) and usually had a buttoned fly up each side to make it easier to put them on. Later they were worn in their own right as trousers and the buttoned side fly was abandoned but the stripe retained as decoration. It was common for both SNCOs and Officers to use leather to reinforce the bottoms and inside of the legs.

C - Officers Dress Coatee

The term coatee was not officially adopted until after the Napoleonic period. The dress long coat was one of the many jackets required by an artillery officer. The lapels can be worn either turned back to reveal the facings and braid, or entirely buttoned across the chest. Based upon an actual jacket the example has the double breasted front that buttons to the waist. There are ten laced buttonholes on each lapel with the top two set at an angle.

The collar carries two laced loops without buttons. The lace was of the regimental Van Dyke pattern with pointed ends and equally spaced. The cuff carried four, equally spaced, laced buttons with the front two astride the front seam. A version of lace with a red central stripe is also known.

The rear of the coat has horizontal pockets with four buttoned loops, pointing upwards, and two loops pointing away from the buttons on the triangular lace at the centre back of the waist. The join of the turnbacks carry gilt laced knots on a scarlet ground.

The coat was worn open over a waistcoat at levees, ball and when attending the dinning room ( see Figure 1 above). On parade and walking out it was fashion to leave the top three buttons undone and the lapels folded back to reveal the facings (as in Figure 3)

D - Swords

Officers carried the 1796 Infantry Sword. The hilt consists of gilt brass pommel in the shape of a faceted urn topped with acanthus leaves, silver wire wound grip, gilt knuckle bow to a quillon with acanthus decoration at its finial and twin gilt shells strengthened around the edges and decorated with acanthus leaves under the shells.

These are fixed but on some examples the inner shell is hinged to fold flat when the sword is sheathed.

The blade is straight of flattened diamond section. Most swords of this pattern had straight cut and thrust blades with a single edge and short false edge. The black leather scabbard has the usual mounts for both sword rings and a frog stud.

Overall length was 39 inches. The blade some 32.5 inches long, is 1.125 inches wide at the shoulder. It was carried in a black leather scabbard fitted with rings and at the top, a frog stud. The weight was 1 lb 10 oz and the scabbard weighed 1 lb.

The sword knot and tassels were of gilt with a central red line.

A similar pattern with a brass, one piece hilt, was issued to SNCOs who wore it on the standard cross belt over the right shoulder. They wore a plain white sword knot.

E - Sword Belts and Plates

Non cavalry officers and SNCOs usually wore the sword on a cross belt worn over the right shoulder. The sword was carried in a frog to which it was secured by a stud on the scabbard.

An alternative belt often adopted was similar, but with two sword slings suspended from a ring that also had a hook to wear the sword up. The front sling was some eleven inches long and the other some twenty-four inches. The method of attaching the sword varied. Some patterns had the strap terminating in a buckle and strap in the manner of a harness billet.

The strap passed through the rings of the scabbard and back through the buckle. Another style had the sling terminate in a buckle which passed through the rings of the scabbard and buckled back on the sling. The third style has the strap terminating without a buckle. A separate seven inch strap and buckle was attached through the sword ring and both the sling and strap passed through the buckle.

Another belt less commonly worn by officers and SNCO was a waistbelt. The standard version was of white buff leather one and one half inch wide. This had two slings suspended from brass rings and a hook at the front ring to wear the sword up. The waist size was adjusted by a buckle and keeper on the right side of the belt. It was usually fastened at the front with a serpent hook and ring. The slings were as described above. A black dress version of this belt was common wear for officers at formal functions.

F -Officers Sash, Epaulettes, Buttons and Belt Plates

The plate adopted by officers is difficult to define. One pattern is shown but some individual battalions are known to have adopted their own style and several versions are known. The rear of the plate carried the usual studs and hooks by which it fastened the belt.

The Officers sash was of crimson silk net and worn around the waist, over the sword belt to restrain it, with the knot at the left side. Originally they were large enough to form a hammock stretcher but later styles were of less practical use.

Officer rank was indicated as for line infantry. Officers wore gilt epaulettes with badges of silver. Senior Officers, two epaulettes with bullion fringe; Captains, one bullion epaulette on the right shoulder; subalterns one with a fringe. The rank badges changed regularly, in 1810 this changed to; Colonel, a crown and star; Lieutenant Colonel, a crown and Majors a star.

The buttons were Gilt for Officers. Introduced about 1802 the standard button carried the badge of the crown over a garter strap enclosing a GR cypher. The strap was inscribed ROYAL REG OF ARTILLERY. Other patterns attributed to a particular battalion are also known.

It is recorded that scale epaulettes were worn with the dress coatee. An example from a pattern book is shown.

	G - Officers Coats Away from headquarters, less formal dress may be either a laced or unlaced tunic of similar style but with short 9" tails and white trousers and a 'stovepipe' shako. The blue tunic would be of a similar style to those of the line infantry but with the distinctions of the Royal Artillery. A surviving example is as illustrated. It follows the standard pattern with ten laced button holes on the double breasted front and four on each cuff, with the front two astride the front seam. It has horizontal pockets with four buttoned loops on each flap. At the centre of the waist is the same pattern of lace as prescribed fro the men with a button at each end. This coat was formally authorized for wear in 1812 but it is most probable that version were worn before this.
During this period officers usually wore a long tailed, double breasted, coatee of dark blue with red facings of a design based upon that of the line infantry. The coat buttoned to the waist and was usually worn with the top three buttons undone and the facings folded back. The pattern of lace is as prescribed by regulations with the horizontal pockets of a battalion or grenadier company. Later it became the fashion for the pockets to be oblique . The turn back decorations are of gilt knots on a red ground. By 1811 the long coat was rarely worn, except for formal occasions. The example illustrated is an unlaced version, typical of the less expensive option often adopted for informal wear. It follows the standard pattern with plain white turnbacks. The pockets are shown horizontal, the distinction of grenadier and centre companies, adopted by the artillery. The lace was a simple single loop of material and the coat in all other respects was similar in style to that of the shorter jacket.

I -Royal Artillery SNCO Distinction

SNCO wore the same uniform as the other ranks but of better quality and cut with gold chevrons and lace. Rank badges were worn on the right arm as in the army regulations.

SNCOs wore gilt chevrons on a red ground - Sergeants wore three, Sergeant majors and staff sgts, four. Junior NCOs and Lance Sergeants wore yellow worsted chevrons on a red ground to denote their rank, lance sgts, three; Corporal, two and bombardier, one.

Early depictions suggest when the gunners wore a cross belt plate it carried the arms of the Board of Ordnance and the title Royal Artillery.

Crimson worsted sashes were worn as a distinction by SNCOs. Generally regulations prescribed a worsted sash but the senior of the NCOs often wore a uniform similar to that of the officers. Sashes were worn tied on the left

SNCOs personal weapons consisted of the spontoon, the ash shaft was some nine feet tall, the steel blade was some 12.75 inches long, the cross bar some 5.5 inches wide. Their other weapon was usually the NCO version of the 1796 infantry pattern sword with a brass hilt although some carried the RA sword.

Introduction
The uniform depicted here is the dress of circa 1808. One such was Bombardier Laycock who maintained a detailed diary of his duties.

Uniforms
The limited information on Royal Artillery uniforms fails to explain several anomalies. The braiding shown in the contemporary illustrations of this period are clearly similar to those of the foot guards, but later illustrations clearly show a pattern similar to line regiments.

In the main these later illustrations are based upon the drawing of two gunners by Hamilton Smith dated 1815.

It now seems that these figures may be those of an invalid company (indicated by their red turnbacks) and do not necessarily reflect the uniform worn throughout the regiment at this time.

The use of the 'Belgique' shako was not adopted by the Royal Artillery until 1813 and it is most improbable that it was worn during this period.

A - Other ranks Hats

The second version of the 'Stovepipe' shako was introduced about 1803. It was a lighter pattern made of felt and slightly shorter being about eight to nine inches high with a top diameter of some seven inches.

The Royal Artillery wore a white plume mounted at the front behind a black cockade with a small regimental button at its centre.

The plume was about eight to ten inches long, some 13 inches for SNCOs.

The thin brass shako plate was six inches tall and some four inches wide. It followed the style of the infantry plate with a crown over a garter belt containing a 'GR' cypher.

The garter belt carried the title ROYAL REG OF ARTILLERY and around the garter were trophies of flags and arms. At the bottom of the plate is a mortar with piles of shot on either side.

The side and rear view of the shako show the rear fall (neck protector) which was worn tied upon a cord or tucked into the hat.

Woolwich did not adopt the Belgique shako until August 1813 so it would not have been worn during the period considered here. For fatigues several versions of hat were worn, some like the standard fatigue cap of line regiments others more like those of the early Artillery drivers and artificers. The artillery version is noted as being 'rusty brown and full of cracks, never being cleaned or expected to be so'.

B - Breeches and Overalls

Some had pockets but the front flap was a standard feature. On campaign and for undress white loose trousers were worn. The breeches were supported by suspenders of linen or light canvas.

Overalls
For campaign the gunners wore loose white or grey trousers. Originally they were worn over the breeches and gaiters (hence the term overalls) and usually had a buttoned fly up each side to make it easier to put them on. Later they were worn in their own right as trousers and the buttoned side fly was abandoned.

C - Tunic

Other ranks and SNCOs wore the short skirted Royal (dark) blue coat, The regimental distinctions were red facings and flat yellow worsted tape with evenly spaced 'Bastion' shaped loops. The coat was single breasted and buttoned to the waist.

Dependent upon the height of the wearer the coat front had up to ten equally spaced, bastion laced buttonholes with small buttons. The lace loops on the front of the jacket were some four inches long at the neck reducing to some three inches at the waist.

Junior NCOs and Lance Sergeants wore yellow worsted chevrons to denote their rank, SNCO wore a uniform of better quality and cut with gold chevrons and lace.

The collar was of red serge, three inches deep and lined about by flat yellow worsted lace; it was cut away at the front to reveal the black leather stock, which was worn underneath.

The red shoulder straps had a yellow crest or roll where they were sewn to the shoulder of the tunic and were pointed at the other where they were secured close to the collar by a button. They were edged about with regimental lace.

The cuffs were square, of red serge, some three and one half inches deep and carried four, equally space, buttoned loops of yellow lace with the front pair astride the front seam of the sleeve.

The rear pocket flaps were horizontal, as for battalion and grenadier companies, laced about and with four evenly spaced, buttoned lace loops. A triangle of lace, with a large button at each end, was sewn on the back of the jacket at waist height, just above the vent of the skirts which was also had a lace edged. The jacket was lined with white linen and the front skirts or turnbacks were sown back and faced with white serge edged with one strip of lace.

Later jackets may well have followed the pattern of the line regiments by adopting the oblique pocket.

D - RA Sword

The Royal Artillery sword was regularly carried in lieu of the bayonet and in many cases the musket was not carried. There were two main versions of this sword.

The earlier model has a thick and heavy straight blade some 25 inches long. The brass stirrup hilt in brass with large languets on each side,. The brass back piece hilt was plain and the grip made from ribbed black leather. The sword had an overall length of some 31 inches. The scabbard was in black leather with brass fittings. Many of these swords were made by Woolley.

The later model was a very common design and was in wide general use across Europe. The brass hilt and grip is cast in one piece and is a driven fit on to the tang of the blade. The overall length was some 29.25 inches and the blade around the slight curve was 23.5 inches long.

The width at the shoulders was 1.265 inches and the blade tapers to some 1.25 inches at four inches from the point. The weight is 1 lb 8 oz. The scabbard was of black leather with brass mounts. Many of these model were made by Trotter.

These swords were usually worn in the frog of a cross belt worn over the right shoulder. The sword was secured to the frog of the sword belt by a stud on the scabbard.

E -Accoutrements

The cross belts of the artillery are generally shown with no plates. The belts being secured by brass buckles.

Two views of the bayonet belt. Note the button loop at the rear to attach the frog to the button at the rear waist of the tunic. When dressing the bayonet belt was usually put on first under the shoulder strap of the right shoulder and fastened to the jacket by a flap to a button on the back of the jacket. Next the cartridge pouch was put on with the cross belt under the shoulder strap of the left shoulder. The belt was clipped behind the buckle or plate of the bayonet belt (if worn). The flap on the cartridge pouch was then attached to the button on the bayonet belt. In this way the equipment was secured together and to the jacket.

Also shown is the sword belt and frog which was worn in lieu of the bayonet when no musket was carried, particularly by SNCOs.

The haversack had been in use for many years. Designed to carry three days of rations it was made of light canvas or course, unbleached linen. It was worn on a two inch strap of the same material and secured by a buckle and runner. The flap was fasten by buttons and the exact style varied from maker to maker. The colour seems to have varied between fawns to off-whites.

The standard two pint 'Italian' canteen was made of wood (like a barrel). It was some seven inches diameter and four inches deep, strengthened by two metal bands which also carried the staples for the strap. The cork was secured by a cord or fine chain. Usually painted pale blue it was often marked with the ordnance cypher and often some other identifying details. The dark brown, one inch wide, leather strap was 60 inches long and secured by a buckle and runner. The bottle weighed some three pounds when full.

F - Other ranks Buttons and Belt Plates

The regimental braiding was yellow, worsted, bastion shaped lace, set at equal distance.

Buttons for the men were flat brass of the post 1803 pattern. They were embossed with a strap inscribed 'ROYAL REG OF ARTILLERY' and surmounted by a crown. In the centre is the Royal Cypher.

Officially there were the usual two sizes of buttons as for battalion and grenadier companies, eighteen large buttons -about 0.9" ( four on each cuff, four on each rear pocket, two at the rear waist) and twelve small buttons -about 0.7", (ten on the front of the tunic - dependent upon the height of the wearer and two for the shoulder straps).

Rank badges were worn on the right arm as in the army regulations. SNCOs wore gilt chevrons on a red ground - Sergeants wore three, Sergeant majors and staff sgts, four. Junior NCOs, Bombardiers wore a single yellow, worsted chevron; Corporal, two; Lance-sergent, three.

More commonly the gunners wore cross belts with buckles rather than those with plates. When wearing the standard sword belt gunners and NCOs may well have worn a brass shoulder belt plate. Early examples suggest when the gunners wore a cross belt plate it carried the arms of the Board of Ordnance and the title Royal Artillery but other patterns were worn.

G - Royal Artillery Pouches

Royal Artillery pouch of white leather. The cross belt carries two adjusting buckles and a red cord for the powder flask that contained priming powder for the vent of the gun. Two vent pins and a small hammer are carried on the front. The vent pins were used to pierce the bag of the charge prior to priming the vent.

This belt was worn over the bayonet or sword belt and it may have been worn by specific gun numbers ( the number 9 attended the vent) as Hamilton smith shows a plain version worn in the usual manner.

It may be that it is an early piece of equipment of the 18th century that was not used after vent fuses were introduced and the vent pin became part of the gun equipment.

The form of the inside is unknown and could be a version of the 32 round, tin tray pouch or the reversible block, pouch. Gunners were known for laying their muskets and pouches aside when serving the guns and in many cases the RA sword was a preferred method of armament.

The lower example is after an illustration by Hamilton Smith although no surviving examples are known it may well be the sort of pouch that came into service when the previous version became obsolete. It appears to carry the standard Artillery badge.

H - 'Envelope' Knapsack

This was the ubiquitous pack that had been in service for many years. While the trotter pack had been issued to the service in 1805, it took many years before all units were equipped with it.

This earlier issue was similarly made of canvas or course linen, but the interior has two main compartments with buttoned flaps and a central hollow compartment which usually held shoes and brushes. When folded flat it was some 20" wide and 16" deep. When packed it was some 18" wide, 13" deep and 4" thick.

The outside was usually painted to make it weatherproof and the back embellished with a regimental identity, usually painted by the owner. The straps were white buff leather although versions with brown securing straps are known. Several styles existed many having a further strap and buckle at the centre between the shoulder straps. Many regiments painted the outer cover to improve the water resistance.

It was fastened in the manner of an envelope and the two sides buckled together. It has no stiffening or rigidity.

The pack was usually worn on top of the cross belts and shoulder straps. The knapsack shoulder straps were secured together by a strap that buckled across the chest and often accorded acute discomfort to the wearer

Several variations in pattern are known and these are due to the different manufacturers and the modifications applied by the regiments and troops in the field.

I -Royal Artillery Carbine 1778 model

Late pattern of the 1770 Artillery Carbine. This was based upon the Early Land Pattern with the barrel shortened and a steel ramrod and a later pattern lock have been fitted. The brass fittings are very similar to the normal land pattern. The top of the barrel was often engraved Royal Artillery and the battalion number. Overall length 52.5 inches, barrel 37.125 inches, caliber 0.68 inches. The effective range was about 200 yards, weight with the bayonet was just over eleven pounds. A picker and brush to clean musket lock were worn on a two part white leather strap that attached to a button on the tunic, behind the cross belt. The India pattern artillery carbine began to replace this version soon after 1807.