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British 7th Dragoons, 1769, & Blues and Royals, 1819
UniformInfo - Military Modelling magazine
Q.
Sirs,
I am collecting background information in connection with a play to be produced about the United Reformed Church which shortly celebrates its 200th anniversary.
Left, Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) 1819; right, Officer 7th Dragoons 1769.
My researches show that much evangelistic work in Cheshire was done by the Rev. Jonathan Scott. He was born in 1735 and eventually became a captain in tho 7th Dragoons being present at the battle of Minden in 1759. He was ‘converted’ in 1766 and sold his commission in 1769. It is recorded that about 1770 he preached in full regimentals in the open space near the Mill Brow Chapel near Marple Bridge. Can you tell me how he would be dressed on that occasion.
Records show that in 1819 a troop of Oxford Blues ʺformed square in front of the Horse and Fancierʺ (the local inn) seeking certain local men who had joined in Luddite riots. Presumably the troop consisted of an officer and a number of men. Could you help in this instance also by describing how the ʺBluesʺ were dressed.
Your help would be much appreciated.
Gatley, Cheadle J. E. Ellis.
A.
This was a period of transition for the British Army, there being a Royal Warrant on clothing for the Army in 1768. Whether or not the Rev. Jonathan Scott would have possessed his new regimentals by the time he sold his commission in 1769 is a matter of conjecture. However what follows is a description of the 1768 prescribed uniform: Black tricorne hat trimmed with silver. Scarlet coat with white collar, cuffs and turnbacks. White metal buttons, white braid buttonhole loops for other ranks, silver for officers. A silver fringed epaulette on the left shoulder. White waistcoat and breeches. Crimson sash tied around the waist, under the coat. Steel half basket hilted sword carried in a black leather scabbard, fitted with brass.
Regarding the ‘Oxford Blues’. The only regiment we can trace that carried this title were the Royal Horse Guards (now The Blues and Royals). They derived their name from their raising in 1661, although they can trace their lineage back to 1650 when Oliver Cromwell asked the governor of Newcastle, Sir Arthur Heselrigge to raise a regiment of Horse. On Charles II being restored to the throne he took the regiment on the strength of his new army calling it the Royal Regiment of Horse. However, the regiment was stood down as a result of Parliament’s insistence to dispense with the army. The continuing threat to the Monarchy reversed the situation and the British Army was re-born in January, 1661. The regiment ranked after the Life Guards and was commanded by Aubrey de Vere, Earl of Oxford and became known as the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards in 1687. The colour blue was also the colour of the livery of the Earl of Oxford, but the regiment did not become known as the ‘Oxford Blues‘ until 1690 when they were called this to distinguish them from the Dutch Horse Guards of William III. In 1819 they became the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues). Until this date, although always associated with Royalty, they were considered the senior regiment of Horse, but in 1820 they were granted the full status of Household Cavalry along with the Life Guards. In the spring of 1812 the regiment marched to Lancashire, arriving on May 7th in Warrington and making its H.Q. in that town. It was engaged until the autumn in helping to quail the Luddite riots, then marched south again. We have not been able to ascertain if a small detachment was present in the north in 1819, the regimental history only mentioning 1812.
This was another period of transition in uniforms of the British Army, and contemporary prints of the Royal Horse Guards for 1819 are rare. We have tried to piece together what we believe they may have worn. The headdress was a large helmet of steel with a high black bearskin crest. Chinscales of brass and a large brass sunburst plate on the front of the helmet. A simple blue coatee, some illustrations show a single breasted garment, others a double breasted coat with the rows of buttons very close together. High red collar, red cuffs and turnbacks. On either side of the collar two yellow worsted loops for troopers, gold for officers. Sky blue overall trousers with a wide red stripe along the outside seams (Gold for officers in full dress). A yellow girdle with two crimson stripes, the girdle being gold for officers. White gauntlets. Officers wore gold aiguilettes on the right shoulder, N.C.O.s wore the gold aiguilette on the left shoulder. Over the left shoulder a white pouch belt. Sabretache black for other ranks, crimson trimmed with gold for officers. Swordbelt and slings white. Officers could have worn a simple undress uniform which consisted of a wide crowned cap with a small black visor and narrow black leather chinstrap, the cap being of blue cloth with a red cap band. A plain blue, high collared, single breasted frock coat with a high skirt. Overalls as described above. The cuirass was not taken into wear until 1821.
Household Cavalry helmet, 1819.
