THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNIFORMS OF
LIGHT INFANTRY AND RIFLE REGIMENTS


The King's Royal Rifle Corps skirmishing c.1890s

In the North American Wars of the 1750s, the heavy equipment, conspicuous red and white uniforms and close formation fighting of the British Army proved to be wholly unsuitable when operating in close country against Indians and French colonists, who had highly developed fieldcraft and marksmanship skills.  Prompted by these experiences General James Wolfe (1727-59) and Lord Amherst (1717-97) realised there was a need for a new approach in the Infantry. A small corps of 'Light' troops, recruited from the settlers, was formed in 1755. It consisted of specially trained men, carefully selected for their toughness and intelligence, able to scout and skirmish, concentrating and dispersing with great stealth and speed. Their dress, equipment and tactics were adjusted to meet this new role.  The following order for the dress of the light infantry was issued;

“The sleeves of the coat are put on the waistcoat, and instead of coat sleeves he has two wings like the Grenadiers, but fuller, and a round slope reaching about halfway down his arm; which makes his coat of no encumbrance to him, but can be slipped off with pleasure; he has no lace, but the lapels remain, besides the usual pockets, he has two but not quite so high as his breast, made of leather, for ball and flints; and a flap of red cloth on the inside, which secures the ball from rolling out if he should fall. His knapsack is carried very high between his shoulders, is fastened with a strap of web over his shoulder, as the Indians carry their pack. His cartouche box hangs under his arm on the left side, slung with a leathern strap; and his horn under the other arm on the right, hanging by a narrower web than that used for his knapsack; his canteen down his back under his knapsack, and covered with cloth, he has a rough case for his tomahawk with a button, and it hangs in a leathern sling down his side like a hanger, between his coat and waistcoat, no bayonet, his leggings have leathern straps under his shoes, like spatterdashes; his hat is made into a cap with a flap and a button and with as much black cloth added as will come under his chin and keep him warm when he lies down, it hooks in the front and is made like the old velvet caps in England.”

The Original Light Infantryman c.1759

In addition, the Light Infantry were ordered to exchange their heavy arms for Artillery pattern muskets and increase
the rounds that they carried from 50 to 70.  

Later on in 1759, the men were ordered to once again carry bayonets, to be used when ammunition ran out and to stop the soldiers abandoning their posts with the excuse that all their cartridges had been used up. There are also mentions of bearskin ruffs worn around the neck, which could be a woollen scarf as bearskin was an 18th Century term for wool.  As the wars in North America carried on, the Light Infantry was constantly modified in order to keep one step ahead. Their reputation became so great that the Indians gave them the name of 'The English Savages', but once the war was over, the Light Infantry was forgotten about until 1770, when once again, war in America called for their special skills with the result that this time they were officially recognised and light companies were ordered for every regiment in the British Infantry and Light Infantry regiments were formed immediately prior to and during the Napoleonic Wars.  

Uniforms of Rifle Regiments developed in a similar way.  The introduction of German riflemen into the British Army, as a counter measure to the increased French use of Light Infantry, brought about the introduction of green uniforms.  Green cloth was commonly worn by hunters and it was natural that it was to be adopted by German Jagers (Riflemen).  The equipment of these Riflemen was also black as opposed to the white of line and light Infantry.  Powder horns were used to carry powder for their weapons - which, and hence their name, was a rifle - far more accurate and with a longer range than the traditional musket.

5/60th Rifleman c.1809

In 1797, 400 men of Hompesch's Mounted Rifles and 500 of Loewenstein's Chasseurs were drafted to form the 5/60th  (North American) Battalion.  They were the first Regular unit of Light Infantry in the British Army and armed completely with rifles.  It was remarked by many that the appearance of the 60th Rifles was very foreign and continental compared to that of the British Infantryman.  Red facings and both blue or white breaches were worn depending on what battalion soldiers were serving with.  The development of the Experimental Corps of Rifleman brought about the creation of the 95th Rifles, the first British Rifle Regiment. 

Under the stewardship of General Sir John Moore and Colonels Willian Stewart and Coote Manningham, the modern Light Infantry and Rifle Regiments were trained at Shorncliffe in Kent.  Despite the best efforts of Sir John Moore, when it came to choosing a new uniform in which to fight, conservativeness won the day.  While the 95th Rifles were permitted to adopt the green clothing and black leather equipment of the German regiments in British service, the Light Infantry regiments were ordered to conform to the regulations for light companies - retaining red jackets.

The following is an extract from an article titled "Riflemen of the 95th Regiment ( Rifles ) at Corunna 1808-1809"
by Keith Raynor and describes the uniform of the 95th Rifles:

"The uniform worn by the 95th was basically that which had been proscibed by regulations in 1801 and 1802, with only a few minor alterations.

Riflemen would be wearing the second pattern stovepipe shako introduced in 1806. This shako was made of blocked felt, with a linen liner, leather "sweatband" and leather peak, there was no back flap, though the rear portion of the leather "sweatband" could be pulled out of the cap to form one. There appears to be no known records to suggest that this was official practice. The caps were,"...to be made of sufficient size to come completely on the head. To be worn straight and even and brought well forward over the eyes. The felt cap and the tuft is to be supplied annually. The leather part, brass plate and leather cockade once in every two years...The whole to wear the button of their respective regiments in the centre of the cockade..." The rank and file wore a green tuft on their shakos, similar to the Light Infantry. While the Sergeants and Buglers were to have green feathers instead.

A 95th Rifleman c.1809

The 95th however were never issued the brass (universal) shako plate. The 1802 regulations state that Officers were to wear on their helmets,"...a silver crown and bugle engraved on the right side of the helmet". For "Other ranks", the same regulations state, " The Rifle corps not to wear the brass fronting on their caps, but in lieu to have a bugle and crown with a green cord round the cap". By the time of the Corunna Campaign though,"Other Ranks" were most probably wearing a plain bugle horn badge, while Officers wore a Silver bugle horn badge.

Around his neck the Rifleman would wear a black leather stock as proscibed by regulations, this being held in place by a brass or alloy stock clasp. The Jackets for privates were made of,"...Dark green cloth, inferior in quality to the sergeants, but in formation, colour of the collar, cuffs, and shoulder straps and in the buttons, etc, etc,, exactly similar to the sergeants". The regulations of 1802 stated that the jacket was to be,"...without lining, except the sleeves, but the inside of the fronts are to be faced with green cloth". This was ammended in 1803 when the jacket was to be,"... lined, but not laced, with sleeves unlined".

Regulations further added that the jacket was to be,"Rather short skirted and turned back, but cut to slope off behind. No lappells and made to button over the body down to the waist. Standing collar which with the cuffs are to be of black cloth and feathered with white. Three rows of buttons on the fronts of the jackets and 12 in each row, two rows on one side and one row and holes on the other".

The buttons were to be,"...set on at equal distances but the rows 71/index.htm2inches apart at the top, and reduced gradually to 21/index.htm2at the bottom. The cuffs 21/index.htm2inches in breadth and pointed, opening at the hand with 4 buttons. The pockets pretty high on the fronts of the jackets and the welts set on sloping. A button on each hip and the back skirts made to fold well over. The buttons small throughout, being very much raised, with a bugle horn and crown over it engraved".

As a departure from the usual practice with the British infantry, the 95th were issued with pantaloons, "...in lieu of breeches, in a similar manner and form as directed for sergeants". The pantaloons were to be made of green cloth,"...similar in quality and colour to their coats. They are to be made to come down to the ankles". However, the pantaloons cost more due to the extra amount of cloth used, and riflemen were,"...to be stopped the extra-ordinary charge of two shillings and three pence on their clothing in consequence of receiving pantaloons instead of breeches". Prints of Riflemen C1804 from the former Sumner collection show trousers being worn; Either that, or the pantaloons are being worn over the gaiters.

Riflemen were to,"...wear black woollen cloth short gaiters, with small white metal buttons and to come up sufficiently high above the ankles to prevent any opening from appearing between them and the pantaloons". Finally, Riflemen were given two pairs of shoes annually, these would be made straight lasted, ie. no left or right foot. But the shoes would be soon bedded into one foot or the other despite the advice of some military authors who recommended the shoes be changed, day in, day out. "

The uniform of The Rifles has therefore evolved over the last 250 years.  The following pictures illustrate the way in the uniforms have developed.  Note that the introduction of Khaki uniforms brought to an end the wearing of true Light Infantry and Rifles dress, although elements of it were incorporated in the modern uniforms.  All the images are taken from Regimental sources and in particular the book "The 85th King's Light Infantry" edited by C.R.B. Barrett (1913) and published by Spottiswoode & Co Ltd, London:

Riflemen 5th and 6th Bns 60th Rifles 1800	Officer and Private 85th King's Light Infantry 1809	Rifleman 95th Rifles 1809	Officer  95th Rifles 1810 (Alix Baker)	Officer 85th King's Light Infantry 1818-1820
Officer 43rd Light Infantry 1826 (P H Smitherman)	Officer Rifle Brigade 1831  (P H Smitherman)	Officer and Serjeant 85th King's Light Infantry 1839	Private 85th King's Light Infantry 1851	Buglers King's Royal Rifle Corps 1851
Officer and Bugler King's Royal Rifle Corps 1890	Officer Devonshire Regiment 1896 (P H Smitherman)	Private Gloucestershire Regiment 1900	Officers and Rifleman King's Royal Rifle Corps 1902	Officer Rifle Brigade 1959 (P H Smitherman)

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