The British Army on Campaign 1816-1902 (1) 1816-1853

In the decade that followed Waterloo the dress of the Army reached heights of splendour and impracticality seldom seen before or since. Wellington’s army which entered Paris in 1815 had a serviceable if somewhat austere appearance compared with the Allied troops; but the need to make a show, encouraged by the Prince Regent’s taste for military millinery, resulted in the demise of serviceability and the birth of extravagance. Napoleon was banished, the long peace had begun; so the soldier must emulate the peacock. However, the campaigns which the British soldier was to face would all demand an agility and stamina for which ‘Prinny’s’ follies, and even the more restrained costumes of his successors, were ill-designed. Furthermore, the authorised dress was expected to serve in peace and war, regardless of climate, terrain or mode of warfare. Therefore, before examining how the troops actually appeared in these campaigns, the dress required by regulations must be considered in general terms. Its essentials can be seen in the accompanying Simkin print. The cavalry regiments to be engaged on service between 1816 and 1828 were either Light Dragoons or Lancers. The former were clothed in: black, broad-topped fell shako, superseded in 1822 by a taller model; dark blue double-breasted jacket with collar, culls and lapels in the facing colour, with short tails behind and two epaulettes; waist girdle; white leather breeches with hessian boots, or blue-grey cloth trousers. Lancers had a similar jacket; the tall, plumed lance-cap; and loose-fitting Cossack trousers, crimson for dress occasions, blue-grey for undress. The cavalryman’s accoutrements consisted of a pouch belt with carbine swivel atlachment (except for Lancers), and a waist belt with slings for sword and sabretache. Light Dragoons were armed with sword and carbine. Lancers with sword, lance and pistol. New swords with three-bar guards replaced the 1796 pattern from 1821.

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