Uniforms

There are a number of items that your will need for your uniform. We will discuss the various items and at the end of the page there is an indepth section on the regimental coat.

Your Clothing

The following is a lit of the items you will need from the top down.

If you are portraying a 42nd scout in the Americas, some of the clothing will be different. Instead of buckle shoes you will wear moccasins and over the hose you would wear cloth or leather leggings.

Regimental Coat

The 42nd (originally the 43rd) had a number of changes during the 18th century. One of the first descriptions comes from The Clothing Book of 1742. The following image is from that book.

1742 Uniform

This uniform is good through 1758. In 1759 the regiment became a royal regiment and the facings changed from buff to blue. Notice also, that the earlier uniform did not include lace. It is also my understansing that for field uniforms, lace may also not have been present.

An interesting note uniform is found in the Osprey Military Men-At-Arms series 18th Century Highlanders. Plate D shows a 42nd Regiment scout. Note that the scout is wearing mocassins and leggings like the American Indian peoples. Other differences include covering the canteen to lessen reflections, carrying a tomahawk, and also a powderhorn. The powderhorn and tumpline are copied from a surviving example owned by a 42nd soldier named Camron and held by SUSM. The firelock is a smaller calibre than the standard English issue, introduced in 1757. As of the writing of this page, the author has not found definitive evidence of this type of musket, but has found evidence of a .65 calibre musket used by scouts and officers.

42nd Scout

Another good reference for uniforms is British Infantry Uniforms from Larlborough to Wellington by Liliane and Fred Funcken. The following image shows a number of examples of uniforms for the 42nd and other regiments.

Uniforms

List of the Uniforms

  1. Officer wearing the first uniform of the 43rd/42nd Regiment nicknamed "Am Freicedan Dubh" or Black Watch
  2. Officer in same uniform from 1745
  3. Soldier - 1740
  4. Soldier - 1742 - Note the waistcoat is locker than jacket in Scottish fashion
  5. Corporal - 1743 - Note the shoulder knot on the right arm. Shield used till 1745 in Flanders.
  6. Grenedier - 1751
  7. Cap of the 77th Regiment - 1763
  8. Officer - 77th Regiment - 1777.
  9. Officer - Grenediers - 73rd Regiment - 1777
  10. Soldier - Cameronians - 1795
  11. Soldier - Gordon Highlanders - 1798