The Uniform and Equipment of the 23rd Foot 1777

The 23rd Foot Royal Welch Fusiliers (UK) was set up in 1987 to recreate the Light Company of the Regiment as it would have appeared in 1777, using uniforms and equipment as specified in the Royal Warrant of 1768 with later adaptations regarding the Light Companies after their formation in 1770.

The 23rd Foot was raised in 1689 by Henry, Lord Herbert of Chirbury and although designated as the Welch Regiment of Fusiliers in 1702, it has always contained men from all over Britain, although it is proud of its Welsh culture and even today celebrates St. David's Day on 1 March, the only time that the Royal Welch Fusiliers is required to make the loyal toast to the Monarch.

After a history of taking part in many of the battles in Europe during the 17th and 18th Centuries, the 23rd Foot was sent out to the American Colonies in 1773, and were there when the rebellion erupted in Boston, taking part in the battles of Lexington and Concord.

As the War progressed, the 23rd Foot took part in many of the major battles, including Bunker (Breed's) Hill, Germantown and Camden before surrendering at Yorktown in 1781, but not before the Colours had been smuggled out and only the cased flagpoles surrendered. Their heroism at Yorktown was so admired by the opposing forces, and the fact that so few men had held out for so long, that the Fusilier Redoubt which they held along with a detachment of Royal Marines still stands as a memorial to them. A contemporary diary records that the French gave them 'their unqualified approbation and praise for their intrepidity and firmness in repulsing three attacks by such vastly superior numbers'. They remained in America until 1784 when they returned home to Britain.

The 23rd Foot Light Company Recreated

The intention of the recreated Light Company was to show the regiment as it looked in 1777, using the full dress uniform of that year and the uniform worn at Germantown - the 'campaign' uniform.

The full dress uniform consists of white canvas trousers, red waistcoat and regimental jacket. Instead of the usual Fusilier bearskin, the Light Company wears a leather helmet with bearskin roach, the white ostrich feather being the badge of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. In this photo you can see the uniforms of an Officer and Fusilier (regimental coat also worn by the Native guide). The leather equipment is black, as ordered in 1777, instead of the white worn in the previous years.

The Germantown uniform, on the other hand, is much simpler, and consists of white canvas trousers and a red sleeved waistcoat. The Light Company helmet has been replaced with a black felt slouch hat turned up at one side. It is thought that during the Philadelphia campaign the whole British Army changed to this uniform. The sleeved waistcoat would have been made from the previous year's waistcoat and would normally have been worn for fatigue duties around the camp.

The normal infantryman carries a canvas knapsack with regimental device painted on the back which superceded the goatskin knapsack as the war progressed; a light infantry axe; a cartridge box; a linen haversack; a tin water canteen; and the 1771 Light Infantry pattern musket and bayonet.