Royal Scots - grenadiers?

[Russian James]

Did the Royal Scots (Orkney's) have a grenadier company at the time they remained loyal to James and mutinied in 1688?

If so, what headgear would they have worn?


Many thanks.

[wdrenth]

The regiment had at least one company of grenadiers in late 1688, but perhaps both each battalion had one company of grenadiers.
Don't know about headgear and such.

cheers,
Wienand

[Churchill]

Ray.

[tbarkowski]

According to Pat Condray's Wargamer's Introduction to the Age of Marlborough 2nd Edition (1988), P35. He cited Wagner in "Carmine (dark red-probably the same as British crimson for Scottish regiments." for coat colour and "some English and most Scottish grenadiers wore the short mitre with the bag hanging down behind." for grenadier caps.

I'm not sure if it applies well for 1688, however I would suspect that grenadier headwear was transitioning to the more traditional bishop style mitre of the 18th century and thus would have likely still been wearing the shorter mitre with bag in 1688.

I haven't seen the plate and when painting units for Blenheim about 12 years ago I did Orkney's in this manner. Right or wrong it did add a little contrast to the primarily scarlet Blenheim assault column.

Tim

[Russian James]

Thanks Tim, I've decided to go with fur caps for my unit, just 'cos I like them!

[tbarkowski]

.....and in my book that is the best reason of all!

Tim

[Churchill]

Ray.

[Russian James]

Beautiful looking regiment Ray, just like the rest of your postings...

tbh, fur cap will be the least of my 'errors', after all I'll have them fighting on the side of the Stuarts!

Currently undercoating my first regiment of Warfare Miniatures which will be finished as Cannon's, post Killiecrankie.

[Clibinarium]

Lovely unit Ray, what's the religious significance of the crimson coat for the Cameronians?

[Russian James]

tbh I'll be using a darker, more crimson, colour for my rank and file, with only the ensigns and other officers getting scarlet.

Remember in those days they were using vegetable dyes which are much more subdued than the chemical dyes we are used to now. In addition, weather and wear and tear would result in a very fast fading of all dye colours.

Roads were only packed earth, so any army on the move would generate huge clouds of dust which would coat all uniforms, including senior ranks, or if - weather, boots, legs, coat hems, etc, all heavily coated with mud.

Generally muted tones are the order of the day, very irregular as each batch would be a different shade. Colours (flags) can be brighter as silk is much better than wool or linen at holding dyes.

[Churchill]

Ray.

[Russian James]

...and even better, Stuart Reid in his 'The Last Scots Army, 1661 - 1714' gives the Scottish establishment as having fur caps for Grenadiers, artillery and possibly the Scots Fusiliers.