The light infantry battalions were drawn from the light companies from British line battalions. The 'Light Bob' battalions were very much elite units, being skilled in woodland operations and also being used as assault troops in the same way as grenadiers in the line battalions. As a result these fellows are going to be very busy in any wargame they are involved in!
My sources were unclear on a few items and I made my own best guess with some detail. Some sources said that cuffs would have been kept as per the colours of the parent battalion. Well, this could well be the case, however, I could well imagine that having men with visible signs of their different regimental 'tribal' affiliations would not be conducive to having the men act as a single unit. Surely it would be better if the men thought, acted and felt they were part of the same regimental family. I decided to go with jackets minus cuffs.
Equipment strap colours was another issue with some sources saying white and others black. I went with black, as the light infantry tradition of black equipment must have started somewhere and the AWI saw the start of a number of new traditions in the British Army. Gatta's illustration appears also to support the black straps.
Della Gatta's contemporary illustration of British Light Infantry in the attack (black straps)
These are another set of troops which I truly enjoyed painting, and I couldn't wait to get home each night from work to do a few more hours on them.
The plan is to give these guys their first outing next weekend (having a game planned gives great painting incentive too!), and I'm really looking forward to seeing them on the table.
A few more pics below to finish off. Until next time...!
Great looking troops and top notch basing!
ReplyDeleteHi Peter,
DeleteMany thanks for your kind compliment :-)
Best wishes,
Jason
The equipment colour was a regimental thing. Most light infantry were black. Some kept theirs white. Remember buff faced regiments had buff equipment. Best to read the 1768 regulations.
ReplyDeleteHi Simon, Thank you for your comment. My further reading into this topic muddies things further. It seems the 1768 regulations were being modified on campaign in several aspects. I'll go with the contemporary illustrations as good primary evidence for campaign dress.
DeleteBest wishes,
Jason
Lovely looking figures, and great work on them.
ReplyDeleteHi Lawrence,
DeleteThanks, I'm really glad you like them.
Best wishes,
Jason
Beautiful and graceful British troops, and fabulous bases!
ReplyDeleteHi Phil,
DeleteI couldn't wait to get onto painting these. Glad they turned out so well!
Best wishes,
Jason
Great looking unit Jason! Love the basing too!
ReplyDeleteHi Rodger,
DeleteThanks for your kind compliment. I added some more twigs to these fellows for that more 'wilderness skirmishing' look :-)
Best wishes,
Jason
Lovely troops, Jason! Wow, Lights surely were dandies in their slouch hats and black crossbelts. Excellent brushwork and basing as always!
ReplyDeleteHi Dean,
DeleteMany thanks indeed :-) I'm still somewhat amazed that British Light Infantry in the AWI didn't adopt a more 'Jaeger Green' jacket...but then as an ex-regular I've seem how tradition is king!
Best wishes,
Jason
They look great!
ReplyDelete