FIW Highlanders (1 Viewer)

[Aussie Monty]

As far as I can work out there were three Highland Regiments that took part in the FIW all raised for the war.

42nd Regiment Foot (Black Watch Highlanders) - 2 Divisions (Battalions) raised 1756.

77th Regiment Foot (Montgomerys Highlanders) raised 1757. Were call 1st Highland Battation, then 62nd Foot and then 77th Foot.

78th Regiment Foot (Frasers Highlanders) raised 1757. Were call 2nd Highland Battation, then 63nd Foot and then 77th Foot.

Each Regiment made up of 10 Companies of 110 men (including NCO). 8 companies of Foot, 1 of Light and 1 of Grenadiers. 1100 men not including Officers. But this was only on paper, most regiments were lucky to field 400 to 600 men at any given time.

As far as I can work out or find out, the three regiments were all uniformed the same.

Does anyone know if the different regiments had different facings or anything that showed which regiment they come from. Tartans and kilts were all the same as far as I can work out.

Anyone help or have better info.

Andrew

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

The 42nd arrived in North America wearing coats with Buff facings. They were granted a royal status while in North America and the new issue of clothing after this date were with blue facings.
The 77th was recruited from all over Scotland and they wore green facings. There is evidence that supports this regiment wearing the government sett plaid.
The 78th had either the traditional white facings for highland units, or pale buff. At least two contemporary sources show a red brown sett that may be the predocessor to the modern Fraser tartan.
Hope this helps.
Ken

 

[Aussie Monty]

Ken,

Thanks for the info.

So:

42nd Blue Facings. Do you know which year they changed to Blue.

77th Green Facings.

78th White / Buff Facings. (As per John Jenkins Frasers QHL-01 to 03).

John has his 78th in a Green Tartan, was this the Government standard of the time?

Andrew

The 42nd arrived in North America wearing coats with Buff facings. They were granted a royal status while in North America and the new issue of clothing after this date were with blue facings.
The 77th was recruited from all over Scotland and they wore green facings. There is evidence that supports this regiment wearing the government sett plaid.
The 78th had either the traditional white facings for highland units, or pale buff. At least two contemporary sources show a red brown sett that may be the predocessor to the modern Fraser tartan.
Hope this helps.
Ken

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

The 42nd was awarded a Royal status after the action at Ft Ticonderoga on July 7, 1758. During this engagement they would have still worn the buff facings on their regimentals. The next clothing issue would have had blue facings.
The dark green and blue pattern is the 'Government Sett' and was used by several units in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. There is always some discussion about what is correct for this period...much like the use of a red overstripe on the tarten used by the Grenadier company of the 42nd as shown in the Morier paintings for the clothing book.
There are some that feel that the 78th used a different pattern than the Government Sett (Black Watch) and there are at least two period images that confirm this. The predominate colours appear to be a brown and red, and this was probably the fore runner of the modern Fraser tartan.
I would not totally rule out the use of a Government Sett at some point, but the indications are that it was probably something else.
Ken

 

[Leadmen]

Thanks Andrew and Ken for explaining the Highland Regiment's facings and history. Very informative. Leadmen

 

[Aussie Monty]

Thanks Ken.

Hopefully John Jenkins will get around to the other two regiments at some time.

Andrew

The 42nd was awarded a Royal status after the action at Ft Ticonderoga on July 7, 1758. During this engagement they would have still worn the buff facings on their regimentals. The next clothing issue would have had blue facings.
The dark green and blue pattern is the 'Government Sett' and was used by several units in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. There is always some discussion about what is correct for this period...much like the use of a red overstripe on the tarten used by the Grenadier company of the 42nd as shown in the Morier paintings for the clothing book.
There are some that feel that the 78th used a different pattern than the Government Sett (Black Watch) and there are at least two period images that confirm this. The predominate colours appear to be a brown and red, and this was probably the fore runner of the modern Fraser tartan.
I would not totally rule out the use of a Government Sett at some point, but the indications are that it was probably something else.
Ken