Peninsular Mod v1.01 (requires Road to Wagram v1.5)

[Ingles of the 57th]

Attached is a sample of the MacKenzie Tartan as worn by the 71st of Foot. Doesn't correspond very well with the drawing in my previous post. I guess the Kilts had faded in the Iberian sunshine.

The attachment MacKenzietartan.jpg is no longer available

The 71st wore the Kilt up to about 1890 when they switched to trews (tight tartan trousers). The Kilt was restored in 1948.

Although they were technically a Highland Regiment most of their recruiting was done in Glasgow, a very Lowland location.

Geoff Laver

Late of Her Britannic Majesty's 57th Regiment of Foot

[Ingles of the 57th]

Problem solved.

You have the 91st of Foot (Shropshires) wearing the uniform that the 71st of Foot (Highland Light Infantry) should be wearing !! Grounds for mutiny.

Geoff Laver

[Jack ONeill]

Geoff,

Unfortunately, I have to disagree. I own the book "A Soldier of the 71st," by Christopher Hibbert. In it the (unknown) author, "Thomas," specifically stated his regiment wore the red and white uniform of the standard British Line Battalion, with the add-on of a tartan band around the base of the Shako. On the cover of the copy I have, the same uniform is shown. As far as I can find out, the 71st. was known as the Highland Light Infantry but never wore either the kilt-and-bonnet uniform nor trews (plaid trousers), during the Peninsular Campaign.

Jack B)

Now, having done a quick perusal of the internet, it does appear the 71st. did wear kilts, and then later, trews, but well after the Napoleonic Wars. There are a variety of pictures and unit histories that show this.

[Ingles of the 57th]

Thanks Jack.

Lets have Gunship arbitrate.

He has created a sprite exactly like the uniform shown in my drawing but assigned it to the 91st of Foot (Shropshires), whose uniform it certainly wasn't. The Kilt is very thin on the ground in rural Shropshire.

There is only one Scottish regiment in the whole OOB, the 71st of Foot, the Highland light Infantry. So this Scottish uniform can surely only have been intended for them.


[attachment]screen0002.bmp[/attachment]

Probably standard uniform had to be used when the Scottish regalia got so ragged and decrepit that it could not be further used. I certainly can confirm the Shako with the tartan band. I alluded to this in my first post.

The Kilt had great disadvantages in a hot climate. Scottish regiments were pinned down for several hours during the Boer war (I think on the Modder River) and subsequently could not march for several days due to acute sunburn on the back of the knees.

Geoff Laver

Late of Her Britannic Majesty's 57th Regiment of Foot.

[Ingles of the 57th]

Lets see if this works

The attachment HLIUniform.jpg is no longer available

Geoff Laver

[Michigander]

91st is the Argylls, who later were combined with the 93rd to make the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Shropshires were the 53rd.

Also the 71st (Highland Light Infantry) were only a highland regiment in name. They are lowlanders recruited out of Glasgow, and wore the regular British uniform.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/91st_(Argy ... nt_of_Foot

Uniform of the 71st Foot during the Napoleonic wars- They didn't get the kilts or trews until the late Victorian Era.

[Jack ONeill]

Goeff,

We can have Gunship arbitrate. Fine. No offense, but I have to know where you are getting your information. All references I can find (or have), indicate the the 91st. Foot were the "Shropshires Volunteers" until 1794 when they became the 98th. Argyllshire Highlanders, then in 1796 when they became the 91st. Highlanders (the Argylls). They were the Argylls until 1881 when they became the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. I am reading this from the Regimental History website of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

I can find, as I wrote before, no reference to the 71st. ever wearing kilts during the Peninsular War. I am finding a boatload of information, both written and drawings, indicating the wearing of the Line Battalion uniform by the 71st, both in Portugal/Spain, (white trousers), and 1812-1815, (Grey trousers).

I am guessing, Based on a little historical study, that the person who drew the picture you used as an illustration was not there, and based his drawing on hearing it was a "Highland" unit, hence the kilts. Everyone knew that Highland units only wore kilts and bonnets.
I would prefer to use the information based on the book written by someone who was actually in the unit at the time.
I am fine with what Gunship originally came up with as far as Sassenach and Scots uniforms were concerned. I thought he was wrong about the 91st. as a Kilted unit until I did some digging and found out he was right.

As to the nuances of the uniforms, (tartans, cuff facings and such,), I have zero problem with one kilted Highland sprite being used to represent any kilted highland unit during the war. At a certain point computer graphic imaging takes over and with enough different uniforms on the screen, even the best computers bog down. Me, I'd rather play the game.

Lastly, I AM a Scot. I use the moniker "O'Neill" for a reason, but our family name was Riddell for 1100 years. (You can find us in the Doomsday Book, commissioned by William the 1st. We came over with him.) Our name is all over the Scottish National Memorial in Edinburgh Castle and the gravestones of a small village and Castle of Straygthine, just southwest of Edinburgh itself. If a Highland Regiment was supposed to be wearing a kilt rather that a "Damned Saaenach" uniform, I think I'd want to see it.

Jack O'Neill B)

Note - while I was typing my screed there, Michigander posted some good scoop. Thanks, Brother.

[Ingles of the 57th]

Jack

Apology No 1

I misread the Wikipedia entry for List of Regiments of Foot

The 91st Were indeed the Argylls so the highland uniform is correct .... but only just. They lost the Kilt in 1809 and reverted to standard uniform around the time of the Walcheren campaign.

I was also wondering about the red hackle in the bonnet rather than the white hackle shown in my drawing. I must check if the Argylls wore the red hackle. I thought only the Black Watch had that privilege.

As a Scot you must feel a bit sick over the treatment of the Argylls in the latest Army cuts. Mad Mitch must be turning in this grave. The fightingest regiment ever ..... reduced to ceremonial duties. I still have a vinyl of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders pipes. Including the iconic 'Entry into Aden'

Best regards. Watch this space.

Geoff Laver

Late of Her Britannic Majesty's 57th Regiment of Foot

[Ingles of the 57th]

Jack

www.britishbattles.com/peninsula/peninsula-vimiero.htm

This is the site from which I got the perhaps erroneous drawings of the 71st at Vimiero. Serves me right for believing everything I read on the web !

I note the caption to the picture just says 'highlanders'. Maybe they were indeed Argylls.

Geoff Laver

Late of Her Britannic Majesty'sMajesty's 57th Regiment of Foot

[Ingles of the 57th]

Gentlemen. I retire defeated and confused.

I note though that Gunship about 18 months ago on the Mad Minute Forum did post Screenshots of the 71st wearing standard uniform and I must bow to his wisdom.

The following article is about the best I could find. God only knows what happened in 1808. I think there should be a law that all drawings of military uniform carry a date.

The attachment TheHighlandLightInfantry.doc is no longer available

Geoff Laver
Late of Her Britannic Majesty's 57th Regiment of Foot