White Bearskin Caps in the British Army during the 18th Century

[@Zajuts149]

"...an entire grenadier company, apparently, of white fur caps[...], and yet not a single piece of art work..." London, 1783: "Look at those grenadiers in white bearskins! Quick! Get my palette and easel. This will be all the rage on Paintagram!"

[@mot13ymotley55]

We now know why polar bears are extinct in the UK now😉

[@aclark4031]

MOT13Y MOTLEY xD

[@voiceofraisin3778]

Theres small reserves. Come visit White bear park. Enjoy yourself. take lots of photographs.

[@harveth4900]

@@voiceofraisin3778 quick advert lol

[@BrandonF]

This is my first video with the new microphone! I think it went very well, though I'm afraid there was a small error where the audio became slightly desynched at a few points, so in order to fix it I had to do some moving around and this resulted in two or three moments during this video where the audio will skip. I don't think it's too big an issue though, and it's something that I am hoping to figure out and fix sooner rather than later. It's certainly better than the audio being out of sync with the image, after all! Please do let me know if you think the audio quality could still use significant improvement, or if it's good enough for now. Thank you all!

[@ignacio1171]

Wow, the mic really makes a difference, the audio quality is much better and clearer.

[@benjamingrist6539]

The new mic definitely helps. Money well spent. If you want to avoid desynchronization in the future, clap at the beginning of your recording, and sync the peak of the audio file with the frame in which your hands meet. Once you have the two lined up, you can delete the clapping bit of the video and continue editing as you please.

[@BrandonF]

I did exactly that, which is the funny thing- while the beginning of the video was synched perfectly, it was a good half-second delayed by the end! Thus the occasional 'skip' to correct the record.

[@benjamingrist6539]

Brandon F. Hmm...that is odd. Do you have the video and audio files set at the same number of frames per second (fps)? That's the only other thing I can think of that would cause such a problem.

[@BrandonF]

That may be the issue. I'll see if I can't change the microphone settings before the next video! Thanks for the suggestion.

[@teutoncross3817]

Take a shot every time he says “White bearskin cap”

[@andrewmccloud8581]

Hilarious and original.

[@user-rg7uz8of9r]

@History Legends what's on overt hose

[@kaczynskis5721]

White bearshkin capsh... hic ...

[@amiibochildo007]

FLINTLOCK shot

[@harveth4900]

I love how when Brandon says '68 it means 1768 lol

[@joeblow9657]

I love how Brandon F. does so much intense research about something I didn't even think about and is so enthusiastic and unpretentious at the same. As well I like how accessible he is. He should be a history prof I'd take his class

[@Tiger89Lilly]

I'd take a whole simester of his classes

[@patstrzeszewski3240]

Sally antiques actually has one of these white bearskin caps. You should check out their video

[@konnorkuznetsov1035]

Yes! Splendid! Thank you Brandon!

[@BrandonF]

Well, thank you as well!

[@aminmashhoon4267]

Hey Brandon I am an aspiring ww2 reenactor but the history buff in me never fails to find the stuff you talk about in your videos amazing no matter the time period keep up the great work!

[@BrandonF]

I'm glad that you find it all interesting, and I'm going to be making more WW2 videos in the future, just not so common as the other types!

[@homealonehearne]

Brandon. How can I contact you? Just an email. Think we have a dummy board with a drummer in a white bearskin hat. Found a reference to the 47th Lancashire drummers wearing white bear skin hats. They fought at bunker hill the dummy board was in a New England family estate

[@bellman4366]

Brandon:"White bearskin caps" Me: Are you high?

[@danrooc]

Giuseppe Chiesa (pronunced kee-esah, church in italian); Joe Church. Good work Brandon!

[@obdacz]

Ignoring clothing regulations in certain units is indeed a British military tradition still going strong. A recent example maybe the whole PCS/MTP jacket fiasco (worn in/out, sleeves rolled up or not) or differences in wearing a unit specific stable belt.

[@keithorbell8946]

obdacz yes, use of “tribal items” of dress even after the attempt to amalgamate the heart and soul out the Infantry and Cavalry.

[@russelmurphy4868]

Odds are that it was probably one well-connected and quite rich Colonel of the Regiment who decided to kit his drummers out with white fur caps for no other reason than it looked good to him and gave his regiment something to distinguish it from the other Regiments of Foot in the Line. Other equally-rich Colonels of the Regiment saw this and decided to copy it. The best example of a Colonel of the Regiment doing something like this would have to be the 7th Earl of Cardigan who is reputed to have spent £10,000 per year outfitting his regiment (the total also included remounts) so that he could lead a smart and efficient unit. (Of course, his officers resented his doing this, since, as you are aware, they had to purchase their own kit: a Hussar officer's jacket at the time cost £40-equivalent to £3,300 in 2016: quite a substantial cost. The aim of this was to try and ensure his officers were as aristocratic and flamboyant as he was, and to try and rid himself of the handful of officers, termed "Indians", who were serious about their profession and had served with the 11th Light Dragoons (later Hussars) in India when he gained its command in 1836 in exchange for his Colonelcy of the 15th {King's} Hussars {he had purchased the latter in March of 1832 for a reputed premium of £35,000: the equilavelant of£2,980,000 in 2016}).

[@00muinamir]

Some thoughts on bear sources for these bearskins: I see other people have mentioned down below that they were probably getting their bearskins from North America and the Hudson Bay Company--if the demand was mostly for natural dark black bear hides, they probably came from the American black bear, Ursus americanus. As far as bears go, they're on the smallish side and they're not particularly aggro. But the name "black bear" is a little misleading as there are subspecies with different kinds of fur. In Canada there's a subspecies called the Kermode or spirit bear, Ursus americanus kermodei, where 10% of the population is leucistic--that is to say, their production of melanin is significantly lower (but not completely absent as in albinism)--and so you have a subpopulation of white bears that are rare, but not impossibly rare. If they're going to be getting natural white bearskins, this looks like the likeliest source. A polar bear is larger, requires a lot more effort to kill, and for whatever reason the fur wasn't valued very highly even though it had started to enter Eurasian trade by that point via the Russians. I would guess that it wouldn't be worth it to actively seek one out when a black bear is easier and would get a reliably good price.

[@568843daw]

My great grandfather was one of Czar Nicholas’ palace Grenadiers and he wore a “White Bearskin “ cap as part of his uniform. According to my grandmother the Grenadiers used chalk on the hats to change the brown colored fur to white. I can believe that a Russian Czar gave that honor to certain British military companies since the Royal families were linked together in deep and profound ways.

[@chrisryan3770]

From the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Pipes and Drums Facebook page: So why the white bearskin? The Royal Scots Greys first trialled the idea in 1893 whilst based in Dublin, but it was not approved. In 1897, upon the Regiment’s move to Hounslow, it was adopted for the upcoming Jubilee of Queen Victoria and worn by the mounted kettle drummer. There are many lavish tales of how the white bearskin was presented by Tsar Nicholas II, Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Scots Greys at the time...but in actual fact, it was merely an idea that stuck. A very striking idea indeed! Today it remains the only white bearskin cap in the British Army and is worn proudly, by the bass drummer of the Pipes & Drums. #scotscavintartan #scotscav #scotsdgpipesanddrums #auniquecareer #whitebearskin #Iconic

[@davidlowe1256]

6:26 Drummer from McDonald’s 123rd McNugget Corps, c. 1750-1800 Graham Turner

[@willmo42]

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards have a White bearskin. Thats about all I knew about that until I watched your Video. Informative as always.

[@BrandonF]

Glad to hear it, thank you!

[@namehunter6604]

"That's the thing that all the cool regiments are having these days"

[@homealonehearne]

I have a dummy board with a drummer wearing a whiteBear skin hat.

[@viperblitz11]

I'm getting the impression that the fur varied heavily, and the bearskin hat came to be known and recognized as such despite its actual material.

[@japhfo]

THe bottome line Brandon, is that some regiments chose to kit out their drummers in white fur caps, as shown in the Minorca paintings and the archival entries noted by Lawson. The fashion for bearskin grenadier caps in the British army had started with the 42nd Highland Regiment in the late 1740s. The parallel between grenadier cap and those worn by drummers (and fusiliers) was already well established. C.P. Lawson's reference to the grenadiers of the 40th Regt wearing white fur caps may possibly be an error born of a misinterpretation of the Inspection Report of May 1768, mentioned by Jean Charles Blanc, that described Grenadier caps worn by the 40th "edged with white fur." The regimental history of the 40th (Smythie 1894) shows an illustration based on a contemporary manuscript that shows how the cap looked and it is predominantly black. Smythie speculates that even this deviation from the Royal Warrant was probably short-lived.

[@kalego3228]

As usual, very interesting, very good quality! and I do ask, will you ever make a video on a Napoleonic topic?

[@BrandonF]

I have a few already, but yes, there will be plenty more Napoleonic videos in the future! Sadly, my Napoleonic reenacting group (and kit) is in the UK, though, so it will be some time until I am able to record a video in it.

[@lucasacevedo3202]

Great video, I have one question though: what is that hat behind you on your shelf and where did you get it? Also, if it's a historical hat, is it authentic or a reproduction or is it military surplus?

[@BrandonF]

It's a Victorian smoking cap from LordRivers.com . It's a recreation, and I plan on making a video about it in the future!

[@lucasacevedo3202]

Brandon F. Ah, good to know, thank you for the information

[@team9wildernessmedicinetra889]

Eric Idle wore one in Monty Python's Meaning of Life as a British officer in the Zulu wars. Keeping it close to topic!

[@gunterg7309]

It appears you are gaining quite a fallowing congratulations! Can’t wait to see what you do next.

[@orionspero560]

My guess was that white bear skin Were something that some colonel's had made for the drummers of their regiments. Which would make it an eccentricity of specific regiments wind specific colonels were in charge. PS might you have had white powdered bear skin That didn't start out white. Something like the bear skin cap version of a powdered wig.

[@Historical_Recordings]

It's great that we have people who are willing to do the research. Thanks for the great video!

[@duncanmckeown1292]

I suppose the British could have got polar bear skins through the medium of the Hudson Bay Company in Northern Canada...which was, from 1670, predominantly a fur trading company. Dealing in beaver pelts, for the most part, you have to wonder if there was enough demand for polar bear fur (apart from a few regimental caps!) to make this line viable? A history of the company might shed light on this?

[@KroM234]

Hey Brandon, I'm a digital artist specialized in 18th-19th century military for the most part. I'm just thinking of doing a study upon that 1783 white "goat skins" grenadier company you mentionned. Let me know if you might be interested in seeing the result at some point! Here's a link to some of the websites I publish on: www.deviantart.com/manulacanette www.artstation.com/manu67 Cheers!

[@bugler75]

They were probably local purchases overseas at the whim of the Colonel. Drummers, as you well know with your encyclopedic knowledge often wore their Regiments colours in an opposite fashion and other distinctions.

[@baronofbahlingen9662]

I think I missed the subject of the video, what colour were the bearskin caps?

[@rogerwilco2]

Goatskin you mean?

[@someguy3766]

I didn't catch it; something other than black, grey, brown, red, orange, green, pink, yellow, blue or purple I believe.

[@RestingScotFace]

I ran into this for the 17th Light Dragoons. The “oral tradition” of the unit says the regimental tape/ribbon was white with an edge of black to represent mourning for general Wolfe. But the warrants only specify that the musicians would wear such tape. Then I came into some possessions of the Army lists of 1775 and 1782, and realized the quote of Governor Tryon in the Outlander series was at play: “There is the law…and then there is what is done” While most of the works and books based off the warrants never mention the black stripe on regular troopers, the army lists show that the regiment as a WHOLE (not just the musicians) was wearing it at least during the American War. Even though the warrants just say “facings and ribbons of white” for the rank-and-file. So there is the “law”… and then there is what was done… 😂 Love your videos as always Brandon. Even when I’m several years late to the party haha Maybe someday I can start a channel for the British cavalry and if it’s half as well made but at least as meticulous in its research, I will be happy 😂

[@CatsandJP]

At one of the military tattoos in Edinburg going back years ago there was a guest regiment and one person in that regiment a band member was wearing a white bearskin cap and it was revealed to be a gift from Russia to the regiment which also explains the queen’s cousin Prince Michael who has Russian ancestry and he also collect fabege eggs. Maybe look into that.

[@bogartoutlawclan9592]

The biggest question is why the drummers?

[@gregoryboyek622]

Reverse colors of coats and facings are fairly typical for musicians to designate their role and improve communication, I imagine the same idea here

[@TylerMcCann-Barnes]

I’d just like to say I love your videos. Your videos always teach me things and refresh me. Thanks for the work you put into them.

[@frostyframe]

Nice video! Thumbs up!

[@BrandonF]

Thank you! I accept the thumb gladly!

[@mikewalrus4763]

Standard routine, musicians wore the regiments colours reversed!

[@mikewalrus4763]

And for why? Because orders were given by music - drums, bugles etc. because music could be heard over the average sound of battle. thus the drummers etc. needed to stand out so that the soldiers could see that the sounds were genuine!

[@thespyfromtf2133]

in most regiments they don't reverse the cap colour though, or else we'd see white cocked hats too

[@doppel5627]

Why do you think that the polar bear's skins were rate in 18th century? Polar beats live in Hudson Bay, Canada and the Hudson's Bay Co. probably procured hundreds of them every year.

[@darylmorning]

I would reason the bear pelts both black and white were from the Canadian fur trade. Canada was almost entirely under British control by the 1760's. No research done, but it seems the logical choice for "regimental" items especially seeing dates after that for these items.

[@carlousmagus5387]

Interesting, didn't know about the White Bear Skin Hats. Thanks for sharing.

[@jean-charlesblanc8454]

very interesting discussion, it was not uncommon to use also goatskin instead of bearskin, like in the French Imperial Guard of Napoleon. In case I also recommend to obtain : Strachan, Hew : British Military Uniforms 1768 - 96, on page 230 about the 40th regiment of Foot : 9th May 1768. Inspection Return: (...) Grenadier caps are edged with white fur. You also will find quite a few regiments not always sticking to regulations - which is ineed no surprise

[@KroM234]

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Grenadier%2C_40th_Foot%2C_1767.jpg

[@KroM234]

indeed

[@someguy3766]

The solution is simple - we must find one of these white bearskin caps for further study.

[@C.Paterson]

I don't think polar bear pelts would be too exotic to furnish a few drummers caps. There are a lot of polar bears in the hudsons bay coast of Canada

[@Tareltonlives]

That would be something interesting to look up: other than the legendary beaver, what other kinds of fur did the HBC import to Britain?

[@dawnwoodworth14]

I traced white helmet phycops to the White Goat skin caps and they seem symbolic as in the Grenadier Guards being senior most regiment guarding not only the royal palaces and undertaking ceremonial duties, but the soldiers have served in almost every major campaign the Army has fought. The goat skin could have served as conveyance of their intent to dominate the middle east in an attempt to take control of the Middle East due to British depletion of oil reserves. During the Second World War, Middle East Command supervised military operations in and around the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East, British outsourcing of oil is still ongoing and seems to be a major underlying factor in geopolitical aspirations. Queen Elizabeth inspired loyalty among UK Jews throughout her reign, hosted Jewish and Israeli leaders, but it irked members of the community that she never visited Israel. Goats are mentioned in the New Testament in Matthew 25:32 Matthew 25:33 ; Hebrews 9:12 Hebrews 9:13 Hebrews 9:19 ; 10:4 . They represent oppressors and "wicked men" ( Ezekiel 34:17 ; 39:18 ; Matthew 25:33 ). Several varieties of the goat were familiar to the Hebrews. It is possible that the use of the White Goat Skin hats as well as later use of White helmets by britian in Syria was a show of their stance to dominate the middle east and take control of oil reserves. The middle easts association to goats is religious so I can see where Britian would use that underlying symbology to portray their intent to dominate the Middle east. In the Middle East every year during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around the world slaughter an animal - a goat, sheep, cow or camel - to reflect the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, for the sake of God. We are in the midst of a Holly War which many understand is the case which is also a war of resources geopolitically and while Britian claims ally to Syria we all know how infiltration happens. I can see where Britians warefare techniques would include allience to Syria while at the same time trying to ultimatly take control of the Oil fields. The oil field domination centers around Syria due to a specific pipline that runs from their into Iraq and that pipline was at the heart of the reason Saddam Hussain Iraqi leader was overthrown in Desert Storm. And we all know how important the Oil and gas reserves are in world domination and geopolitical fights for territorial control. And we also understand how the UK allied forces are involved in Gulf Wars and how George Bush lied about Weapons of Mass Destruction to overthrow Saddam Hussein who was said to be developing weapons of mass destruction, and covertly supporting al-Qaeda and that he presented a threat to his neighbors and to the world community which was a lie in order to gain access to the boarder land to Syria which has its main oil production pipeline that runs through Iraq. The white helmets were a part of that war during the subsequent bombing of Syria over claims of chemical weapon use. Tracing of the oil field maps and understanding of how important oil is to Western countries leads to understanding how important their geopolitical goals are and what the face of war looks like. Opec a signicant part of iraq war and western domination for control of oil reserves. Major reasons that these geopolitical oil reserve wars have heightened and have carried on so long is due to iinitial fear of the depletion of oil reserves in the Western World and also heightened fear created during the 1970s when the primary goal of OPEC members was to secure complete sovereignty over their petroleum resources. Accordingly, several OPEC members nationalized their oil reserves and altered their contracts with major oil companies. In October 1973, OPEC raised oil prices by 70 percent. So you can see where the fight for dominance and control over oil and gas as become a major factor in world domination by certain countries and what we all need to understand that is that Fear based geopolitics is a major problem and we will never have peace unless all parties stop thinking domination of each other is the answer. We need to strive for peace., prosperity and Unity and that can not be achieved with all sides fighting over oil and gas reserves. I could carry on and explain how the displacement of migrants in the world is associated with not only fear of resource depletion, including but not limited to oil, gas, minerals, water and agricultural supplies but also associated with climate change and resource fights over fear of famine and drought and linked to a repeated cycle in the history of Earth which is the 12,000 year earth cycle and the reason for the massive climate change and for the fear based geopolitical stances. It even plays a part in the Lybia occupation due to Lybia being the biggest water reserve their is and the 12,000 year climate cycle leading to drought and famine. Fear is a motivater of war, yet their are other solutions and I could go into much greater detail and explain more, however I think I have mentioned enough to enlighten some of your understandings on the situation. I am AWorldOfTruth and strive for world peace and unity and fight daily to make that happen! So as I explain this understand my goal is not to cause division among countries but to enlighten via truth and convey the understanding that war is not the answer, it is only driven by fear. And cooperation is the answer to providing a world of peace and unity which most of the general populous hopes and prays for daily, yet governments lack understanding of how to achieve. I work to enlighten all governments as well as We The People! I hope I helped some of you see truth today, but don't give up hope because you see it, understand I work daily to bring the worlds people together as well as governments of the world in understanding what is going on so that peace is achieveable. I believe educating creates understanding and deminishes fear. I also explained fully how the 12,000 year cycle is realted to Radiation upticks on Earth and directly related to climate change and is creating fear in government over resource depletion and I have provided them answers to solve the problems. So keep hope that understanding and education of the situation is leading to them not fearing the Earth cycle induced climate change but learning how to better handle resource depletion and that during such a heightened time of climate change that we are going thru due to space cycles and radiation increases that full cooperation between them can be achieved due to people like me teaching how Space and Earth Cycles are related to climate change, resource depletion, disease upticks and that their are solutions at hand! Major Solutions and I have provided many. I had the worlds back during the pandemic and explained natural ways to heal during it. I explained indepth complications with the vaccine and how to fix them. I did all that to eliviate fear and save lives and I fight everyday to bring the world and govs to understanding there are solutions for everything I mentioned as well as for fixing the atmosphere so that the space cycles and uptick of radiation we are experiancing which drives fear of govs about resource depletion which cause famine and drought are available and thats no BS. There are solutions that solve all these problems and I am working daily to educated and elieve fear so we can have peace and unity for fear causes panic and war and education is the answer to elieviating fear and providing solutions. I am Dawn and go by AWorldOfTruth!

[@GreenmanDave]

The red plume on the kettle drummer's polar bearskin cap is a hackle. I was initially uncertain about that, so I did a search for "bearskin hackle" and came across this photo/page: www.themilitarygentleman.com/ProdDetails.asp?Id=147&f=ProdList.asp|prev=true

[@superactiontank]

I see the background is getting more and more professional. Maybe soon you will grace us with with a Great War style youtube channel ( i love their channel). Best wishes Brandon.

[@DisstonDave]

Best video yet!

[@markneuman5135]

Maybe the hats were made out of goatskin, like the packs?

[@tommullaney1961]

Good job, quite very interesting🤔 we need more histories about white bearskins...

[@rorymoran429]

Very interesting video! I was curious about the linen covers being used, do you have any references you can share? Thanks

[@Riceball01]

Very well done video, it's not only a rather fascinating subject but well done as well. You definitely seem to be improving in terms of both presentation and your actual presentation. The lighting in this video looks much better than in previous videos and with just a bit of tweaking you should be able to get to the point where it looks as good as more seasoned KZbinrs. In terms of presentation, I like how, in this video, you used more of normal speaking voice with less of that sort of mid-Atlantic accent that you've used in the past.I recommend sticking with that, it makes you sound more natural and less pretentious.

[@drinks1019]

Ummm, excuse me, I have an question, we’re the bearskin caps actually made of the skin of bears? Because, quite a few thousand bears would’ve had to be killed to supply the British army during the quite expansive time that they would’ve used them. Or was the “bearskin” just a random fur with a quite confusing name?

[@tsardeans1124]

Gentleman Jake Canadian bears usually. Only enough to supply those grenadier, fusilier and cavalry regiments that wear them. Most of which are currently wearing ones made in the 60s.

[@drinks1019]

Tsar Deans hmmm, that is quite interesting! Thank you for clearing that inquiry away for myself!

[@torinjones3221]

It also wasn't just the British who wore them. They were popular all across Europe.

[@drinks1019]

Stephan Dube sooo, yes?

[@drinks1019]

Ali Lazim ahh! Interesting!

[@peterdavy6110]

The red "thing" on the cap of the kettle-drummer of the Royal Scots Greys is called a "hackle".

Very nice research method ! Before, when we wanted to find something, it was control F. Now, it is Brandon F.

[@jamestown8398]

I'm finding this esoteric topic more interesting then I expected to.

[@jcfailgamer7157]

My theory is as is my experience, units buy a unique item, and then choses to never use them regularly, because of cost and then decide not to use it on parade, because it's to diffrent from other units.

[@gonvillebromhead2865]

I wonder if it was one of those "overseas" things - out of sight of the war office, more fun to be had. Obviously, the 25th were in Menorca. The 40th, in 1795, were in the West Indies. The 14th moved to Halifax in 1766 (seems reasonable these things would be ordered before they left). Can't seem to work out where the 3rd Guards were (or were about to move to) in 68, but with two battalions it's possible one was en route to somewhere exotic...

[@theDUKE25-yt]

The mic makes the audio sound much better! But here is a video suggestion: talk about the book on the shelf behind you.

[@boydgrandy5769]

I suggest following the historical line of the regiments in question, determine the current regiment that they were amalgamated into by the British Army establishment, and write to that unit's PAO to seek information about the historical uniform quirks, which should include the now notorious white bearskin hats. Makes one wonder how the Brits got their hands on polar bear hides to make their hats in the 18th century. Maybe imported furs from the Russian Arctic regions. On the subject of fashion in the European armies, you need only look to the adoption of the stove pipe shako by the British Army in 1799. It was taken from Hungarian Hussars, who looked impressively cool and ferocious, and made the standard headgear for British Infantry until 1813, when a modified version of it was issued to both enlisted and officers. Officers, to that point had worn variations of the bicorne hat, and the high crown shako they were issued after was intended to make them less conspicuous to the French voltigeurs and chasseurs who functioned as Napoleon's snipers on the battlefield.

[@literallyme26]

Hello Brandon, I have found your videos quite some time ago, and they've been rather helpful in giving me good context in most of my historical writings and drawings. But, something that I have been unable to figure out, yet have hoped you'd be able to help with, is this: either I am very bad at finding, or there just isn't any, information on this topic, but I am trying to better understand how battles in the middle 17th century would have been fought. Namely with things like formations of the line regiments and what have you. For example, did companies operate independently of their regiments, or were companies always shoulder-to-shoulder with every other company in their regiment whilst marching in formation? As a writer, small details like this are kind of a must have for me. So if you could please offer some insight, or if perhaps you've already done a video on this topic, please let me know and I would be incredibly grateful.

[@yankeedoodle7365]

I have seen that video on the Scots Dragoons guards again and again, and I never noticed that one man wearing a white bear skin

[@a.s.j.g6229]

I watched a documentary on the Scott’s greys and an officer said it was Ronald Reagan who gave them the polar bear pelt, but it could be an older tradition and they were only referencing that specific hat and not the custom itself.

[@newpointe601]

Could u possibly do a video of a break down of each regiment, some history of each regiment and the units that make up each regiment?

[@theairsoftpro2014]

I would think the real question that needs to be asked was that did these orders of clothing actually get delivered to their respective regiments to begin with? I'd imagine that for some of them that only wanted their drummers wearing them that they might of been delivered, but for the entire grenadier company asking for one (Even imagining it's just white goat skin), I'd imagine it's already annoying enough to get the enact & good conditioned pelts & try shaping them into the bearskin caps and trying to dye them would of added more time and cost to the process with much waste. Even then, I do know of the Trumpeters of the Horse Grenadiers of the Old Guard would wear a white bearskin in the same make of the other troopers for more important events around Paris, but would more often swap to the black ones when on campaign (Which I remember only 1 or maybe 2 times the White Bearskin was brought out compared to the many other times the Horse Grenadiers went on campaign). So likely for the short amount of time the Drummers (and maybe Grenadiers?) having these more special "bear"skins caps (assuming they were delivered), they would of only bring them out every now and then to preserve them, and likely were forced to dump them from the War Office (Or Horse Guards, take your pick of the Army Headquarters) as soon as they were made aware of their existence to preserve uniformity. As I would imagine that having such special caps would of been an unit honor bistowed upon them for something (Similar to how the Royal Scots Greys got their Bearskins, and how the Grenadier Guards got their title and everyone wearing the Grenadier Bearskin regimental wide) TL;DR, highly doubt they were delivered at all regardless of the many orders, and if they did, likely didn't got used all that much, and highly doubtful the war office would of been happy with such an arrangement.

[@georgerobartes2008]

The relationship with animals as macots since the 18th C . Mascots are given service numbers , ranks and promotion like any serviceman . They are employed for the moral of the troops , share billets etc., and accompany the men to field , the only difference is that they are cared for by the regimental veterinary surgeon .A number of paintings exists including the campaign in the Balearics where dogs are shown being petted by the lads .A white goat has served the 23rd (Royal Welch Fusiliers) since Bunker Hill 1775 . Legend has it that a goat wandered into the fray and led the colour party off the battlefield. This gives the goat almosf mythical powers . So goat hair is not as grim as it sounds . The traditional trimming used for plumes etc., in the British Army is horse hair , white being popular. It was regulated that horse tails were docked when coupled in close configuration when used with waggons , so no real shottage of materials .The construction of a typical 4 panel moulded leather cap like that dubbed the Tarleton , i.e. the sandwiching of the trim between 2 leather panels to form the comb which is then applied to the cap , then it starts to sound less expensive . Given that each Regiment has own harness makers ,saddlers etc both employed as such and normally one or 2 in the ranks according to general lists and these will be put to work when not actually killing people , plus the carrying of spare hides for repair this could quite easily be performed at regimental level . As you say it has been a tradition for each CO to private purchase ( now extended to each soldier ) items seen fit within regulations to dress his men ( although the Army lost its 'Royal ' status as the New Model was seen as treacherous and disbanded as a result , the officers priveledges remained. Confirmation of this moves from the WOs at Kew to the British Library at St Pancreas for contemporary eyewitness accounts and newsprint , possible memoirs of COs . which I believe is on line now . Im really not surprised that the PRO at Kew is not online as simply finding a WO reference is a pain . The number is checked to a heap of paperwork often weighing more than the desk you throw it on and it could be a few hours digging to find the one you need . There may be disappointment even if you reach this level of achievement. One plus in primary source research is getting to hold documents written hy famous figures in military history of 250 -450 years ago . Its in the British Library that you find the minutiae that fills in the gaps produced by sterile military accounting .

[@lucianoduarte891]

Great info!

[@Sltarfish]

Before finishing the video, I would like to put forwards my own idea of sorts. Perhaps the white bearskins were a dressy hat for... 'officer' musicians? I don't know much about the ranks of musicians. But if there were quote-on-quote, musician officers, who wore these caps as to differentiate themselves from the common musician, wouldn't that make SOME sort of sense? Branon, please reply, it would mean so much.

[@myTHself]

Great film - good work! only just discovered them... in relation to the transverse red banana plume on the contemporary white bearskin and the tsar story,,, I've seen those plumes on Russian headgear before... just pulled out 'Military Uniforms of the World in Colour' Blandford, Preben Kannik 1968,,, The Russo-Swedish war 1788-90, he shows a cuirassier and a line musketeer with such a plume,,, and I know I've seen them else other for this period...

[@Makem12]

Good work

[@MichaelJohnson-kx3ln]

You can see British soldiers in white fur caps in old American heritage books.

[@FyreMedi]

Interesting. While paintings can not be found that prove their existence, can works be found that disprove them. Are there works for any of those regiments that show them wearing something else or just a lack of works showing those regiments at that time.

[@FrehleyFan3988]

Royal scots dragoon guard drummers wear white bearskins

[@davidbriggs264]

Your video brings up three things. First, you may have asked the wrong question. It's not out of line for the Patreon's to ask one question, and for you to answer a slightly different, but strongly related question. For example, in this case, you asked about "White Bearskin Caps in the British Army during the 18th Century", whereas you SHOULD have asked about White Bearskin Caps in the 18th Century. It is possible that some foreign army wore White Bearskin Caps and the Regimental Commanders wanted to both emulate and outdo the foreigns, hence starting the fashion. Second, Just because there was an order placed in for White Bearskin Caps does NOT mean that said caps were actually delivered, and as stated above, it is possible that the very few units that did wear White Bearskin Caps could have repurposed foreign army equipment. Third; you make the point that sometimes White Bearskin Caps were specified, and other times white FUR caps were specified. Is it possible that they were never talking about actual white BEAR skin caps, but rather White Caps in the Style of Bearskin Caps? Yes, another poster identified them as actually being made from Polar Bearskins, but does that mean they were always made out of polar bearskin? And even if they were made out of polar bearskins that does not mean that they were that much more expensive or rarer then those made out of Black or Brown Bear Skin.

[@ottoman_reenactor_ct]

Comrade Brandon we need some soviet videos for the patreon pole :3

[@BrandonF]

Yes, you're right! I will have to start diversifying the time period in the polls. Then, by the summertime, I am hoping to have brought my Soviet kit back to MA with me so I can make plenty of videos with it.

[@ottoman_reenactor_ct]

Brandon F. ohh somyou still don’t have it is ok tough I can wait :3

[@Feiora]

You also look so much better in that russian uniform! ^.^ Although, I think it'd be okay to have your glasses on, it shouldnt interfere much with the immersion and authenticity of it, plus its not nice to ask someone to be blind just because you think the glasses they wear are too modern for the costume attire they are currently waering...

[@michael_iansmiththeMHistorian]

These bearskins were also found in napoleons army, along with the Westphalian karabiniers regiment. They can also be found in the Ohio state band.

[@user-uz7dy5vi7u]

i love ur intro

[@orlando3325]

Brandon just as i thought could you explain the ranks during the 18th century cause it really confuses me.

[@antiochusiiithegreat7721]

There is a American grenadier regiment from Connecticut that has a uniform that very closely matches a British grenadier.

[@rococo-reinette]

Perhaps the fur was ermine? Though I'm not certain it was ever used in many cases excepting some garments for royalty (coronation robes and such).

[@THAK2215]

Would you be interested in doing a video about tobacco smoking in the 18th century? I feel like there's some confusion around it, and who actually did it. Great video though!

[@pastorclay82]

I'll do some research but it could be one of the regiments that got completely wiped out during World War 1

[@donaldcarletonjr.9047]

I generally enjoy Brandon's commentaries, but it takes him 8 minutes to get to Cecil C.P. Lawson in his discussion?! I would have expected that work to be right on his bookshelf, and one of the very first references he'd consult! Pretty much the opposite of obscure...

[@RWG14]

Not 100% shure, (i will of course check it up) but i belive the Danish-Norwegian army in the Danish West Indies (now the U.S Virgin Islands) where suplied with "white fur caps" in the late 18th Century.

[@benjaminmack7567]

Given the 111th mutineed (is that a word) that rather takes the gloss off that regiment which I guess would be why it doesn't have much art works of it.

[@PommyGranate]

Hello, just wondering where I can get this book and the other volumes of it. I've been looking around and have't come with much results. Thanks.

[@BrandonF]

I found my copy using Abebooks.com

[@PommyGranate]

Thanks mate.

[@MIKE_THE_BRUMMIE]

Brummies letting ourselves down again can't even last a year

[@chasseurbrise-lame6778]

Hi, when you say "the regulation weren't always complied with" about the musician, in the French "grande armée" we saw many fancy uniform that were out of regulation (red shakos for voltigeurs' s buglers , cobacks when shakos were introduced for hussards and colourful uniform not referred as in the regulation of 1812) I think musicians were not the main concern for the army, as long as they were good looking and good players ;p

[@texman8150]

Regarding black bearskin caps, assuming there were thousands made in the 18th century, where did all the bears come from to "donate" their skins to the cause? Were they hunted with the inaccurate muskets of that time?

[@MrFunkia]

The bears would have probably been caught in traps, and maybe dispatched with a shot, if they hadn't died of their injuries or starved to death.

[@isaiahtrofimenko1739]

Great video, thank you!! Where did you find this photo of Nicholas II? A link would be highly appreciated. I tried google images, but didn't find this particular picture of him. Thank you!

[@BrandonF]

You can find the image by searching for "Nicholas II, Royal Scots Greys, as the Tsar was the Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment until his murder.

[@theblackprince1346]

The white fur they used may have been white rabbit fur or ermine which is the white winter coat of stouts.

[@TheSeanoops]

Hey, I have that same smoking cap in bright red.

[@joebutterman3084]

This is somewhat off the topic save that it involves drums. Do you know where the boy drum major tradition in the old 34th Foot came from. There are several Pathe clips from the 30's that show this as part of the trooping the drums and mace captured at Arroyo dos Molinos from the French 34th in 1811. It's got to be a wonderful story. I hope you can find the answer.

[@goregalore_]

New intro nice

[@derekmcnulty2559]

Those Terrible Grey Horses: An Illustrated History of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards or Wood, Stephen (1988). In the Finest Tradition: The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers & Greys): Its History and Treasures

[@ANZACS100]

have you done it yet ?

[@TheCsel]

maybe a higher official caught word of a whole company ordering caps that didn't match the royal dress code and the fad of white caps was put to an end.

[@robertfisher8359]

Given how few the white bearskins seem to have been worn, I can rather see them not making the official reports. I could see them either being overlooked or dismissed by men at the time since, out of a hundred black bearskin caps, two white ones wouldn't raise too many questions. That certainly wouldn't apply for a whole company of grenadiers wearing white though.

[@captainscarlett1]

They would get very dirty very quickly and difficult to clean?

[@ColonelBummleigh]

Very interesting

[@konnorkuznetsov1035]

Very nice microphone might I add.