Dressing a British Grenadier

Now that we've seen how an 18th-century merchant got ready for the day, let's see how a member of the 8th regiment got dressed for the day. #thisismackinac #mackinacparks125
EDIT: This video generated a lot of questions, so we've made a follow-up to answer them: • Dressing a British Gre...
For more information: mackinacparks.com

[@mentalitydesignvideo]

[with genuine sadness in his voice]: I don't have handgrenades right now.

[@nobutternotes]

13:56 for all those wondering :)

[@nicolapettorosso221]

Actually I would be relieved if I were him and I were carrying NO grenades. 18th century grenades were pretty dangerous compared to the stuff our armies use today.

[@akechijubeimitsuhide]

Let's hope he doesn't come across any killer rabbits :D

[@bluegawelgringhell2341]

And gun!!!

[@heru-deshet359]

@@akechijubeimitsuhide He can send in the Spanish Inquisition after them.

[@anactualalpaca7016]

Me: has a major assignment due at midnight also me: "I absolutely MUST know how a British Grenadier dressed"

[@joshuathomas3916]

I hope your assignment was about British Grenadiers lol

[@jameswebb4171]

Yea I literally have an exam due tonight lol

[@pinktulips4863]

i need to be doing a assignment in music about marching but instead im writing about a box and watching this

[@Ari.Atland]

likewise chap, got march to that filth & drum

[@bigmoniesponge]

I hope you got a good grade.

[@Krompierre.]

"This is not something you would wear every day..." -Sir that's EXACTLY what I'd wear every day

[@1337penguinman]

It's actually interesting to see how the idea of a "dress" uniform has evolved over the years, from I imagine simply being a clean fully intact regular uniform to this where you have a bunch of additional accessories and specific headgear to what we have now where it's a completely different uniform worn for ceremonial purposes.

[@davidrishtakov1]

Man, what a chore when using the toilet! Thanks for the Interesting video!

[@jothegreek]

Οr when u shit your shirt wtf

[@MackinacStateHistoricParks]

Thanks for watching!

[@looseunit1615]

It would have been a bastard.

[@janeappleseed2154]

@@jothegreek I'm shiddin rn

[@MrArthoz]

Might as well wear a kilt...

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Now that’s soldiering.

[@henrygaervell3251]

Horseguards shall hear of this Sir

[@Grimenoughtomaketherobotcry]

You mean Major Sharpe, wot took the Froggy Eagle at Tallyvera? I guess I missed the episode, "Sharpe's Mosquito Bites"...

[@tenno5509]

whoever loses the king's colours... loses the king's friendship

[@spiko1755]

Wellsly what does he know about soldiering

[@leeboy26]

No sir, you shall not Horseguards me sir!

[@officestapler]

"He's been shot! Take is shirt off, we need to stop the bleeding" *bleeds out after they get the first piece off*

[@OuinstonIchkleau]

Honestly unless he's an officer you would be lucky to get any medical service, some reports from the napoleonic era say that the wounded had to walk themselves to the field hospital. even then, there were no qualifications needed or designated medical role on the field so their medical science was basically "cut his limbs off".

[@icantthinkofausername2605]

I'm gonna be honest if you get shot in the torso with a .75 caliber chunk of lead you're probably not getting saved

[@kaboon3489]

it really goes to show how the clothing was an incentive for people to enlist in the military. You'd get two pairs of shoes a year, how wonderful!

[@ROCKSLIDZ]

The bright uniforms with shiny buttons definitely tempted young men to enlist!

[@julianscaeva4334]

@@ROCKSLIDZ Still do.

[@markscouler2534]

Fine in the winter but can you imagine wearing all that in the bloody summer poor sods

[@paulnicholson1906]

At the battle of Monmouth in New Jersey in the USA a lot of soldiers died of heat stroke. It was late June and very hot.

[@im-mortal1761]

As someone who worked a summer at a Fort and was a Grenedier i can assure most of the time it was awful. Normally my squad would be outside all day marching or even playing a game that was kind of a mix of baseball and cricket or even just eating pears from the officers pear tree (that we wern't allowed near or even to touch the white fence around said tree and officers quarters) or doing a bit of extra like having one squad member in the brig as a 'deserter' and guarding him so the public could go see. But on the hot days we only did about 15 minutes of outside stuff at a time before having to come back inside because it was just so hot. It was not fun.

[@MackinacStateHistoricParks]

The uniform isn’t especially hot. As a natural fiber, the wool breathes much better than synthetic stuff we mostly wear today. Also, having linen against your skin wicks away sweat and helps cool you down. Finally, if it’s hot, it’s hot, regardless of what you’re wearing.

[@MackinacStateHistoricParks]

@@im-mortal1761 Our staff has found that the wool actually breathes OK, so they find it's not as bad as it could be.

[@theegiver7478]

@@MackinacStateHistoricParks oh okay.

[@Sleepydill]

Hear ye hear ye here we have a drip check

[@cecilyerker]

Respect the drip Karen

[@Mcfunface]

Your uniform is on fleek, sir.

[@bullet-catcherhohoho250]

Thanks for that, my great great great grandfather was a Grenadier in the 18th hundreds. Served at Buckingham Palace for a few years and also was in military prison for fighting.

[@MackinacStateHistoricParks]

Very cool, thanks for sharing!

[@randomobserver8168]

Excellent! He covered the full scope of service, then.

[@PhilHarmonicus]

If it was the 1800s, then he would have served in His Majesty's First or 'Grenadier' Regiment of Foot Guards. This is different from a Grenadier Company in a line regiment. The Grenadier Guards were then and are now the finest Regiment in the world and you shoudl feel proud!

[@ghostie7028]

@@PhilHarmonicus He said the 18th century, so not 1800s

[@PhilHarmonicus]

@@ghostie7028 He wrote "18th hundreds"

[@adeptronic]

I have been reading old novels. Now I see why only close friends and brothers would let each other borrow shirts. Even then it would be rare.

[@ethanlaborde]

Interesting. What novels have you been reading?

[@adeptronic]

The Aubrey series by Patrick O Brian in addition to some older novels on the Gutenberg free library. The above video put into perspective some of the character's annoyance at being asked to lend shirts.

[@ethanlaborde]

@@adeptronic Oh, nice! I've been meaning to start reading the Aubrey series, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[@Deelom100]

KZbin: Hey, you want to see a British Grenadier get dressed? Me: Well, yes!

[@Bellecher]

This would be a problem when you're sick with Dysentery or cholera. Which is quite prevalent during a campaign.

[@theegiver7478]

They would’ve got cholera during the revolutionary war, but yes, dysentery was prevalent.

[@larsporsena7115]

@@theegiver7478 dysentery AKA the ‘bloody flux’.

[@troyhidvegi]

I was thinking they probably got skid marks on there undershirts......................

[@Grimenoughtomaketherobotcry]

Don't worry. They had plenty of Indigenous women to do the laundry and other such services. Half of northern Michigan and a good part of the US Midwest, Ontario and western Canada are descendants of such unions, myself included.

[@JokeeGA5]

Nah, when you realize you got a case of frequent trots, you just pop your pants off and put them on backwards, so that you can use the flap in as a quick exit :D

[@ROCKSLIDZ]

There was some competition among European Monarchs to have the biggest, tallest, most imposing men serve in their Grenadier Regiments. Grenadiers had to be big men to throw the heavy iron grenades. Later they were used as Assault troops.

[@josephm8292]

If I'm ever invited to an independence day party this will be my dress code for the event 🥳

[@Trump20-24years]

The dress code of losers

[@meghandavis5327]

I would invite you I love it lolol, would have to meet you the colonial blues though 😉

[@fabricio-agrippa-zarate1000]

This is far more stylish than we could ever get to appreciate. Thanks for the video.

[@za.monolit]

imagine doing all this work dressing up just to get shot during the first moments of the battle because that's how line battles work

[@ChrisOToole89]

He's a grenadier. He'll shoot back, come to attention and request permission to die

[@projectilequestion]

Imagine doing all this work dressing up and not getting getting shot at all in the battle, because they are using muskets which are inaccurate and take ages to load.

[@za.monolit]

@@projectilequestion so you're telling me, that from the years 1500-1900, not a single person died in combat?

[@projectilequestion]

@@za.monolit yeah :p

[@julianscaeva4334]

@@projectilequestion A musket from the time has no trouble hitting a man sized target a hundred meters away, skirmish range was commonly out to 300 meters.

[@user-jh4gr1pq1w]

Alright! Everyone up! We´re going now! Any other soldier: *Puts boots and grabs rifle 18th century british soldier:

[@mr.pavone9719]

Don't forget the colonies had the Continental Army and they were dressed similarly to their European and British counterparts. The colonial militia did wear whatever they had on hand.

[@DrumsTheWord]

Fascinating! Seeing inside the cartridge pouch is something I haven't seen before!

[@aidy6000]

Thank you for the video, best wishes from West Yorkshire.

[@jimmy22334]

Meanwhile, i get annoyed when I have to put on a polo shirt and jeans.

[@jameslew2804]

XD

[@NCC1371]

Polos are uncomfortable.

[@applejuice9468]

@@NCC1371 then you are wearing little boy walmart polos bud

[@jjalf42]

Imagine what that “underwear” looked like after a soldier had explosive diarrhea.

[@hobo5782]

And then imagine having to pull it all off over your head.

[@holton345]

Wow, probably a lot like what it would look like today in boxer shorts, ya think?

[@andresamaya6187]

@@holton345 a bit more problematic because to get this off you have to pull it over your head like the other guy said...yikes! That's a moment I'd love to have a grenadier's hanger to cut off some fabric

[@joechen5281]

Smeared poopoo

[@akkeut1324]

Please do more video about 18-19th century clothing. I find these clothes very attractive and elegant. The uniform looks great on you too !

[@pegleg2959]

Men do look good in these clothes dont they? Very attractive.

[@philbrodie-ed7pr]

Of course they do Styled, tailored, what gent doesn't love a long tailed coat It's amazing

[@grimkupid8478]

This was an amazing video, full of excellent detail.

[@MackinacStateHistoricParks]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@jowolf2187]

The Queen's Rangers and Riflemen units from this time period to about the mid 1800's seemed to have a much less fussy (more modern looking) uniform. They even wore actual trouser (pants) and real boots rather than shoes.

[@2adamast]

If you have walked outside a paved road on a rainy day you don't favor full trousers

[@owentaylor5622]

their hats were cooler IMO

[@pablojn4826]

Yes, in 1801 was an experimental unit with VERY expensive Baker rifles. Now for reasons of economy and Doctrine, they were limited to two regiments. But in the Victorian Era, there was an huge change in Military doctrine and technology, and the Rifles were ever more and more present in the Army as a whole. And in the 1880s the Entire British army changed their traditional Red to Khaki

[@dutchthespitfire3204]

Just weird to see how different people dressed years ago

[@dhruvanandath702]

This video was extremely useful. I have often wondered about how the dressing norms evolved over time. This makes it clear and tells you more. Thank you, really.

[@turbostar7077]

The British Grenadier Guards who watched this: "Hmmm... lets see how this man does it..."

[@inherentnature5938]

I guess I shouldn’t complain about my jeans and T shirts anymore

[@craigspeirs6639]

Great clip

[@captainscarlett1]

I was a modern infantryman. Sometimes, we didn't even wear any underwear at all. I think wearing your full-dress uniform in combat would be cool. They're going to see you. May as well be wearing your medals.

[@BrokenIET]

Medals were very uncommon until after the napoleonic era, for example Sir Arthur Wellesley had 5 (British) medals if you include 3 knighthoods, if you don't then its 2, of which one was the Peninsula Cross which was awarded if you were above the rank of Captain in the Peninsula campaign, and the other was a Waterloo medal, which was given to every British army and KGL soldier that fought in Waterloo, so were both quite common. In total he had 31 awards including foreign knighthoods and medals. So not that many medals considering all that he did.

[@deb1120]

So glad I stumbled across this video! Well done!

[@Klonen75]

There is something that makes me wonder. I realised from a video about women's wear from about the same time that the wear was cleverly designed to let them relieve them selves discretely and with dignity, but fast and effortlessly. Simply put all undergown was open downwards and never closed between the legs. I realised that back in those days an indoor toilet wasn't that common and being outside the most of the day was the norm. Women would simply squat down at a discrete location and the dress would cover everything. Thus making a long and multilayered dress more practical back then than in a modern society with heavy urbanization and lots of indoor activity. It's very clear from this uniform that it's ment to do the same. Besides the uniform is shaped to lead focus to the genitals and thus virility - very common back then, it's also designed for easy relieve. So tucking the shirt between your legs when everything else is designed that way makes me wonder if they had a certain way of tucking the shirt. Also, they were used to working with ropes and fabrics in all kind of different ways, so why not think that they regarded the shirt in a similar fascion with some kind of idea of how to tuck the shirt correctly?

[@dt534]

Great that this is being recommended! Hope I can get a chance to go there sometime!

[@paulallen3557]

Outstanding presentation. Just fascinating.

[@tangobravo168]

Now I want British Grenadier uniform. (And thanks for great and informative video as well as the follow up Q&A!)

[@LostWoodsman76]

Very interesting. Thank you for this glimpse into history.

[@peanutwars]

this was awesome! subscribed can't wait for more

[@trygveblacktiger597]

Okay so a note about the hat. Genedier hats is abit of kit from the era where they used generades as tricorn hats made it uncomforteble for the men to throw grenades so they made the hats taller and after Genediers stopped useing them the Hats remained mainly for a fear factor as Grenediers looked mutch taller than their fellow musketeers.

[@MyelinProductions]

Thank You. Very informative & useful for history projects. Be Safe and Well. Peace & Health

[@michalurbanful]

Very nice and informative! Thank you!

[@nereb100]

Thank you so much. I was always wondering about the brass tube on the chest. No I learned it's purpose.

[@partypoison9779]

The 8th regiment of foot was from my hometown in England.

[@lib556]

Great video. Very clearly presented and informative.

[@MackinacStateHistoricParks]

Thank you!

[@jpboucher1039]

Thank you very much!! This is very intersting for a french Napoléon fan!!

[@teleindia03]

Excellent information shared

[@bigerosk]

fantastic

[@Insperato62]

We were taught to sing The British Grenadier in school over 60 years ago. You could change the words, of course, e.g. "You'll be alright, in the middle of the night, with a British Granadier".

[@hopenield8234]

My husband was in the grenadier’s in the 70’s. Different uniform although they still have a brass grenade as a cap badge.

[@Belisarius1648]

Literally what i want to wear every day.

[@valeria262]

I feel like I fought this man in one of my AC games, still very interesting lore behind every particular article of attire and was fun to watch

[@pablojn4826]

For much that I like the AC series, the 3rd one had the worst plot, conviniently omited history and poor man's uniforms...Yuck!

[@dougwatt6303]

Thanks!

[@carlgriffiths8482]

Excellent video and extremely interesting When this nightmare is over and I can cross the pond again you guys are definitely on my Bukit list Stay safe all the best from the UK

[@peterhunt5890]

Very interesting thank you

[@MackinacStateHistoricParks]

Thank you for watching!

[@firstchoice7761]

Very interesting, Thank you.

[@loganalleinora3385]

Me: **sips tea** Also me: **watching this on midnight**

[@rhodagladue2061]

Wow...thank you for all that..very interesting

[@averylividmoose3599]

You have an amazing voice and the video was very informative

[@spacetoxicology123]

Brilliant! Спасибо

[@brucelanzerotti]

As a member of the K's 8th hat company, you did a great job

[@gorr3275]

great informative material, one significant remark though: the hangars /briquets were used in hand to hand combat extensively and very efficiently so even with the shooting line tactics used in late XVIII Century they were very useful (by all means NOT a decorative piece ;) ) A few years later Napoleon's tactics introuced regrouping firing ranks into charging columns with bayonets and hangars, proving their terrific practical value.

[@jtnelson8828]

I always think it's annoying when people always preface swords as "decorative" when giving military history when in reality swords saw use by commissioned officers and cavalry all the way up to and during some of world War one and even in some instances during world War two (japan being the main user). They were 100% not simply decorative. If your life came down to it and that sword is what you have than you better believe people killed with them to survive close Quarters fighting. Only in the post world War 2 Era did swords finally enter a truly decorative or ceremonial roll completely.

[@amandachancey6]

I want one of those outfits so bad!!!!!!

[@grigorsamsa6564]

Thanks for the awesome video! I love the British Grenadiers march, and it put a great smile on my face to see the cap and pouch and louped clothes. What's the name of the march in the opening and ending?

[@redf7209]

Would the Grenadier officer not have also worn a Gorget? ( the vestigial metal plates across the chest or neck -as opposed to shoulder tab gorgets)

[@zacmeatball6407]

I don't think so, only cuirassiers would wear such chest armour.

[@eggsandtomatoeswithcolesla5669]

@@zacmeatball6407 Gorgets are commonly seen among officers of all branches as an indication of seniority so it wouldn't suprise me to see Grenadier officers (particularly Lieutenants) with Gorgets. It's only a crescent shaped plate about the length of my hand after all

[@ROCKSLIDZ]

Officers wore gorgets.

[@zubetp]

those hats must have been roughly one thousand degrees. that would be my reason for not wearing the things unless somebody told me to lmao

[@davemillwall5420]

As a former member of the RRF it amazes me how soldiers in the past fought in uniforms of this style across undulating terrain in all weather's. Superb.

[@bluegawelgringhell2341]

Thanks friend!!!

[@bluegawelgringhell2341]

Are you BRITISH???

[@scottnyc6572]

I was watching a metal detector in Vermont find an 8th Foot Regiment button.Thanks for the informative presentation.

[@Joelswinger34]

The waist belt thing is kind of like how people started wearing belt-packs over their shoulds this last time they were in style!

[@stuarttaylor9887]

Imagine doing this before you got a big battle to get ready for!

[@Kennymac8251]

Very very informative. Nicely done! Ahem (clearing my throat in preparation for singing) "Some talk of Alexander and some of Hercules, of Hector and Lysander and such great names as these but of all the worlds great heros there's none that can compare, with a tow and row and row and a row to the British Grenadiers" Those interested can youtube it.

[@forentertainmentuse]

i feel like im watching someone from 2500 that time travelled back in time

[@BolianAdmiral]

Awesome video! Wouldn’t the belt buckle on that strap be aligned with the buttons on the shirt, though? Just asking, since the asymmetry kinda bugs me, lol.

[@mauigio]

Nice stockings! 😻

[@ianpatrick3589]

The Grenadines were big boys either good arms for tossing explosive gifts. The light infantry were smaller, swifter guys who could be repositioned quickly to out flank an enemy.

[@Johankenzeler]

Honey, I'm all set. We can go shopping now.

[@j.s.connolly8579]

I've seen examples where they sides were opened way up towards the hips and the front had a button hole at the bottom and the back had an inner button on the back art and the front and back buttoned together between the wearer's legs.

[@generalbutterpants]

I got to visit the fort on Mackinac Island in June. I wish I could have visited the lower peninsula counterpart but we didn’t. I hope to comeback some time and go to the other.

[@pierrelasperge1074]

tiens.un homard! merci pour ce nostalgique moment.

[@davidwieser4641]

I wonder if this horsehair neckwear is just decorative or if it has a protective value... or maybe a protective origin? Really cool video about a period I don't know much about.

[@magnuslundin682]

Great video! It must have cost a fortune to dress up a regiment like that in those days.

[@kissme1518]

The button market was definitely striving.

[@kissme1518]

@Chase Williams Makes sense. It was probably as rich as the bullet industry

[@OuinstonIchkleau]

@@kissme1518 now i have done 0 research into this, but i imagine the button industry was far more rich than the ballet industry. the buttons had to have engraved numbering and lettering while the musket balls were dense lead balls (as my nickname suggested) with density depending on caliber. unless i'm forgetting something which then a good keyboard warrior could correct.

[@wardy6224]

Style +10. Protection -100

[@thai6989]

a great guide for the grenadiers before colonizing

[@seldonwright4345]

Wow. I used to live about 100 miles from that.

[@JackovdaBoro]

By far the best looking military uniform of all time, I remember seeing a painting of my grandfathers grandfather in his red coat so maybe I’m biased haha . Great video.

[@mongoloidkongloid5489]

Not the best looking military uniform

[@yourarseismine1016]

Hands down.

[@mongoloidkongloid5489]

@@yourarseismine1016 clearly you haven't seen General O'Hara with drip

[@yourarseismine1016]

@@mongoloidkongloid5489 I have

[@Username-cb4fg]

So he was a Nancy boy

[@matthewellis3197]

I always love visiting the forts.

[@astro_manta9733]

very nice video, also impressed at the correct pronunciation of Buckingham

[@MackinacStateHistoricParks]

Thank you!

[@embreis2257]

what, he dresses himself?? that takes the whole fun out of it.

[@trampslikeus3575]

In Toronto's Hyde Park there's a body of water named Grenadier Pond . I belive soldiers at this time used 25 cent paper note to line their legs (Shin Plasters) for insulation for protection from the cold Canadian winter.

[@PixieDustedTara]

Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these. But of all the world's brave heroes, there's none that can compare. With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, to the British Grenadiers 🇬🇧

[@colonialtinker]

Don't forget the small detachment of 84th Highlanders stationed at the fort. Would love to see a Highlander get dressed for the day.

[@D5quared91]

My guy lookin comfy AF at the start of the vid

[@dawidjozwiak9502]

I don't why but I always love british grenadiers' uniform :)

[@1teamski]

Awesome explanation! I learned a lot, thank you!

[@mc4906]

(Spends 2 hours getting dressed) (Promptly shits his pants)

[@sebastiantodd635]

did anyone else think he didn't have toes at first?

[@libertycowboy2495]

Very well done! Where is the park located?

[@patrykprzybylski1521]

As a fellow reenactor I have to ask one important question. Is your equipment hand-sewn?

[@theassening4563]

6:18 any soldier from any period will tell you, keeping your feet dry is a priority

[@FuckTard-dd1ee]

Luetenent Dan would be proud

[@maxter99]

HI YOU´VE GOT A NEW SUSCRIPTOR FROM MEXICO, SOMETHING I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THE MILITARY HISTORY IS HOW THE ANTIQUE SCHOOL FOR BEING A SOLDIER AND GUARD, KNEW HOW TO MIX THE FASHION, STYLE AND ELEGANCE WITH THE DISCIPLINE AND MARTIAL BEARING, STILL IN THE UK IS POSSIBLE TO SEE THAT, GREETINGS