How Did Redcoat Regiments Tell Each Other Apart?

[@BrandonF]

I didn't know bastion-loop lacing could get even more specific! Now I have to decide which style is my favourite... Much appreciated video!

[@ChristheRedcoat]

My one caveat is that I've not been able to track down exactly when those terms started being used - it's possibly more of a Napoleonic thing. The earliest reference I can find to "Jew's harp" loops is from 1796.

[@darth-hellhound6534]

Just wait until you need to sew them. You'll change your mind and love straight lace 😂

[@TheFarOffStation]

Chris out here telling us about the super niche stuff we didn’t know we wanted to know about 🙌🏻

[@davemillwall5420]

As a former Fusilier you're vids on our Army are brilliant mate. 👍🏻

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Cheers!

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Very enjoyable Chris! I REALLY enjoyed the look at the British Marine cocked hat! Recognized the anchor button right away! If I remember correctly the Marines had no lace at all on the turnbacks, just plain white.

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Yes, the Marines did in fact have plain lace.

[@marxbruder]

When we decided to do 21st as a Burgoyne impression, we were so excited because the facings are the same as the 4th, and the lace only differs in where the blue stripe is placed. From a distance, we can get away with reusing our existing coats. Bad news is, 4th is a silver regiment (and officers actually went unlaced in the 4th), while the 21st is gold. Only person who has to get a new coat has the most expensive of the lot!

[@Armchair_Commanders]

It’s refreshing to see something so specific well fleshed out compared to the current trend of KZbin shorts. Great Video!

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Shorts are a plague.

[@TheHighlandRedcoat]

This is very similar to Austro-Hungarian uniforms: Each of the 102 infantry regiments could be identified by their unique combimation of regimental colour (28 in total), button colour (silver or gold) and cuff shape (straight (German) or pointed (Hungarian). This could get very complicated, as in theory one regimental colour could have been used by 4 regiments, only different in the style of their buttons and cuffs. This applies to parade uniforms, field uniforms were simpler.

[@elmosanchez]

I know nothing about nor care at all about clothes and fashion. But 18th century uniforms are still single handily able to turn me into a giggling fashionista. Awesome video!

[@austincottrell5122]

I appreciate you, Chris. I've always wondered why yellow was the defacto facing color in film/TV for unidentified ("Revolution" with Al Pacino) or fictional (South Essex Regiment, for example) regiments. Now it makes sense.

[@johnwhittle.22]

The British Army still use a system of colour flashes called TRF’s tactical recognition flash, made up of different colours. I’ve always found it difficult to recognise certain flashes

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

I spotted a British soldier on deployment who was sporting a belt of Campbell tartan. But he was an officer, so I was only allowed to ask him one question.

[@johnwhittle.22]

@@eldorados_lost_searcher he probably only knows the answer to one question lol. Each regiment has its own stable belt that is either a plain colour or multi colour. So with cap/beret badges, TRF’s, shoulder flashes and stable belts there’s a few ways of recognising which regiment someone belongs to

[@gourdidol]

Their coats were red to hide the blood, amirite?

[@ChristheRedcoat]

I’m blocking you.

[@gourdidol]

@@ChristheRedcoat *sad kermit gif*

[@tomz5704]

Hahhahaha

[@falcons1988]

It was cheapest dye available to the British government at the time of Cromwell, and we stuck with it. Simple

[@ChristheRedcoat]

@@da90sReAlvloc You may have seen it already by this point, but I actually do have a video on my channel where I discuss this! :)

[@GabeUSA07]

Are there any records of battalion men in the South ever using sleeved waist coats?

[@ChristheRedcoat]

I don’t believe so.

[@Broski1318]

Thanks, Chris! I'll be on the lookout for new content. Cheers!

[@thoughtfulhistorytoday7214]

At 5:20 the last sentence give off some severe Huggbees vibes.

[@lornemarmet5898]

Thank you, Chris.

[@cjthehistoryperson]

Excellent video!

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Thanks!

[@mikewelch7656]

Great vid, Chris!

[@Fandom_Junkie]

What flag is that at 7:33? It looks interesting. Is it a regimental flag or something else?

[@ChristheRedcoat]

It’s a replica of a rebel flag of a Delaware militia regiment, captured by William Dancey of the 33rd Regiment.

[@Fandom_Junkie]

Cool, thanks!

[@georgerobartes2008]

The lace or lacings are what is used to close up the garment instead of buttons . This had become non functional by the 17th C and the lacing that decorated the edges of the fancy commanding officers buff coats etc., of the 17thC and onward were often of bullion embroidered silk . The lacing for military garments by the 18th C has been reduced to representative decoration and used across all ranks in the British Army in order to provide the illusion that the common soldier was close to the equivalent of the officer who may have purchased his commission and or be someone of high status and connection . This has continued to the present day .

[@anselmdanker9519]

Fascinating and thank you

[@user-vl1yp2pf2g]

competently done

[@aburnttoster1487]

Very nice video, glad to see this more uniform videos! btw where do you find your music for the intro at 1:33?

[@ChristheRedcoat]

The music came from a collection of old fife and drum recordings that were apparently produced by someone in the BAR way back when. I got access to them a few years ago when I was producing content for the BAR's Facebook page.

[@14tsondu-tenzing88]

rip regimental lacing pattern 1836 and rip regimental facing color 1881

[@ChristheRedcoat]

F.

[@KolibriMert]

At least some Regiments were able to campaign to get their facing colours back!

[@polygonalfortress]

Good video, vive le roi!

[@duglife2230]

This was very informative! Now I can nitpick the historically-inaccurate abominations that are the soldier uniforms in Assassin's Creed III even more!

[@miketaylorID1]

Was about to ask if the location was in Washington’s Crossing Park when you commented on Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill?). The Brick building looks - to memory - just like one of the structures in the Park - Just by the entrance building. (If you have ever been) Lace border seems a less than practical means of differentiating units - or individuals ? - in the field. Was this more ceremonial or a display of unit pride/elan? where’s a velcro morale patch when you need one???

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Do you mean the brick building at 0:32? That's at the back of City Tavern in Philadelphia.

[@miketaylorID1]

Yes, that was the building. And thanks for letting me know. I was thinking of the McConkey’s ferry building. Which now I see looks nothing like what was in my memory. Nothing at all. There’s a lesson there I think.😊

[@pnyarrow]

Hi Chris. Thanks for that now check out the current british armed forces stable belts and 'tac' flashes you may find them interesting! stay safe. ATB. Nigel

[@Dreadnought586]

Great video

[@fragwagon]

I wonder if the Facings and Lacings book has been digitized, as well as the other book you mentioned?

[@ChristheRedcoat]

As far as I know, the first one has not been digitized. The second one definitely has, though.

[@scramblerkrush5088]

As an ex. Bootneck...interesting that there still exist Kingsmen in the colonies!.....keep it up!!

[@Dreadnought586]

Did you know that If I was in the revolutionary war I would see them lobster backs comin for miles so I could just hide and wait like in the patriot

[@Rustylad85]

Very Interesting vid Chris. Which are the best books on the redcoat period? Seen a couple, volume 1 is 1740-1783. Volume 2 1784-1815 by osprey publishing.

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Osprey is generally good, but they’re problematic because they don’t always cite where all of their information comes from. The best book on the subject is probably Hew Strachan’s “British Military Uniforms 1768-1796.” Unfortunately it’s out of print, though, so getting a copy can be expensive.

[@Rustylad85]

@@ChristheRedcoat Thanks Chris, I will have a look around for that one.

[@hughbritten4391]

EXCELLENT more knowledge to help with the past and making my uniform for the 64th reg a foot though wish I could get an ENTIRE video of ALL the British and Yankee regiments uniforms and flags in great detail But maybe next time GOD SAVE THE KING and over here in present GOD SAVE QUEEN

[@deamicisfrank1308]

what is the name of the song in the intro

[@ChristheRedcoat]

It’s Lilliburlero.

[@neilmorrison7356]

Should it not more accurately be called buff rather than yellow. For example the Seaforth highlanders had buff facings but they looked yellow to me!

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Buff is something else. It’s more of an off-white/tan color, not yellow.

[@neilmorrison7356]

@@ChristheRedcoat just looked at some pictures again and you are right though I would say there is a yellowish hint but may be down to ageing/type of dye. Or am I just being argumentative😂

[@BrokenIET]

Chria stopped being dead, Huzza!

[@russellclement8338]

Obviously didnt

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Obviously.

[@jbloun911]

Only good RedCoat is a deadcoat with Cornwallis' sword hanging on my wall.