Chasseurs Britanniques
Part One – the Shako
So here we go. Working on a Chasseurs
Britanniques uniform. This will be an 'other ranks' uniform, but I
will most likely add serjeant's insignia just because.
Sources disagree a bit on whether the
Chasseurs were outfitted as a Line Regiment or a Light Regiment. I am
leaning towards the Light Regiment and am going to do my kit in that
style.
Starting at the top we have the Shako.
Actually a pretty useless piece of head ware, however it is quite
impressive and dwarfs many top hats in sheer height.
I went with the earlier stovepipe Shako
and was able to pick one up from Corps Sutler. This came with the
bugle style issued to emigre and contract troops. This is not the
style of insignia I wanted, but the Shako is correct.
As far as insignia goes there is some
degree of variation.
Plumes/tufts: Companies in Line
Regiments wore one of three colours of plumes. White for grenadiers,
white over red for line companies and green for light companies. In
light infantry regiments all companies were outfitted as light
companies. I went with a green wool tuft from Spencer's Mercantile.
Shako Cord: Similar to the plumes/tufts
the colour of the cords designated the type of unit. In Line
Regiments the grenadiers and line companies wore white cords while
the light company wore green. Light Regiments all wore green. I
purchased my cord from Spencer's Mercantile.
 |
| Plume/Tuft and Shako cord from Spencer's Mercantile |
Shako Plates: All of the Shakos had
brass shako plates. Some regiments had regiment specific ones while
other used a standard one. To further complicate matters some light
companies and light regiments adopted the light infantry bugle badge.
I am going with the bugle, I have one, but am not confident it is
quite right. I think the loops at the top are supposed to be kind of
squashed into a rounded triangle rather than nice, round loops. I
also think the cords are supposed to hang straight down rather than
be draped over the cords. Then again, I have seen some information to
suggest that all of these styles are accurate, so who knows?
So, other than the bugle badge (if I
decide I do not like the one I have) I have all the parts for my Shako and just need to assemble it.
Next step will be looking at the
uniform tunic.
~ Le Chevalier
Notes:
“Wellington's Mongrel Regiment”
Corps Sutler:
Spencer's Mercantile:
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