English Horse 1690 - 1715, and Standards.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Two questions -

1) Did English cavalry rgt have unifor horse colours at this period ?  (I suspect not, but....)

2) What standards did the foot carry ?

TIA.

IanS

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

1) Yes, most are plain, shout which units and I'll let you know...
2) have a look at Flags Of War
Iain is an absolute gentleman and has resized many of his flags for 10mm for me.
Tell him Will Dengam sent you.

[clibinarium]

Regularity and standardization is growing in this period but only gradually. Regiments still belong to the colonel, so he gets to decide details like uniforms and colours, but there are broad trends, such as red coats, and unifying factors like the royal cypher.

For cavalry standards have a look at http://www.leagueofaugsburg.com/shop/products-subcat-6-3.html , not suggesting you buy these, but the pics are big enough to get a broad overview of the colours carried. You'll also find infantry colours there (NB these cover the pre-Union period, so Union flags begin to appear around 1707). Bear in mind that its better thought of as an Anglo-Dutch army, certainly when William is on the throne.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Thanks guys, the horse colours is colour of horses though - think I may have confused you. Got C.S. Grant "From Pike to Shot" which is reliable enough for me 

IanS

[clibinarium]

I had thought you might mean the colour of the horses, but then the question of infantry standards made me think otherwise (now that I think of it its more usual to talk of cavalry standards and infantry colours).

If there were standardized colours for mounts I am not sure they were recorded, though it may be noted in offiicial inspections. For instance, Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons were noted to be on greys in 1693, possibly handed over by Dutch troops returning to the continent, and a possible origin of the name Scots Greys. I don't have my books with me right now, but I'll check for others.

Generally light horses for musicians and darker tones for troopers. It was thought that a dark skinned horse indicated strength.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

D'oh!

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Fine - so a selection of dark browns and blacks for the Horse is about right. The kettle drummers would be on Greys....

IanS

[Redstef]

Sapherson mentions that the Garde te Paard  (Portland Horse ) were mounted on black horses and Livingston's dragoons  ( Royal regiment of Scots Dragoons ) were given their grey mounts by the returning Dutch Life Guards. The tenancy to mount musicians on grey/white horses was not widespread until much later so any colour would be fine.