Wondering if British Guards uniform for rank and file was as cheap and scruffy looking on campaign as line regiments. Line officers with tailored uniform would be more 'scarlet' than the 'almost brick red' rankers, but would the same apply to The Guards? Was dye better quality for Guards rankers? (Also heavy cavalry as Brit C.O's reputed to be a law unto themselves!).
In other words, Howard Hues 'British Red' for rankers and officers a little brighter, (in colour at least!)?
And, yes, Mud is Gud!
I would say that if we're talking colour on the tabletop then even with the same starting uniform colour you could argue for a brighter guard's uniform because of less dirty work, better laundry services, more frequently replaced etc etc.
Well one Guards cavalry unit in the Waterloo campaign had it's troopers fall out to clean the mud off their uniforms. In general though no the Guards infantry would be as scruffy as everyone else.
IanS
The smart guard will always have a nap when the officer is not about ;)
In general, the longer the troops had been on campaign the scruffier they would be. Opportunities for spit and polish in the field would have been few and far between. So if you want to go to town on the Guards there's no reason why you shouldn't.
Equally - the more bull the unit has the less effective it is.
IanS