What Do we Do?
Who Are We?
Prince Rupert's close association with the Royal Foot Guards via John Russell (see The First Regiment of Foot Guards) was seized upon as a jolly good pretext to divert into something a bit different, but still within the remit of the Sealed Knot.
We now have made a goodly start at portraying this prestigious Regiment. The concept is to recreate a reinforced Company of Foot of the Royal Regiment of Foot Guards. As the Grenadiers were in their own Companies, we are based on a Company of Foot that has been reinforced by a platoon of Grenadiers under their own officer. The troops have their march enlivened by our Regimental Corps of Drums to add spring to their step. The different marches and speed of marching have been carefully researched and taken up to great effect. The faster speed of march takes some getting used to, so stand behind us, otherwise you may get trampled to death!
To date we have a Grenadier Platoon (minimum height 6') armed with flintlocks, a Musket Division with matchlocks and a Pike Division with 16' pikes. The Captain and Lieutenants are suitably pole-armed and we have Henry, Duke of Grafton, appropriately haughty and horribly over-acted to run the commentary when putting on a display, or enjoying a goodly hanging of a rebellious peasant or two.
We now have made a goodly start at portraying this prestigious Regiment. The concept is to recreate a reinforced Company of Foot of the Royal Regiment of Foot Guards. As the Grenadiers were in their own Companies, we are based on a Company of Foot that has been reinforced by a platoon of Grenadiers under their own officer. The troops have their march enlivened by our Regimental Corps of Drums to add spring to their step. The different marches and speed of marching have been carefully researched and taken up to great effect. The faster speed of march takes some getting used to, so stand behind us, otherwise you may get trampled to death!
To date we have a Grenadier Platoon (minimum height 6') armed with flintlocks, a Musket Division with matchlocks and a Pike Division with 16' pikes. The Captain and Lieutenants are suitably pole-armed and we have Henry, Duke of Grafton, appropriately haughty and horribly over-acted to run the commentary when putting on a display, or enjoying a goodly hanging of a rebellious peasant or two.
The Hatmen:
Here are some HATMEN or matchlock musketeers displaying their uniform. Note that they were provided with a bandolier and armed with swords on a sword belt worn around the middle, not a baldric, which could also be used to hold a dagger or plug bayonet. |
Grenadiers :
The Grenadiers have more expensive and elaborate uniforms. They are armed with grenadoes in a pouch, plug bayonets and hatchets, and a cartridge box - again on a central belt. Their grenadier caps are styled to allow them to sling their muskets preparatory to drawing the grenadoes without knocking off their hats. Here are some Grenadiers in their somewhat splendid uniforms, all armed with flintlocks and all over 6ft tall. |
The Sergeants :
Sergeants carried a halberd and wore a crimson sash |
Pike Men :
The Pikemen wore the same coat as the hatmen, and at this period no longer wore gloves, armour or helmets, but wore a white waist sash with blue tassels. They are armed with a hanger worn on a baldric. All leatherwork is in brown. The pikes are 16 foot long and we have metal-headed versions for display work. |
The Officers