Post
by danschorr » Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:48 am
It is with a great deal of apprehension that I enter the minefield of this thread. Let me assure you that I have no dog in this fight. I am not privy to Farmer, so I do not know what, if any, sources he cites for his statement that the regiment had buff facings through 1717. I do, however, have Cecil Lawson’s “A History of the Uniforms of the British Army”, Vol.1. On pages 124-25 he provides the following for this regiment:
1686. Red lined buff
1689. Red lined white (London Gazette)
1692. Red lined white (deserter report)
1700. Red lined white
1711. Cadogan’s Horse. Red lined green (deserter report)
It would seem that from 1689 through 1700 the regiment wore red lined white, not buff; and sometime between 1700 and 1711 the regiment adopted green facings. The 1711 report is a deserter report, not the date the regiment adopted green facings (It’s obvious that Farmer’s 1717 date is also wrong). Cadogan took over the regiment in 1703, so in my opinion, sometime after 1703 the regiment had green facings.
Ray’s concern is, what was the regiment’s facing colour at Blenheim in 1704. Well it certainly was not buff (I would take Lawson over Farmer any day). I think a case could be made, absent any additional information or research, for either white or green. Hall opted for green. I am sure he would not fall on his sword over this, but to categorically claim that he is wrong on this is unwarranted.