perrys british awi infantry

This forum section is open to posts, questions and comments on conflicts between the end of the Great Northern War and the start of the French Revolution. So, Austrian Succession, SYW AND AWI affecionados .. this is for you!
Post Reply
turrabear
Major General
Major General
Posts: 522
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:33 pm

perrys british awi infantry

Post by turrabear » Sun Jun 29, 2014 4:30 am

i was wondering if anybody could help . i've been planning to game general howes philadelphia campaign for a while . i've been planning to use perry miniatures metal awi britsh figures but they offer two different types of figure
british infantry slouch hat and roundabouts.(not sure what a round about is)
british infantry slouch hat cut down coats
which range of figures should i use for the period.
many thanks in advance
mark
Clibinarium
Major
Major
Posts: 195
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2005 8:47 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Re: perrys british awi infantry

Post by Clibinarium » Sun Jul 06, 2014 10:34 am

Sorry I didn't spot this sooner.

A roundabout is the soldier's waistcoat which has had the sleeves of the coat sown on to it (the coat being cut up to provide repair material for the rest of the uniform).
ImageImage

The shortened version of the coat has its tails cut off for the same reason. Both were probably handier for campaigning in. The modification was to an extent forced by the capture at sea of a large consignment of clothing by American privateers (I think this might have been just before the Philadelphia campaign). The captured coats then turned up in American regiments dyed brown.
ImageImage

Generally the light infantry wore roundabouts, and line favoured the cut down coat, though a few line regiments may have worn the roundabout.

Images from http://www.historicalimagebank.com/gall ... 1/album15/
definitely worth having a look at.
turrabear
Major General
Major General
Posts: 522
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:33 pm

Re: perrys british awi infantry

Post by turrabear » Mon Jul 07, 2014 3:47 am

Clibinarium wrote:Sorry I didn't spot this sooner.

A roundabout is the soldier's waistcoat which has had the sleeves of the coat sown on to it (the coat being cut up to provide repair material for the rest of the uniform).
ImageImage

The shortened version of the coat has its tails cut off for the same reason. Both were probably handier for campaigning in. The modification was to an extent forced by the capture at sea of a large consignment of clothing by American privateers (I think this might have been just before the Philadelphia campaign). The captured coats then turned up in American regiments dyed brown.
ImageImage

Generally the light infantry wore roundabouts, and line favoured the cut down coat, though a few line regiments may have worn the roundabout.

Images from http://www.historicalimagebank.com/gall ... 1/album15/
definitely worth having a look at.
many thanks for taking the time to answer my question.
Ronan the Librarian
Captain
Captain
Posts: 148
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:34 pm
Location: The Wilds of Surrey

Re: perrys british awi infantry

Post by Ronan the Librarian » Tue Jul 08, 2014 2:08 pm

Hi,

I've replied to your original post on the "General Discussion" forum. The only thing I would add is that line troops did not wear the roundabout - at least not in red - because only the light companies had red waistcoats, which formed the basis of the conversion. This may have happened later in the war and/or in tropical theatres (eg the Caribbean), but not in the Philadelphia campaign.

There is an account somewhere suggesting that at least one line unit (the 49th Foot) may have acquired material to make sleeves for their white waistcoats, in which they undertook a foraging expedition. Alternatively, this is (perhaps more likely) a reference to a party of new recruits who were sent out to acclimatise themselves. Recruits were generally issued with white jackets whilst doing their "basic training" in England prior to embarking for America; whilst they were recruited by a specific regiment and trained with their fellow recruits, when they arrived in theatre they could often be re-assigned to another regiment in order to keep as many units as possible at fighting strength (the receiving regiment would then reimburse the recruitment costs of the donating regiment).

RtL
Ssshhhhh!!!!!
turrabear
Major General
Major General
Posts: 522
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:33 pm

Re: perrys british awi infantry

Post by turrabear » Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:06 am

thank you so much for your help. im pretty new to the a.w.i period and I have a bit to learn but any information I'm very greatfull for.
Post Reply