EVOLUTION OF THE BRITISH INFANTRY: 1642-1720 RED WALL

The red coat is synonymous with the British soldier, though now only found worn by ceremonial guards from Household regiments. The common theory about its adoption tracks to Parliament's New Model infantry, but red is integral to the English flag and its choice may be as simple as that. The Irish were calling English invaders ‘redcoats’ during the reign of Elizabeth I, so its use predates the civil wars by more than 50 years.

By Barry Hilton

Dating to ca. 1690, this plug bayonet was used by an English officer. By sticking such a weapon into the muzzle of a musket, it could be easily converted into a lance-like weapon. The use of red is not exclusive to the British but is also found in Saxon, Danish, and Swiss armies – although in the mind of the average human, ‘redcoats’ are only ever one nationality. Numerous hypotheses abound, including the common but unlikely yarn that red coats disguise a bleeding wound. Why would that be important to the British and no one else? During the first 50 years of their existence, the English, Scottish, and Irish armies and county militias used a variety of coat colours including green, white, yellow, blue, grey, brown, and purple, but red was most…

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Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy (Digital) - 1 Issue, WSS 123

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