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From various printed sources (Boaz, Blumberg, &c.)
‘The Marines wore the same basic uniform as did the army. For other ranks, the coat - a man’s “regimental” - was made of heavy, coarse wool, dyed brick-red in color, with the white facings that represented the Marines’ connection with the Royal Navy. The inside was lined with light-weight white wool, and contained one or two large bag-shaped pockets, as the outside pocket flaps were only for decoration. The coat was cut tight to the body, particularly in the sleeves, to allow for ease of movement when handling the firelock. Wore without “lace” during most of the war, the coat had 38 large, flat pewter buttons, and two smaller ones for the plain red epaulettes, each having the Marine pattern of a serrated edge with a foul anchor in the center. Buttons were fastened on the coat evenly or in pairs, which may have been a divisional or battalion distinction. During winter, the coat served as its owner’s overcoat, in that the lapels could be buttoned across the chest and the turned-up cuffs could be unbuttoned to cover the hands. The white cotton or linen (for service in the Americas) waistcoat and breeches - “smallclothes” - contained up to another 35 smaller buttons in the Marine pattern, depending on whether or not the waistcoat was issued with pocket flaps. The white shirt was worn with a black horsehair stock fastened around the neck.’
“Marine Light Clothing was lined with linen instead of wool. The Waistcoats and breeches were made of raven duck instead of cloth, and thread stockings instead of yarn.”
Shoes were black and straight lasted, with plain brass buckles. White cotton or wool stockings were held up by breeches’ knee fastenings and black buckle garters.
‘The black cocked hat was edged with white tape and had white tie-ups and a black cockade. Typical of British infantrymen’s hats, it was usually worn with the cock over the left eye, so that the hat would not interfere with the movements of the firelock.’
Marine uniforms were not covered by the Royal Warrant of 1768.
Plymouth Orders (25 May 1767):descriptions of Marine uniforms.
Marine officers wore gold lace, buttons, and gorgets, until orders (15 May 1769) direct them to wear their coats “without lace or embroidery”. Silver replaced gold as the colour of buttons and gorgets.
Millan’s Succession of Colonels gives lace of Marine ORs as “dark blue with a red worm”; Colonel Field, in Britain’s Sea Soldiers, gives the OR lace pattern as probably a single dark blue line interrupted with red.
Contemporary evidence (orders, paintings, drawings) shows no lace worn by officers or ORs before the Revolution.
Plymouth Orders (1 Jully 1779) direct Marine officers to have silver-laced regimentals (and “Cross-Belts on all occasions”). Light infantry officers to wear black crossbelts typical of light companies. (The order regarding lace not strictly followed.)
Grenadier and Light companies follow army practise with headgear and shoulder wings. Light Infantry coats were cut three inches shorter than those of battalion company men. Grenadiers carried hangers and brass match cases, with a special plate on their bearskins: a foul anchor within a Garter star, with a crown over the star and the star within a laurel wreath (for Belle Isle 1761). On the bottom was a ribband with the British grenadiers’ motto.
Light Infantry caps also had special Marine design: a foul anchor on a shield (badge of Marine light bobs), a crown over the anchor, and an oak wreath surrounding the anchor and crown. Around the edge of the plate was a ribband with the Marine Corps motto.
Battalion company Marines wore the typical black cocked hats, with two white tassels worn on the right side. Grenadiers had similar on their bearskins. For daily wear, grenadiers wore cocked hats, without white tape.
Boston Orders (4 December 1775): “The C.O. desires the Officers would appear uniformly dressed on duty with the men, and each Officer immediately to provide himself with a Jacket and a Round Hat with a Silver Band.” This believed to be part of an undress uniform.
Boston Orders (19 December 1775): “A Pattern Hatt will be fixed upon from one of those already cock’d, and each Batt’n will find Proper Persons to cock the rest, as nearly like as possible.”
Boston Orders (27 January 1776): “...in order to preserve the form of the Hatts, Nails must be driven in the Barrack’s to hang them on.”
Boston Orders (8 February 1776): “Lace and Tassells of ye Hatts to be Perfectly clean.”
Round hats not regulation despite their likely use as undress or fatigue headgear. During the Nore mutiny, one ship’s Marine detachment petitioned for permission to wear round hats. These were not made regulation until 1799.
11 February 1775: Marines bound for America directed to have long black gaiters with buttons and short black gaiters. Orders also given for men to have knapsacks and a “Manchester velvet stock with buckle for the Grenadiers and a clasp for the rest.”
Marines in Boston to have shirts with ‘frills’ on them for parade. “Officers & Men to have Black Stocks & to wear their Hair clubbed and well powdered... the Grenadiers to wear their Caps and all ye Officers to appear in swords without Knots. The Whole (of the grenadier companies) to wear white Stockls & to have their Gaiters well blackened.”
Officers’ hats bound in silver lace with black looping. “And cocked smartly with Silver Cord, Band and Tassells”. Contemporary paintings indicate officers’ hats tended to be bound simply in black. The cockade was made of black velvet.
Officers’ coats were privately purchased and made of ‘superfine’ wool and dyed scarlet. Shirts had ruffles at the neck and sleeve.
Plymouth Orders (8 February 1775): officers directed to have “long leather Gaiters with Hessian tops”. In practise officers preferred spatterdashes typical of the infantry.
25 May 1767: battalion company officers directed to wear only one shoulder epaulette, on the right, while flank company officers could have two. Epaulettes had no rank markings. Marine officers adopted a longer epaulette made of thicker and wider heavy silver lace, with the typical fringed double loop.
Plymouth Orders (15 May 1769): directs all officers to wear two epaulettes regardless of company.
Officers’ buttons made of silver and had a bone backing. The buttons had a scalloped edge and the design featured a foul anchor over a spray of laurel.
Sashes were crimson, wrapping several times around the waist and tying at the hip with a rosette. They were 118 inches long and several feet wide, unfolded.
Gorgets were silver and tied about the neck with white ribbon (the regimental facing colour). Worn only when on duty.
Boston Orders (17th April 1776): white gorget roses to be worn.
Plymouth Orders (6th January 1780): black gorget roses to be worn.
Navy surgeons seconded to serve ashore directly with Marines wore ‘scarlet coats faced red, with silver Marine buttons, “Uniform hats”, small swords, and black buckled garters when on duty.’
Marines’ sea kit: ‘ “A Jacket, a Pair of Brown Gaiters, a Haversack, Bedding, a Pair of Trowsers, a pair of Stockings, a Pair of Shoes and two Chequed Shirts with Stocks.” It was also recommended that every Marine have “a red cap lined with coarse linen and turned up in front with a small stiff flap of the facing colour, with an occasional falling Cape to cover the neck from the extremities of violent weather.” ’
Bands formed; Portsmouth Band in 1765/66, Plymouth in 1767. Order of 11 June 1768 directs the Band to wear white breeches and stockings with black buckled garters at Guard Mounting.
27 March 1766: Sergeants of Marines permitted to wear sashes.
Grenadier companies formed in 1767. Plymouth Orders (10 March 1767) direct grenadier officers to wear “two epaulets and fringe and Officers of Battalion Companies one on right shoulder only.”
15 May 1769: new uniform issued. Grenadier caps in general use believed then to be replaced by cocked hats.
October 1769: Marines’ breeches were red.
24 October 1769: new gorget ordered for officers.
14 June 1773: orders issued that accoutrements were to be made of buff. Accoutrements also ordered to be whitened. Pipeclay thus introduced.
24 March 1772: bayonet and pouches, previously slung on waistbelts, ordered to be made into crossbelts.
25 December 1771: Admiralty expressed no objection to officers having buckles on their belts.
11 December 1760: orders for officers ‘who pay squads’ to return “Arms, Accoutrements and King’s Clothing” to the Quartermaster when Marines are discharged.
King’s Clothing: hats, uniform coats, waistcoats, and breeches. These supplied by contract; Admiralty and Naval storekeepers. Quality bad.
Necessaries purchased locally by squad officers; costs stopped from men’s pay.
Board of Ordnance supplied arms, accoutrements, and swords for sergeants. Quality bad.
1 June: annual clothing issue. Clothing forwarded to Divisions for altering and fitting beforehand.
‘Sergeants carried swords and halberds. They also wore special hats. Corporals wore “Knotts” on the shoulder.’
28 July 1771: officers ordered to privately purchase new pattern swords.
On embarkation, Marines were to have:
1 white and 3 check shirts
4 pairs of stockings (2 of thread)
2 pairs of shoes
Spatterdashes regarded as useless and were made of white linen. Lieutenant J. McIntire gives that they should be replaced by wool. Linen spatterdashes ‘give the men rheumatism from being put on wet with pipeclay.’
‘Proper black spatterdashes’ ordered for new drafts bound for America; probably made of leather.
1773: Divisional surgeons ordered to wear uniforms. Initially these men were locally appointed civilians. Naval surgeons eventually appointed to the Divisions and received Marine commissions and uniform (until 1887). The uniform was a red coat with a red cape, cuffs, and lapels with Marine uniform buttons, white waistcoats and breeches with uniform hat. When on duty, black buckle garters and a sword are worn.
Plymouth Orders (8 February 1775): kit lists set down. Officers to have long leather gaiters with Hessian tops except with buttons rather than springs, and to have proper accoutrements. Men to have the following:
13 May 1771: orders that grenadiers’ hats were not to have lace, but were to be “cocked with White Looping with two White Tassels on the Right Side”. Bearskins sent out to America in 1775.
12 May 1773: “Battalion Officers’ Hair to be queued. Grenadiers and Light Infantry to be platt’d and tucked.”
Chatham Orders (12 May 1773): officers directed to observe wearing of “Uniform Coat, White Waistcoat and Breeches; Silver laced hat with Silver Band and Loopings; Black Stock; Black Silk Buckle Garters, Sash, Gorget, Uniform Sword and Knot. Half Gaiters except when long ones particularly ordered. Shoulder Sword-Belt with Clasp. Belt and Pouch to be worn over the Coat same as Private Men.”
Plymouth Orders (8 February 1775): Officers to provide themselves with “Long leather Gaiters with Hessian tops” and ORs to have “Long Black Gaiters with buttons” and also short ones. Knapsack and “Mancester velvet stock, with Buckle for the Grenadiers and Clasp for the rest” also required.
Boston Orders (19 December 1775): Marine captains directed “to receive the Arms, Cloathing and Accoutrements of their effectives, the cloathing to be fitted by Compys, agreeable to the Pattern, but no part of it is to be worn till the whole are finished...” ; further “No man to be brought to the Parade or Guard, that has not got his Hatt Laced, and a Band, Black Stock, and Leggings.”
Halifax Order (17 April 1776?): Previous to a visit by the general; “...when it is expected that every man will have a Clean Shirt with a Frill to it, a good Black Stock, and a pair of Half-Gaiters. The Pouches to be slung and polished as soon as possible.”
By 1788, battalion companies wore bicorne hat ‘bound with white lace, with a small worsted wool tuft of white over red on the left side fixed to the hat by a black cockade with a white tie and a pewter button.’ The red coat was faced in white - lapels, collar, cuffs, and turnbacks - but the collar was now stiffened and upright. All buttons pewter with the typical Marine design. The waistcoat was shortened but the rest of the smallclothes were the same. Now an oval belt plate, instead of square, and was made of brass.
Officers also had bicornes, with silver ties and buttons, black silk cockades, and white over red feather plume. Buttons set in pairs on their coats. Subalterns wore one epaulette on the right shoulder, while captains and higher wore two.
Orders (26 March 1799): “The Grenadiers having the brim of the hat bound in Black tape; the band round the base of the crown White; the loopings that secure the brim to the crown White; the tuft o the left side of the hat White. The Battalion men's brim bound in White tape; the band White; the loopings Black, tuft White over Red. The Light Infantry; brim bound in Black tape; band White; loopings White, tuft Green.”
‘Facings were changed to blue on 1 May 1802 as a consequence of the Marine Corps being designated "Royal". The red coatee was now closed at the front and the tails shortened; the collar, shoulder straps and cuffs were blue; white lace with blue and red stripes set two-by-two extended from the buttons and buttonholes at the front, the pewter buttons featured a Foul Anchor with ROYAL MARINES above and a Laural Wreath below. Vertical slashed pockets on the skirts of the coatee were decorated with white lace and the buttons were set two-by-two. White breeches, black gaiters reaching to the knee, or white overall trousers with black shoes completed the uniform for the rank and file.’
Officers’ lace changed from silver to gold, with their epaulettes now being made of gold lace and wire. Grenadier officers had grenade badge and light infantry had bugle horn distinctions on their epaulettes. Swordbelt plates had lion and crown design and were square. Swords had gold hilts and sword knots, with black leather scabbard with gilt mountings. Hats were either bicornes or round hats.
Further information pending.
‘The Marines wore the same basic uniform as did the army. For other ranks, the coat - a man’s “regimental” - was made of heavy, coarse wool, dyed brick-red in color, with the white facings that represented the Marines’ connection with the Royal Navy. The inside was lined with light-weight white wool, and contained one or two large bag-shaped pockets, as the outside pocket flaps were only for decoration. The coat was cut tight to the body, particularly in the sleeves, to allow for ease of movement when handling the firelock. Wore without “lace” during most of the war, the coat had 38 large, flat pewter buttons, and two smaller ones for the plain red epaulettes, each having the Marine pattern of a serrated edge with a foul anchor in the center. Buttons were fastened on the coat evenly or in pairs, which may have been a divisional or battalion distinction. During winter, the coat served as its owner’s overcoat, in that the lapels could be buttoned across the chest and the turned-up cuffs could be unbuttoned to cover the hands. The white cotton or linen (for service in the Americas) waistcoat and breeches - “smallclothes” - contained up to another 35 smaller buttons in the Marine pattern, depending on whether or not the waistcoat was issued with pocket flaps. The white shirt was worn with a black horsehair stock fastened around the neck.’
“Marine Light Clothing was lined with linen instead of wool. The Waistcoats and breeches were made of raven duck instead of cloth, and thread stockings instead of yarn.”
Shoes were black and straight lasted, with plain brass buckles. White cotton or wool stockings were held up by breeches’ knee fastenings and black buckle garters.
‘The black cocked hat was edged with white tape and had white tie-ups and a black cockade. Typical of British infantrymen’s hats, it was usually worn with the cock over the left eye, so that the hat would not interfere with the movements of the firelock.’
Marine uniforms were not covered by the Royal Warrant of 1768.
Plymouth Orders (25 May 1767):descriptions of Marine uniforms.
Marine officers wore gold lace, buttons, and gorgets, until orders (15 May 1769) direct them to wear their coats “without lace or embroidery”. Silver replaced gold as the colour of buttons and gorgets.
Millan’s Succession of Colonels gives lace of Marine ORs as “dark blue with a red worm”; Colonel Field, in Britain’s Sea Soldiers, gives the OR lace pattern as probably a single dark blue line interrupted with red.
Contemporary evidence (orders, paintings, drawings) shows no lace worn by officers or ORs before the Revolution.
Plymouth Orders (1 Jully 1779) direct Marine officers to have silver-laced regimentals (and “Cross-Belts on all occasions”). Light infantry officers to wear black crossbelts typical of light companies. (The order regarding lace not strictly followed.)
Grenadier and Light companies follow army practise with headgear and shoulder wings. Light Infantry coats were cut three inches shorter than those of battalion company men. Grenadiers carried hangers and brass match cases, with a special plate on their bearskins: a foul anchor within a Garter star, with a crown over the star and the star within a laurel wreath (for Belle Isle 1761). On the bottom was a ribband with the British grenadiers’ motto.
Light Infantry caps also had special Marine design: a foul anchor on a shield (badge of Marine light bobs), a crown over the anchor, and an oak wreath surrounding the anchor and crown. Around the edge of the plate was a ribband with the Marine Corps motto.
Battalion company Marines wore the typical black cocked hats, with two white tassels worn on the right side. Grenadiers had similar on their bearskins. For daily wear, grenadiers wore cocked hats, without white tape.
Boston Orders (4 December 1775): “The C.O. desires the Officers would appear uniformly dressed on duty with the men, and each Officer immediately to provide himself with a Jacket and a Round Hat with a Silver Band.” This believed to be part of an undress uniform.
Boston Orders (19 December 1775): “A Pattern Hatt will be fixed upon from one of those already cock’d, and each Batt’n will find Proper Persons to cock the rest, as nearly like as possible.”
Boston Orders (27 January 1776): “...in order to preserve the form of the Hatts, Nails must be driven in the Barrack’s to hang them on.”
Boston Orders (8 February 1776): “Lace and Tassells of ye Hatts to be Perfectly clean.”
Round hats not regulation despite their likely use as undress or fatigue headgear. During the Nore mutiny, one ship’s Marine detachment petitioned for permission to wear round hats. These were not made regulation until 1799.
11 February 1775: Marines bound for America directed to have long black gaiters with buttons and short black gaiters. Orders also given for men to have knapsacks and a “Manchester velvet stock with buckle for the Grenadiers and a clasp for the rest.”
Marines in Boston to have shirts with ‘frills’ on them for parade. “Officers & Men to have Black Stocks & to wear their Hair clubbed and well powdered... the Grenadiers to wear their Caps and all ye Officers to appear in swords without Knots. The Whole (of the grenadier companies) to wear white Stockls & to have their Gaiters well blackened.”
Officers’ hats bound in silver lace with black looping. “And cocked smartly with Silver Cord, Band and Tassells”. Contemporary paintings indicate officers’ hats tended to be bound simply in black. The cockade was made of black velvet.
Officers’ coats were privately purchased and made of ‘superfine’ wool and dyed scarlet. Shirts had ruffles at the neck and sleeve.
Plymouth Orders (8 February 1775): officers directed to have “long leather Gaiters with Hessian tops”. In practise officers preferred spatterdashes typical of the infantry.
25 May 1767: battalion company officers directed to wear only one shoulder epaulette, on the right, while flank company officers could have two. Epaulettes had no rank markings. Marine officers adopted a longer epaulette made of thicker and wider heavy silver lace, with the typical fringed double loop.
Plymouth Orders (15 May 1769): directs all officers to wear two epaulettes regardless of company.
Officers’ buttons made of silver and had a bone backing. The buttons had a scalloped edge and the design featured a foul anchor over a spray of laurel.
Sashes were crimson, wrapping several times around the waist and tying at the hip with a rosette. They were 118 inches long and several feet wide, unfolded.
Gorgets were silver and tied about the neck with white ribbon (the regimental facing colour). Worn only when on duty.
Boston Orders (17th April 1776): white gorget roses to be worn.
Plymouth Orders (6th January 1780): black gorget roses to be worn.
Navy surgeons seconded to serve ashore directly with Marines wore ‘scarlet coats faced red, with silver Marine buttons, “Uniform hats”, small swords, and black buckled garters when on duty.’
Marines’ sea kit: ‘ “A Jacket, a Pair of Brown Gaiters, a Haversack, Bedding, a Pair of Trowsers, a pair of Stockings, a Pair of Shoes and two Chequed Shirts with Stocks.” It was also recommended that every Marine have “a red cap lined with coarse linen and turned up in front with a small stiff flap of the facing colour, with an occasional falling Cape to cover the neck from the extremities of violent weather.” ’
Bands formed; Portsmouth Band in 1765/66, Plymouth in 1767. Order of 11 June 1768 directs the Band to wear white breeches and stockings with black buckled garters at Guard Mounting.
27 March 1766: Sergeants of Marines permitted to wear sashes.
Grenadier companies formed in 1767. Plymouth Orders (10 March 1767) direct grenadier officers to wear “two epaulets and fringe and Officers of Battalion Companies one on right shoulder only.”
15 May 1769: new uniform issued. Grenadier caps in general use believed then to be replaced by cocked hats.
October 1769: Marines’ breeches were red.
24 October 1769: new gorget ordered for officers.
14 June 1773: orders issued that accoutrements were to be made of buff. Accoutrements also ordered to be whitened. Pipeclay thus introduced.
24 March 1772: bayonet and pouches, previously slung on waistbelts, ordered to be made into crossbelts.
25 December 1771: Admiralty expressed no objection to officers having buckles on their belts.
11 December 1760: orders for officers ‘who pay squads’ to return “Arms, Accoutrements and King’s Clothing” to the Quartermaster when Marines are discharged.
King’s Clothing: hats, uniform coats, waistcoats, and breeches. These supplied by contract; Admiralty and Naval storekeepers. Quality bad.
Necessaries purchased locally by squad officers; costs stopped from men’s pay.
Board of Ordnance supplied arms, accoutrements, and swords for sergeants. Quality bad.
1 June: annual clothing issue. Clothing forwarded to Divisions for altering and fitting beforehand.
‘Sergeants carried swords and halberds. They also wore special hats. Corporals wore “Knotts” on the shoulder.’
28 July 1771: officers ordered to privately purchase new pattern swords.
On embarkation, Marines were to have:
1 white and 3 check shirts
4 pairs of stockings (2 of thread)
2 pairs of shoes
Spatterdashes regarded as useless and were made of white linen. Lieutenant J. McIntire gives that they should be replaced by wool. Linen spatterdashes ‘give the men rheumatism from being put on wet with pipeclay.’
‘Proper black spatterdashes’ ordered for new drafts bound for America; probably made of leather.
1773: Divisional surgeons ordered to wear uniforms. Initially these men were locally appointed civilians. Naval surgeons eventually appointed to the Divisions and received Marine commissions and uniform (until 1887). The uniform was a red coat with a red cape, cuffs, and lapels with Marine uniform buttons, white waistcoats and breeches with uniform hat. When on duty, black buckle garters and a sword are worn.
Plymouth Orders (8 February 1775): kit lists set down. Officers to have long leather gaiters with Hessian tops except with buttons rather than springs, and to have proper accoutrements. Men to have the following:
4 good white shirts 4 pairs good stockings (2 white, 2 worsted) 1 check shirt 3 pairs good shoes 1 pair long gaiters hessian tops 1 pair short gaiters 2 pairs good Prussian drab drawers 1 brush, wire, picker, turnkey, etc 1 set uniform knee and shoe buckles 1 knapsack (which are arriving in the Transport) 2 black Manchester velvet stocks buckles for Grenadiers, clasps for Battalion Companies Sea Kit: 1 old hat 1 jacket, etc
13 May 1771: orders that grenadiers’ hats were not to have lace, but were to be “cocked with White Looping with two White Tassels on the Right Side”. Bearskins sent out to America in 1775.
12 May 1773: “Battalion Officers’ Hair to be queued. Grenadiers and Light Infantry to be platt’d and tucked.”
Chatham Orders (12 May 1773): officers directed to observe wearing of “Uniform Coat, White Waistcoat and Breeches; Silver laced hat with Silver Band and Loopings; Black Stock; Black Silk Buckle Garters, Sash, Gorget, Uniform Sword and Knot. Half Gaiters except when long ones particularly ordered. Shoulder Sword-Belt with Clasp. Belt and Pouch to be worn over the Coat same as Private Men.”
Plymouth Orders (8 February 1775): Officers to provide themselves with “Long leather Gaiters with Hessian tops” and ORs to have “Long Black Gaiters with buttons” and also short ones. Knapsack and “Mancester velvet stock, with Buckle for the Grenadiers and Clasp for the rest” also required.
Boston Orders (19 December 1775): Marine captains directed “to receive the Arms, Cloathing and Accoutrements of their effectives, the cloathing to be fitted by Compys, agreeable to the Pattern, but no part of it is to be worn till the whole are finished...” ; further “No man to be brought to the Parade or Guard, that has not got his Hatt Laced, and a Band, Black Stock, and Leggings.”
Halifax Order (17 April 1776?): Previous to a visit by the general; “...when it is expected that every man will have a Clean Shirt with a Frill to it, a good Black Stock, and a pair of Half-Gaiters. The Pouches to be slung and polished as soon as possible.”
By 1788, battalion companies wore bicorne hat ‘bound with white lace, with a small worsted wool tuft of white over red on the left side fixed to the hat by a black cockade with a white tie and a pewter button.’ The red coat was faced in white - lapels, collar, cuffs, and turnbacks - but the collar was now stiffened and upright. All buttons pewter with the typical Marine design. The waistcoat was shortened but the rest of the smallclothes were the same. Now an oval belt plate, instead of square, and was made of brass.
Officers also had bicornes, with silver ties and buttons, black silk cockades, and white over red feather plume. Buttons set in pairs on their coats. Subalterns wore one epaulette on the right shoulder, while captains and higher wore two.
Orders (26 March 1799): “The Grenadiers having the brim of the hat bound in Black tape; the band round the base of the crown White; the loopings that secure the brim to the crown White; the tuft o the left side of the hat White. The Battalion men's brim bound in White tape; the band White; the loopings Black, tuft White over Red. The Light Infantry; brim bound in Black tape; band White; loopings White, tuft Green.”
‘Facings were changed to blue on 1 May 1802 as a consequence of the Marine Corps being designated "Royal". The red coatee was now closed at the front and the tails shortened; the collar, shoulder straps and cuffs were blue; white lace with blue and red stripes set two-by-two extended from the buttons and buttonholes at the front, the pewter buttons featured a Foul Anchor with ROYAL MARINES above and a Laural Wreath below. Vertical slashed pockets on the skirts of the coatee were decorated with white lace and the buttons were set two-by-two. White breeches, black gaiters reaching to the knee, or white overall trousers with black shoes completed the uniform for the rank and file.’
Officers’ lace changed from silver to gold, with their epaulettes now being made of gold lace and wire. Grenadier officers had grenade badge and light infantry had bugle horn distinctions on their epaulettes. Swordbelt plates had lion and crown design and were square. Swords had gold hilts and sword knots, with black leather scabbard with gilt mountings. Hats were either bicornes or round hats.
Further information pending.
