His Majesty’s 22d

His weapon is the “2nd model’ Brown Bess musket, shorter than
those used in previous wars and much easier to handle. A .75’ calibre
weapon firing a 1 ounce lead ball it is effective up to 100 – 150 yard
but only really accurate at around 50 yards. This is why they fired in
volleys, to make sure they hit something!
Regiment of Foot
He marches and drills according to the ‘The Manual Exercise –
1764’ the standard drill manual for the British AND Continental
(American) armies of the time. It is this that allows the soldier to
move and fire his musket safely in the close confines of the ranks of
his unit during the smoke, noise and confusion of battle.

Clothing and equipment has been carefully researched and recreated

with authentic period materials and construction methods. From his
leather soled shoes to his linen shirt and heavy woollen breeches, our
recreated Redcoat is as near to the real thing as you are likely to see
without a time machine!

Seasoned Living Historians, our members very much enjoy sharing

their knowledge of this period with members of the public. Come
and talk to us and find out more!

E-mail: info@22ndfoot.co.uk

Or find us on the web at : www.22ndfoot.co.uk

A Member unit of British Empire Forces.

Multi-Period Living History
 18th CENTURY LIVING HISTORY
His Majesties’ 22d Regiment of Foot is a Living History group
focussing on the life and times of the ordinary British Soldier during
the American Revolutionary War 1775-1783. This often overlooked
period of British History saw the beginnings of what would later
become known as the British Empire and the creation of a new
nation, the United States of America.

Whilst often thought of as ‘the war Britain lost’, the American

Revolution offers a fascinating insight into the world of the 18 th
Century. As Living Historians we attempt to explode many of the
myths and legends that have grown up around this period, not least
thanks to the efforts of post-revolutionary historians and Hollywood
script writers! Far from the mindless automaton of story-book led
by foppish and ineffective Officers, the British ‘Redcoat’ of the
period was a formidable adversary making the achievements of the
American ‘Continentals’ in opposing them all the more remarkable.
The British army was a small, professional, well equipped, well
trained and above all adaptable organisation. It is with this in mind
that we strive to re-create the day to day life of the average British
Soldier and those who marched alongside him.
The 22d Foot arrived in Boston in July 1776 shortly after the famous
Declaration of Independence of the 4th July and served throughout
the war, being one of the last units to evacuate New York in
November 1783. We represent a Section of the Colonel’s Company
of the 22d Regiment of Foot as it would have appeared in the year
1776. At that time the 22d Foot was garrisoned in New York (then a
Loyalist or ‘Tory’ city strongly opposed to independence from Great
Britain).
The 22nd Foot wear the typical red regimental coat of the period, with
“buff” facings and bastion loop button holes of regimental lace. The
waistcoats and breeches of the soldiers are also Buff in accordance
with regulations of the period, all regiments with buff faced coats
wore buff “small clothes” ie waistcoat and knee breeches.
On his head the soldier wears a Cocked hat with white trim and a
black horse hair cockade. He wears a linen shirt, horse hair neck
stock, white stockings and canvas half-gaiters, called spatterdashes.
His feet are protected by simple buckle shoes.
Around his waist is a buff coloured belt which carries his bayonet.
On his right hip is a cartridge box carrying 32 rounds of ammunition.
On his left hip he has a tin canteen holding 2 pints of water and a
haversack for his food. On his back is a canvas knapsack covered in
white goat skin. In here he would carry his spare clothing, shoe
polish, cleaning materials, personal items, flint and steel for
starting fires, writing tools if he was literate, and a thick wool
blanket to sleep under.