Osprey Warrior 42 : Redcoat Officer 1740-1815

The commissioned officer ranks in the British Army from 1740-1815 were almost entirely composed of the affluent and educated - the sons of the landed gentry, the wealthy, and other professional people. Their social and domestic background, class, experiences, recruitment, training, career paths, clothing and equipment, and battle roles differed in almost every particular from that of the lower ranks in the same regiments in this period. The officers paid their way into the army, and beyond the price of entry, the maintenance costs of were high too, for dress and uniforms, and supporting oneself both on campaign and at home. The skill of the officer lay in his ability to direct a body of soldiers on the field of battle, in contrast to the exposed role of the common infantryman, yet there were other more ceremonial tasks that it was the officer's duty to perform too, such as the presentation of colours. This book looks at the enlistment, training, daily life and combat experiences of the typical British officer in the crucial periods of the North American conflicts, the Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars. It compliments Stuart Reid's previous treatments in Warrior 19 British Redcoat 1740-93 and Warrior 20 British Redcoat (2) 1793-1815, which deal exclusively with the common infantryman, and balances these discussions through a look at the 'fellows in silk stockings', who bought their way into the army, and whose lifestyle was completely different to the average soldier recruited for the front-line. This examination is crucial to gaining an understanding of how the British army functioned in this period, and how it performed at the key clashes of the War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars. Particular emphasis is placed on the experiences and activities in North America in the late 18th century. Text by Stuart Reid with illustrations by Gerry Embleton.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• The Structure of an Infantry Regiment
• The Officers
• Purchase and Promotion
• A Sense of Belonging
• Training
• Appearance and Equipment
• Conditions of Service
• On Campaign
• Into Battle
• Aftermath of Battle
• Retirement
• Collections, Museums and Re-Enactment
• Colour Plate Commentary
• Further Reading
• Index