Author -
Stuart Reid
Illustrator -
Paul Chappell
In 1740 there were some 500 cavalry officers on the regular establishment in King George's army, compared to about 1,450 infantry officers. The inevitable expansions of the army during the War of the Austrian Succession saw the number of infantry (and marine) officers increase to about 2,500, but the number of cavalry officers remained constant. Only two new regiments were raised during the war, both of them at the height of the Jacobite emergency in 1745. After 1748, the number of cavalry officers again dropped to around 450 against some 1,650 infantry officers. The outbreak of the Seven Years War again slightly lifted the cavalry total, this time to 600. But, by contrast, nearly 4,000 infantry officers were carried on the Army List at the height of the conflict. Further fluctuations followed: In 1740 cavalrymen accounted for a quarter of the King's officers, but by 1793 that proportion had dropped to only a sixth. However, these figures can be slightly misleading. The steady expansion of the infantry largely reflected the increased need to man imperial garrisons. In operations closer to home though, the perceived importance of the cavalry was undiminished. Stuart Reid investigates the organisation and uniforms of the cavalry and artillery of King George's army accompanied by illustrations by Paul Chappell.
Contents
- Introduction
- Organisation
- Uniforms and Equipment
- Regimental Distinctions
- The Board of Ordnance
- The Plates
