Author: Simon Davies

Orders of the day, Volume 36, Issue 5, 2004

Preparing For The Sedgmoor Campaign

Recap from last "Orders"

In my previous report I described why members of Prince Rupert’s Regiment had chosen to take part in the forthcoming Sedgemoor Campaign as part of King James’s Army as the First Foot Guards, and the historic connection between the original Prince Rupert’s Regiment and the First Foot Guards. Now I want to explain how we went about it and, although there were many issues to overcome, there were few tears.

When we started off we were intent on making it as simple as possible to transfer from one period to the other - a mere change of coat would do the trick, we thought. However it quickly dawned on us that this was an opportunity to do something a bit different. So instead of just a coat change we took the chance to branch out from the usual Civil War ‘campaign look’ which we as a regiment adopt for Civil War events into a very uniform Guards Regiment.

The Regimental Approach

This was decided on by the Regiment, all agreeing that it would be amusing to take on a strictly regimental approach to the uniform. It transpired that King James had his coronation in April 1685, and had re-equipped all the Guards Regiments to take part in the parades and festivities to celebrate the event. Obviously this included the First Foot Guards, commanded by Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton. This meant that the Regiment would have been in a very uniform state at the time of the battle of Sedgemoor on 6th July 1685. Some research quickly established what the Regiment would have worn, but this meant that all of us would have to undertake a serious change of attire. Despite this, by unanimous vote, we agreed to take the plunge.

As can be seen from the photos attached, this has paid off. All troops wear ‘uniform’ in that almost everything has been purchased from a centralised store of clothing provided by the Regiment. The red coats have been manufactured from a single source supplier to ensure continuity of cut and colour; the cravats are in white cotton. The rest of the uniform consists of blue breeches with red ties and blue hose. The hats all have a brim of silver braid (Guard units only; others have white braid) with blue bands. All shoes (either latchets or closed period shoes - no desert boots here!) are black with blue ties. The muskets are either Albion Arms or Yorkshire Historic Arms matchlocks or flintlocks.

Explanation of Photographs

The Hatmen Here are some ‘hatmen’ or matchlock musketeers displaying their uniform. Note that they were provided with a bandolier and armed with swords on a sword belt worn around the middle, not a baldric, which could also be used to hold a ‘dagger’ or plug bayonet.
The Grenadiers The Grenadiers have more expensive and elaborate uniforms. They are armed with grenadoes in a pouch, plug bayonets and hatchets, and a cartridge box - again on a central belt. Their grenadier caps are styled to allow them to sling their muskets preparatory to drawing the grenadoes without knocking off their hats. Here are some Grenadiers in their somewhat splendid uniforms, all armed with flintlocks and all over 6’ tall.
	The Pikemen The Pikemen wore the same coat as the hatmen, and at this period no longer wore gloves, armour or helmets, but wore a white waist sash with blue tassels. They are armed with a hanger worn on a baldric – all leatherwork is in brown. The pikes are 16 foot long and we have metal-headed versions for display work.
The Sergeants Sergeants carried a halberd and wore a crimson sash.
The Musicians Drummers wore a laced coat and also carried a hanger.

The Officers

Officers wore their privately purchased clothes and equipment (to show off their personal wealth), though all in a red or maroon colour, of a superior cloth and laced as much as they could afford and fashion would allow.

In accordance with the Royal Warrant of September 1st 1684, the rank of the junior officers was denoted by the gorget worn. Captains wore gold gorgets, the lieutenants blackened gorgets with gold nails and the ensigns silver plate gorgets. The captains were armed with half-pikes and the lieutenants with partisans.

Here are pictures of:

Ensign Henry Bennet (Nicholas Holmes)

Lieutenant Edward Rowse (Steve Phillips)

Grenadier Lieutenant Sir William Quirinson (Ken Mounter)

Captain Sir Roger Manley (Barrie Upton)

Colonel Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton (Simon Davies)

The Regiment

Finally, so that you can get a view of the Regiment in all its glory, here is the First Foot Guards of 1685. (All photos taken at Windsor Barracks).

Breaking the Barriers

Having broken some barriers in creating the First Foot Guards, we thought we could continue and break some more. Other members of the SK, but not members of Prince Rupert’s Regiment, also expressed a desire to join this rather unique formation, and with the undertaking that they would adhere to the strict uniforms rules and willingness to join as hatmen, grenadiers, pikemen or drummers, they have been welcomed into the ranks of this new venture.

This does not threaten their current allegiances; they remain members of their parent SK regiment, just that when we put on a display or skirmish from the Sedgemoor period they temporarily join the Guards and return to their SK unit afterwards.

Events in the First Year

In our first year we have taken part in the Westonzoyland Sedgemoor muster, attended and displayed at the Guards Day at Windsor to the current Grenadier Guards and attended Blenheim Palace for the Blenheim commemorative celebrations. To cap it all, we took part in a display at Detling with our compatriots, Kirk’s Regiment (Slanning’s) and our Monmouth adversaries, the Red Regiment commanded by Colonel Wade (Steve Carter of Godolphin’s). We were abetted by the Grenadoe section of De Gomme’s (excellent grenade explosions in the ranks of the Red Regiment!) and some rebels from various other SK regiments.

Esra took part and gave a great interpretation of the battle and got the crowd into the swing of things by his expert analysis of the situation from the rebels’ viewpoint - he really was in his element here. Also on hand was another expert in the period, assisted by the fact that he lives near the battle-site, our SK Commentator provided some salient historical analysis. With this team we were very fortunate to win Best 17th /18th Century Re-enactment of the show and took home the cup - not bad for the first year of existence of this new Regiment.

Thanks To

Again we have to thank our good friends: Steve Carter for originating the concept and being such a good rival on the field; Barrie Upton for sourcing the uniforms and driving the concept of the Guards forward; and Steve Phillips for assisting him and researching the uniforms and the drill; but mostly to the folks of the Guards Regiment, without whom none of this would have been possible. Thanks also to Jo Isaacs, hatman extraordinaire, for all the photos used in this article.

Want to know more or take this further?

You can do no better than browse the web to the brilliant ‘Monmouth has Landed’ Web Page coordinated by Geoff Ketcher of Godolphin’s: http://www.monmouthhaslanded.com

Anyone interested in joining the rebel cause of ‘King’ Monmouth as either a militia soldier or a Pitchfork Rebel should contact Steve Carter on: steve.carter@godolphinsregiment.org.uk

Or, if your imagination is fired up at the thought of joining a Guards unit and all that it entails in the way of uniformity of dress, drill and discipline, then drop me a line at: simonhdavies@musket.fsworld.co.uk

Next Training Event

The First Foot Guards will be marching again on Sunday, November 21st 2004 starting at 10.00am for 10.30am. We will be marching from the car park of the Cock Hotel, High Street, Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, through the town to the playing fields besides the river - all are welcome to come along and meet the guys and gals of the Guards, either as Rebels or those interested in learning more about the Guards, or members from Kirk’s or Dumbarton’s wanting to socialise and do some training together. If you are a musketeer, don’t forget to bring your licences.

Further Reading

• Armies of the Sedgemoor Campaign, John Ticey, Partizan Press (extremely good value!)
• Sedgemoor 1685, David Chandler, Anthony Mott Ltd.
• Captain General and Rebel Chief, J N P Watson, George Allen and Unwin
• Matchlock Musketeer, Keith Roberts, Osprey
• The Grenadier Guards, Gen Sir David Fraser, Osprey

Yours in the Cause of King James
Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Grantham
Aka Simon Davies