English redcoats

[Mark Young]

Does anyone know what the proper name of the English military unit called the redcoats was?

 

[Hotpoint]

"Redcoat" was just a generic name for a British Soldier because most regiments wore that colour.

The first Redcoated soldiers were in Parliaments New Model Army during the English Civil War of the 1642 -1651 and they continued to wear that colour until Khaki became the uniform colour of choice during the 2nd Boer War at the end of the 19th Century.

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[Mark Young]

Thanks Hotpoint.

I was trying to find out if the british soldiers that were sent over here (Australia) in the late 1700's to mid 1800's, that were known as redcoats were called by another name.

 

[Hotpoint]

Thanks Hotpoint.

I was trying to find out if the british soldiers that were sent over here (Australia) in the late 1700's to mid 1800's, that were known as redcoats were called by another name.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/other/british_army-in-aust.htm

This looks a decent site with the info you're after.


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[Mark Young]

Thanks Hotpoint

 

[FriendlyFire]

"Redcoat" was just a generic name for a British Soldier because most regiments wore that colour.

The first Redcoated soldiers were in Parliaments New Model Army during the English Civil War of the 1642 -1651 and they continued to wear that colour until Khaki became the uniform colour of choice during the 2nd Boer War at the end of the 19th Century.

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Because red was the cheapest colored cloth avaliable at that time. It as in fact first introduction of a standised uniform. They thus became the first redcoats.

 

[Johann MacLeod]

just as Austrian Solders were know as "whitecoats". Though the Coldstream Gaurds still wear a red coat. (btw many other coutries used a red coat- France, Denmark, various German States and Italy esspecially)

 

[CruddyLeper]

NMA standardised red coat for British infantry - up to that point individual regiments wore whatever colour they liked.

The cost was deducted from the soldiers pay anyway.

Part of reason why the redcoat stayed was that it showed up blood less - reduced shock when casualties were taken.

 

[TrailblazingScot]

NMA standardised red coat for British infantry - up to that point individual regiments wore whatever colour they liked.

The cost was deducted from the soldiers pay anyway.

Part of reason why the redcoat stayed was that it showed up blood less - reduced shock when casualties were taken.

Research shows that football teams wearing Red win more games than those wearing Blue...now, the English wore Red and the French...

 

[stormbind]

"Redcoat" was just a generic name for a British Soldier because most regiments wore that colour.

The first Redcoated soldiers were in Parliaments New Model Army during the English Civil War of the 1642 -1651 and they continued to wear that colour until Khaki became the uniform colour of choice during the 2nd Boer War at the end of the 19th Century.

.

They continued to wear red on the collars after that, and redcoats remain the most formal of dress uniforms (with WW2 suit-like uniform being a compromise).

I heard the red coats actually originated when North-American colonies sent a regiment of puritans in uniform to assist Cromwell and it was copied & stuck ever since.

 

[YNCS]

Thanks Hotpoint.

I was trying to find out if the british soldiers that were sent over here (Australia) in the late 1700's to mid 1800's, that were known as redcoats were called by another name.

Originally, Royal Marines were in Australia. They were withdrawn and replaced by the New South Wales Corps. Both sets of soldiers wore red coats (as, has been shown, did most other British infantry).

BTW, during the Napoleonic period, most British cavalry and all British artillery wore blue uniforms. The 60th Regiment of Foot (RoF), later the King's Royal Rifles, and the 95th RoF, later the Rifle Brigade, wore green uniforms.