Officer and Sergeant 1744


The print is after the Van de Gucht brothers and gives useful information on the uniform of the officer, on the left, and NCO, on the right, of the 43rd Highlanders. They were on campaign in northern Europe from 1743 to 1746, giving the artists and printmakers of Flanders and Germany an interesting variation on the military uniforms that were to be seen everywhere. It would seem that only officers had feathers in their caps at this stage. He has a crimson sash on his left shoulder which indicated his officer status and he carries a musket. The strap that supports his pistol is visible just below his swordbelt. He has a sporan that looks similar to the one worn by the sergeant. Both men have slash cuffs with four buttons on the slash. The sergeant does not have a musket but carries a halberd which is probably badly observed as they actually carried a Lochaber axe which is shaped differently. The decorated butt of his pistol under his left arm is visible. The style of wearing the hair is more apparent in this print, tucked up into a club, without a bow.


Regimental Details | Uniforms


Armed Forces | Art and Culture | Articles | Biographies | Colonies | Discussion | Glossary | Home | Library | Links | Map Room | Sources and Media | Science and Technology | Search | Student Zone | Timelines | TV & Film | Wargames


by Stephen Luscombe