Private 1792

The private of a battalion company of the King’s Regiment is shown in this companion print to the officer, both engraved by Edward Dayes and produced in December 1792. The bicorn hat is edged in white and has a short black plume on the left side. His red coat has a high stand-up collar, edged in white and decorated with a white metal button and lace loop. The lace, evenly spaced down each lapel, and on each cuff, is the same pattern as that seen on the uniform of the grenadier of 1768, having a blue and yellow line.
The white leather belts worn on each shoulder cross in the middle, kept in place with a belt plate showing the number 8 and the title of the regiment. The belt on the left shoulder supported a black pouch for ammunition while the belt on the right shoulder was for the bayonet. This latter item was previously worn around the waist but in 1784 official sanction was given for it to be worn on the shoulder, and both belts to be 2 inches wide. Privates had ceased to carry swords since 1768. He holds a muzzle-loading flintlock Short Land musket. The bayonet had a socket fixing and was 17 inches long.

Regimental Details | Uniforms