Officers & ORs, Marching Order 1839

This print was probably based on a sketch made when the King’s Regiment were stationed in Nova Scotia in 1839. It shows a Battalion Company parading in dress uniform, standing at ease. This view from the side shows the equipment carried by the men. The knapsack, changed in design in 1829, is rectangular and has a number 8 in the middle. The greatcoat could be carried in three ways; in guard order, folded square on the outside, in light marching order it was put inside the knapsack. And in heavy marching order it was rolled and strapped on top, as seen here. The mess tin is strapped to the outside of the knapsack in line with the top. This conforms to regulations for heavy marching order. Mess tins were covered in black oilskin canvas as from 1838, previously the cover was white canvas.
Below the knapsack is the ammunition pouch suspended from the left shoulder belt. The bayonet scabbard is on the right shoulder belt. The muskets in 1839 were the New Land Service flintlocks that had been issued since 1803, but in that year they began to be converted to percussion. The sergeant is armed with a musket like the men. He and the corporal have rank stripes on the right arm only. In flank companies rank was shown on both sleeves. The tails on the back of the coat can be seen to have a regimental button where the turn-backs meet. The officers have an embroidered badge on their tails. All ranks wear Oxford mixture trousers with a red stripe, which was added in 1833. The lance-corporal drummer in this print, also encumbered by a knapsack and greatcoat, shows a white pouch instead of a black ammunition pouch.

Regimental Details | Uniforms