Drummer, 1792

The regulations laid down in 1747 stated that line infantry drummers and fifers were to wear coats of reverse colour of their regiment. The black velvet facings worn by the red-coated men meant that the drummer's coat was of black velvet with red facings. The lace was white with two red lines, as worn by the men. Three other regiments had black facings at that time, the 58th, 64th, 70th, and a fourth, the 89th, was raised the following year. These other regiments did not have velvet cloth like the 50th. The black coats were discontinued in 1796 when drummers were ordered to wear white, with red facings.
Drummers wore a similar mitre cap to those worn by grenadiers, and when, in 1768, these were changed to fur caps, drummers followed suit. The belts worn on each shoulder carried a short sword on the left hip, and a sheet music pouch on the right. Although the drum calls were learned by heart there was still a need for a music pouch as the drummers traditionally doubled as fife players. The artist has placed the figure in the setting of Gibraltar, where the 50th were stationed since 1784.

Regimental Band | Regimental details