20th Light Horse
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Origin and History
The regiment was created on January 12, 1760. It was raised by the city of Enniskillen in Ireland. It seems the regiment was raised from the Light Troop of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons and volunteers from other corps. Because of that, facings color seemed to be yellow at the very beginning but later changed to black. The unit was originally designated as the “20th Light Dragoons” although it was more commonly known as the “Inniskilling or Caldwell’s Light Horse”.
The regiment counted 4 troops (12 officers and 232 rank and file).
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:
- from 1760: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir James Caldwell
Disbanded in 1763.
Service during the War
The regiment served in Ireland for the whole period of the war.
Uniform
We have not found any primary source describing the uniform of this regiment. Several part of our description are assumptions based on the uniforms of the regiments of dragoons.
Privates
| Headgear | black boiled leather helmet; the front plate edged white and decorated with a crowned GR cypher in white; red horsehair tail; black band round the base of the helmet; white metal fittings | ||||||||||||
| Neck stock | black | ||||||||||||
| Coat | short double breasted red with silver buttons and eight square loops set in pairs.
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| Waistcoat | white with very narrow buttonholes | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | white with white knee covers | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
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| Horse Furniture |
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Troopers were armed with a sword, a pair of shortened pistols and shortened musket and, probably, a bayonet.
Officers
As per the regulation of 1751, the officers wore the same uniform with the following exceptions:
- a narrow silver lace at the lapels, cuffs and pockets
- a crimson silk sash worn over the left shoulder
- crimson and silver striped sword knot
- ?deep green? housings and holster caps laced silver
NCOs
Sergeants were distinguished by a narrow silver lace on the lapels, cuffs and pockets; a silver aiguillette; a black worsted sash about their waist.
Corporals were distinguished by a narrow silver lace on the cuffs and shoulder strap; white silk aiguillette.
Musicians
Drummers rode grey horses. They wore ?colour? coats lined and turned up with ?colour? and laced with the regimental braid (unknown). Red waistcoats and breeches.
Drummers wore a mitre cap similar to the grenadier mitre cap but with a lower crown and the tassel hanging behind. ?colour? front decorated with a trophy of guidons and drums; little frontal red flap with the White Horse and the the motto “Nec aspera terrent”; ?colour? backing, ?colour? headband with a drum and the initials of the regiment (XX LD) in the middle part behind.
The drums were of brass with a white forepart carrying the initials of the regiment (XX LD) in silver characters on a crimson ground within a wreath of roses and thistles on the same stalk.
Guidons
We have not found any primary source describing the guidons of this regiment. Several part of our description are assumptions based on the guidons of the regiments of dragoons.
The guidons were made of silk, fringed in silver and embroidered with silver. The tassels and cords were of crimson silk and gold mixed.
King's Guidon: crimson decorated with the rose and thistle conjoined surmounted by a crown. Underneath the central decoration: the king's motto “Dieu et mon Droit”. In the first and fourth corners the White Horse in a red compartment. In the second and third corners: the initials of the regiment (XX LD) in silver characters on a black ground.
Regimental Guidon: black field with its centre decorated with the castle of Inniskilling in silver. In the first and fourth corners the White Horse in a red compartment. In the second and third corners: the initials of the regiment (XX LD) in silver characters on a red ground.
References
To do: enumerate sources
