Sir John Gibson's Foot
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Origin and History
The regiment was raised on 16 February 1694 at Portsmouth by Colonel John Gibson and named the “Sir John Gibson's Regiment of Foot”. In 1697, the regiment was sent to Newfoundland to protect the island against French enterprises. During the winter of 1697-98, it suffered heavy losses due to extreme weather conditions and was disbanded in 1698.
On 12 February 1702, Sir John Gibson was authorised to raise a new regiment.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, the successive proprietors of the regiment were:
- from 16 February 1694: Colonel Sir John Gibson
- from 1 February 1704: Major-General Sampson de Lalo
- from 29 June 1706: Brigadier-General John (Mordaunt), Viscount Mordaunt
- from 1 October 1709 to 27 September 1715: Brigadier-General Andrews Windsor
Service during the War
In 1704, the regiment was sent to the Netherlands.
On 18 July 1705, the regiment took part in the battle on the fortified lines of the Geet.
On 23 May 1706, the regiment was at the Battle of Ramillies and then took part in the siege of Ostend before returning to England.
In 1707, the regiment was sent to Spain where, on 25 April, it fought at the Battle of Almansa, suffering heavy losses (nearly 50%).
Uniform
There were still no regulation concerning uniforms and colonels were responsible for the clothing of their soldiers. Therefore, there were wide variations from one regiment to another.
Hairs were worn long in a “long bob”. They were sometimes tied at the back of the neck. The hair bag was also already in use.
Men as well as officers were clean-shaven. Officers sometimes wore small moustaches.
Privates
| Headgear |
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| Neck stock | knotted white linen neck-cloth with ends hanging or tucked into the top of the coat | ||||||||||||
| Coat | red lined red with pewter buttons along the full length of the right side and 1 pewter button on each side in the small of the back
N.B.: the coats of grenadiers had white tufted laced loops ornamenting the buttonholes down to the waist
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| Waistcoat | long white waistcoat with pewter buttons | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | straw | ||||||||||||
| Stockings | during campaigns, a first pair of finer stockings was pulled up under the breeches at the knees while a coarser pair of white stockings was worn over them, pulled over the knees and fastened with a leather strap and buckle | ||||||||||||
| Gaiters | gaiters were gradually adopted during the campaigns in the Low Countries | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
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Musketeers were armed with a musket without sling, a bayonet and a sword. Grenadiers were armed with a firelock with a sling, a hatchet, a bayonet and grenades.
NCOs
NCOs wore uniforms almost identical to those of privates with the following differences:
- tricorne laced silver
- silver braids on the seams of the coat
Sergeants initially carried a halberd and corporals a musket. Gradually, all NCOs were equipped with musket.
Officers
Officers wore beaver tricornes laced gold (probably reserved to superior officers) or silver (probably reserved to subaltern officers). They also wore the fashionable full flowing curled wigs. On service they usually plaited their wig.
A large gorget was worn around the neck tied with ribbons. The gorget was gilt for captains, black studded with gold for lieutenants and silver for ensigns.
Officers usually wore uniforms somewhat similar to those of privates (even though there were not yet any regulation compelling them to do so), made of finer material. Their coats were decorated with gold or silver braids down the seams and on the sleeves; and with gold or silver embroidered buttonholes. Cuffs were usually of the same colour as the coat instead of the distinctive colour of the regiment.
The waistcoats of officers were often decorated with gold or silver fringes.
A crimson sash (often interwoven with gold or silver and fringed similarly) was worn around the waist.
Breeches were tied with rosettes below the knee.
Officers wore gloves, often decorated with gold or silver fringes.
Officers carried a sword and a half pike or a spontoon.
The cartouche box of officers were often covered in velvet and decorated with gold or silver embroideries.
Musicians
Drummers and hautboys usually wore coat of the facing colour of the regiment, decorated with lace on the seams of sleeves and back and on the buttonholes. Their coat was decorated with the crowned King's cypher or the Colonel's crest embroidered on the breast and back. Sometimes their coat had hanging sleeves.
Colours
no information found
References
Farmer, John S.: The Regimental Records of the British Army, London: Grant Richards, 1901
Fortescue, J. W.: A History of the British Army, Vol. I, MacMillan, London, 1899, p. 400
Lawson, Cecil C. P.: A History of the Uniforms of the British Army, Vol. 1 From the beginning to 1760, London: Kaye & Ward, pp. 12-54
Mills, T. F., Land Forces of Britain the Empire and Commonwealth (an excellent website which unfortunately seems to have disappeared from the web)
Vilalta, Lluís: “Catalonia Stands Alone - 1713-1714: The Catalans' War”
Wikipedia – 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot
