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A Fixture
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Private 19th Regt of Foot Full marching Order.
A Roger FENTON Photograph.
The Headwear
Albert Shako, 19th Regt Foot, courtesy Green Howards Museum.
The Albert Shako was made of pressed and steamed black felt, with a lacquered leather top, front and rear peaks, and band with rear buckle for adjusting the fit. It measured 6.75 inches tall and was 0.75 inch less in diameter at the top than the bottom. On the front was a 4.5 inch tall brass plate with the regimental numerals of "19" (plus a grenade or bugle for the flank companies of Grenadiers or Light troops respectively.) On top at the front was a 2.5 inch diameter worsted ball tuft, coloured white for Grenadier, green for Light, and white over red for Centre companies. Brass rose ornaments at the side secured the leather chinstrap.
Coatees
Despite the recent experiences of combat in the colonies and a more relaxed dress code, a war in Europe required the British soldier go to campaign in full dress uniform. This meant all ranks were to wear the red coatees with lace trims, little changed since Waterloo. The coatee was waist length at the front, but had tails behind each between 14.75 in. and 16 in. long for men between 5 ft. 7 in. and 6 ft. tall. The tails were between 6.5 in. and 7.5 in. wide at the top, tapering to 5 in. at the bottom, and edged with white turnbacks. The open collar was 3 in. deep at the back, tapering to 2.75 in. at the front. As the collars were open, the men were expected to wear a leather stock around their necks. On campaign, the stocks were dispensed with and the collars turned down for comfort. The rank and file coatees were of a coarse red cloth and were single breasted, fastened down the front with ten pewter regimental buttons, spaced in pairs for the 19th Foot. On either side of each button were stitched strips of white worsted lace, 5.5 in. long at the top, 2.25 in. at the bottom. There were three different designs for these lace strips, that of the 19th Foot being square-ended. The collars, cuffs and shoulder straps were all in the regimental facing colour of green and laced. At the cuffs were two pairs of buttons sewn on top of the lace. At the end of each shoulder strap Centre Companies wore a white worsted crescent; whilst the Flank Companies wore a red wing, laced and edged with white worsted. There were two buttons at the centre rear waist, 2.5 in. apart, above the tails.
Centre Company Coatee 1854, 19th Regt Foot, courtesy Green Howards Museum.
The coatees of Colour Sergeants and Sergeants were the same as other ranks except they were of scarlet and superior cloth, unlaced in front, and double-breasted. They wore a crimson worsted sash around the waist. The rank badges for all NCO's were worn on both sleeves by Flank Companies, and on the right sleeve only by Centre Companies. Colour Sergeants wore their special rank badge on the right sleeve, and a three-bar chevron on the left
Accoutrements
Knapsack with mess kit attached, 19th Regt Foot, courtesy Green Howards Museum.
The heavy wooden framed back packs or knapsacks had been ordered to be left behind on the ships when the army invaded the Crimea. Instead, the back pack straps were use to hold a bundle consisting of the folded great coat and blanket. Inside the blanket bundle the men had their spare pair of boots, socks, and shirt. A semi-circular mess tin kit covered in oilcloth was attached to this bundle, as was a supply of firewood. Some men also carried a bill hook or a camp kettle attached to their back straps.
Ammunition Pouch, 19th Regt Foot, courtesy Green Howards Museum.
Piling Arms (Photo by Roger Fenton)
