This is a new page that I’m trying out on the website. I hope it will be a space to include any interesting research we’ve done so that it’s all in one place. Some of these articles will be specific to the Royal Scots and other will be applicable to the whole army at the time. I hope to add more articles in the future, so if you’ve got something you’d like me to post, please send it to webmanager@royal-scots.com.

In December 1811, a new uniform was specified for officers. These are those orders. Although some re-enactors have argued that the changes would not have been seen in Canada until the end of the war, John Le Couteur of the 104th, in his journal, reports that he turned out in his new uniform in “Saint John on the 13th” of July, 1812 (70).

Although the Commander in Chief had not ordered an new Clothing Warrant since 1768, in 1802, he did issue a new set of Clothing Regulations. They are contained here in full, from an article in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research by W.Y. Carman. These Regulations contain many of the items that we base our impressions on. An updated set of Regulations were published in 1811 for officers (see above).

This is the drill manual that Crown Forces, Upper Canada currently use. It was published in 1804.

This drill manual for light infantry is written by Captain T.H. Cooper. It is an extremely useful and comprehensive guide. However, as simple as this manual is, Crown Forces recommends the next document for training Light Infantry

This is a link to a Google book, which is the complete Rules and Regulations for the Army from 1811. This book, published by Horse Guards, offers everything an officer needs to know to run his unit. There are many interesting topics covered here including ‘Memorandum resepcting the Fixing of a Flint’ and ‘Camp Regulations.’

The three letters here are all written in 1803 and concern the introduction of Chevrons in the British Army (replacing Epaulettes and Shoulder Knots) for Non Commissioned Officers. They are also taken from the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research.

This file contains three primary source documents that mention Lance Corporals and their role in the British Army during the Peninsular War.

This is an essay that I wrote for a British History course in University. It outlines the reasons why the system of purchasing commissions remained so long in the British army.

These letters were written by the Adjutant of the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots, to his wife while he served in Canada, beginning in June of 1813 and continuing until August of 1814, just before the assault on Fort Erie. Lieutenant MacEwen survived the War of 1812, but died in India in 1819.

This is a list, courtesy of Glenn Stott, from the National Archives of all the soldiers that served in the Light Company of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots between December 1813 and March 1814. The rank and file numbers 104 and Glenn has also included a list of later transfers to the Light Company.

These are Excel Format files that includes all the information contained in the second biannual inspection return for the First Battalion of the Royal Scots in September 1812. Some interesting points to note are: the scarcity of officers (we only had 3 Captains serving with us); the size of the recruits (most were between 5’6″ and 5’8″); and the fact that the Regiment didn’t have any tents.

This fascinating document is a transcription of the mess utensils that were lost at sea by the 4th Battalion, Royal Scots, as they sailed to Canada. It gives an interesting insight in the the Officer’s lives.