Shirt: A linen working shirt with a neck ruffle was required of all ranks in the Royal Artillery.  Officers often had more refined linen ruffles and for those that could afford it cotten from the Americas.  Shirts were extremely long in length reaching the men’s thighs and full in body.  Men often had their initials embroidered on the front.

Neck Stock: Worn around the neck over the shirt collar, these items look uncomfortable but after a time the leather softens.  Officers often wore velvet stocks with whale bone stiffeners, and a form of stock worn over it  Stocks are buckled from behind.

Stockings: Knee length stockings were worn underneath the men’s breeches.  The pattern varies.

Breeches: Knee length Breeches were common fashion during the beginning of the Napoleonic wars but slowely moved toward trousers by the end of the wars.  During the Winter months breeches were of wool cloth and during the Summer months of lighter weight materiel probably of ______ or _________.  Buttoned at the side they also had a buckle at the lowest point and a button at the rear to attach ‘helf gaiters’.

‘Half gaiters’: Knee length and made from black wool cloth the number of small regimental buttons varied due to the height of the man.  They were cut to be very tight fitting and required a button hook to fasten them to the leg.  At the rear was a button hole to accommodate the button at the rear of the breeches.  Their main purpose was to protect the wearer’s feet from mud and dust.  The tongue was also tight to the shoe covering the buckle and a leather strap held the gaiter in place under the shoe near the heel.

Overalls: The overalls were reserved for overseas and severe weather.  There was a variety of designs that appeared including the war from wide falls (flap at the front) at the beginning, to Small falls (small flap at front) at the end of the Napoleonic wars.  At the rear was a vent which was laced to facilitate their removal when caught short and to produce a better fit on the wearer.

Short gaiters: A set of grey wool cloth gaiters were worn with the grey overalls underneath the trousers and over the shoe as was the fashion when wearing matching colour trousers and gaiter.  They appear to be less practical than the half gaiter.

Shoes: Troops were issued with shoes with no distinction of left and right, there is a myth that shoes and boots were rotated to wear evenly however this is just a myth.   At first these shoes take some getting used to but they soon take the shape of the foot that wear them.  The only distinction between them is by the way the buckles face.  Officers wore elaborate shoe buckles while the regular gunners and NCO s were issued with a much simpler design.  Underneath the shoes they are ‘hob-nailed’ on the sole and a semi circular metal shoe is fitted to the heels to prevent wear and provide grip on the battle field.

Article written by Richard Hiatt