Napoleonic British 23rd Foot, Royal Welch Fuzileers questions

[Grumpy Gnome]

I have a couple of questions that I thought the learned folks on this forum might be able to help me out with. I have a personal connection with the Royal Welch but must admit that my knowledge is not up to scratch on their history.

For the Flash and Hackle….

In the Napoleonic era only officers wore the Flash?

Would I be right in thinking all Royal Welch have white feathers rather than white and red?

What shoulder decorations? Did they all have grenadier style wings or only the grenadier companies?

I have heard they did not wear bearskins on campaign. Is this true? If so, what is the primary source on this information?

Thanks for your time in helping with these obscure uniform questions.

[Ranthony]

The use of the flash was discontinued generally in 1808, for the rwf; I believe 1809.

It was reintroduced for officers around 1830, I forget exactly when.

If no one can gather the other info, I'll have a look through my library and see if I can dig it up this weekend.

Cheers

Ry

[CapnJim]

Here's a pic of 23rd Foot reenactors from the Waterloo era.  Not the clearest pic, but one can see the grenadiers have the white shako plumes and shoulder wings, while the center company gents have red and while shako plumes and standard shoulder straps.  And they are all wearing shakos.  Looks like they are accoutred as a standard foot regiment.  Hope this helps...

[Ranthony]

https://www.rwfia.org/Traditions_Flash.htm

The regimental website suggests that the regiment ignored the 1808 order and continued to wear the flash.

Some links on the site may help with further research.

Cheers

Ry

[Grumpy Gnome]

I tried a few google searches before asking here, so I have seen a number of websites which to be honest was less than conclusive… hence asking here.

While I lived in Caernarfon I did visit the RWF museum there but my memory from those days is a bit hazy on the details of that specific era.

https://www.rwfmuseum.org.uk/history.html

And while on exchange with the RWF I recall folks talking about the Flash and Hackle. It was RWF telling me that unlike other fusilier regiments they all wear white feathers that prompted my question.

And it is the use of bearskins the are allowed to fusiliers , like grenadiers, that has me wondering about their shoulder decoration.

I hate bothering other folks with this but these details are driving me crazy for some reason. I am not normally a stitch counter but I guess this particular example is different for me. I appreciate the time and effort folks are taking to help.

[IronDuke596]

I can't speak to the flash...yet. However, to answer your other questions; all fusilier regiments wore wings to denote their elite status along with white plumes (hackle) to denote their historical elite status as trusted troops to escort the train of artillery. Although escorting gun role faded away the fusiliers guarded their elite status and unique uniform distinctions. However, there was a company exception during the 'Great War' or Napoleonic period in which the light company sported green plumes. Yes, they generally did not wear bearskins in the field as they were expensive and so reserved for ceremonial duties in the UK. Although Haythornthwaite states that the 7th and 21st Fusiliers probably (at least by NCOs) wore bearskins at the start of the campaign and were soon replaced by shakos.

I have two pages of research notes on this topic and some of the references are Wellington's Army: The Uniforms of the British Soldier, 1812-1815, Plates by Charles Hamilton Smith and text by Philip J. Haythornthwaite, plate 29;  Scarlet Coat: Uniforms, Flags and Equipment of the British in the War of 1812, Rene Chartrand, Service Publications, 2011, pp. 48, 49, 69; Uniforms of the Peninsular Wars 1807-1814, Philip Haythornthwaite & Michael Chappell, Plate 7, pp. 100-101. Military Dress of the Peninisular War 1808-1814, Martin Windrow & Gerry Embleton. Plate 64.

[Grumpy Gnome]

Brilliant, thank you IronDuke596.