This excellent portrait by William Tate gives us valuable information on the infantry uniform of the period. The officer is Captain Thomas Hewitt who commanded the Light Infantry company of the 10th Regiment from 31 Jan 1778 and was still in command in 1783. The uniform conforms to the changes made in 1768, with the turned-down collar and 3-inch-wide lapels. Officers of the 10th had silver lace which was used to decorate the button-holes on his coat and waistcoat. The light infantry companies in the infantry were added in 1770 and were distinguished by having shorter coat tails and red waistcoats instead of white. The silver laced wings, worn by flank companies have a fine silver fringe.
Light infantry belts were either tan-coloured or black. The red cord running the length of the belt on his left shoulder is for a priming horn. The silver belt plate in the middle is the regiment’s first pattern, oval with a star badge and X in the centre. He has a silver gorget above this, tied around his neck with a yellow ribbon. He holds a special pattern cap which was only worn by the light infantry and varied from one regiment to another. It has a peak and a silver star badge on the front. He holds a musket which has a short socket bayonet attached.
This portrait was reproduced in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research vol LVII no.229 (Spring 1979) with an article by Vincent J-R Kehoe and Major N P Dawnay.
