Private 1742

The illustration of a private trooper of Churchill’s Dragoons in the Cloathing Book of 1742 is almost identical to the other regiments later numbered as 4th 9th 11th 12th 13th and 14th, apart from the colour of the facings and horse furniture. The 1751 Royal Warrant specifies deep yellow as the colour of the 10th Dragoons. The musket he holds seems very long for a mounted man. Some of the other illustrations in the series show the weapon slung diagonally over the right shoulder. He is also armed with two pistols and a sword. The red coat he wears corresponds with the portrait of Lt Tempest apart from the collar and cuffs which show the yellow facing colour. He has white button-holes and white metal buttons, and a white cord aiguillette on his right shoulder. Behind the saddle is a rolled cloak which shows the yellow lining on the outside but when worn, it is a red cloak with yellow collar. The yellow saddle-cloth or shabraque is decorated like the other regiments mentioned, with an indistinguishable floral border and a bell of arms based around a knight’s helmet. This is neither regimental nor connected to the Churchill family arms. The amount of work involved in embroidering around 350 shabraques for each regiment is astonishing.

Regimental Details | Uniforms