Bob Marrion painted this illustration published in Military Modelling magazine in 2002. The drummer wears a yellow coat which was the facing colour of the 9th Foot. His facings are red, following the custom of drummers having reverse coloured coats. The sleeves are decorated with the same lace as worn by the rank and file since 1768; white with two black lines. This drummer is in marching order as can be seen by the white shoulder straps which support his knapsack. There is a haversack for food slung from his left shoulder, and the white leather drum carriage hangs from his neck. There is a waist-belt for a side arm which may be a special pattern drummer’s sword, described as having a scimitar-shaped blade. The fur cap follows the pattern worn by the grenadier company, except that the plate on the front had drums and Colours instead of the Royal Arms.
Drummers were employed from the earliest days of the regiment. The regiment was raised on 19 June 1685, originally to consist of 13 companies of 100 men each and two drummers, but one month later this was reduced to 10 companies of 50 men each and one drummer. The regiment then had ten drummers all under the supervision of a drum-major. There were no musicians at this time, but in 1771 two fifers were entered on the establishment lists for the grenadier company.
Regimental Details | Band and Drummers
