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Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
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Author:  MCJones1810 [ Tue May 08, 2012 10:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
During one battle, the French captured a British Colonel. They took him to their headquarters, and the French General began to question him. :x :evil: :twisted:

Finally, as an afterthought, the French General asked, "Why do you British officers all wear red coats? Don't you know the red material makes you easier targets for us to shoot?" :roll: :roll: :roll:

In his casual, matter-of-fact, way, the officer informed the General that the reason British officers wear red coats is so that if they are wounded, the blood won't show, and the men they are leading won't panic. 8) 8) 8)

And that is why, from that day forward, all French Army officers wear brown trousers. :shock: :lol: :mrgreen:
Author:  Todd Schmidgall [ Tue May 08, 2012 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
:evil: :lol: :twisted: :cry: :mrgreen:
Author:  Bill Peters [ Wed May 09, 2012 12:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
:P Too good.

The real reason the British wear red is that the British and Continentals had a coin toss. The British lost so they had to wear red. FACT! :wink:
Author:  David Guegan [ Wed May 09, 2012 7:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
Any explanation why the red coats had gray pants?
Where they eating granite stones? :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Quote:
The red coat has evolved from being the British infantryman's ordinary uniform to a garment retained only for ceremonial purposes. Its official adoption dates from February 1645, when the Parliament of England passed the New Model Army ordinance. The new English Army was formed of 22,000 men, divided into 12 foot regiments of 1200 men each, 11 horse regiments of 600 men each, one dragoon regiment of 1000 men, and the artillery, consisting of 50 guns. The infantry regiments wore coats of Venetian red with white facings. A contemporary comment on the New Model Army dated 7 May 1645 stated "the men are Redcoats all, the whole army only are distinguished by the several facings of their coats".[2][3]:11

There had been isolated instances of red military clothing predating its general adoption by the New Model Army. The uniforms of the Yeoman of the Guard (formed 1485) and the Yeomen Warders (also formed 1485) have traditionally been in Tudor red and gold.[3]:3 The Gentlemen Pensioners of James I (now the Gentlemen-at-Arms) had worn red with yellow feathers".[4] At Edgehill, the first battle of the Civil War, the King's lifeguard had worn red coats, as had at least two Parliamentary regiments".[5] However none of these examples constituted the national uniform that the red coat was later to become.[3]:11

Oliver Cromwell wrote to Sir William Spring in 1643: "I had rather have a plain, russet-coated captain that knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than that which you call a gentleman and is nothing else" (Oxford Dictionary of Quotations)

The adoption and continuing use of red by most British/English soldiers after the Restoration (1660) was the result of circumstances rather than policy, including the relative cheapness of red dyes.[6] Red was by no means universal at first, with grey and blue coats also being worn.[3]:16 There is no known basis for the myth that red coats were favoured because they did not show blood stains. Blood does in fact show on red clothing as a black stain.


wiki link
Author:  Stephanel [ Wed May 09, 2012 9:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
Humm :evil: , I have a similar story... but this one is true.

French famous Admiral Suffren once captured a British merchant ship during the bright campaign he conducted in the Indian Ocean from 1781 to 1784.

The proud British commander told him that French sailors were like pirates, only fighting for booty and money... while the Royal Navy fought for honour above everything.

Admiral Suffren nodded and answered: "I fully agree with you Sir, everyone has to fight for what he doesn't have."

A "beau mot" isn't it :)
Author:  MCJones1810 [ Wed May 09, 2012 10:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
Quote:
The proud British commander told him that French sailors were like pirates, only fighting for booty and money... while the Royal Navy fought for honour above everything.

Admiral Suffren nodded and answered: "I fully agree with you Sir, everyone has to fight for what he doesn't have."


Ooooh, how cheeky! I like it. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I do agree that blood on a red coat shows as a black stain, but I often wonder about the Austrian uniforms, or my retired Westphalian one. In those cases, a nose bleed looks like a slaughterhouse and the ramifications to the men's morale in a real fight would seem to be horrendous. :shock: :shock: :shock:
Author:  David Guegan [ Wed May 09, 2012 11:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
Stephanel wrote:
Humm :evil: , I have a similar story... but this one is true.

French famous Admiral Suffren once captured a British merchant ship during the bright campaign he conducted in the Indian Ocean from 1781 to 1784.


I always heard it was Robert Surcouf who said that...

Quote:
"You French fight for money, while we British fight for honour."
"Sir, a man fights for what he lacks the most."
Author:  Colin Knox [ Wed May 09, 2012 2:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
Hmmm ok so Austrians wear white - for surrender their usual practice

Prussians black and blue for how beaten up they usually are.

British red because as you say it cover the blood smattered heap they rapidly become when facing the legions of France

Russians Green due their peasant army wanting to stay close to the land.

Dutch Belgians blue because really they want to be part of France

Saxons white - well same as the Austrians ask Bernadotte

What else......
Author:  MCJones1810 [ Wed May 09, 2012 3:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
A most colorful assessement, General Knox. I do suppose that any man designated as the 'Peacock of France' should be well versed in his colors. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Author:  Aloysius Kling Sr [ Wed May 09, 2012 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
Nice assessment General Knox!!!

And some Prussians are really Chickens and take their soldiers off the map when things are not going so well for them!
Author:  Mike Peccolo [ Wed May 09, 2012 8:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
Hmmm..... Austrians wear white as surrender is their usual practice...... hmmmm.... I thought the Emperor had his Beautiful Daughters wear white in 1809. Got put off by the color of blood on the uniforms. Rather squemish. :roll:

Prussians running for the hills :shock: I've seen you Frenchies run, run, run for the hills. :P

I would think those dapper Frenchies would die to wear red as it makes a much fashion statement. Wooo,.... whats that smell? :roll: Is there a litter box around here? :wink:


Just saying.
Author:  Colin Knox [ Wed May 09, 2012 9:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
:mrgreen:

My dear Lt with the name of a musical instrument, :shock: the white we wear in 1809 is brought about by England's desire to remove blue from our uniforms due to the fear it struck into its enemies. They conducted a blockade hence we had to resort to the somewhat bland colour for a few of our regiments.

Now looking at your uniform I suspect it is green for the colour of English money as you have sold out your fraternity to work for the merchants and slavers of London :o :lol: :twisted:
Author:  Todd Schmidgall [ Wed May 09, 2012 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
Mike Peccolo wrote:
Wooo,.... whats that smell? Is there a litter box around here?

Meow! Josephine lunges across the room sending the Shrike flapping it's wings towards the ceiling. :o The cat raced on by the table of Hanoverian officers, and out thru the doorway. :lol:
"So, there good sir, fear not, Josephine is an indoor/outdoor cat, and surely does her business in the wilds of the tavern's environs. Though, considering the conditions of many officers here inside, what with smell and stains of battles, the um... stains of too much drinking, and smell of... you know, after eating... :oops: I'm sure you would have been hardpressed to differentiate between lil Josie, and the rest of the crowd. Just saying! :wink:
Author:  MCJones1810 [ Wed May 09, 2012 11:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
Al Kling wrote:
And some Prussians are really Chickens and take they soldiers off the map when things are not going so well for them!


Well at least you did not say Hanoverians. :o :o :o

And to continue General Knox's fine analysis of uniform colors, the French wear blue in memory of all the tears shed by the mothers, widows and orphans of France as a result of their blind faith in a self important despot that led his nation to ultimate ruin for the aggrandizement of his own person. The French people cry in unison, "Vive le France", while the Corsican turns away with a concealed smirk and mutters quietly to himself, "Vive le Moi". :( :evil: :twisted:
Author:  Colin Knox [ Thu May 10, 2012 1:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why British Officers Wear Red Coats
Ah my dear Brigand Jones you fail to appreciate we are the children of the Emperor. He marches perfectly in time with the aspirations and dreams of the people of France. He is no despot, unlike your own leaders who inherit their power by rite.

He is our Tondu beloved to all, voted in as consul before assuming his rightful place as our Emperor. Even then he did not get crowned he found the crown in the gutter and picked it up and put it on his head.

He understands it is the belief of all French people that we are the rightful leaders of Europe and only the perfidious Albion’s gold and the lackey's it brings, stands in our way.

Now to arms France! Your Emperor calls you to the eagles of our legions. We shall march to glory to free the citizens of Europe from the yoke of inherited power not won by skill but gifted at birth.

We shall also deal to the bane of English gold which seeks to keep the people of Europe imprisoned in the old system.

In France you will find peasants can own their own land and every soldier carries a Marechal's baton in his knapsack.

:mrgreen: :roll: :lol: 8) 8) 8)
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