Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

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.

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."

Humm , 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.

"You French fight for money, while we British fight for honour."
"Sir, a man fights for what he lacks the most."

Wooo,.... whats that smell? Is there a litter box around here?

And some Prussians are really Chickens and take they soldiers off the map when things are not going so well for them!