L&T Archive 1998-2003

Epaulettes
In Response To: Seeing stars ??? ()

No, I'm speaking of historical rank designations for the British Regular Army, as worn during the Napoleonic Wars. The Stars and Crowns are mounted on the epaulettes. The epaulette is about 3" wide and about 6" long, with either fringe or bullion hanging from the bottom edge. The rank ornamentation are (sorry, not a sewer) "embroidered" and rather large.

For Majors: a Star - usually six-pointed, which evolved into the four-pointed "pip"

Lieutenant-Colonel - a Crown.

Colonel - A crown and a Star. (Don't recall offhand which is uppermost, Crown I believe).

Grenadier Company Officers often added a grenade; Light Company, a Buglehorn; plus some Regimental variations.

Royal Marines, on the other hand had silver stars on gold epaulettes: one for Major, two for Lt-Col, three for Colonels.

The designations have since changed, but that's as they were at that time period.

Jason E.

Messages In This Thread

JA & the Wars. Part 3 - (1796-1800)
Good Stuff, Jason
Another big thank you. Been printing here as well :-} nfm
Captain E to be promoted..
Thanks-BTW 14thLD="Duchess of York's Own" (nfm)
I second the motion for promotion!
Promotion
Seeing stars ???
Epaulettes
Thanks for your fascinating posts nfm
I am all gratitude
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