Gunner, Royal Regiment of Artillery

VINTAGE VIEWS OF NEW YORK

Gunner
Royal Regiment of Artillery
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The Royal Regiment of Artillery dates from 1716. Prior to that time the Trains of Artillery were disbanded at the end of each campaign in which they served. Their motto is "Ubique" (everywhere) and as there has seldom been an action fought by British troops without the Artillery being present, "Ubique" is the history of their battle actions. The Royal Regiment of Artillery shares the battle honors of all Regiments. The Regiment had no flag and its guns were the colors, and as such were entitled to all parade honors. Manuscripts show that the "flag gun" bore the Royal Standard and indicated the headquarters on the field.

The first Battalion saw action on Lake Champlain in 1776 and 85 men of the Royal Artillery accompanied General Burgoyne in his campaign through Northern New York in 1777, and took part in all the actions. With the Royal Artillery were 70 men of the Royal Irish Artillery. Buttons with the insignia of each regiment have been found at Fort Ticonderoga. The Royal Irish Artillery was absorbed by the Royal Artillery in 1801.

The gunner with hair clubbed and dressed is in drill order, winter dress. He is wearing the long dark brown cloth spatterdashes (gaiters) with white tops. The spatterdashes date from 1748 when the Artillery wore them for the first time in any British Corps. The regimental lace was gold. The uniform coat was blue with scarlet facings.

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Postcard Era: Souvenir Booklet
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