Earl of Bath's Regiment

As I live near Bath it has come up a few times - the idea to recreate this Blue coated British regiment. It could have a dual identity as a French unit on occasions especially as French styles were pretty universal at the time and it was before standardisation in the English army. The musket would be the main difference but as this is mainly a think tank or place for ideas let's first look at the history of the unit itself.

From the Tenth foot website

In 1685, James II was compelled to add new regiments of horse and foot to those already in being, to deal with Monmouth’s rebellion. Under the date of 20 June 1685, a commission was issued to Major General John Granville, Earl of Bath, for the raising of eleven companies of foot, each containing 100 “private men.” These companies, added to the independent company of infantry in the Plymouth garrison, constituted a regiment, of which the Earl of Bath was appointed Colonel, and which became known as the Earl of Bath's Regiment of Foot. The men for the new regiment were raised in the counties of Derby and Nottingham. The first uniform was a single-breasted, long skirted blue coat lined with red, with red waistcoat, breeches and stockings.
This Regiment first saw active service in the war of the Grand Alliance, taking a prominent part in the Battle of Steenkirk (Flanders) during the War of the League of Augsburg in 1692. Service in the campaigns of Marlborough during the War of the Spanish Succession followed.


The coat for early 90s could be based on one of the famous French coats sent to Sweden in 1686 to be copied for the Swedish army (pictured).