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| Officer, 65th Foot 1780 by P H Smitherman
The image, from a contemporary portrait, shows a further tendency to simplicity, which we have noted before. The coat is devoid of lace, and the turn-down collar has developed into something very modern. The front cock of the hat has almost disappeared, and in a few years after this the hat was to begin to disappear from the dress of the army, finally to be seen only on the heads of certain staff officers. This officer is wearing one epaulette, so is of below field rank, and is mounted, and therefore may be either an adjutant or a company commander. It will be noted that he is wearing a black stock with his white cravat, an article of dress which became very unpopular but nevertheless had a long life. It became symbolic of the tight, uncomfortable uniform which soldiers were forced to wear in the first half of the nineteenth century. The 65th were originally raised in 1756 as the second battalion of the 12th, but became a separate regiment on their own two years later. In 1881 they received the better known title of the York and Lancaster Regiment. |