The Absent Father, John Jeffryes

"The Absent Father, or, The Sorrows of War", John Jeffryes 1797
"Foot Guards Drummer", William R. Bigg, c. 1780s-90s
Artist: William R. Bigg
Location: Unavailable


This installment comes by way of Don Hagist, noted British soldier researcher. His blog can be found at http://redcoat76.blogspot.com/

Here we have a drummer of one of the regiments of Foot Guards. The 3rd Reg't of Foot Guards is typically depicted in a white coat with blue facings, and a white fur cap, so this is a drummer of either the 1st Regiment or 2nd (Coldstream) Reg't. Judging from the shape of the buttonhole "bastion" style loops on the pockets, this is probably a drummer of the 1st Reg't of Foot Guards. 

We know that the drummer's lace for the 1st Foot Guards consists of a white base with blue fleur-de-lys. Although it's difficult to make out, and a cleaner version of this is certainly needed, the lace on this fellow's coat seems to fit the bill. His cuffs have no buttons or lace and his lapels seem rather sparse, too. The collar is a sort of stand-up style. It's not quite conforming to the 1768 Clothing Warrant, nor is it from the Napoleonic era. Except for the lapels and cuffs, the coat is elaborately laced, including lace placed along the edges of the skirts and pockets and vertically on the coat body. There are 6 sleeve darts that point upward, whereas the style for Guards regiments tend to be depicted downward.

The bearskin cap on this drummer is a little unusual in that it almost seems to be made of a leather crown with only the front plate being covered in fur and sporting a standard japanned white metal plate. Also unusual about the cap is the white metal drum insignia on the left side of the cap. These are common embellishments, but are usually found on the rear of the cap. His dark hair is plaited and turned up into his cap.

Unfortunately, the artist did not show this drummer's instrument, but there are a few other important details bout his dress that bear mentioning: He wears a sword hanging from a rather wide shoulder belt (the 1768 Clothing Warrant mandated a 2" width) and he carries on his back a dark knapsack. Because the photo is not completely clear, it may be painted canvas or brown fur, but it appears to me to be the "double envelope" style. Our drummer's shirt sports neck ruffles that he has let show as if he is dressed for parade or some other formal occasion. Resting at his left hip is a walking stick or cane.

Another piece by a different artist shows a nearly identical uniform on the drummer. This version is by John Jeffryes (also seen as Jeffreys) in 1797, currently housed in the Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection at Brown University. http://library.brown.edu/cds/catalog/catalog.php?verb=render&id=1165437590984375

In this version we can clearly see that the crown of the bearskin cap is red. This is very similar to the cap in a painting from 30 years earlier, John Collett's "The Recruiting Sergeant", 1767. The full painting and the detail of the drummer are below.

Many thanks to Don Hagist for providing the images for this edition.