The 1st Regiment of Foot, the oldest Regiment in the British Army, had a change of its official name in 1812, going from the "Royal Regiment" to the Royal Scots Regiment. As a result of this new title, a number of the Regimental Devices were redesigned. Regimental Buttons changed, and new Regimental Caps and Belt Plates were issued. To see what the Regiment was wearing during an earlier period, see our brothers-in-arms, the 1st Royals Grenadier Company website. Note: For more detailed photos, click on underlined phrases.

Regimental Cap- The 1812 Pattern Cap (today sometimes called a "Belgic" or "Waterloo" Shako) was introduced to the Royal Scots in 1813 while on service in Canada. The Cap had a very ornate Regimental Cap Badge which displayed the Thistle and St. Andrew of Scotland, along with the Sphinx commemorating the Battle of Alexandria, and the Royal Cypher, an intertwined "GR" (for Georgous Rex, or King George in Latin). The badge was surmounted by the British Crown. The other decorations included a set of white Cap Cords and a Woolen Tuft in White over Red; the colours of both these two items denoting a Centre Company of the Regiment. To see the differences made for a member of the other Flank Company, see our comrades in the 1st Royal Scots Light Company.

The Regimental Coat is the traditional colour of the British Soldier, Madder Red. Since the 1st was a Royal Regiment, the collar and cuffs are faced with Royal Blue. The Buttonholes are bound in Regimental Lace formed into a shape called a Bastion, mimicking a common defensive fortification of the time. The combination of Facing colour and the design of the Lace would be different for each British Regiment, and would therefore allow a knowledgeable observer to distinguish one Regiment from another.

While on Service, the Royal Scots wore gray woolen Trousers, the same as the other Lowland, English, Welsh, or Irish Foot Regiments of the British Army... only Highland Regiments wore the Kilt. In an effort to keep dirt and pebbles out of the soldier's shoes during long marches, woolen leggings (what we would call Spats today) were worn.

The weapons for all Foot Regiments consisted of an India Pattern Musket, a Bayonet carried in a leather sling over the right shoulder, and a Cartridge Box with sixty rounds of ammunition carried over the left shoulder. The man's rations were carried in a rough linen bag called a Haversack, and water was carried in a wooden canteen. Both of these items were carried over his right shoulder. His extra clothing and other personal items were carried in a Back Pack, upon which was carried his blanket or Greatcoat and his mess tin.