Establishment

The Establishment is the authorized strength and organization. We will concentrate here on the English Establishment and then note the differences in the Irish Establishment later on. The American Establishment will be treated separately.

We will first examine the establishment as it stood in 1771, and then examine the changes through the conclusion of the American rebellion.By 1770, fortunately, the organization of regiments of foot on the English and Irish establishments were identical.

This section does not deal with the organization of the cavalry, artillery, or any of the troops of the Royal Household.

1771

Organization

This organization of regiments was prescribed on 25 December 1770, but the company strengths were diminished in January 1771 as being impractical. Regimental strengths would have increased to 737 men from the 484 of the previous year. The 1771 strengths are shown here, which resulted in a strength of 477.

Staff

A regiment (or each battalion for multi-battalion regiments) had a small staff of seven members. The staff consisted of the Adjutant, the Quartermaster, the Chaplain, the Surgeon, the Surgeon's Mate, and two fifers who were attached to the grenadier company.

  • Adjutant - The Adjutant had the rank of lieutenant.
  • Quartermaster - May or may not be commissioned.
  • Chaplain - Chaplains were not commissioned officers, but served under a Royal Warrant. Each regiment was to have one, but in actual practice several usually banded together to hire a substitute who served several regiments at the same time.
  • Surgeon - Surgeons were not commissioned officers, but served under a Royal Warrant. They were not a part of the chain of command and generally held much lower social status than commissioned officers.
  • Surgeon's Mate - Not commissioned, but warranted.
  • Fifers - The two fifers of the grenadier company were counted as part of the staff so that the size of the companies would be uniform.

Battalions

A regiment of foot consisted of a single battalion with the following exceptions: the 1st and 60th regiments, which had two each.

Companies

A battalion consists of ten companies. Two companies were referred to as flank companies. The remaining eight were called battalion companies.

Titles of Companies

The flank companies were the grenadier and light infantry companies. The battalion companies were named in order of the seniority of their commanders. The battalion companies were the Colonel's, Lieutenant Colonel's, Major's, and 1st to 5th Captain's Companies.

Size of Companies

As a generic form each company consisted of three officers, two serjeants, three corporals, a drummer, and 38 privates. (Originally specified as 3 officers, 3 sergeants, 3 corporals, 2 drums, and 62 privates.) The actual ranks of the three officers of the company depended on the company.

  • Flank Companies - A captain and two lieutenants
  • Colonel's Company - The colonel, a captain-lieutenant, and an ensign or second lieutenant
  • Lt. Colonel's Company - The lieutenant colonel, a lieutenant, and an ensign or second lieutenant
  • Major's Company - The major, a lieutenant, and an ensign or second lieutenant
  • The Captains' Companies - A captain, a lieutenant, and an ensign or second lieutenant

Other Positions

There were other positions in the battalion which did not carry a special rank.

  • Sergeant Major - One of the serjeants of the battalion (usually the most senior), he had special duties in support of the Adjutant and the training of the battalion.
  • Drum Major - One of the drummers of the battalion (usually the most senior), he was responsible for the drummers' training and performance.
  • Fife Major - One of the fifers of the battalion (usually the most senior), he was responsible for the fifers' training and performance. It appears that many regiments actually had more fifers than were officially allowed. The extra fifers were enlisted as privates.
  • Pioneer - Pioneers were a valuable asset. One pioneer would be designated in each company. Their job was primarily to handle light engineering work, to lead fatigue details, and to clear the route of march or obstacles during an assault. The pioneer in charge of the regiment's pioneers was a corporal. Their duties in the assault were considered hazardous enough that the pioneers paraded on the RIGHT of the grenadiers.
  • Musicians - Many regiments had bands of music. In those cases where the band was not a group of hired civilians, they were regular enlisted men who had extra duties as musicians and received a gratuity from the officers.
  • Paymaster - One of the company officers had the extra duty of serving as regimental paymaster.
  • Volunteers - A volunteer was a civilian who clothed, equipped, and supplied himself and accompanied a regiment. He was usually a gentleman who was waiting for the opportunity to buy a commission.

1775

On the 31st of August, several of the regiments serving in America were augmented to a total strength of 811.

Addition of Companies

Two new companies would be added to each regiment. One of the new companies was to be on recruiting duty in Ireland and one in Great Britain. Half the officers would be found by regular promotion, half by recall of officers on half-pay and promotion of NCOs.

Addition to Company Strength

Each company would add1 serjeant, 1 drummer, and 18 men. This makes each company: 3 officers, 3 serjeants, 3 corporals, 2 drummers, and 56 privates.

1779-80

On 25 December 1778, 14 regiments serving in America were augumented in strength.

Addition of Companies

Two more new companies would be added to each regiment, making 14 total.

Addition to Company Strength

Each company would add 1 corporal, and 14 men. This makes each company: 3 officers, 3 serjeants, 4 corporals, 2 drummers, and 70 privates.

1781

A lack of recruits caused 14 regiments to be reduced in strength.

Reduction of Companies

Two companies were cut, bringing them back to 12.

Reduction of Company Strength

Each company would drop 14 men. This makes each company: 3 officers, 3 serjeants, 4 corporals, 2 drummers, and 56 privates.

Sources:
WO 24/480, WO 4/88, 26 March 1771
McCary & Cance, Records of the Royal Welch Fusiliers
Houlding, J.A., Fit for Service
Kehoe, V.J.-R., A Military Guide, 1st edition