Battalion companies, British Army 1768-88

The British army, known usually as Redcoats, were the backbone of each Regiment. Each soldier needed to be five feet in height, have all of his limbs, not troubled by fits, have two teeth that met in order to bite open his cartridges.

Far from being the thugs, criminals and dregs of society, many of these men served with pride and distinction, despite being far from home, hated by the American public, and also loathed by their own country.