Are there any experts in uniformology out there who can help me with the colour of the tack (bridles, reins etc.) used by the Dutch and Belgian carabinier regiments during the Waterloo campaign? Was it black or brown leather? I have seen both represented in uniform plates but I assume there would have been some kind of clothing warrant regulating which was to be used.
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I only now came upon this thread.
André Dellevoet did not do any independent research on the subject of uniform and equipment. He is largely right however on the colour of the tack.
The equipment of the Belgian Carabineers was similar if not identical to French Cuirassier equipment, with a cloth grenade badge on housing and portmanteau.
The Dutch regiments had originally been equipped with a Dragoon equipment based on examples from the Batavian republic. It was all black, including the saddle itself. These saddles were however found to be defective. Before Waterloo 500 saddles made for the Belgian Militia Carabineer Regiment were issued in their stead. These were not sufficient for the field strength of either regiment. The 3rd attempted to contract for the remaining 87 sets, but did not succeed in time. The 1st had initially been issued with 216 English dragoon saddles. It's likely that the remaining carabineers of the regiment used these at Waterloo. Contemporary prints suggests that these saddles had black tack too. Both Dutch regiments retained their dragoon pattern housing, portmanteaus and bridles. The housing had embroidered regimental numbers.
Thanks Andrew,
£100 sounds like a bargain (and possibly a good investment - last year a copy went at auction for £204: https://www.dominicwinter.co.uk/Auction/Lot/345-dellevoet-andre-the-dutch-belgian-cavalry-at-waterloo-a-military-history/?lot=369027&sd=1 )
Still it is a bit more than I want to invest right now. I will put it on my Christmas list and hope Santa is in a generous mood!
Stephen
Only £100 on Abe Books!!
I nearly looked to see if it was available, knowing it was going to be pricey! I understand it was privately published and thus not too many were produced; a great shame, it's an outstanding book. Luckily, I got a copy when it first became available; looks like it was a good investment! If you have any other questions that might be in there, do ask.
Andrew
Thank you Andrew,
A 'probably' answer is pretty good (and might well be the best answer it is possible to get). I hadn't heard of Andre Dellevoet's book but it sounds like I should get hold of a copy (at least if I can find one for slightly less than the £135 that is currently being asked on Amazon!)
Best wishes
Stephen
Stephen,
I am no uniformologist, but do have an extensive library. In his book The Dutch-Belgian Cavalry in the Waterloo Campaign (much recommended!), Andre Dellevoet describes the harness of all the carabinier regiments as black and shows it as such in his colour illustrations. It appears that much of the equipment for the new regiments came from French cuirassier stocks. I would take Andre as a good and dependable authority. However, he also says that many sets of horse furniture was provided from Britain and I am pretty sure both black and brown leather was used in different regiments (at least according to my various illustrated books). It may be that all these were black, but I have no way of being sure. Sorry that's only a 'probably' answer; I hope a greater expert than me can help you.