Period Artifacts

The following artifacts were used by soldiers or officers in the Royal Fusiliers. Many thanks to Don Troinani for permitting us to use his photographs of these artifacts. You can view these and many other historical artifacts on Mr. Troinani’s Image Bank site at http://www.historicalimagebank.com. Buy Mr. Troiani’s artwork at http://www.historicalartprints.com/historian.

Royal Fusiliers Officer’s Gorget Although this gorget shows much wear and tear, it is nonetheless a work of very fine craftsmanship. The Royal Arms engraving is typical for a British gorget, but this piece contains some unique elements. Below the Royal cipher is the regimental device of the Tudor rose within the garter. The upper left of the gorget is engraved with VIITH within a wreath, suspended from a Roman style breastplate, behind which appears to be a short scimitar sword, a pike, and another implement I cannot quite make out. The upper right of the gorget is engraved with REGT within a wreath, suspended from what appears to be either a Gallic-Roman shield or helmet, behind which is a spontoon and a standard on a flagpole. The items in both corners of the gorget are suspended from an engraved ribbon with bow.  7th Regiment button The coats of British regular regiments had buttons that were unique to each regiment. Some could be quite ornate, but the Fusiliers’ button contained only a simple embellishment at the edge and a prominent “7” in the center. Embroidered Regimental Device In November of 1775, a detachment of the Royal Fusiliers was surrendered at Fort Chamby in Canada. Among the spoils of war was the King’s Colour of the 7th Regiment. The standard - the first captured in the War of Independence - was delivered to the Continental Congress, and today it remains at the U.S. Military Academy Museum at West Point. Quite peculiarly, the rank of the regiment in the upper left of the Colour is embroidered as “IIV” instead of “VII”. Also unusual is the placement of the buckle in the regimental device - it is typically seen on the lower left of the garter immediately before “HONI” rather than the lower right immediately after “PENSE”.

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