Red coat (military uniform) facts for kids

Welsh Guards in the Trooping the Colour during the Queen's Official Birthday, 2007

Red coat (also spelled as "redcoat") or scarlet tunic is a military garment used widely, though not exclusively worn, by most regiments of the British Army, Royal Marines, and some colonial units within the British Empire, from the 17th to the 20th centuries. The scarlet tunic continues to be used into the 21st century, with several armed forces of the Commonwealth of Nations adopting them as their full dress and mess dress uniforms. The term "redcoat" may have originated in 16th century Tudor Ireland as a derogatory term for the British, as British soldiers in Lord Lieutenant of Ireland's army wore red coats, the first time British soldiers collectively had a red uniform. The term was then brought to America and Europe by Irish emigrants.

From the mid-17th century to the 19th century, the uniform of most British soldiers (apart from artillery, rifles and light cavalry) included a madder red coat or coatee. From 1873 onwards, the more vivid shade of scarlet was adopted for all ranks, having previously been worn only by officers, sergeants and all ranks of some cavalry regiments.

Images for kids

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  Red coats worn by Williamite forces during the Williamite War in Ireland. The Irish referred to soldiers of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as red coats as early as 1561.

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  Historical reenactors depicting the New Model Army during the Battle of Naseby. The New Model Army was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians of the English Civil War.

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  Infantry uniforms of the British Army from 1750 to 1835

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  Battle of Bunker Hill, by Howard Pyle

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  Manchester Regiment 1913–1914. After 1902 the scarlet tunic was limited to parades and off-duty "walking out dress".

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  Uniforms of the Canadian Militia, 1898

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  Lieutenant General Peter Pearson wearing the scarlet tunic used by the Military Knights of Windsor.

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  The rise of rifles and smokeless powder led the scarlet tunic to be phased out of combat in the late-19th century in favour of drab uniforms.

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  The stems of rubia tinctorum were used to make the rose madder dye. Rose madder was commonly used for the coats of privates.

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  Officer's uniform for the Royal Foot Guards of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1732.

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  The Presidential Security Force of Indonesia with their red and white uniform. The uniform is used for state-level ceremonies.

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  The United States Marine Band wears a red uniform for performances at the White House and elsewhere.

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  Soldiers of the 4th Regiment of Horse, 1687
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  Soldier of the 29th Regiment of Foot, 1742
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  Soldier of the 60th (Royal American) Regiment, 1758
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  Grenadier of the 40th Regiment of Foot, 1767
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  Officer of the 71st Regiment of Foot, 1776
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  Member of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, 2007
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  Drummers of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, 2008
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  Soldiers of the Coldstream Guard and the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, 2012
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  Members of the Royal Canadian Regiment and Prince Philip, 2013
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  Members of the Governor General's Foot Guards, 2017