Georgian

Warfare

In the eighteenth century the army was often called upon to uphold British interests overseas.

The red coats looked, and generally behaved, like a well oiled fighting machine.

Fighting techniques were helped by the development of the lighter, flint-lock rifle (the release of the trigger drove a flint against metal sending sparks into the firing pan) and paper cartridges (for gun powder and shot).

The bayonet (devised at Bayonne) a sword blade fixed on the musket or rifle was used to devastating effect in well-disciplined infantry charges - it developed from the steel headed pike on a shaft of wood which was the weapon of foot soldiers until 1700.

Do you think the soldier in the picture feels comfortable?

Click the picture for an answer.