Weapons used by the British Army in Australia

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The Regiments

 

The pictures below were taken 23rd of April 2000 ,and are exact replicas of the 48th's different pieces

of apparel.

Mr Ian Hurley (02) 6582-1868,

Post to .. 48th Regiment of Foot Re-enactment Group Inc. P.O. Box 1480 Port Macquarie. New South Wales. Australia 2444

E-mail Mr Martin Hovey...... marinhovey@telstra.easymail...

Bayonet ( replica )

48th Regiment of Foot Re-enactment Group

Brown Bess ( replica )

48th Regiment of Foot Re-enactment Group

 

Corporals and the ranks below were armed with Brown Bess a smooth bore, muzzel loading musket which

included a bayonet socket. There were two types of Brown Bess one being the New Land Pattern and the Indian Pattern. The 48th Regiment were issued with the Indian Pattern. She carried a 39" barrel with a 19 mm calibre bore. The ball fired weighed about 14 to the pound or 400 grams. Being of solid lead, it was designed to shatter on impact not penetrate, so when it struck, it removed that part of the body or caused substantial damage . Brown Bess was given her name as an affectionate term, one because she was brown and Bess because it was common to refer to a female name as a protector and some one to protect. Bess had a firing time of about three rounds per minute with a maximum range of 300 yards (274 meters) but was effective over about 100yards (91 meters) During the Peninsular war the French weapons fired a smaller ball . This made it imposible for the French to use English rounds but made it possible for the English to use French. The Bayonet below clipped to the end of Bess and had a blade of 17" (43cm)

Indian Pattern Flint Lock ( Authentic )

This item was photographed at Old Sydney Town 18th of April 2000 "note The Date " 1762 "

Swords , Authentic These items are the property of one of the 48th re-enactment group

These swords are known as the new Pattern Officers Sword as worn by Officers after 1822 and measures 321/2" long (82cm). It is single edged with the exception of 9" being double edged and had a spear point. The hand guard was made of brass, the hand grip being of timber bound with fish skin and twined with brass wire and the scabbard was black leather.

Reference books :

Records of the 48th . Mitchell Library Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The Colonial Garrison 1817-1824 ( Clem Sargent ) published 1996

Wellington's Military Machine ( Philip J. Haythornthaite) published 1995

E- mail address
bmchapman@iprimus.com.au

© Copyright B & M Chapman (QLD) Australia

Last revised: February 22, 2001.