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.
top of page
bottom of page
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.