< Click the photographs to the left to discover more about the soldiers uniform and role.
Sir John Owens Companye wears madder red woollen suits comprised of a coat, lined in white wool or unbleached linen, with matching red breeches. A linen shirt is worn underneath. The breeches are tied with white or green linen or knitted tapes, and we wear cut cloth hose or hand knitted wool outer hose of a 'sad colour' (i.e. greys and browns). This uniform has been carefully researched, and is an authentic representation of that issued to the Oxford Army in 1643.
Headgear is to be appropriate to the role you play. Our musketeers and musicians wear the distinctive and very practical Montero cap. Pike may wear Montero's or knitted Monmouth caps for drills and off-duty, but helmets are essential for the pike on the field, not only for authenticity's sake but also for safety reasons. Headgear is really an item of your choice as a member, and Officers and Gentlemen may wear the fashionable felt hats decorated with bands and feathers.
Footwear should be authentic shoes. Bucket top boots are very handsome and great for attracting the opposite sex, but they were expensive and limited to Officers, so don't rush and buy a pair. Simple latchet shoes, closed soldierís shoes, or in some cases Start-up boots, are more appropriate for soldiers.
The company runs a 'dressing up box', so uniform items can be lent to new members. However, members are expected to save their pennies and purchase their own over time so that other new members may benefit from company kit.
The Coat Colours
The coat colours of the Regiment are based upon that of Sir John Owen as it may have appeared in late 1643. The actual coat colours are unknown. Whatever the coat colour (if any), worn in late 1642 was; it was superseded when the regiment was based at Culham Camp in July 1643 by new clothing. The contractor Thomas Bushell supplied suits to the number of 4,000, enough to clothe all the foote at Oxford and Abingdon at that time. Of these suits, 2,500 were all red and 1,500 all blue. The probabilities are therefore weighed in favour of red, especially since it was the Owen family colour. The issue comprised, "coats, breeches and mounteers", and was superior to what was being issued to parliament's soldiers at that date.
Green and White Favours
Favours are strips of ribbon worn in either in head gear or on the left shoulder. The green and white colours were the old Tudor Royal colours and lingered on in Wales into the Stuart age as a token of loyalty to the crown. Welsh troops are recorded wearing green and white favours at Chester and Devizes. (the author on both occasions was complaining of their rowdy behaviour on St, David's Day!).
© Copyright 1998-2007 Sir John Owens Regiment of Foote.
