Hanoverian Regiments - Articles

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• Hanoverian Regiments

These articles were kindly transcribed from the original by Hilary Sheridan.

ARTICLES (IOR E/4/870 p55-76)

General articles of the Agreement:

1. The regiment is to remain in the service of the East India Company for the term of 7 years from the date of their arrival in the East Indies and 2 years before the expiration of that time, notice must be given to His Majesty, in case the company shall think it necessary to have the regiment in pay any longer; as that will require a new agreement.

2. In case the regiment, or the whole complement of the regiment, cannot be raised; then the company shall take such number of Recruits as may have been raised for that purpose, and pay all expenses on that account.

3. No deductions whatever are to be made out of the money which is agreed upon to be paid, according to the particular articles.

4. The regiment is to be put equally on the same footing as His Majesty’s troops in the East Indies, with regard to pay, rank, duty and in every other respect nothing excepted.

5. His Majesty not intending to profit in the least, by granting the regiment for the service of the company; it is, on the other hand, agreed, that the company shall pay all expenses whatever incurred on that account.

Articles relative to the raising and forming the regiment:

1. The Regiment is to consist of 2 battalions, each battalion of 10 companies vizt 8 fuzilieer companies, 1 grenadier company and 1 company of light infantry. The compliment of each company, 100 men.

Staff of each battalion:

1 Lieutenant Colonel

1 major

1 Lt Capt or Capt Lt

1 adjutant major, rank of lieutenant

1 adjutant, rank of ensign

1 judge, rank of lieutenant

1 chaplain

1 surgeon

2 cadets

5 surgeon’s mates, like serjeants

1 drum major, like serjeant

4 musicians as lance corporals

1 armourer

1 provost as private

Each company to consist of:

1 captain

2 lieutenants

1 ensign

3 serjeants

1 corporal

1 clerk

3 corporals

2 drummers

12 lance corporals

74 privates

100 men

For the service of the Artillery & battalion:

1 serjeant

2 corporals

12 cannoniers

2. As being customary with the German troops to have two pieces of cannon, (3 or 6 pounders), attached to each battalion, the company will send orders that these be provided out of their magazines and they are to remain attached to the battalion independent of the corps of artillery during the time of service at the expiration of which, they are to be returned.

3. The levy money for every man (non commissioned officers included) is fixed at £5 stering. The standard of the men is to be the same as for the marching regiments in England.

Articles relating to subsistence money, Pay and allowance:

1. The subsistence money for the staff of the 1st battalion (the prevot and the musicians only excepted) also the subsistence for the men for the service of the artillery for the whole regiment and likewise for all officers, non commissioned officers and drummers of the 1st battalion is to commence from 1st July 1781. But with regard to the subsistence of the private, a certificate is to be produced ascertaining the number of men raised in the month of July, and signed by the two commissioners appointed by His Majesty for that purpose, Baron Munchausen, privy councillor of the war office at Hanover and Major General Baron Bussche. On receipt of which the subsistence money for the men actually raised is to be paid for the whole month of July and thus it is to continue the following months till a report be made of the whole being complete.

2. In the like manner the company shall reimburse all expenses incurred on account of subsistence of such recruits as may have been actually made in the month of June

3. As soon as the 1st battalion shall have passed in review,before the officers appointed by the company for that purpose, the full English pay for that first battalion shall commence.

4. The stoppages are to be regulated as with the King’s troops; but their distribution is to be made according to the Hanoverian method.

5. The 2 cadets per battalion are to receive the same pay and allowances as those sent out by the company

6. And whereas the regiment, from the day of its arrival, is, in every respect, to be equally on the same footing as His Majesty’s troops in the East Indies, all papers relative thereunto, and stating the extra allowances in garrison as well as those called batta are to be transcribed and annexed to these articles as part thereof.

7. The aforementioned batta being intended to answer all exigencies when in the field, no allowance is to be made with regard to loss of baggage

8. A commissary from the company is to be allowed, from time to time, to muster the battalions agreeable to the orders that may be issued for that purpose

9. The effective men of the regiment are to be paid according to monthly return given into the paymaster and no profits allowed to the officers arising from vacancies.

Articles concerning the clothing and equipment of the regiment.

1. A uniform is to be made here, as a pattern for the rest and if they can be furnished cheaper in Germany the difference to be allowed to the company. All firearms, swords and belts, Grenadier caps and all accoutrements as specified in the list enclosed, drums, colours etc to be paid for by the company according to the accounts which will be produced thereof.

2. The Camp equipage is furnished by the company in the East Indies yet as it is thought necessary to take on board 1 officer’s tent, 8 private’s tents and 1 bell tent per ship they are to be provided for before embarkation, at the expense of the company, for which purpose, the accounts thereof are likewise to be produced.

Articles concerning the transport of the regiment

1. All officers are to be allowed a free passage, and the privates are to be put on the same establishment as His Majesty’s troops, wherefore a copy of the papers regulating the said establishment, is to be annexed to these articles.

2. The passage for 2 women per company is to be granted but no children to be carried over

3. The company will hereafter provide for the return of the regiment. The passage for officers that return by command or permission of His Majesty as likewise the transport of non commissioned officers and privates that may have served their time, must be at the company’s expense.

Articles providing for Sick, wounded and invalid

1. With regard to the cure of wounded and sick men, hospitals, medicines, etc- particular articles agreeable to the exigencies of the service, are to be drawn up. These not having yet been adjusted with regard to the King’s troops in the East Indies, it is agreed that His Majesty’s Electoral troops shall be put upon the same footing as His British troops in that country.

2. Officers obliged to return on account of wounds or illness with proper certificates are to have a free passage granted by the company and to receive one year’s pay-gratification on their return. In case wounds have rendered them invalids they are to be allowed half pay for life according to their rank in the service provided an oath prescribed by the deed of settlement with Lord Clive be made by a Lieutenant Colonel that he is not worth £3000, major £2500, captain £2000, Lieutenant £1000, ensign £750

3. Invalids in the service shall be put upon the establishment of the invalids in the East Indies, during the time of capitulation at the expiration of which, the company is to grant them a free passage and on their arrival in England they are to receive 4 months full pay to return to their country where they will be entitled to a pension to be paid every 6 months amounting to about 4d 3farthings a day upon a proper certificate being produced that they are alive.

Article Relating to new clothing

The regiment is to be new clothed once a year like His Majesty’s troops and the transport of the clothing is to be at company’s expense from the time of shipping at Hamboro’ or any other place.

Articles concerning the command of the regiment and its jurisdiction

1. With regard to command of this corps, the regiment is in every respect to be on an equal footing as His Majesty’s troops. The promotion of commissioned officers depending entirely upon His Majesty’s will and pleasure

2. And with regard to the military jurisdiction a particular regulation thereof is approved and annexed to these articles Lau Sulivan, Wm James

Regulations concerning the 2 battalions of our electoral troops during the time of their service in the East Indies

1. The 2 battalions are to be governed by their own martial law in the manner prescribed by our ordonnances in the electorate under their commanding officers

2. In the mean time we confer to the commanding officer, in field or garrison, the power of cognizance in misdemeanours relative to the service in field or garrison vizt upon guards, pickets, commands etc, with regard to commissioned as well as non commissioned officers and privates in all cases where the fact is so clear as not to require a great formality of trial and which only amounts to a short arrest, with respect to commissioned officers and comparatively to the usual punishment for non commissioned officers and privates.

3. Our British commanding officer in the East Indies must however in the above mentioned cases inflict no other punishment than what is usual and customary amongst our electoral troops

4. Should a crime in field or garrison service be committed which deserves a hard corporal punishment of death and a judicial examination and inquisition be required then the British commanding general or officer may put the delinquent under arrest but he must deliver him up to the commanding officer of our electoral troops in order to proceed against him according to the precepts of their martial law and the sentence before it be carried into execution is to be laid before the commanding general or commanding officer who in case the sentence should be found inadequate to the crime or it should be deemed necessary to aggravate the punishment on account of particular circumstances occurring has a right to order a court-martial to be held on that subject of which all transactions hereafter a report is to be made to us.

5. Supposing the possibility that the commanding officers on both sides could not agree upon the subject then a report of it is to be made to us and the case referred to our further pleasure

6. In order that all misunderstandings or disputes which may happen between non commissioned officers and privates of the 2 different nations, may be adjusted in the shortest manner and in order that a mutual confidence and good harmony may always subsist commanders on both sides are to appoint 2 officers for the purpose of enquiring into such disputes who are either to settle the affair themselves or, if necessary, to make a report thereof to their respective commanders

In general our electoral troops serving in the East Indies are to enjoy the same privileges, in every respect which are allow.

Uniform

Uniform as suggested by Colonel H.A. de Scheiter and that approved by the King (H/244, p257-259 and H/155, 117-119):

• Scarlet coat, facings green lining straw colour with a yellow button and the serjeant’s one of fine cloth with a sash.
• Waistcoat and breeches white of the same cloth
• 1 pair of linen trousers and half spatterdashes (black)
• 1 pair of: worsted stockings, shoes and gaiters (black)
• 1 stock (black) and a string for the hair
• 1 leather haversack, belt with a sabre, belt for the cartridge box, gun and bayonet

And for the Non-commissioned officers:

• 1 halbard

For the grenadier:

• Belt for the sword
• Fur cap

And further for the whole regiment:

• 4 Pair of colours
• 40 camp colours