A Most Horrid Portrayal of a "British Grenadier" at Bunker Hill

It was at the Bunker Hill Museum in Boston, Massachusetts that my vision was so violently accosted by this horrific impression of a "British Grenadier," presumably from the Battle of Bunker Hill. In reality, the piece is a queer amalgamation of sorts, combining uniform elements of the pre-1770's, late-war AWI, and even a Guards regiment in London, with a hearty dose of fantasy to boot!

The piece comes from the Anne S.K. Brown collection, which is a vast collection of contemporary portrayals of soldiers in the 18th century. It is an excellent collection and many of the pieces in it provide a fascinating glimpse into the life of soldiery from this period. That said, just because something is a primary source, does not mean that it is infallible or even slightly accurate to the period it portrays.

It is entirely possible that this piece is intended to portray a soldier from pre-1770, but even if this is the case, there are still many elements of the uniform which are highly inaccurate. Not to mention, that if this is the case, there is no reason for it to be in the Bunker Hill museum when there exist plentiful examples of soldiers from the appropriate time period! -

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