British 22nd Light Dragoons

    There was a short lived 22nd Regiment of Dragoons (also called Lord Montjoy's Dragoons) from 1716 - 1718, but the first instance of a 22nd Light Dragoon regiment was in 1779, but was later disbanded in 1783, with the end of the American Revolutionary War and associated conflicts. A new 22nd regiment was raised in 1794. This unit saw service in Ireland and Egypt. It was disbanded in 1802 with the peace of Amiens, but the then 25th Regiment of Light Dragoons was promptly renumbered as the 22nd.  The former 25th had been raised for service in India in 1794, and had also been dispatched to Capetown, South Africa. This new 22nd Light Dragoon regiment served throughout the Napoleonic wars, being disbanded in 1818. It remained chiefly in India, but took place in the expedition to Java in 1811. The 22nd Light Dragoons were awarded the Battle Honor "Seringapatam". There would not be another 22nd regiment until World War 2, when an armored regiment of that number existed from 1940 - 1945.

This is the last of the three Light Dragoon regiments painted this month. I have once again painted the Regiment in their post 1812 uniforms. Their facing color was to be pink, as seen here. Evidently, this color was not a popular choice. The officers in particular seem to have resisted it, and it was noted on inspection in Bangalore in 1815 that the men were in the regulation uniform, but the officers, "being unable to obtain 'peach blossom' colored cloth" in India, were wearing red facings instead. Later that year , the regiment was given permission to adopt White facings at the next uniform re- issue instead. 

Flag is the crimson colored King's color of the 23rd (by GMB), pressed into service by the 22nd here. The flags are identical aside from the XXIII in the cartouche as opposed to XXII!  Figures are once again 25/28mm Old Glory. 

The other Pink faced British Light Dragoon unit, the 21st Light Dragoons, also were slow to adopt the new color. In 1814 they were authorized to change to black facings, first with silver and then later gold lace. I happen to think the pink facings look great with the dark blue coats. 

Certainly, there was no protest by the French cavalry units with pink facings - 6 Dragoon regiments, 3 Cuirassier regiments, 3 Chasseur regiments, and of course the chevau legers/lancer of Berg! So, sorry, men of the 22nd, but in this man's army you are struck with the Pink facings for ever more! :)

British Light Dragoon Distinctions, 1803 - 1811

(Facing colors worn on the collars and cuffs)

Regiment	Jacket	Facings	Officer’s Lace
7th	Dark Blue	White	Silver
8th	French Grey	Scarlet	Silver
9th	Dark Blue	Pale Buff	Silver
10th	Dark Blue	Yellow	Silver
11th	Dark Blue	Pale Buff	Silver
12th	Dark Blue	Pale Yellow	Silver
13th	Dark Blue	Pale Buff	Gold
14th	Dark Blue	Orange	Silver
15th	Dark Blue	Scarlet	Silver
16th	Dark Blue	Scarlet	Silver
17th	Dark Blue	White	Silver
18th	Dark Blue	White	Silver
19th	French Grey	Yellow	Silver
20th	Dark Blue	Yellow	Silver
21st	Dark Blue	Pale Yellow	Silver
22nd	French Grey	Scarlet	Silver
23rd	Dark Blue	Yellow*	Silver
24th	Dark Blue	Yellow	Silver
25th	French Grey	Red	Silver
26th	Dark Blue	Purple-Blue	Silver
27th	French Grey	White	Silver
28th	French Grey	Yellow	Silver
29th	Dark Blue	Pale Buff	Silver

The 9th, 11th, and 13th regiments had buff breeches instead of the usual white ones.

Another source shows the 23rd with Crimson facings.

British Light Dragoon Facings, 1812 - 1815

(facing colors worn on collar, cuffs, lapels, turn backs, and double stripes down the outside seems of the grey pants)

Regiment	Facings	Girdle	Lace
8th	Red	White, 2 blue stripes	Yellow
9th	Crimson	Yellow, 2 blue stripes	Yellow
11th	Pale Buff	Buff, 2 blue stripes	White
12th	Yellow	Yellow, 2 blue stripes	White
13th	Buff	Buff, 2 blue stripes	Yellow
14th	Orange	Orange, 2 blue stripe	White
16th	Scarlet	Scarlet, 2 blue	White
17th	White	White, 2 blue stripes	White
19th	Yellow	Yellow, 2 blue stripes	Yellow
20th	Orange	Orange, 2 blue stripe	Yellow
21st	Pink	Pink, 2 blue stripes	Yellow
22nd	Pink	Pink, 2 blue stripes	White
23rd	Crimson	Crimson, 2 blue strp	White
24th	Light Grey	Light Grey, 2 blue str	Yellow
25th	Light Grey	Light Grey, 2 blue str	White

The 21st was changed to Black facings with Silver lace in 1814, and Gold lace in 1815.
The 22nd was changed to Red Facings in July 1815, and then White in November 1815