Sir George was not amused

When regiments of Wellington’s army were sent to Canada in the summer of 1814, their officers’ appearance shocked Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, the local commander. He immediately issued an order stating that, having “observed in the Dress of several officers of Corps and Detachments lately added to this army, from that of the Duke of Wellington, a fanciful variety inconsistent with the Rules of the Service,” he wanted changes made. In the future, therefore, he would “only permit such derivation from the regulations … as may be justified by particular causes of Service, and climate, and even then uniformity is to be retained.” As one of the Peninsular veterans lamented, it was back to “the old red rag.”

Portrait is Sir George Prevost (1767-1816), by Robert Field 1808-1816, oil on canvas (20¾” x 26¾”) courtesy McCord Museum M403