His Majesty's 4th "King's Own" Regiment of Foot
Light Infantry Company
Drummer Weir
The Man
Thomas Weir (or Ware, or Wire), a native of Ballyshannon in County Donegal, enlisted in the King’s Own at the age of 12 in 1764, presumably as a Drummer. He was assigned to the Light Company as its Drummer upon the formation of the Company in 1771.
Drummer Weir was detached on a Recruiting Party in February of 1774 but made it back to the Light Company in time to join it on its voyage to Boston that April.
Aged 23 or 24 when he was present on Lexington Green, he
was one of the few men in the Light Company to survive Death, Maiming, or Transfer to still be a member when the King’s Own was drafted in 1780. While the Privates of the 4th’s Light Company were then sent to other regiments, Drummer Weir returned to England with the Regiment’s Officers, NCOs, Drummers and Fifers to recruit the 4th Regiment anew.
​
Drummer Weir continued to serve in the 4th Regiment in various companies until he was admitted to Pension in 1789 after 25 years and 11 months of Service.His pension was granted for one of the most common complaints of long-service Soldiers – “Lame and Worn out”. He was 37 years old.
​
The Drummer
Although still identified by the title of “Drummer”, Drummer Weir carried a German Post Horn. This was noted in the Regiment’s Inspection Return immediately before boarding ships for Boston, and was a common practice among Light Infantry Drummers. Given the fast-paced nature of Light Infantry tactics, a Drum would have been unwieldy and ineffective in action.Taking a note from the practice of Light Troops on the European Theater of the Seven Years War, British Lights adopted horns or whistles to relay commands and signals in the field.Drummers in this period also had the duties of baring the Cat of Nine Tails during floggings, Sweeping the Guardhouse when their Company had duty, and assisting the wounded in action. (Drum Majors also traditionally acted as the Regiment’s Postmaster, but there is little evidence beyond speculation that Company Drummers had a role in that aspect of Regimental life) Drummers also had a popular image as the most accomplished womanizers in the Army.
​
The Uniform
As a Drummer of a Royal Regiment, Drummer Weir wears a blue-faced madder coat of the same quality as that of the Privates, but liberally trimmed with the 4th Foot’s particular pattern of Drummer’s Lace. This
makes him quick to pick out in a crowd, and reflects the prestige of the Regiment and the personal taste of the Colonel. His coat has been cut to Light Infantry length, and wears a laced version of the red Light Infantry Waistcoat. He is furnished with a sword for self-defense as well as further ornamentation. Equipment returns indicate that Drummer Weir was not issued a Light Company Helmet. We have chosen to portray him in an unlaced cocked hat, which was often issued to Drummers in addition to or in lieu of their Bearskin helmet which, if worn at all, was reserved for Dress occasions. Drummer Weir’s hat is fashionably smaller than the King’s Inspectors allow, as all the 4th Regiments hats were described in the 1774 Inspection Return.