JJ-CLUB2016E - Private Ron Towler

 In 1758, the 80th Regiment of Light Armed Foot, otherwise known as Gage's Light Infantry became the British army's first light infantry regiment.  They were unique in the fact that the soldiers of the 80th were issued brown uniforms instead of the traditional madder red worn by all of the British regiments at the time.  The headgear of Gage's Light Infantry was different from the cocked hat or "tricorn" hat that most regiments of foot wore, the men of Gage's were given caps or helmets of leather, and they would receive their nickname from their distinctive headgear - "the leathercaps."