The felt ‘stovepipe’ shako was adopted in 1806, and was the common headdress of British infantry regiments at the beginning of the War of 1812. It bore a large brass plate decorated with a crown, the king’s cipher and trophies of arms, although the plates of some senior regiments bore their own unique badges. On top was fixed a woolen plume, the colour denoting service in the regiment’s grenadier (white), light infantry (green) and battalion companies (white over red) respectively.

 

Shortly before the War of 1812, however, authorities in Great Britain authorised the adoption of the new ‘Belgic’ shako for British infantry regiments; this bore a tall false front, a shield-shaped brass plate, white cords, and the plume fixed on the left side. Few shipments had reached Canada before war with the United States began in June 1812, and many regiments did not receive the new headdress until the spring of 1814. Still, nearly all units received the new shako by the conclusion of the war. 

 

British field musicians were further distinguished by brass drum badges affixed to the backs of their shakos, a feature carried over from their bearskin caps worn in full dress.