The British army went into the war with no light infantry at all. In May 1758 Colonel Thomas Gage raised the 80th Regiment of Light-Armed Foot, the first light infantry regiment in the army, built on what Rogers' Rangers had shown worked in the woods. A draft of a hundred men came from regular regiments, and most of the rest were recruited in the colonies. Their headgear earned them the nickname "leather caps." In 1759 every regular battalion in America was ordered to turn one of its companies into light infantry, filled with its most active men and best marksmen. At Ticonderoga that summer the light companies and the 80th served together as a light corps.

The figures wear red coats with yellow facings, so they stand for the light company of a line regiment. Their coats are cut short and their hats replaced with round black caps, with brown leggings in place of white gaiters. Each carries a black pouch at the front of his belt and a hatchet at his hip. The officer stands at the centre, pointing out a target. Around him, two privates kneel to fire, one stands firing, and the rest are priming and loading. Send them into the woods alongside Rogers Rangers North America 1750 and Rogers Rangers with Robert Rogers. Back them with The Royal American Regiment for a 1759 advance on Lake Champlain.

Tradition of London set 619. Officer and seven privates, eight foot figures on square gloss bases. 54mm scale (approximately 1/30). All toy soldiers cast in quality white metal and individually hand-painted in gloss enamels. Packed in the Classic Tradition Red Box. Please allow 2–3 weeks for shipping.