The Grenadiers
"As the Grenadier Company is to be constantly kept compleat, from the best and tallest Men in the Regiment, whenever the Captain of it wants a Man [16] to compleat, or improve it, he should fix on one in the Battalion Companies, and then apply to the Commanding-Officer, who, if he approves of the Man fixed on by the Captain, will of course order him to the Grenadiers, and if only an exchange was desired, will direct the worst looking Man of the Grenadiers to be transferred to the Battalion."
– Cutherbertson Chapter VI Article I.
Who and what are Grenadiers? Originally a specialized soldier, the position of grenadier was first established as a distinct role in the mid-to-late 17th century for the throwing of grenades and sometimes assault operations. Grenadiers ideally had to be tall and strong enough to hurl grenades far enough so as not to harm themselves or their comrades and disciplined enough to stand at the forefront of the fight, light the fuse, and throw at the appropriate moment to minimize the ability of an enemy to throw the grenade back. Understandably, such requirements led to grenadiers being regarded as an elite fighting force.
In May 1677, the English Army ordered that two soldiers of every Guards Regiment were to be trained as grenadiers; in April 1678 it was ordered that a company of grenadiers be added to the senior eight regiments of foot of the army. From the 17th Century to the mid-19th centuries, the Foot or infantry regiments of the British Army comprised ten companies: eight of them Battalion or Centre companies, and two Flank Companies consisting of one Grenadier and one Light Infantry Company.
Grenade usage declined significantly in the early 18th century. However, the need for elite assault troops remained, and the existing grenadier companies were used for this purpose. Physical size had been considered important for the original grenadiers and, in principle, height and strength remained the basis of selection for these picked companies. However, in the British regiments of foot during the 18th century, the preference was to draw on steady veterans for appointment to individual vacancies in a grenadier company. In 1768, Captain Bennett Cutherbertson advised that grenadiers to be selected not only on size, but also on their abilities, to be far superior to grenadiers selected on size alone. In his 1779 edition he stated, "Recruits are improper for the Grenadiers and Light Infantry, those Companies should always appear at Exercise, as compleat as possible, and have such Men only in them, as are perfect masters of their business."
On occasion, the grenadier companies of the Line Regiments could be "brigaded" together as grenadier Infantry battalions. The exception to this being the Grenadier Company of the Guards Regiments. When formed as a Guards Brigade, the assembled Guards Flank Companies remained with the Brigade.
Regardless the Regiment, the grenadiers were composed of tough, battle-hardened men selected for this elite unit for their not only for their physical appearance but also as well being well trained and steady veteran soldiers.