HuwG - re colonial light infantry and the French & Indian Wars - Am I right in thinking that Roger's Rangers (raised in North America for the crown - and armed with non-standardised rifles and dressed in green!) wore a kind of oversize beret with a loose baggy crown? Got vague memories of seeing something along those lines.

Incidentally, I like the "whacking great fur edifice" description. If it's bad enough on a foot soldier , think how much the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) would have appreciated being equipped with it!