0
1\, ... ,--~-,
_
0
.". I'OfllUO"L
""\
!-Oo"
.
"'--'
o
.... _.-
l
21
Detan. of the 1BOO pattarn ahako wom by the rank-and-me of In. KGL from 1803 until about 1808/07. Se...." Im:ne.ln height, It ...... ~. of leath<M" and 1Ileq...-.d fabric..... Ihown .,.... 'eIplod
plata, &Ins x alna, Ite+d to the atMtko by wi,...; and the blllC'k IoNther coc:luMM, through ....k:h • ....1_b11 bvtton, bugle hom Or ll~ bad.ge wa. put,hecl - for
centre, light and gren.cllar companl•• reapectlvely - to be aecured by the wi,. 0' the woollan tutt, which wa. then l""ned Into. loop 0" the front uPtM' edge of the ahako. The tuft w•• 41na long. whlta for
IIrenadlers and .rtUlery, ",...n for light In'antry, and .mlt_.... ...:! lor all other trooIn- €Author'l d..-lng)
Bdlish 15th Hussars defeated a ho(h or FrClJ(.h Gl\'aln at S.~haKtIll as the Blitish I11m'cd on Burgos: but on !.he 231"d illlclligcnce finalh rc\cak-d to ~Ioorc the eXLreme danger which ,hrC;ltcncd his oliUllImhered and isolated amn. He ordered \\ithdrawal to \'igo. During I.he relreat lhallhen took place tht.> u-W0n's 3rd 111ISS<'1l's pl.l\t~d an importaJlI role in sCI"Ccning- the rearguard. freqllclll.h dashing \\ith em.'m\ C'd\'CquelHh found most of lhem to h;nc been enlisted in Denmark after the battle of Copenhagen.) To the north Ill00re's arml slI'1lggled into Conmna and turned to gill..' battle to the pursuing French on I6jallllatl' 1809. driving them back ami inflicting 2,000 casualties on lheir lormelllors. Moore had lost O\'cr 5,000 men during the retreat, and he now bccame one of lhe Blitish casualties ;11 the hattie of Corunna. I Ie \\',IS buricd in the citadel JUSt !x'lore lhc British fleet Miled on lhe 18th. With them 1\'Clll the 3rd HU~"lI'S KGL, who had thc dislressing t:lSk of shooting 290 of their hor..es on the beach bcfore embarbtion. The \'o\'ages hacl.. to Eng:land were m
~
22
1809: Wellesley's return Napoleon had len Spain upon Moore's relreat; he considered the PCllin~llla a sideshow compared to
his pmblems at horne and wilh Ausuia. Spain would cOlllinue to Ix: a running ~re on his southern border, a continuing drain on his manpower and lreasure lhal would pmve one of the m.yor factors conuibluing 10 his downfall. BUI in 1809 this ....'aS unforeseeable, and he conlidelllh len the conduct of the campaign lO his marshals. In April 1809 Sir Arthur Welleslc\, nO\\ cleared of am blame for the ComClllion ofCinU'a, found himselfappoinled to command the AngloPOnUb"lIt.'SC forces in Ponugal. Ilere his 25,000 men included a troop of the KGL 3rd Hussars, detachments of the lst and 2nd Light Baualions, the lsi, 2nd, 5th and 7th Line Battalions, and two b.-weries of foot ani lien - 3,300 men all told. (The 'Sharpshooters' ofthe Line b.-Htaliolls and the detachments of the Light ballalions were at this time grouped together as a unit of rinemen. The 3rd Hussars troop were 0lx:rating \\ith the British 141..11 LiglH Dr'lgoons.) The ad\'lIlcing French had occupied nonhern POrLlIgal and \\'eHesley moved to conlaCl them, auaddng the 20,()()()..stmng artllY of '\hu'Shal Soult on 12 "lay al Opono after forcing a cmssing of the Rher Doum, He compelled Soullto wilhdraw with the loss ofo,OOO men, their artillery and their baggage. I laving ~ecured northern Portugal Wellesley lurned 10 face lhe threat on its eaStern frontier, where '\larshal Victor led anOther 22,000 men, En mUle be collected 5,000 reinforcements from England, including I.he lsI. Ilussars ofthe KCL (I.he lroop of 3rd IIlls~rs 1101\' I'eturned to England.) B} cad, Juh Wellesley's armv had moved into Spain in order to co-operatc wil.h Cen Cuesta's Spanish anm of 32,000 men. CI.lt.'Sta \\,15 old and unpredict;t.ble (to put it generouslr). and there were several false startS before I.he Allied annies brought the French LO hallie at Tala\era on 27 Juh.
-..
-
.... .. --_.
~
. / '
/"~
--
8 .--. . ."
,.
,•
'
• , ......
",. 'unlv.rsal' cock.oe worn In mo.t h.addres•• It. tMac:k colour
.ignifying • soldier 0' Britain or Hanov.r. Mad. of .Ilk ribbon 'or offic:.no, .nd ••• h.re •• tamped 'rom I.ath.r for the rank·andfile, It wa. u.ually ••cured to the cap by a reglm.ntal button,
(Author's drawillil) Th. d••lgn 1M t~ g.rt.r and
0'
0'
centre t~ anako plat. th.e King" Gennan legion foot artillery, taken 'rom Hawk. .' metal badge book, 1804, Compared to th.e un....,.... plat. thet of the attlileory was smal.... and a different .nape, For the KGl the tItJe Mown ~ the motto HON' SOfT 0Uf MAL .,
0'
P£NSE.
Talavera The combined French forces under Victor, Sebastiani and King Joseph numbered o\er 46,000 wilh 80 guns, some 3,000 of the soldiers being Germans from Napoleon's ·Confedenll.ion of the Rhine'. Afler a bank which raged fOI" two da~'S the~ wil.hdrew, having sustained losses of 7,358 men - 1,000 ofthcm Cermans - and 17 gUllS. The Anglo-Portuguese had 5,361 casualties of which 1,407 were from units of I.he KGL; Spanish losses were given as 1,207. Talavera was a bloody affair in which units of the King's Cerman Legion had their firSl experience of a real batLle, a lacticaH) lInimaginau\e face-I.o-face killing match between major armies. The 1st and 2nd Line were brigaded under \'on Lang'\\'enh, Ihe 5th and 7th under \'on Lowe, in Sherbrooke's 1st Division holding I.he ~ledellin hill \\hich formed !.he anchor of Wcllesle,'s centre lefl. TIle) had an uneasy stan when a night attack led 1>\ the French 9!.h Lightlnfanm of Ruffin's Di\ision caught \'on Lowe's men unprcpared and pushed them back before 'Daddy' Hill led a successful British
.'' ,, I I It I,' , •
••
lAuthor's .......,
23
COUlllerallack. 111en:after Ihe KGL fought well, and laid thl' foundalions of whal was to become an ell\iable repuI;llion. During a Ihird major French ab..'llih on tht: \Iedellin hill b\ the dh'isions of 1..1pisse and SclxlSliOlni the 5th Ulll' l\olllCnled to Sir\r1hur. (.\S a consequence ofTa];l\l'r:l. he \\'as eHobkd Ihat wplernber a.~ \"iscount \fellingtoll of TalaH:r:l and Haroll Douro of \fellesle\ in till' count\ of SomeNCI. ) :\("\\, from the Ilorlh nO\\ suggested that Ihe approach of :mOlher 45.000 French umkr Soull, ~e\ and .\Iortier was threatening \\elleslt'\'s cOllltlltlllications with Purtugal. .\ rapid r('treal had to be made if the Allied arnn \''as not to Ix' CHI oIT and deslrO\ed; bv a St:Ji('~ of forced Illarches lhq withdre\, across thl' fronlier, and the hllnKn and CXh:lllsled French tllrrlt'd awa\', But Wellinglon knew thaI another attelllpt 10 retake POrlllWl1 was ine\'itable. and he settled clown to prcpare for it. Refu:sinK: am further direct co-operation with tIll' l;jpani~h arm It', after his experit'nC(.'~ in lR09. he IX'lran 10 construct and Wtrrison a great triple cordoll of fonificatiom I..uown as lhe Ijnl's of Torres \'('dr:t~. (;lIarded b\ forl~ WtITisoned musth h\ I'orwg:ue<,(' militia. this was to tum Ihe Lislxm pt.'ninsula illlo a \;1$1 fonress into which not onh his lic1d :mll\. but also huge numbers of chiliam with their flocl..~ and herds. could retreat at need. Ill' Ihen f('''wd and r('"-()rgani<,('d his anm half of which was. b\ the \ear 1810. POrlUgtlt"'>C - and deplO\ed il 10 guard all three main corridors of ilwasion.
2.
1810: Bus.co The French con,inul·et widespread oper.l\ions ah' held them oIT ~killlllh \,hile lhe main force fell b.'1c1.. in good order IOwarrb l.idx)Il and the Lines of TOlTl'" \'edras. L'lL.ing with lhem the local populalion. dli\illK their herds and carrying whal the\ could. \\11al had to lx' left for the French was plll 10 the torch. Dilling: thi.. retiremenl the KCL 1st Huss.'1I..,. operating with lhe Light Dh-isioll. \\(:n: constalllh all dut\ screening the rea.-guard. manning- outPOS15. and I;f
LIGHT CAVALRY, 1805-1808 1: Pnvate, 2nd Kln.g'w GMman Light Dragoons, 1805 2: Pnvate, 3nl Klllg'w German Ughl Dragoons (Hussarsl; Sp,lIn, 1808
A
LINE INFANTRY. 1805 1: Sergeant, drill order 2: R-.;ovit, drill order 3: Captain, full dress 4: Drummer, 'uII dress
B
UNE INFANTRY. 1811 1: S«geanl 01 • Grenadier Company, lIiuard-mounliog order 2: CorpoI"al, Grenadier Company, 2nd line Ballalion 3: JIMlior otlio;er
,
• • • •
• •
c
LIGHT INFANTRY I. Corf)Ofal, Kong's Gennan A&glment, 1803 2: Private, 2nd Light Battalion, KGL, 1809 3; Officer, 1812
D
UGHT INFANTRY, SPAIN, 181 \ 1: Sergeant-bogler, 2nd Light Battalion 2: 'Sharpshoot...., ,,, Ught Battalion 3: 'Sharpshoot"... 01 a U,.,. battalion
,
E
2ND KING'S GERMAN DRAGOONS. SPAIN. 1812 1: Private, marchifli ordef" 2: Corporal, marching ordef"
F
KING'S GERMAN ARTILLERY, 1807 1: Bombardier, marching order 2: OtIicer
2
G
GUIDON AND INSIGNIA See PiOge 47 lor c:ommenlanes
•
,
H
,
Wellington's .lfm, reached I\usaco on 25 Seplember 1810, and deployed in ;\ ridge-LOp position long ago chosen by their cOlllmander (and improved ,,'itll a new lateral road), Two da\'s later the 24,000 I~riti~h and 25.000 PortugueS(' inflicted mer 5.000 casuahies on the two French COlVS which attacked them there. In lhis classic defensive battlc Allk·d 10SM'S were about 1.000: 50 of lhese were from the King's Gelman Legion. l,hoS(,' I~t. 2nd. 5th and ith Line B:HUlliolls ;lIld a det,lChment from the lsI Ught \_ere brig-Ided together under Von 1..00,e. During the battle the\ were separated from Ihe rest of Spencer's 1st Di\'ision, fonning .1 solid ~econd line behind Camplx'll's less experienced Portuguese - .... ho in fact beha\ed admimbh. From BIls.,co Wellington withdre\, into the 500-squilfe-mile redoubt of the Unes ofTon'cs \'t-"drdS b\ mid-October..... here reinforcements and plentiful supplies .... ere ".titing. :\lassen;\ "'IS taken b\ mrprisc b\ lhe Kale of the fortifications. in fronl of ....hich he deplmed part of his aflll' ....hilst the remainder foraged for food. Wellington dre" down Portuguesc militia on the French reilr. ,lIld o;('nl caval .. pmrols - including the Legion's 3rd 111I5&lrS - 0111 from Ill(" lines to harass the enelll\, In :\Iarch 1811. I';lh his arnl' on the point of stal'\'Hion. :\lasscna g:1\e lip and began a retreal into Spain. followed close on hi~ heels b\ Wellington's troops. 1811: Barro.sa
In southernmost Spain lhe French .... ere laring siege to the Junta forces in the port of Cadiz. To their aid went Cen Sir Thomas Craham and a force of 8.000 mcn which included IWO SCluadrons of the 2nd Hussars of the Lebtlon, \\1,en :\Ial'shal Victor began 10 thin Ollt his besieging force. an A]]jed ..lid "~IS mounted when 10,000 Spanish and 4,500 British troops were landed behind the ellem)' lines, On 5 "larch 18] I lhe British element clashed with 7.000 French troops at Barrossa. Despile requests for support Gen La Pena's Spanish remained inacth'e. and the banle hung in the balance as the French cavalry prepared to charge the British flank. [t was al this POilll lhal the 2nd Ilussars charged them, brol..e them, captured IWO cannon, and won the da)', The French lost two generals, an Eagle. 2,400 mcn, six guns and over 400 prisoners, The total Hrilisll losses were I, I00 men, of which the 2nd 1Illssars lost one dead, 33 wounded and 46 horses.
In 1808 the 1800 pattern atYko w.. I'efll.aced by _ 01 INther .nd lelt; later this w•• ""nf~ on the crown .nd b.and for the Light b.tUlllon.. to procllK:e the p.ttern Illu.tr.ted IMore wIttI the button of the 2nd Light an .nd the crowl'led bu;1. hom b.og. wom from 1803 to .bout 1812. Note the green tun .nd c.p cord•. (Author" dr.wlng)
Fuentes de OAoro
In the van of \\'c1linglOn') '111m as they followed the French into Spain weI e lhe KGL 1st Ilussars. who in April 1811 clashed with enem~ ca\OIln afler the anion at Sabllgal. capUlring 9-1 men. 90 horses. and 25 pad animals containing the baggage of ~larslml Soult. I~\ J\la\ Portllg:11 W,IS once more free of the French except for tbe fortress of Almeida. CloS(' b,. Massena concenu
33
5,000 horse, 40,000 fOOl, and 30 guns and turned lO thc ofTensi\"c. WellinglOn's altention was focused on the siege of Almcida which Massena now auempted to raise. On 5 May he was dr;\"en back at the batlle of Fuentes de Oiioro, but not urltil the French g.ll1;son at Almeida had managed to break out and join him. Present at the battle were the KGL lsI Hussars; two detached Light companies and the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 7th Line I~aualions, again brigaded under VOll Lowe in the 1st Division on WellinglOn's right. These units lost 155 men out of the lOtal Allied casualties of I ,500; no accurate figure for the French losses Gill be quotcd, one source claiming as many as 5,000. Massena \\1thdrew to Salamanca, and was dismissed by Napoleon. His successor was Marshal Marmon\. Albuera
34
Further south LtGen Sir \Villiam Beresford \\'as laying siege to Bad~joz when he received news of the approach ofa French army under r.,·larshal Soult. Abandoning the siege, Beresford met thc 30,500 French at AJbuera where, on 16 May 1811, thcre lOok placc one of the bloodiest battles of the whole Peninsular \Var. Beresford had an Anglo-PorlugueseSpanish army 01'29,000 men, including the Legion's 1st and 2nd Light Battalions (back in u1e Peninsula after taking part in the disastrous expedition to the island of\Valcheren), and twO fOOl artillery batteries. The Light Brigade of the KGL, led by Charles \"on Allen, were ordered to defend the \111age of Albuer.l on the Allied left. During the baltic French cav,Jhy broke into the infantl)' formations on the Allied right wing and wreaked great execution before the situation could be stabilised. The British lost 892 killed and 2,707 wounded at Albuera: the Spanish had about 2,000 casualties, and the Portuguese about 600; while 500 Allied prisoners, a howitzer and se\"eral colours were lost to the French - who in turn lost about 8,000 killed and wounded. The KGL Light Brigade had 107 casualties, while u1e Leb';on batteries lost 48 men, 34 horses and a hOI\1tzer. When the killing match was over the French withdrew, but it had been a I~rhic victor)' for Beresford (who at one point in the battle had to draw his sl\'ord to defend himself). Exhausted after the day's fighting, Heinrich Heine of the 2nd Light BatL..lion KGL found it impossible to sleep because of lhe rain (in I\'hich the battle had been fought), the cold, and the vile smell of the dead and wounded. \Vhile looking for food in the village he came upon Capt Heise of his batwlion, shot through the head and in so much pain thai he begged Heine to shoot him. N"ter doing what he could to comfort the captain he returned to his post, to discover in the dawn that he had been sleeping on a corpse. The new day was hot and the cries of the I\,otlllded calling for water from the mass of dead bodies on the batt.lefield stirred Heine and his comrades to take
BELOW The jacket of a sellleant of the Grenadter Compsny, 4th Line Battalion, KGL, ..constructed trom photographs 01 a aurvtvlng example In the 80m ann Museum, Celie. It has both wtngs and tufts, and chevrons of rank on the right arm only· a contradiction of regulallon,. (Author" drawing)
their Cante~IlS to lh~IIL, once mure ignoring their requesL~ to be pill Olll of their llliS~I1. That c\cning, as he 1llarch~d from the battlefield, he records thaI h~ Sd\\ \\hat he thought was Ihe corpse ofCaptlleisc. (1Iei~e wa~ cert 1,000 casualties on the erH:m)'. Wdlingtoll subsequently issued a gener,,1 order 10 hi~ arll1)' "tIling attention to EI Bodon as 'a melllOr:lble cxample of whal can be effected by steadilless, discipline and confidence.' In the face of such dClcrminalion ~1armont wilhdre\\, allo\\'ing WellinglOn to la\ siege 10 Ciudad Rodrigo once aK'lin. To the soulh. in Idle OClOber 1811. Ihe KGL 2nd Hllssars took part in the action at .\rrovo do~ ~Iolinos. \\here a Brilidl force under Sir Roland Hill made a deep "lid into enelln lerrito.... in \\retched winter \\eather. and surprised Gen Gilard's F,ench force of 2,500 lnfantn ,md -100 ca\OIln as the\ were forming lip to march. The French fled in panic. hoth pursued b\ the British who killed. wounded or captured two generals. three
BElOW R_ 'Ifew of tM 4th u .... Bn ~I" jKket. It has p&aln whllto Iacat, and ~ .... _ 'darb' of tnls on tM kaMI
wl,.. In.tead of tM
u....., •
Nol. 1M 'lighl
lnfentry' pocket. mlud of tno.. on:I...o lor grenlIdiera; and the ubi ~ Gmemenu. -"OWn In ~l on PI.t. H. lAuthor'll d.-tng)
=,
3.
colonels. 1,800 others and three guns for the loss of 70 British casualties. 1812: Cludad Rodrigo & Badajoz
ABOVE The coat 01 an officer 01 one 01 the centre companle. 01 the 1et Llna Battalion, KGL, ~onstructed from photographs of an Ilem In the Bowmann Museum, Celie. The gorget, lace, buttons and belt plate are all glll. (Author's drawing)
38
During the \\intcr of 1811/1812 Wellington had assembled the sicgc train and storcs necessary for the reduction of Ciudad Rodrigo, one of the vital 'gatcs' on thc Porlllguese-Spanish fronlier, On 8 January 1812 his troops once again altacked the place, and on thc 19th they successfully stomled it, though at thc cost of over 1,200 men. Taking pan wcrc the 1st, 2nd, and 5th Line Battalions and a fOOl banCI)' of the Legion. Their losses of82 men were light, as they \\'ere not involved in the final assault. Some 300 of the enemy were killed or woundcd. 1.500 made prisoner, and over 150 pieces of artillcl)' wcre taken. \\'c1lingLOn now turned his atlelllion on the second importalll frontier fortress of Bad~oz. He had a.sscmbled anothcr siege train al Elms, and on 16 ~larch he im'estcd the walled dlY. Apart from engineer and artillcl)' officers no KGL units were invoh'ed in this opcration, which was brought LO a conclusion on 6 April when Bad~oz was successfully stormcd. The bloody fighting in the breaches cost an appalling number of Allied casualties; when they broke into lhe town the battle-<:razed British and Portuguese stormers went on a dnmken orgy of pillage, rape and murder in one of the most shameful episodes in British military history. Wellington's provost m
Salamanca Now master of the border fortresses at last, WcllingLOIl was finally rcadv to advance into Spain. Leal'ing a corps to guard ag
ABOVE R••r vl.w of the ottlc..... co.t, 1.t Lln.e Bn, KOL; the om.m.nt__ecuring th. whtt. tumbacks .... Illustrated In datalt on Plate H. (Author" drawing)
in the somh, he M:t ofT in June at the head of an Allied armv of over 50,000 men to seek b.,ttle ....1th Marshal MarmOrll'S Anm of Portugal at Salamanca. Probing ahead with the cavaln' were Von Bock's dragoons and the 1st Iluss-us. frequcllth clashing ....ith French ca\<1lry a~ the Allics drmc in the defences before S.,lamanca to OCCUPy the cit\ in lateJune. It was the first Spanish cio' to be Iibcmtcd from the French. and there was much jubil' the Brunswicker next to me, and also the man behind him, who lay there with an open body, stood up, stufTed his bowels back into his belly, fell down, and died.' The 1st Hussars took part in a charge which steadied the 5th Dh1sion .1\ a critical point in the battle: S)'mpher's Battery distinguished iL~clf: ami to the skirmishers orthe KGL Linc battalions wcnt the distinetion of spt:arheading the attack that took the Cr.lllde Arapilc, a commanding height held by the French for most of the battlc. At the dose of the baltlc the Line battalions fought to drive in the right ofthc French line, the last part of ~lannollt's arm} slill resisting. Garcia Hernandez
Next morning the pursuit was taken up b, the KCL Dragoons led b\' Von Bock, and accompanied b, the 2nd Light Battalion. Heinrich lleinc deSClibed the day: 'The next morning, after rations werc il>5l1cd. lIe fonned up next to our ca''
37
We followed and came to a field where we found two Grenadier squares hit by our Dragoons. Amongst them lay mallY of our troopers. together with their horses. We ran towards a hill where a third square was about to be attacked hy our Dragoons. The first horse fell on to the bayoncL~. three or four others dashed illlO thc square, confusion reigned. our cavah}' ,utacked from all sides, and a few minutes later the whole battalion was cut dOl\'Il. Those who threw away their arms and ran awa}' were rounded up by ollr troopers. \\'e marched across the field of dead bodies and sal,' one cut in two - such power had our Dl"agoons I,·hen they swung their long broadswords. After a fourth slluare had been dealt with b}' our cavalry, and captured. the French cavall,' galloped off. and we
38
(those of the French 6th. 69th and 76th Line Regiments,) and capturing 1,400 plisoners at a COSl of 127 men. WcllinglOll was prompted to record. 'I ha\e never \,;tnesscd a more g-dllam charge tl13n was made upon the enem\'s infantf\ b\ the hean' brigade of the King's Gcmlan Legion under .\Iajor-General mn Bock.' He appointed a guard of honour from the bligade to attend him. Shorth after\\'ards the War Office issued the following nolilication: 'Ill consideration of the King's Gcnllan Legion having so frcquenth distinguished themsel\es ag-dinst the el1CI11\, and particular!} upon the occasion of the late victory obtained ncar Salamanca. llis Royal Ilighness the Prince Regent is pleased. in the llame of and 011 the behalf of Ilis M'Uesty, to command that the officers who are now serving with tcmponu'v rank in the SC\·('1.11 regiments of that corps. shall ha\'e permanent mnk in the 1~litish anll\ from the date of their respective commissions.. Wellington no\\ marched on .\ladrid. \\hich he entered in triumph on 12 August 1812. ,,'jtll the Dragoons ofthe KGL in the place of honour at the head of the column. 'The
e.tt'- of Gan:'-o ~z'
b, Adolph Northen • the chaIve 01 the ht DnllIOO"e, KGl, on 23 Jul, 1812. The ~Intlng
.ho_ 1h40 mom.nl wtl..... woul'Ided ho.... and rId.r I.Ulnto the French Inlanl" aqu.... to cau.. the breach Into which the olh.... rode. The con".... tlonal wledom of the period w. . that It wn IrYIfl'O"ib'- lor c.val" alone 10 breM •• teedy Infentl')' aq~ which hecI not first been -tlened end ....k_ by artillery Of" cloee-renge mvaaetr'y; the ••pIott of Yotl Bock's d.....~ f _ throughout W"llnglon's army. (Cowtny
NlederakhslKhe L.endnplerie, Hanno\lerl
3.
Epilogue The sian' of the King's German Legion \\'ill be concluded in a ~econd title (MAA. 339): but hefore ending this first half of the stan mention should be made of the continuing undercOler operation conducted h\' ['..01 \'on der Decken to obtain recruits from enenl\~ occupied Ilano\'el: Operating from Ileligohmd. he scnt agents into north Gennam and Denmark to -.el up an escape route \\hich pro\'ed the equal of am C<;L"l.blished in the Second World War to hling home .\Ilierl ainnen. One such agent (Friedlich) 10id how he \\'as landed on the coast near Cuxha\'en in the guise of a Danish So."1.ilor who had escaped from a Hritish man~f-.\\-ar and \\ished 1O rctum home. Iii.. COler ston got him Ihrough numerous check.<; 1>\. French officials and police until he "rri"ed in Ilamhurg, where he identified himself to his contacts 1>\ means of a leiter wrilten on his pod-.et handlerchief in 'imisihle ink'. ntis means \\'as also used to repon to Von der Decken, \ia letters sent from IluSUIll in Dcnmarl to J Ieligoland. In Ihese Friedrich asled for a forger and a linguisllo be scnt 10 assist him. These eventual!, arriH~d in the fonn of IWO scrgeants of the 60th Regiment.: Batcherini - an Italian - '\'as lhe forger, \\ hile the other ~CO had scp,ed in mall' annics before joining the Ilritish and spoke sc\eral languages. (:\'Ol all Von del' Dccken's agents were as careful as Frit.'drich, who \\imcsscd twO Olhers ~hot 10 death 1>\ the French.) Changing his idenut... from that ofa sailor to a 'gentleman', Friedrich enjoved a high lifcsl\ Ie as he welH about obtaining recmits for the Legion. \\ithin a few davs he had enlisted six and had them spirited off to J Icligoland hv fishernlen in his pa\. With Ikucherini to forge his documents, Friedrich then became ~Ir 1I0hengrin, a Danish ci,il SCI"\-ant, and mOl'ed to J lanm'er to pursue funher recmits. J lis SlOll makes fascinating reading.
UNIFORMS ~Iany
40
fine examples of the uniforms and insignia of the KGL exist in mllsellm" in Germany. Ilowe\'er. they arc nearl\ all from the later period of the Legion's existence. Less is kno\\'n of the uniforms of earlier times. The confusion surrounding lhe r-;:li~ing of the King's Germans resulted in the first recmits being clothed in rille b'Teen, In this they followed the pl-dctice of Olher German units cmplo>,ed by Britain, including Ilompesch's Light Infantry. llard)"s Royal York Fusiliers, Ramsay's York R.1.ngers and the rine battalions of the 60Ih Foot. M'Yor ....on der Dccken, the officer authorised inJul) 1803 to raise the King's German Regiment. was at that time an officer in the 60th. After the (wo Light battalions had been r:.lised the remainder of the infantry of the KGL were uniformed in the manner of the 8riti~h Ro}-al Regiments of the line, who most].., had RO\':'11 blue facing-;, a Ropl blue stripe in the lace of the junior r:.mk.<;, and a crown on buuons and 'breastplates' (shoulder belt plates). Certain uniform dislinctiol)s were copied from the regiments of FOOl Guards,
were subject 10 the ,crllliny or lhe officers or the Arm} Clolhing Iloard. Although no 'sealed paltl'm' examples or the~(' earl\' unirorms exist it is &"lre to assume that the\ conrormed c1oseh' to the regulatiom or the time, and lhal the inrantry and ca\, The King's German Lighl Dragoons began lire in the Tarleton helmets and dolman jackets WOOl b\ British lighl dr:.lgoons, bill rairl\' soon look U1l10 themsel\es lhe coslullle or husS:II'" - \en rashionable in the carl\' 18005. It is recorded lhat lhe 3rd King's German Light Dragoons sl)led and dressed them~hes as '\-llI"l>ar'" rrom lheir rormalion. In the period covered b) lhis til Ie the on I) KGL unit insignia was that borne on unirorTll billions, and pain1Cd on equipment. the title or initials of the Legion being worn on shako and helmet plates, buckles and belt plates. [n British sel'\'ice military nlllk was indicaLCd in
Mlrteton c.p 01 ." ollie... of the 2n.c:l light eenallon, KGt.; known In Germ.n, e, e F1U(1f1/mUtze, the c.p w.. per1 of 1M co,lum. of Ihe Contlnent.l hu...,. The 'wing' could be worn wrapped eround end f.,lened 0', e, here, ellowed to III" IIWII, to el.poH e whit. lnl.rlo.; the peek could 1I1i10 be worn .lthe, up 0' down. The up cord. wllre gold. (Aulho.... dr.wlngl
41
on the right shoulder, and fidd officers on bOlh, as did adjurunlS
and officers of Grenadier companies and Light Infantry. Epauleues 'dried in COlHlnlctioll according LO rank and employmenl. Sergeants also ",'ore jackeL~ of a superior qualil\ to junior l<mk..s. of scarlet dOlh and laced with plain while brdid. Sergeants' sashes wcrc OfwOrsled. and
Shoulder bet! plat. . . 'b....t. plat. .' • of th
glided eump'. of an omc.ra plat. with llNo lion, prter and crown in relief.
.2
in lhe case of the KGL carried a central suipe of Royal blue. As most of the sergcanLS in a British infanm haualion carried i-fool pikes (oflen sLiIl called by the archaic term 'halberds'), lhese weapons became a mark of their rank as much as [he swords the'. cmicd. In 1802 a new system of badges of rank for noncommissioned officers Wali illlroduccd based on a system of chenons. The.se were made of rcgimcnl31 lace and .....om on me righl upper ann. Sergeant-majors and <juanermasler-scrgeanls .....ore four chenons: .sergeanlS. three; corpor..ls. IWO. and lance-corporals. 'chosen men' or IX)Jnbardiers. one, In time it became practice for the XCOS of Grenadier companies and ughl Infamr... to wear chC\Tons on both sk"t.'\'CS. Sergeam-majors in me KGL wore chenons made of officers' lace. Ranks below .sergeam were inuncdiateh idemified b\ me colour of their jackets - hardl... 'redcoats'. more brownish or brick-red. Their lace was of while worsled. often \\ith StrifX'S or 'wonns' of colour. The'. \\"ore no sashes or s.....ords, bUlthe men of the Grenadier and ughl companies \\ere identified by '\\ings', which in the KGL copied the paltem of regiments such as the Guards and 2nd Fool. Follo.....ing British pmctice. officers of the KGL Ughl bamtlions .....ore no indicators of mnk in the field other lhan sashes and s.....ords. Their :\'COs \,'ore the usual c11e\Tons. Liglu infanlrv officers and .sergeaJllS could be marked by the whistles they carried 10 signal their men in anion, The King's German Dr~tgoons broadh' followed the rules governing infamry regarding badges and indicalOrs of rank. as did the King's German Ani1lel)', The Light Dmgoons/llussars. ho.....ever. only follo.....ed the rules in that their NCOs wore che\Tom. Officers of British liglll camlll' were obvious by the richness of their uniform, the magnificence of their sa.ddlery and horse furniture. and the breeding of their tIlounlS. They wore no other marks of mnk. fecling. perhaps. that none were necessary. From 1803 unlil 1808 the Brilish Ann)' insisted that iLS officers and men grew lheir hair long at the back. formed into an II-inch quelle or pigtail al the nape of the neck. This "-.l.S lightly bound in black ribbon and decantted with a black leather 'rose'. In 180-1 the queue "~dS ordered 10 be shonened 10 se\'en inches. Grenadiers. Light infanln and dnllnmers had their back hair plaited and lurned up under tile cap "ilh a comb: ribbons or leather repre.sel1l;:nions of ribbons hung down on the collar from the plaiL In 1808 all hair \\'as ordered lO be CUl shan. an order that some regimentS chose to ignore, including me King's Gennan Dragoons.
The fatigue or undress uniform of the time consisted of a slceH.'d waistcoat, O\erall trousers and a soh cap. In inclement weathcr IIll' waiStCOal could be worn under'lhe soldier's red coal and Ihe O\l'ralls O\er his bJ"eeche~ and gaiters. Ilis cap, referred 10 as a 'night cap' a~ it has I,orn from Retreat to Reveille. was lIsualh carried imidc his sl1al..o, formil1g a comenicnt bag for pipc, tobacco ;md tinder, all campaign overalls I,ere worn by all arms. Thesc were made of coarse woollen material to a sort of 'one-sizc-fits-all' paltern \\hich I,ollid be a(ljusted 10 the fib'llrt.' of the wearer hI cUlting off the bottoms of the Il'gs and altering lhe positions of the bliltons on the olltside seam, LIter, light dli]] 'nankeen' trousers were iSSLIed. \Iam p.'llicipants described hm, l
TIll.' men of lhe KCL Ilere mosth anned and equipped from BI;tish arsenals and agents. HO\,e\er. the emplmment of Iheir ann.. was in some cases at odds \I;th British practice - mainh in the usc of the rifle. Whereas the British chose to ann complele units I,'ith the rifle, which lhe\ then split up into detachments in Ihe lidt!. the KG!. chose to halC a (ktachmenl ( ) f riflemen - 'sllarpshooler,,' - within each battalion. Tile remainder were anTled with the India PatteI'll musket. Howard Blackmore, in his Britijh .Hi/ilm)" FimmllS 1650-1850, il1dicates thaI thl.' 1st and 2nd Light Hmtalions of the KC!. were not issued \\'ilh rifles until 1806, (Mam oftht"ie must ha\e been lost in 1807 when the Iransport XortllllmlJl'rland, carl"'\ing men of the 2nd Light Battalion to Sweden. I,";b \, fl.'eked \lith lhe 10"5 of all anns and baggage.) Blackmore further records that in 1807 the 8th KGL complained th.u lheir rines I,'ere oflhree differing calibres, .In obse.....uion \I hich suggests thaI their rifles were of lhe I
1._
ABOVE a rank_and_fila ptata, tha atandard Itam with ttMo design cut Into tha surl_ of tha bras.. (Author's dr8Wingj
43
being copies or roreign weapons; howelcr, there is ample e\'idence that the ca\'alry or the KGL worked at the sword exercise ulltil a high degree or skill was achie\'ed. The rollow'ing CXU,ICI rrom the history or the GordOll Highlanders makes the point. J L1t~ 1812, Spain: .At Villa Alb."l the Highlander,; admired the conduct, and regreued the r:ue or a hussar or the King's Ccnnan Legion, who, on being attacked b) a powerful French dragoon. aflcr a deal or dexterous s\lord-pla), killed himjusl as a second amled to his assistSacks black. an order \\hich Ihe (jne b.'lttalions chose 10 ignore. Another practice apll."lrenth unique to the KGI. was that of painting compan\' designations on the side,; of knapSo.'lcks, It is impossible to be precise abolll the equipment of the ca\alr. of the Legion. ~Iention has alread\ been made of the 2nd KGD being issued \\ilh second-hand s.,ddlen on their formalion, prob.'lbh because the 15th Light Dragoons \\'ere re-equipping 'lith the recenth introduced 'Iight ca\alr.'unh·ersal So."lddle, pallern 180:;'. The fonnation of tile light dragoons hussars of the KGL spanned the period \\hich sa\\ the apprO\al of this So."lddle. II \\Quld seem obvious therefore that lhe 1st Light Dragoons would nOI hale recei\ed it, and thaI the 3rd Hussars did. bm this is supposition.
Th. ha",.nack of an offic.r 01 th. KJIl9's G.rm.n Legion· _
44
PI". C3; It w•• made 01 black matertaJ and u.uaU, wat.r· proofed with on or ",aml.h, Th. lion, crown and cypher w .... painted In gold, red and whit., (A1lthor's dnlwl1l91
THE PLATES
not designed until 1804 they wore the universal pallern plate until the KGL pattern became available.
A: LICHT CAVALRY, 1805·1808 A1: Private, 2nd King's German Light Dragoons, 1805 HIs Unllorm conforms to that prescribed by British regulations for their regiments of light dragoons and composes a 'Tarleton' helmet, a dolman or short jackel. leather breeches and He5Slarl boots, HIS equipment ConSIStS of a w(lJst belt to support hIS 1796 pattern sabre and the short bayonet for hIS 1796 pattern carbine, and a pouch belt to carry his carbine ammUllltlOl'l pooch and sWIVel hook. All the German light dragoon regiments wore moustaches, wlllls1 the regulatIOnS of the tIme called for the halr to be dfessed Into a 7-Inch queue or plgla,l Into whICh a leather rosette was pmned, The brassworit on the helmet gave addluonal prtltec1100 to the skull, as did the bearskin crest. Regimental ldentrty was martted by the title scroll on the helmet, and the white collar and cutls of the dolman. The whlte-over-red headdress plume was worn by most Bntlsh troopS as a fl8ld
81: Sergeant, drill order Note hIS scarlet jacket. plain white lace, sword, sash, gloves and cane. The black stock at his throat is 11I'lecl WlIh white, and he wears a ruffle or 'breast' below it. At thIS time chevrons were backed WIth stnps of facU'lg cololK. 82: Recruit, drill order
wears the JUnior ranks' versiOn 01 drill order conSlsllng of the sleeved waIstcoat WlIh facing colour at collar and ClIffs, breeches and stockngs. He wears a bayonet belt and carnes an IneM pattern musket. He IS atternpllOQ lhe 'goose-.step', by means of whlch the Bntrsh mfantryman was taught 10 march Il'l the slow and ponderous manner of the lime. The recruit berng 'InslnJcted'
racognJtJOn Slgrl
A2: Private, 3rd King's German Light Dragoons (Hussars); Spain, 1808 The 3rd are I9COI'decI as havU'lg dressed and stykld themselves as 'Hussars' from their fonnatlOfl, adoptIng the fur cap and pellsse of the Continental hussar. (The pelisse could be worn over the dolman in cold weather, as illustrated.) Dressed lor campaigning, our subject has equipment including haversack and canteen, grain for hiS horse, and a cloak strapped across the pistol holsters in front of his saddle. Behind his saddle is a valise and 'waterdeck'. By this time the sabretasche, a large black leather pouch, had been added to the equipment of the British cavalryman. Note our subject's queue. moustaches and the bfalds on each cheek • another mark of the Continenta) hussar.
B: LINE INFANTRY, 1805 Forming in the south of England, the Une infantry of the KGL presented a uniform appearance broken only by the banallon dlstrnctlOOs 0f1 bvttOf\$, colours and drums. Their unifomlS COOformed WIth the regulatlOl"ls In force for Royal regIments, and as shako plates lor the KGL were
An ll'dia pattern Tower musket, the _apon wfth which _ I of lhe Line Ind Ught inllnlry of ItHl KGL w armed. Of O.75in callb , it w.ighed 10lbl 1 toz wlth th. iNIyonet 'bed, wh.n II Itood eft tin till, With this w•• porI the aoldler carried eo rounds of ball cartridge, thr.. flints, 011, tooll, and a picker .nd b.".,h to keep the lock clean, (Author's drawIng)
.s
B3: Captain, full dress Note the black bIcome hat WIth black cockade. gok:Iloop and 'puis', and whIte-over-red cut leather plume; the bright scaf1et cloth 01 his long-tailed coat; hIS gorget, epaulene. sash, gloves, cane and HesSlall boots.
84: Drummer, full dress The drummer beating lime tOf the dflll has a bearskin cap with a plate bearing the Royal arms. troptues 01 arms and drums. His coatIS exactly to the regulatIOn of the time. which called for Royal blue wmgs and blue-and-wtute lace lor dl'\Jrrvnets of Royal regunents. Note his drum apron, short sword and gk:lVes. &de drums of the lime were large, being 18Jns In dtametef and 1BIns deep. They weRt painted and embellished as shown.
c:
LINE INFANTRY, 1811 By this time many 01 the units 01 the KGL were commilled to the campaign in the Peninsula; thiS plate depIcts the appearance of the men 01 the banalions In that theatre.
une
C1: Sergeant of a Grenadier Company, guard-mounting order HIS jaCket IS based on a SUMVlng example; note the chevrons, and the red·and-blue tumback ornament. The varnished 1800 pallern shako had by now been replaced by a version made of lelt, on which were worn the plate, cockade and plume 01 the former pallern. In the case 01 Grenadier companies the plume was all white. Overalls were the campaign nethefWear. Our subtect carnes a rolled greatcoat strapped to his sword belt, and a 7-foot PIke; note also hiS sash. Hall' was now worn CUI short to the neck. C2: Corporal, Grenadier Company, 2nd Line Battalion He is in lull marching order which it'lCludes the recently· introduced 'Troller'·pattern frame kl18psack. This Is painted in the facing colour 01 darX blue, and bears the corpornl's company equipment set number 'AT on the side. repeated on his canteen. Note his KGL shako plate. Grenadier cap plume and grenade rosene badge; Grenacber WW'lQS, and chevrons· these weRt worn on both sleeves 10 the banalion's two flank compames, HIS weapon IS an India panern musket, and he carnes a haversack, canteen and rolled greatcoat. Allached to hiS 'breastplate' is a strap and chainS which secure the picker and brush to clean the lock 01 his musket. C3: Junior officer, battalion colour party He is ~Iustrated with a cased regimental colour drawn to correct scale. The battalion's two colotn were much Ia1ger tIlan shown by artIStS of the lime. being 6ft x 6ft &ns on a staff that was nearly ten leet 10 length. Unt~ QOIfIQ IOtO actIOn colours were usually protected as shown by an oilcloth sleeve With a brass tip. His coat is based on an existing example. Note our subject's oilskin-covered hat and plume. sash. trousers, and haversack. and also the turnback badges on the tails of his coat.
•8
D: LlQHT INFANTRY A move to 'FIX one general uruform lor Allie Corps, petmltlJog no other vanetlOn than ... buttons and f8ClJlQ' was being
diSCussed before the lormatJon of the KIng's German RegIment. The fact that they were clothed 10 nile green IS a strong IOdicatlOl1 that the regIment's mended role was that of a nile unit. whilst the black facings chosen folowed the example of the only Bnhsh nfle Ulllt than III eXIstence, ManOingham's Rifle Corps (eventually the Rille Bngade). 01: Corporal, King's German Regiment, 1803 His shako and breastplate bear the devICe 01 a crowned bugle horn. the appotnted badge for nlle unrts. teCOrded as Shll being worn III the KGl In 1812. The CUI of his jadlet accords to the regulatIonS of the lime, as do his pantaloons and short gcuters. He is armed WIth an Indl8 pattern musket and bayonet, and Cllfnes a 32-round pouch, canvas kl\8psack and rolled greatcoat. Note hiS cap cords, plume and roselle. 02: Private, 2nd Light Battalion, KGL, 1809 By 1809 trousers and a peakless cap were recorded as being worn by men of the 2nd lJght BattallOl1. Here, our subtect carnes the new 'Trotter' lrame-knapsack upon whlch his unit'S Iltle IS pamted. He also carnes a 6O-round pouch. rolled greatcoat and Indl8 pallem musket. 03: Officer, 1812 The details of his unllorm are taken from a contemporary painting. lrom which there is lillie to determine his unit. Note the continued wearing 01 the cmwned bugle hom on his shako, the whistle on his pouch belt. the prolUSlOll of metallic lace on his pantaloons Mel HesSIan boots. and hIS gold cap COI'ds. E: LIGHT INFANTRY, SPAIN, 1811 El: Sergeant-bugler, 2nd Light Battalion He wears hIS unllorm jacket With 'night cap' and 'nankeen' trousers. The red collar and cuffs Wflfe the marX 01 a bugler, as were the padded red-and·green wings. Note his badge of rank, light infantry sash, belt and sWOl"d-bayonet. E2: 'Sharpshooter', 1st Light Battalion He wears a newly-introduced pattern of shako peculiar to the light Infantry, whlch had leather remforcng on the crown and band - see page 33. HIS eQuipment Illdudes a 6O+fOI.WW:l JXXjCh, PQ'Nder horn and sword belt. To his front, and 00( VIsible, are a priming nask and 'ball-bag' He IS armed WIth a nfle of German manulacture and an 181n HIf3Chfanger swordbayonet. Around the camplire in the background are a soldier of one of the light battalions and a comrade lrom the 5th Wne Battalion. They wear 'flight caps' - note the laney decoratIOn of the latter - and waIStcoatS as they apply themselves to the task of cooking their rallons. The tents are of the 'bell' pallem made by the firm of John Trotter. supplier of most of the 8ntISh Army's eQUIpment at this lime. E3: 'Sharpshooter' 01 a Une balta lion He too is armed With a German nfle and sword-bayonet. and his equipment is to the same design as that 01 E2, bu1 in whitened buff leather. Note the green plume in hiS shako, the IlQht Infantry bugle horn badge on his cockade, hIS KGl shako plate, and his light Infantry shoulder wngs. The chains suspended from his coatae button are those for hIS pICker and "'""'.
(AI
--
~ t71N1 patt..-nt of ttNvy ""vlliry .word to') and li9ht cavllry pbre (8). whletl wO'C>\>Ohl M muc:h 6estn>c:tlon In the hIndI of the cav,hymen of thlI King" Oennan Legion.
(Autho.... drawing)
F; 2ND KINO'S GERMAN DRAGOONS, 1812
--~
-_.~
.
greatcoat. hls queued hair, and his Slngle-chevroo badge of rank. BesIde him IS a linstock WIth a slow-burning match cord, from whiCh the portfire next to it could be ignned to fire the gun. To the rear other crew members stand at ease around their gun. Painted 00 the Ilaps of their knapsacks is the KGA badge.
F1: Private, marching order ThIS so!dlEl( and his mount are depicted at the flrne of the nl9lmenfs astornshlng viCtory over the French squares at Garcia Hernandez. He has his rolled doak strapped above hIS PIStol holsters, the valise and comsacks betund the saddle, the carbine lucked into his pouch belt, and the haver.iaCk and canteen slung on hIS back • all gave a certain amount of protecllOO in a m!lee of horsemen or infantry. But the greatest protection came from the sword, as it parried cuts and points. Often criticised, the heavy, straight blade and disc hilt of the 1796 pattern heavy cavalry sword made it an ideal parrying weapon.
F2: Corporal, marching order ThIs NCO demonstrates the metal 'skull' worn inSIde the dragoons' hats when in actIOn; combined WIth ctunscales. they gave a great deal 01 protectIOn 10 the head. 0lK sub,ect wears the jaCkel and overalls 01 the time and shows the method of weanng the carbine belt, waist belt, sabretasche, havefSack and canteen. Regln'lental Insigma was worn on buttons aoo on the plate 01 the waist belt. Note his sword and the bayonet for his carbine.
G: KING'S GERMAN ARTILLERY, 1807 Ttus plate depicts a 9-poondef gun and crew of a foot battery of the KGA at the tJlne of the Bntl$h expedrbort to Detvnark. Except fOf illSlgl'llll they are dothed and eqUIpped as their Royal Artillery counterparts.
G2: Officer He wears the rather plam tJI\Iform of an officer of the 8mJsh arlJllery, the only KGA dlSlIl'1C!JOfIS bang borne on buttons and sword belt plate. H: GUIDON AND INSIGNIA H1: Cavalry guidon of the 4th Squadron, 1st King's German Dragoons. The ground was In the facing colour of the regiment, Royal blue. It was carned 00 a lance 9 ft long, to which It was secured by cords, and measured 2ft 3ins In height by 3ft Sins in length. The lance was secured to the bearer by means of a carbtne clip and belt.
una
H2: Shako plate, KGL battalions, 1805-13. Taken from a design traced from Hawtles' metal badge book and dated 1804, it is unlikety 10 have come Into S8MC8 unllliate 1805 Of
early 1806. H3: Offi<:er's lumback badge. worn ttvoughout the line battalions on the lalls of coats and jackets. H4: Valise designation, King's German Horse Artillery.
H5: Other ranks' turnback badge, Grenadier companies. Ught infantry wore bugle hom badges on ttleu' tumbacks; centre Of battalion companl6S wore no tunback device.
G1: Bombardier, marching order we show him minus the 'field eqUIpment' of haversack and
He: Buttons. Officers' buttons were gilt and those of other ranks pewter. A great vanety of button designs were worn ttwoughout the KGL but l.Jne Infantry battalions wore those shown: a crown, over K.G.L, over the battalion number.
canteen, fOf clarity of the other details. HIS shako has a plate similar to that of the RA but With 'King's German Legion' 00 the garter. These plates were smaller than the infantry model, and of a different shape. Our subject is armed with a 'hanger' shortsword. and carries a pouch belt with all the tools and eqUIpment IOf cleaning hiS gun's touch·hoIe and prepanng the loaded gun fOf finng. Note his knapsack and rolled
H7: Grenadiers' Wing. The somewhat odd look of this item is due to the fact that the strap was worn behind the shoUlder, while the wing was put on the sleeve evenly. This is therefOfe a left-hand Wing. several regIments WOfe WingS as shown, WIth both the shoulder strap 'tuft' and the WIng fringe, but only those of the KGL survrve on presetVed coats.
47
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EMPI RE
Wntem Europe In 1812. The vastly expanded French Empire i. shown In diagonal .hadlng; but It must be remembered that Napoleon had also placed members of his family on the throne. of Spain, Italy, Napl•• and Westphalia - part 01 the Confederation of the Rhine. Denmark/Norway and the Grand Duchy of Warsaw were French-dependant
at8t••, and P""s.la, AU.lrill and S_den w....
neutralised _ the latta. under the rule of Napoleon'. former marshal, Bernadotte, a. King Charl•• XIV John.
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MEN-AT-ARMS
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MILITARY
THE KING'S GERMAN LEGION (I) 1803-1812 This title is the first of a t"~pan stud) of the King's German Legion the largest and mOSl respected of the foreign corps \\ hich fought as integrated elements of the Brirish Army during the :'\apoleonic Wars. Wellington considered the KGL C3yalry regiments the most professional in his Peninsular arm); and the qualit~ of the infantry \\3S implicit in the fact thaI the) were normal1) brig-Jded \\ith the Foot Guards. Drawing upon nc\\ research in British 3nd IlanO\erian 3rchi\al sources, i\1ikc Chappell's dctaile{l text 3nd meticulous illustrations offer unprecedented details of thi~ impressi\c fighting orgoanisation.
ME -AT-ARMS • An unnvaUed source of Information on the organisation. uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.
The senes covers subjects as diverse as the Impenal Roman army and rts enemies; the paratroopers and tank crews of our own day; and hundreds of other subjects bet'Neen, over the whole IIIo'Of'ld and more than 5,000 years of history. • The popular 4B-page format ,ncludes Concise text packed WIth specific
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