Hi to everyone ,
The Peninsular War was fought in horrid conditions with the opposing armies suffering from one common enemy .....the heat .
Using what protection they could amongst them neck covers to shield the neck and thats what our subject is wearing from the talented stable of Stormtroopers we have a officer from the backbone of the British Army .....the Infantry.
The model is quoted as being from the 1st Foot Guards circa 1811 but could equally be any British Officer by careful research on the facing colours .
Lets have a bit of background info on the actions the Regt was involved in :
At the beginning of the 19th century, Britain was busy preparing for Napoleon's invasion, but after Trafalgar the government felt confident enough to send a force to occupy Sicily in 1805. This force included the 1st Guards Brigade (1st and 3rd Battalions 1st Guards). But in 1808 there was more important work to be done. The Brigade, part of a 13,000 strong force, was sent to the Peninsula to reinforce Wellesley's army which had successfully driven the French from Portugal. They landed at Corunna and marched inland to join up with Sir John Moore's 20,000. They then moved north to fight Soult's army beyond Valladolid but on Christmas day news arrived that Napoleon himself was leading a superior force to cut them off from their base at Corunna. Moore had no choice but to retreat to Corunna and save the Army.
Corunna 1808
The story of the retreat to Corunna is a harrowing one. It was the middle of winter and they had to cross mountainous terrain with little food and tattered clothing. The trek took nearly three weeks and there were successful rearguard actions by the cavalry. The two battalions of Guards arrived at the port, apparently marching in step behind their corps of drums, setting a fine example to the rest of the army and helping to raise morale. A few days later the battle of Corunna started when the French took advantage of the late arrival of the British fleet, and attacked. Soult's men were strongly resisted and eventually retired but not before Moore was fatally wounded on 17th January 1809.
Walcheren 1809
The 1st Guards only had a few months to recover from their exertions in Spain. By late summer they were packed off on the ill-fated expedition to the Dutch island of Walcheren with the objective of capturing Antwerp. The attack failed and the whole army was struck down with a terrible fever. The expedition was abandoned and they returned home.
Barrosa 1811
The 1st Guards returned to Spain in 1810 where they found themselves besieged in Cadiz. The composite brigade was commanded by Major-General Dilkes of the 3rd Guards. There were 6 companies of the 2nd Battalion and 3 companies each from the other two Guards regiments. On the 5th March 1811 they, with some Spanish troops, were sent up the coast to attack Victor's army. They were separated from the Spanish so had to fight two French Divisions alone. They had just completed a 15 hour march but managed to defeat a force of cavalry and infantry from a strong defensive position. The attack was headed by the 1st Guards and cost them a third of their number after an hour and a half of bitter fighting. When the two year siege of Cadiz was lifted the Brigade made their way to join a further influx of Guards who were wintering at Cuidad Rodrigo. They were the 1st Battalion of the 1st Guards. Wellesley, now the Duke of Wellington was in command of the army and formed two Guards Brigades: 1st Brigade under Maj-Gen Howard of the Coldstream Guards to consist of 1st and 3rd Battalion 1st Guards and the composite battalion of Coldstream and 3rd Guards. 2nd Brigade under Maj-Gen the Hon E Stopford of the 3rd Guards, to consist of the 1st Battalions of the Coldstream and 3rd Guards. The army moved north to drive the French from Spain. There was a 3 month delay while they besieged San Sebastian.
Nive 1813
When the French retreated into France the British followed and forced crossings of the River Bidossa on 7th October, the Nivelle on 10th November and finally that year, the Nive. The battle on the Nive lasted 3 days and cost the British 1,500 lives overall but cost Soult's men 3,500 lives. The 1st Guards gained a battle honour from this.
The 1st Foot or Grenadiers won the following battle honours to carry proudly on their colours :
CORUNNA
BAROSSA
NIVE
PENINSULA
As expected references abound for this period in the Napoleonic Wars amongst them :
A particularly intersting memoirs being from a serving Officer in the Peninsular : Captain Orlando Bridgeman :
Continued in next post:
Nap
The Peninsular War was fought in horrid conditions with the opposing armies suffering from one common enemy .....the heat .
Using what protection they could amongst them neck covers to shield the neck and thats what our subject is wearing from the talented stable of Stormtroopers we have a officer from the backbone of the British Army .....the Infantry.
The model is quoted as being from the 1st Foot Guards circa 1811 but could equally be any British Officer by careful research on the facing colours .
Lets have a bit of background info on the actions the Regt was involved in :
At the beginning of the 19th century, Britain was busy preparing for Napoleon's invasion, but after Trafalgar the government felt confident enough to send a force to occupy Sicily in 1805. This force included the 1st Guards Brigade (1st and 3rd Battalions 1st Guards). But in 1808 there was more important work to be done. The Brigade, part of a 13,000 strong force, was sent to the Peninsula to reinforce Wellesley's army which had successfully driven the French from Portugal. They landed at Corunna and marched inland to join up with Sir John Moore's 20,000. They then moved north to fight Soult's army beyond Valladolid but on Christmas day news arrived that Napoleon himself was leading a superior force to cut them off from their base at Corunna. Moore had no choice but to retreat to Corunna and save the Army.
Corunna 1808
The story of the retreat to Corunna is a harrowing one. It was the middle of winter and they had to cross mountainous terrain with little food and tattered clothing. The trek took nearly three weeks and there were successful rearguard actions by the cavalry. The two battalions of Guards arrived at the port, apparently marching in step behind their corps of drums, setting a fine example to the rest of the army and helping to raise morale. A few days later the battle of Corunna started when the French took advantage of the late arrival of the British fleet, and attacked. Soult's men were strongly resisted and eventually retired but not before Moore was fatally wounded on 17th January 1809.
Walcheren 1809
The 1st Guards only had a few months to recover from their exertions in Spain. By late summer they were packed off on the ill-fated expedition to the Dutch island of Walcheren with the objective of capturing Antwerp. The attack failed and the whole army was struck down with a terrible fever. The expedition was abandoned and they returned home.
Barrosa 1811
The 1st Guards returned to Spain in 1810 where they found themselves besieged in Cadiz. The composite brigade was commanded by Major-General Dilkes of the 3rd Guards. There were 6 companies of the 2nd Battalion and 3 companies each from the other two Guards regiments. On the 5th March 1811 they, with some Spanish troops, were sent up the coast to attack Victor's army. They were separated from the Spanish so had to fight two French Divisions alone. They had just completed a 15 hour march but managed to defeat a force of cavalry and infantry from a strong defensive position. The attack was headed by the 1st Guards and cost them a third of their number after an hour and a half of bitter fighting. When the two year siege of Cadiz was lifted the Brigade made their way to join a further influx of Guards who were wintering at Cuidad Rodrigo. They were the 1st Battalion of the 1st Guards. Wellesley, now the Duke of Wellington was in command of the army and formed two Guards Brigades: 1st Brigade under Maj-Gen Howard of the Coldstream Guards to consist of 1st and 3rd Battalion 1st Guards and the composite battalion of Coldstream and 3rd Guards. 2nd Brigade under Maj-Gen the Hon E Stopford of the 3rd Guards, to consist of the 1st Battalions of the Coldstream and 3rd Guards. The army moved north to drive the French from Spain. There was a 3 month delay while they besieged San Sebastian.
Nive 1813
When the French retreated into France the British followed and forced crossings of the River Bidossa on 7th October, the Nivelle on 10th November and finally that year, the Nive. The battle on the Nive lasted 3 days and cost the British 1,500 lives overall but cost Soult's men 3,500 lives. The 1st Guards gained a battle honour from this.
The 1st Foot or Grenadiers won the following battle honours to carry proudly on their colours :
CORUNNA
BAROSSA
NIVE
PENINSULA
As expected references abound for this period in the Napoleonic Wars amongst them :
A particularly intersting memoirs being from a serving Officer in the Peninsular : Captain Orlando Bridgeman :
Nap
