French Grenadier of the Guard, Waterloo

[rodsginger]

Hi all
I have this figure of a Guard Grenadier wearing his coat and yet on his pack he has what looks like a blanket or a rolled up coat. Is there any reason why this guy could not have , say, a rolled up blanket on his pack and if so what colour would it be? Or maybe he was a scrounger instead of a grumbler.
Your thoughts please.
Rod

 

[flart1943]

Hi Rod
It could be his bearskin in a waterproof cover.
Pete

 

[Wlas]

Most references show that rolled up item missing when the greatcoat was being worn. An easy assumation that it was the greatcoat on top of the backpack. Yet in Bucquoy there is an illustration of a Guard Grenadier by Boisselier wearing the greatcoat and with what might be a rolled grey blanket on top of the backpack.

 

[flart1943]

Hi Rod
Me again, this is a page from Ugo Pericoli's book 'The Armies at Waterloo'. I hope it is of some use.
Pete

 

[rodsginger]

grenadier

Thanks Pete and Majnun.
I do have an illusration that shows the bearskin in what looks like a blue and white small duffle / kit bag on top of his pack with his plume attached to his sword in a waterproof.
Plenty of variation me thinks. I like the idea of a grey blanket afterall a guy has to keep warm.
Once again thanks.
Rod

 

[billyturnip]

I would suggest PM 'ing Marcellin de Marbot he will know but I've got a feeling he's reading this right now

Roger

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hello Rod,
Grenadiers of the Guard normally carried on the haversack their coat, that was dark blue, absolutely not grey, that was the colour for the line infantry. Sometimes they could carry also the bicorne hat or the bearskin headgear rolled into a blanket, striped white and blue, having a form rather different from the rolled coat. Obviously, if your figure is dressing already his coat, he can not have another coat rolled on the haversack; but if the form of the rolled item is appropriate, different from the rolled coat hold by the white cords, it can be the blanket containing his alternative headgear (at Waterloo weather was very rainy before battle), even if I think they had other troubles at Waterloo, than preserve the headgear from the weather. If the form of your blanket is too much similar to the usual rolled coat, you must remove it, putting on the haversack without garment, or making something easy with putty. If you need, I can share an image with the headgear rolled on.
Best regards
Marcello

 

[billyturnip]

I knew you wouldn't lt us down Marcello.
Your enthusiasm and knowledge for the Napoleonic era is a joy.
Roger.

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hi Roger (at first I wrote your aka name, excuse me),
Oh yes, uniforms of napoleonic period are my passion (but not the only LOL), I have been aide de camp of five different Marshals, and at Waterloo I was there too, being colonel commandant of the 7th Hussars, my dress and shako are still kept in the Army Museum in Paris (LOL once more)
best wishes
MdM

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hi again Rod,
Here a tipical lot of items carried by G.Grenadiers (or other infantry soldiers) on the haversack. I don't know the scale of your figure, but if it's a 54mm, all these items, or most of all, are available among Historex spare parts.
Good job
M

 

[rodsginger]

Thanks

Thanks Marcello
Much appreciated.
Rod

 

[rodsginger]

Grenadier Picture

Hi all
I just found this on a uniform CD that I have.
Rod

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hi Rod,
Thanks for the image, but this is uncorrect for me. From who is it the drawing? You probably don't say how many paintings, contemporary to the nap period, contain mistakes, and they were made at that time...Often drawings are copied by a mistaken source, so repeat the original mistake. Me too, I draw napoleonic uniforms, if I commit a mistake copying another author, that does not mean I am right. Your pic represents a corporal in winter marching order, it's right the use of bicorn hat, but in this case the blanket on the haversack could be only the bearskin headgear, rolled into the striped pack I said, absolutely not the form we can see in this drawing, that is the usual rolled coat form. This is not because my thinking, it's written in many documents, text of table n.40 by Lucien Rousselot for example. Remaining on the drawing, I can tell, as a drawer, that also the form of the haversack is uncorrect for me. It seems squared, while the french haversack had a rounded profile. But this is a little detail...
Best regards
M

 

[rodsginger]

Pics

Thanks Marcello for the pics. Really appreciated. Rod

 

[Kisifer]

Marcello, for once more your knowledge in Napoleonic uniformology amazes us, and gives us correct information. Thanks a lot for your help, that's greatly appreciate it.

Xenofon

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hi Xenofon,
Thanks, this is a good way to enjoy myself, I hope my passion for napoleonic uniforms can help anyone in painting these colourful soldiers.
Best wishes
Marcello