The British are coming...43rd Monmouthshire Regiment

Gembong – March 22, 2014

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Ready for action - the 43rd prepare to deliver a withering volley with an additional +1.  Thanks Dr. Brown!

Well the first of the British Regiments has now hit the table thanks to the wonderful skills of good friend Nathan at Lonely Gamers at the wonderful castings that he sells from Elite Miniatures.

For those new to the blog, a big project of mine is getting the Light Division up and running for some lovely General De Brigade Napoleonic gaming with my boys.  We have set a gaming day at the the NWS on April 5th as the first venture of ours in the Peninsular as a team and we are all very much looking forward to it, me especially!!




Another view of the lads.  GMB flags that need their edges painted in and
Front Rank finials.  Such animation in these castings.

 The 43rd were part of one of the genuinely elite formations that fought in any theatre of war during this period.  Comprising elements of the 43rd, 52nd, 95th Rifles (often fighting in closed ranks with two battalions), the Portuguese 1st and 3rd Cacadores, KGL Hussars and Royal Horse Artillery.  In addition having the Portuguese 17th and 20th line regiments attached as well.



The distinctive "unofficial" scarlet pelisse on officers of this regiment stood it apart.


The 43rd also were different from the run of the mill uniforms of the other light regiments by having their officers elegant additional apparel.  According to Haythornwaite in his excellent "Uniforms of the Peninsular War" Captain Hobkirk reputedly spent an additional 1000 pounds a year on his uniform and when captured by the French in 1813 was mistaken for a general by none other than Marshall Soult!

I think we all agree that they do look rather resplendent on the field and should prove a stiff opposition to those dastardly French.

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