Friday 23 March 2018

Generals and Émigrés

This week’s focus has been on completing the generals and adding the first of the émigré regiments for the British in Egypt.

 

Of the generals I have done three brigadiers in Doyle, Coote and Craddock.



Doyle


Craddock


 
Coote


The first of what will be four émigré regiments is De Watteville's Regiment founded by Louis de Watteville, the son of a Swiss mercenary who commanded a regiment in the service of the Netherlands. Louis served as a junior officer in his father's regiment against Revolutionary France and when the Dutch were defeated by the French he took up similar commission in a Swiss corps in the Austrian army in 1799. When Austria too was defeated, the various Swiss units were disbanded and de Watteville’s regiment was created by patching together parts of several Swiss regiments – Salis, Roverea, Courten and Bachmann –  and signed on in British service as mercenaries. 



On arrival in Egypt each of the contingent parts of the regiment still had their distinctive facings – Salis blue,  Roverea/Courten black,  Bachmann red - and I have represented them in this way, with Bachmann on the left of the line (right when viewed from the front) Salis on the right and Roverea/Courten in the centre. There is some evidence that later in the campaign they were issued with a new uniform matching that of the Roverea contingent. The regimental flags were taken from the Perry site – they were not issued with British colours until 1805.


 

The regiment continued service with the British throughout the Napoleonic Wars, chiefly around the Mediterranean. It served in the Peninsular Campaign from 1811 to 1813. Sent to Canada in 1813 to fight in the War of 1812 the regiment was retired at the end in 1815 and for their services the surviving soldiers were granted land in Canada. If I ever decide expand the War of 1812 force I think I will have to add de Watteville.

 


Louis de Watteville’s career reached its pinnacle in Canada. Promoted to major-general in 1813 and separated from the regiment, he commanded the district of Montreal for a while, before assuming command of the Right Division on the Niagara front after Raill was wounded and captured at Lundy’s Lane and participated in the Siege of Fort Erie. After the war he retired to Switzerland.

12 comments:

  1. Excellent work, Mark! I have fielded De Watteville's regiment in many a refight of Maida. Of course, not in nearly as fine a uniform as your chaps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jonathan. The British force is beginning to build up now - by the end of Easter there will be six battalions completed.

      Delete
  2. I had not heard of De Watteville's regiment before. Quite fascinating, and they do have a touch of the Austrian about them, to me eye at least (perhaps it's just the blue trousers and touch of yellow). Lovely work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The other two émigré units that are scheduled for May are another Swiss regiment, de Roll's - although my purile sense of humour want to call them de Swiss Roll (and I am sure after a few beers that WILL become their name) - and the Corsican Rangers. I may yet be tempted to do Lowenstein's Jägers, now they will add a real Austrian touch. But for now it is back to the 23rd Foot.

      Delete
  3. Lovely toys Mark...
    The emigre units really give a lot of character to the British Army of this period ... I think by 1812 they were all in standard British red coats... nice in its own way... but I think I prefer the variety.

    All the best. Aly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank Aly. I am looking around now to see what figures I can use for Lowenstein's jagers...and yet more types of hats...that is seven different types so far for this army.

      Delete
  4. As usual an excellent job!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely troops, I do like the emigre troops to add some variety and élan the solid british line, these do the job very well!
    Best Iain

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes it is nice to have something out of the norm in the army.

      Delete
  6. Wonderful stuff Mark.
    Cheers
    Stu

    ReplyDelete