With the completion of the ACW cavalry I fluttered back to the Franco-Prussian War Prussians, to work on the 1st Westphalian Infantry Regiment No. 13 that forms part of 25th Brigade, 13th Division, VII Corps, First Army.
Raised as the 1st Reserve Infantry Regiment at Königsberg in 1813 the regiment participated in the Wars of Liberation, fighting at Luckau, Köninshorn, Hagelberg, Grossbeeren and Dennewitz. It was employed in the Hundred Days Campaign, but was not present at Waterloo, engaged instead in Alcase. In 1817 the tegiment moved to the newly acquired province of Westphalia and took the title 1st Westphalian Infantry Regiment based at Münster.
Deployed in the revolts of 1848 and engaged in all Danish War of 1864, including Düppel, the regiment served in western Germany during the 1866 campaign under von Goeben against the Federal forces, fighting at Dermbach, Kissingen, Aschaffenberg and Gerchsheim.
In The Franco-Prussian War it was engaged at Colombey and Gravelotte, then later in the Siege of Metz.
In the Great War it served entirely on the Western Front, suffering 4,213 casualties during the war.
This is the 1st Battalion and I have left standard pole is bare because the standard had largely disintegrated in 1866 and I have made a broad assumption that after that campaign they were completely gone.
Next on the painting conveyor belt is some more Swedish cavalry.
Good looking unit,storied past.
ReplyDeleteAnd the number of units is growing…this is number eight.
DeleteWhat is it with the Prussians and their inability to replace a damage regimental standard? I am sure you told a similar story about another unit earlier....didn't they have a textile industry capable of replacing an infantry flag....little wonder they felt the need to keep invading other people's countries....!
ReplyDeleteThey did replace them, but the king insisted that the go to war with the original painted silk standards as a matter of honour. But painted silk does not last well so pretty much every regiment under number 36 had some sort of damage. Some even carried their damaged standards into action in 1914.
DeleteNice work once again Mark and some useful info re: the tattered standard. Looking at some of the regimental standards I've seen in Bath cathedral (and other places) they are so thin as to be nearly transparent in places. So I can imagine they didn't fare well with the rigours of a campaign.
ReplyDeleteThe silk would have made them very light (although the paint probably weighed a bit) but I suspect that the paint attacked the fabric and would have flaked off with movement.
DeleteVery nice Mark. They do look good on mass.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Stuart
Thanks Stu
DeleteAnother nice unit Mark…
ReplyDeleteThey certainly got around and saw some action.
I think the Japanese also hung on to their regimental standards until they literally fell of the staff…
All the best. Aly
Thanks Aly…they are fun to do. I entirely believe that the Japanese did that. It would be an honour thing for them too.
DeleteGreat work Mark. You must be amassing quite a collection of Prussians by now.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence, a,though there are still more unpainted than painted at present…just.
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