First Battalion, 55e Régiment d'Infanterie

Returning to the Franco-Prussian War French infantry, this is the start of the 55e Régiment that along with the 32e Régiment and the 3e Chasseurs makes up the 1st Brigade of Vergé's 1st Division commanded by Général de Brigade Charles R. Latellier-Valazé.

Claiming history back to 1644 as Régiment Condé, it fought in the Napoleonic Wars at (among many) Valmy, Rivoli, Austerlitz, Jena, Lubeck, Eylau, Heilsberg, Albuera, Bautzen, Deresden, Klum, Toulouse Ligny and Waterloo.

Like many of the regiments reformed in the 1820s it served its time in Algeria. Of note is that François Achille Bazaine, the future marshal and as commander of the Army of the Rhine in 1870 became the scapegoat for the defeat, was colonel of the regiment 1850-54.

Colonel Charles de Maleville took command after Bazaine and led it at Solferino, where Maleville was mortally wounded storming the Casa Nouva farm, inspiring this well known dramatic image.

Under Colonel Waldner-Frauendstein it went to war in 1870, fighting at Spicheren where it skilfully covered the withdrawal of the rest of the division at the end of the engagement, Rezonville, Gravelotte and Metz. The 4th battalion became the 14e Régiment de Marche and served in the 13e Corps in the Siege of Paris. Eight depot companies of 2nd and 3rd battalions formed the 29e Régiment de Marche, fighting in the Loire Valley.

After the war it served again in North Africa and was heavily engaged in the Great War.  Desolved after the war it was reconstituted in 1939 as 55e Régiment d'Infanterie Alpine.

Also finished in the last couple of days is the basing on the two foot command stands.