NEWSLETTER, SPRING 2017.
After months with many of the regiment not seeing each other it is always good to turn up at the AGM and see those familiar faces once more.
Much regimental business was discussed, amongst which was events the group will be attending, a list you should have all received via e-mail from Duncan. Marengo looks like it will be the big trip of the year, possibly in a minibus with a stop over en route.
"Yes, I have just bought a second hand horse, why do you ask?"
People expecting pudding.
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Notes for your diary:
Cannon Hall has been re-arranged for the 5/6th of August.
Fishguard event is no longer going ahead.
There should be an 'In Humbert's footsteps' event in Ireland on the end of May bank holiday weekend. More details doubtless to follow on that one... although as this goes to press time is growing short to organize.. their facebook page gives the dates as 28th to 30th April at Castlebar. Looks like a fantastic event.
There are also battle proms this year with the parent units listed below , all NA members are welcome to attend, but please contact the parent unit first as some sites have limited space. If you have any questions please let Duncan know, or contact the parent unit for information:
Saturday 08 July 2017 at Burghley House 3eme Parent unit
Saturday 15 July at Hatfield House 1/95th Parent unit
Saturday 22 July 2017 at Blenheim Palace 44th Parent unit
Saturday 05 August 2017 at Highclere Castle 3/95th Parent unit
Saturday 12 August 2017 at Ragley Hall 4th foot Parent unit
September should see an Event at Wollaton in Nottingham and also a campaign style weekend at Ickworth, more details as things are confirmed.
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Worcester, Training event.
the last weekend of february saw the first of what might become an annual event, a training event in Worcester, with drill and firing on one day. including some new maneuvers like firing by number or file to create a rolling volley. A couple of displays were put on for the public although it was a low key event a few bemused members of public did pass through the venue.
The unit was joined by some of our friends in the Sappeurs and naturally many conversions and formation changes were practiced that should match up closer with our continental comrades drill. Theory was put into practice, hopefully.
The evening saw a more relaxed atmosphere at the local pub for dinner and a few drinks. Sunday was a quieter day with a few members still haunting the venue and putting on a display.
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His majesty, The rabbit of 'Olland.
Of all the Bonaparte clan the most sincere must have been Louis, born Luigi, on second September, 1778 and whose name was changed to make it more French just as the family name of Buonaparte had been.
He followed his older sibling into the military, also serving in the artillery and accompanied Napoleon to Eygpt where he was promoted to Captain. It did not take him long to become a general under his brothers patronage but he himself was amongst the first to admit his rank was not fitting for his actual experience.
Despite later friction Napoleon evidently thought much of Louis' qualities, writing in 1800 that:
'There is no longer any need of our worrying our minds about looking for my successor. I have found one. It is Louis. He has none of the defects of my other brothers, and he has all their good qualities'.
Louis is perhaps best remembered as the King of Holland. Known as the Batavian republic since the battles of the revolutionary period had liberated the Netherlands from Habsburg dominion. However the republic was proving too independent minded for the now French Emperor to stomach, it must become a vassal state, with a French king, enter Louis in 1806.
or as he changed his name (again) to; Lodewijk, Louis in Dutch, indeed he tried ernestly to learn Dutch and have it spoken in court, however his poor language made him introduce himself as "Konijn van 'Olland" The rabbit of 'Olland instead of the King of Holland, his skills did improve, a bit.
To the amusement of some and much annoyance of many, Lodewijk could never decide on where the capital should be and moved it regularly. Generally though he was well respected by his subjects.
His wife through an arranged marriage, Hortense, was said to despise Holland and remained in France. Louis was also believed to suffer from some mental malady, possibly depression, from time to time, and he has also been accused of being a hypocondriac.
Sadly his popularity with the people was all for reasons that infuriated his brother, and maybe these were the same 'good qualities' Napoleon had spoken of just not being used in his favour. He refused to introduce conscription to Holland which was much feared, although there was of course a Dutch army which served with distinction and was generally modelled on the French but with white as the national colour. He also refused to shut down trading with England as part of the continental system, officially the Dutch could not trade with Britain but unofficaly it clearly carried on but Louis would not act to crush the smuggling going on because it would have impoverished a nation already struggling with higher taxes and reduced trade.
The last straw came when rebellions in the neighboring German territories were not put down fast enough by Dutch action and the English landed in 1809 and marurded up and down the coast. Napoleon said he was incompetent but in truth there were not many troops in Holland to deal with these problems as they had been called away to Spain or the rumblings from Austria and it was Bernadotte with a militia force that thwarted the English. Napoleon demanded his brother's abdication but not only did he (Louis) refuse he also stated he would end the alliance with France. Holland was annexed by French troops and Louis went into exile in Austria, living in Graz.
Louis never returned to Holland until 1840, he had previously been refused admittance, and even then travelled in disguise, however whilst staying in a hotel news got out of Louis being resident and local people gathered to cheer him from beneath his window, which reportedly moved Louis very much to know he was remembered fondly.
Louis died in 1846 in Livorno, Italy, longevity will also remember him as being father of Napoleon III, the last French Emperor.
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The Battle(s) of San Bathio.
The wargamers of the 45eme had grand plans for surviving the winter by meeting up for some epic battles on the tabletop but getting all those interested together in the same place at the same time proved elusive. Until February when Generals Bentley, Bradshaw and Stearman met in Bath. The First two took command of the British and Portuguese whilst Stearman took the French (Who were actually largely German, Polish and Dutch).
We were perhaps over ambitious in deciding to use everything we had, in fact we had brigades in reserve as we could not get everything on our respective table edges to start the battle!
The scene below is a couple of turns in, the armies advance. at the bottom you can see a Portuguese battalion forming square as Hussars and Dragoons close in, incredibly the Dragoons would break the square and capture the colour!
The Cavalry and infantry on that flank would play cat and mouse for most of the battle and were generally disordered. The village was captured quite early by French line Grenadiers and bypassed by the allies whilst Mike's advance on his right secured that flank, but was pushed back nearer the woods. The British cavalry hung about and generally got shot to pieces.
Until next morning. A more modest two player game saw a battle pivot around a strategically placed village, which was soon largely in Anglo-Portuguese hands. After a disasterous charge by the British heavy cavalry that fell short of the guns (see below) the French rolled up the left flank whilst at the same time the British rolled down the right turning the whole line of battle into a pivot on the village.
With only a foothold in said village the big guns were redeployed to blast the red coats out but it looked like the outflanking Brits would carry the day and expel the few Poles in the buildings before the guns could accomplish their work. General Feret called for an armistice and withdrew to the north.
They shall meet again on the sanguinary fields of the Peninsular!
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ICKWORTH!
After the siege of Whittington kicked off the season with its ladders, skimishing and daring do it was time for Ickworth, for many the start of the season and shaking off those long winter blues devoid of camp fires and shooting people.
The schedule for the day was a parade up to the house, some drill, lunch, around which a camp tour would be going on, and the free form battle.
There seemed to be a little muddle at first, with firing and horses going where they shouldn't.. ourselves with the Sappeurs at our side and the 21eme and 11eme (sometimes seen in their Prussian guise) were up against more units and confounded them at first by our mobility, trouncing some rifles who got cornered whilst the 21e shot some British from the rear.
Eventually though we had to start falling back to avoid a similar fate and the survivors halted amongst a light wood where the battle seemed to draw to an agreed close. A great performance against the usual odds.
The second contest of the day was a tug of war competition, a valiant effort was made but the British got most of the wins, obviously we were not taking it seriously enough ;-). A special mention must go to the Russo-German artillery team who outdid everyone.
A film team was with us to get some footage for a promotional video and Laura and Sarah provided some injuries as the make up artists, the bruises were particularly good. The filming was quite simple and only needed a few people down in the trees near the church but I was assured the editing room will make it look like an epic clash of arms.
The Sunday battle saw us waiting for the Brits to turn up, an Ickworth tradition, and some cavalry shenanigans before we marched up. It was quite a set piece with the initial French success being thwarted by the timely arrival of reinforcements. Cartridges were quite generously filled and we certainly gave some crashing vollies. The French were seemingly carrying the day, advancing and firing but then a battalion of Redcoats came on from the right and deployed, the boot was now on the other foot. Pushed back some greenjackets paid the price for their temerity by getting charged by the 21 and 11eme, with Duncan crossing swords again with their officer and laying him low... but numbers were telling and before long a literal mound of dead started forming. The day was done, and soon after the weekend was wrapping up. A good time seemingly had by all.
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Rogues Gallery.
Unknown date at Dover, found on Flickr.
What's John 'Napoleon' Horwood doing lounging about whilst men die!
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Busy times ahead from May, next Newsletter should be around end of July. Any news or articles from members always welcome. Vive Le 45e!
