General news and events.
This was almost the end of season newsletter as owing to several factors there were no events planned for September or October, however as of yesterday an event may be taking place at Stanford hall near Rugby on 7th and 8th of October, please respond to Duncan to let him know if you can make it if you have not done so already.
Of course we do also have some brave Soldats still off to France shortly for the campaign weekend at Le Bossieres ecole.
The big foreign events of next year are already being talked about being Quatre Bra on 19-20 May and a four day event in Malta soon after.
The Napoleonic association has a new, improved website coming along at www.napoleonicassociation.org repleat with more of our regular dates such as:
7-8 April Ickworth House.
1-2 September Hole Park
Also listed is a light division and rifles day on 16 June and the Siege of Astorga on 28-30 September although whether the 45eme will be involved in these is not yet known and will doubtless be discussed at the AGM.
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------------------ MARENGO ---------------------
It was only right that an epic voyage brought those members of the 45eme attending Marengo 2017 to the famous battlefield. Across France and via Mount Blanc into Italy from there the path of the French forces in 1800 was followed, and it often looked an arduous path for those in cars on modern roads much less men and horses pulling artillery and wagons and trudging for leagues on end often in broken shoes. We passed Fort Bard, the scene of a siege, leaving the mountains behind and forging onto the open plains.
Campsite was just on the edge of Marengo town (village?) And within walking distance. The local people were welcoming and not really being on the tourist map were delighted to have soldats frequenting their bars and pizzeria.
The iconic tower just behind where the museum now stands and which seems to feature in most paintings of the battle. It always gives me pause to wonder what occurred on the spot Im standing on when I come across recognisable sites.
The Austrians were a fine bunch mainly from the old 'Hungarian' half of the Habsburg empire, the largest group being Croats and Czechs, and including some Uhlans, one of whom boldly thundered around the French camp waving their standard, but being met with more phone cameras than muskets.
Lean, mean, and ready to push the Austrian's out of town at the point of the bayonet as the sunsets on the opening skirmish.
The battle was in a rectangliar cornfield running out of town and our advance was put to a halt and pushed back, wavering as we left the field.. only to return in the guise of Desaix's corp and then the boot was on the other foot.
The high temperatures and dry corn meant no paper was being rammed home less pieves off it started a fire, and several times members of the artillery crew were seen running forward to stamp out smouldering embers before they could catch light.
Form square! as with many things that weekend what had been born in confusion all came together when it was actually needed.
The victorious French were glad to see the lovely water bearers appear at the close of such a hard days marching and fighting. (or at least forty five minutes of it).
So a great time was had by all and it was agreed that it would be good to come back to Italy for more early battles in future, and more pizza and more ice cream. Ciao!
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Napoleon the Great.
By Andrew Roberts.
It is said that more books have been written about Napoleon than any other historical figure, so is another biography really needed?
I had first come across the author on YouTube on a televised debate on whether the famous Corsican should be awarded the title of 'Napoleon the great' or not and arrayed against a fellow historian who represented the no camp.
I therefore expected the book to be a gushing torrent of Bonapartism but it is infact still capable of criticism and refection on the difficult decisions the Emporer often faced.
As an English language work it is still probably the most pro-Napoleon and strives to address some of the common criticisms aired, particularly about his seeming indifference to the cost of his campaigns on human life, and French ones at that, and also the Russian question.. why did he go so far? The writing puts you in his position and you have to ponder 'Maybe I would have gone to Moscow if you put it like that..?
One of Robert's prime sources are Napoleon's own letters to various people, many to Josephine, and are often quoted in defence of his decisions or to illuminate his state of mind.
The writing style is quite flowing, occasionally distracted, but not dry. At the end of the day 'Napoleon the great' is another biography but if you must chose one this wouldn't be a bad choice as an up to date assesment of the man and his mark on history.
Incidentally the live audience voted 'No' to granting Napoleon the title of 'The great', maybe they should have read this book first.
'Wellington's hidden Heroes'
The Dutch-Belgians in the Waterloo campaign by Veronica Baker-Smith.
More so than the Prussians the contribution to the Waterloo campaign by the Dutch-Belgians is often overlooked, underplayed and even wrongly reported in many English language works, largely because the same written accounts from British officers have been quoted and echoed down the years. Officers who wished to find scapegoats, elevate themselves or just repeat rumours about allied troops.
This book is a potted history of the hundred days from a Dutch-Belgium perspective using multiple sources, reports and eye witness accounts, including French accounts which are often more favourable to the Dutch than the British ones.
The writing is easy to follow and often anecdotal and as a fairly leisurely reader I managed to finish this off over a long weekend.
Baker-Smith relates the performance of the Dutch-Belgians from the highest strategic organisation down to the man in the field, for instance the young army had been equipped with both French and English bore muskets leading to supply problems, the Dutch (including Nassau) troops who held Quatra Bras until British came up having exhausted their ammunition by the 16th. Yet still got booed for leaving by the British as the bloodied troops were ordered back.
The Prince of Orange gets a chapter to himself and whilst mistakes on his part are indeed admitted they are put in context. Incidentally he went to a Prussian military accedemy and the notion that he attended Eton seems an invention of Bernard Cornwell.
If you have an interest in the Netherlands forces in 1815 this is certainly a book for you. I have had to resist repeating many incidents that this book details just writing this. Recommended.
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SPETCHLEY.
The annual M5 show, known to most of us as Spetchley, kicked off with quite a French presence amongst the historical encampments from Plato to NATO, all of whom could be found in the 1940s themed bar at some stage.
Each days battle went quite well, naturally with the French side victorious on day one and again on Sunday when the lines of the blue and the red (and green) soon closed, but the enthused British seemed to have driven the gallant 21eme somewhat back and so the 45e and Genie comrades had to skirmish and wheel and fire to maintain the field as well as they did.
Saturday was strangely quiet crowdwise but more than made for by the numbers coming in on Sunday and venturing around the camp and despite the clouds the weather mercifully kept off with the rain.
We had some guests in our ranks for the weekend who had such a good time they might hopefully be coming back for more in future. The evening were as lively as ever with a good outbreak of singing.
See you next year.
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Jean-Baptiste Kléber!
General Kleber will always be associated with his service in Eygpt and sadly his some would say abandonment by Napoleon and subsequent efforts to maintain a functioning French army in Eygpt until an assassin ended his life.
47 years earlier (1753) he had been born in Strasbourg, his father a professional builder and mason, and he served briefly in a hussar regiment before leaving to study architecture for four years. His military career made another start when he helped two German (probably Bavarian) officers out when they became embroiled in a tavern brawl so it is likely the hussar spirit still burnt in Kleber's breast, in gratitude the German nobles offered him a place ay the military school in Munich and he thereafter served in the war of the Bavarian succesion but only in garrison posts and he once again resigned as his prospects of promotion were low indeed.
Back in France the revolution and his military experience saw him soon promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and he fought in the disaster at Mainz, however he was one of the few who came out with good credit and was duely promoted General before further success fighting the royalists in the Vendee and then in the German campaign.
The Kleber uniform.
Offered a higher command he declined and seemingly retired to private life until called for by Napoleon himself to join the campaign in Eygpt. Shot in the head early on he missed the battle of the pyramids but later in independant command won the battle of mount Tabor.
It was at this stage that Napoleon left for France, allegedly only informing the new commander after he had left to which he responded 'Well, he's left us in the shit.'
It was Klebers unglamouous job to deal with Commodore Sydney Smith in attaining terms of surrender, he must have done well for the French forces were promised that they could retire bearing arms and with full honours. Smith never kept his word and this soon was apparent so that the French were forced to stave off the Turks, fighting against six times there number and winning at the battle of Heliopolis before re-taking Cairo. His name also became synonymous with 'The Kleber ordinance' a red uniform (mostly in Eygpt) featuring a tarleton style helmet.
Sadly it was in the wake of these victories that the student Soleyman El-Halaby, knifed Kleber as he walked in the city gardens. The assasin was executed and his skull sent to France to be studied by medical students.
Kleber was very much the republican and died the same day as his friend Desaix, at Marengo, both were keen republicans and clung to the ideals of an age that was fast slipping away as Napoleon would soon be the one true power in France, infact Napoleon feared his tomb would be a shrine of republicanism and instead of returning the body to France had it entombed on a small island off the coast. Kleber was also a keen freemason which might seem odd today for a fiery republican but masonry was still regarded as a brotherly society for the advancement of enlightenment, charity and learning. He founded the Isis lodge in Cairo which is still there today.
Also still there today is a statue of the man in his native Strasbourg and some building designed by him. Kléber actually used his study of architecture to good use in several posts between commisions and his work survives in as diverse places as the chateau of Granvillar, houses attached to an abbey and in a hospital that was instead used for administration and is now the town hall in Thann (above).
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Rogues gallery.
Somewhere in the mountains Corporal Flapjaques calls out
'By the power of Greyskull!
Sergeant Lawrence plays his cards right at Cannon hall.
General Sparky at Marengo.
Fratenisation at Basing House.
Tambour Alex leads the way at Spetchley.
We all scream for Ice cream in Eastbourne.
Napoleon does not know which way to go, until....
He arrives at the Marvelous Festival, and is cross.
There will probably be a modest newsletter around new year when details of the AGM are announced, the wargamers of the 45eme hope to get some games in over the winter, hopefully including the big Liepzig game mooted for last year and who knows maybe some appropriate cultural outing will crop up. As usual feel free to send in any news or articles, until then Adieu!
