DEATH OF A GUARD WATERLOO 1815 
NOW AVAILABLE …………. 14 STALWARTS OF THE OLD GUARD STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER MAKE UP THIS FINAL PART OF THE VIGNETTE.

Old Comrades waiting defiantly, perhaps apprehensively for the closing moments of their defence. The final order is about to be given ...............’CHARGE BAYONETS’ ......... AGAINST CAVALRY! 
VF3 part 3

VF3 complete

VS2 SHARPE’S EAGLE 

VG1 THE SPARTANS AT THERMOPYLAE 480 BC.

 The Persian Wars were the most glorious period in Spartan history and Thermopylae was certainly Sparta’s finest hour. When news came that the paths through the Kalidromos Mountains were betrayed to the Persians, King Leonidas knew that his force was in immediate danger of being cut off. Keeping only his 300 Spartans and the Thespian contingent who refused to leave his side he prepared to meet the enemy.
In the first phase of the battle the Greeks inflicted heavy casualties, killing two brothers of Xerxes the Persian King. Leonidas too unfortunately met his death and only after a desperate fight was his body recovered. The Greeks withdrew to a small hill at the entrance to the pass to make a final stand, many by this stage had their spears broken in their hands - only swords remained.

The Persians decided to finish them by arrows alone. It is said that when the Persians shot their arrows ‘The sun was blotted out’. The Spartans and Thespians died to a man for Greece. The following epitaph which was put over the tomb of the Spartans became legendry.
Oh stranger, tell the Lakedaimonians that here we lie, obedient to their commands. 
Our vignette captures something of the last moments of their heroic stand.

VP1 ‘FORWARD THE COLOURS’   
27^th INNISKILLING 1808-1814……
PENINSULA,ALBUERA,BADAJOZ,SALAMANCA,VITTORIA,ORTHES.  

Tattered, bullet holed, somewhat torn and grimed with dust and hard campaigning the Colours are proud and seasoned like the Regiment, Wellington’s men veterans of the Peninsula campaign. 

PART ONE – Captures the moment of battle, Ensigns carry the King’s and Regimental Colours flanked by their two Colour Sergeants …… painted and shaded in matte colours to museum standard and featuring our unique interlocking bases.

this is only the start of an exciting vignette, additional parts will be available in due course, although Part one can stand as a feature by itself.

PRICE :- £155

   vp1

This is only the start of an exciting vignette, additional parts will be available in due course, although Part one can stand as a feature by itself.

PART 2A – Right flank, consists of  five individual fully animated advancing Privates { two of which are are wounded } led by an Officer with drawn sword. Interlocking pieces are included to fit Part 1.

PART 2B – Left flank, again five different character figures advancing to complete this exciting vignette.

* OTHER REGIMENTS OF THE LINE THAT FOUGHT WITH WELLINGTON CAN BE PRODUCED TO ORDER.
       
PART 2A                         PART 2B                                                     VP1  parts 1 & 2 together

V93 ‘ THE THIN RED LINE ’ Parts 1,2,3&4 
BALACLAVA 1854

  Sir Colin Campbell ordered the 93^rd to retire and lie down behind the crest of the high ground which they occupied. The Russian cavalry advanced towards the British to attack cavalry and artillery, Sir Colin ordered the 93^rd to stand up, deploy into two lines and move forward. The Russian cavalry, seeing the redcoated infantry ………. ‘That thin red streak tipped with a line of steel’ { William Russell, war correspondent } at once charged towards them.  As the Russians came within range the 93^rd  fired two volleys into the incoming cavalry as they were about 250 yards away.
  A Russian cavalry officer said later ‘ We did not know you were lying down behind the hill until you started from the ground and fired a volley at us. We were unable to rein up or slacken speed …… before we received your second volley by which time almost every man and horse in our ranks was wounded.’
As the Russians wheeled aside to escape the Highlanders’ fire, they exposed themselves to yet a third volley into their flank. The battle was concluded by the charge of the Heavy Brigade which completely routed the Russians and saved the port of Balaclava.
The 93^rd were the only infantry regiment to be awarded ‘Balaclava’ as a Battle Honour And some years later this famous action was immortalized by the artist Robert Gibb in his Painting ‘The Thin Red Line’ on which our vignette is designed.

Part one …… consists of eleven figures Officer, Sergeant and  other characters including wounded as portrayed by the artist. Fitting together by our unique system of interlocking bases ……… Part 1 of the vignette can be collected to be displayed by itself alone, or for those who wish to enlarge the vignette there will be 3 more parts. 

                                            3 views of V93 Part 1

Part two ……… is a continuation of the Regimental line. Twelve Highlanders all different personalities having fired the first two volleys, stand firm and await a further onslaught from the Russian cavalry who have reeled back in confusion.

                                           3 views of V93 Part2

Part three ……..  features Sir Colin Campbell, commanding Highland Brigade and Colonel of the 93^rd both 
mounted on horseback, Drummer boy, Brigade Major, Ensigns with Regimental and Queen’s Colours plus
all interlocking pieces to fit parts 1, 2 and 4.

4 views of V93 Part3

Part Four ……. The final part to complete this vignette consists of twelve Highlanders standing in line including a Sergeant and Colour Sergeant plus two further  figures – an Officer and a Pipe Major, making fourteen overall.


2 views of V93 Part4                                                     2  views of V93 complete

V93 is painted to connoisseur or to our normal museum standard in gloss 

VA2 AGINCOURT COMBAT VIGNETTES

The Battle of Agincourt is probably one of the greatest victories in the history of English warfare. It was a triumph of valour and cunning, spurred on by the zeal and oratory of dashing King Henry V. It could also be said it was a time when the flower of French chivalry was brought to heel largely by the skill of the English longbow men.
On a wet and miserable Friday morning the ceaseless rain had turned the ploughed field before the English into a swampland. The French 50,000 strong were less than a mile away and in good spirits, confident of an early victory over the half starved, weary with sickness, less than 10,000 English. But the French were funneled into having to fight in a width of 900 yards by the copses either side.
Harry ordered his men at arms and bowmen to fashion hundreds of sharpened stakes from the beech woods around and to secure them into the ground at an angle of 45 degrees in front of them. 
Behind these waited the longbow men, with the bows a foot taller than the average man they could hit a target with speed and accuracy at three times the range of the French crossbow. A good bowman could fire twelve arrows a minute.
The French trumpets sound..... the French Knights and cavalry advance soon to be bogged down in the soft mud. The English bowmen are ordered to fire their arrows into the air...........

Two special vignettes of the English in close combat with the French are now available, fully animated and painted in matte colours each is available on its own individual sculptured resin base. It is envisaged there will be others to collect in due course.

 AC1 ….. Roland de Bruges, Seigneur de Gruuthuse is featured dismounted, bogged down in the mud. An English archer arms around his neck is pulling the knight down Roland de Bruges was killed in the battle.
     
3 views of AC1

AC2 ….. Herve de Genevieres, Capitaine du Chateau du Crotoy is shown being pulled from his charger by an English archer, whilst a man at arms waits poised with his Bill to take him out. Herve de Genevieres was amongst  the French slain at Agincourt.    
   
3views of AC2
We have full heraldic details of over 600 French Knights who took part in the battle.  

also see Agincourt

VBFG “NOW MAITLAND! NOW'S YOUR TIME!” 
THE FIRST FOOTGUARDS AT WATERLOO.

 The 3^rd Regiment Chasseurs a Pied of the Imperial Guard marched up the slope towards the Allied position, drums were beating the ‘ pas de charge’ and with arms presented and the Eagles lifted  high they marched with measured step as if on parade.
At this time no man in the British Foot Guards was visible to the advancing French. They had been ordered to lie down in the thick wheat on the reverse side of the slope, under the crest of the ridge.
As the advancing columns neared the Duke shouted, “ Now Maitland! Now’s your time”, and the Foot Guards stood up as one man, before the French could properly deploy, they fired volley after volley into the dense enemy mass with devastating effect. For some time the bewildered French remained almost stationary under this murderous fusillade. Maitland, then ordered the 1^st Foot Guards to charge with the bayonet forcing the French down the slope in confusion.

 Extract from the London Gazette 29^th July 1815.

His Royal Highness has also been pleased to approve of the 1^st Regiment of Foot Guards being made a  Regiment of  Grenadiers and styled “ The First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards ” in commemoration of their having defeated the Grenadiers of the French Imperial Guard on this memorable occasion…

PART ONE :- Consists of eighteen Guardsmen of the Grenadier company deployed in line in two ranks, Officer, Sergeant and side drummer. The Duke of Wellington is mounted on Copenhagen , shouting his famous order to Sir Peregrine Maitland who is shown mounted on his favorite hunter.

The terrain features part of the crest, with its trampled wheat and slope falling towards the oncoming French.

A  Red Lancer lies crumpled by his dead horse, elsewhere a  dead French Carabinier lies with sightless eyes towards the sky. The fore ground is littered with appropriate battle debris.

Painted in matte colours to our usual museum quality.           

Overall dimensions of  base of the vignette     17. 5 x 11 inches

PART TWO featuring the French Chasseurs of the Guard is being worked on now!  

 VFO1 ‘ MUSIQUE de L’EMPEREUR’  

Napoleon’s Artillery was to a large extent a prime reason for the French winning so many engagements and battles, especially during the early victories that made Napoleon famous. it is sometimes repeated that the sound of his guns was indeed the Emperor’s favourite music. it certainly proceeded many famous victories, such as Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena, Wagram to name but a few. 

VFO1 is painted in matte colours to museum standard on its own scenic base; this latest vignette features a twelve pounder Gribeauval Fieldpiece on campaign. Manned by its crew of five they are about to deliver a deadly message. ……
 
2views of VFO1

As an alternative the set can be provided on individual separate bases. 

 V60 60^th RIFLES { ROYAL AMERICAN } - WELLINGTON’S FINEST.
‘ Red and green, red and green finest colours ever seen ’ 

The Regiment was titled the 60^th { Royal American } Regiment of foot in 1756. The new regiment fought at Ticonderoga, Fort Duquesne, Louisbourg and Quebec in a decisive campaign which finally took Canada from the French. At Quebec the 60^th won the motto from General Wolfe ‘Celer et Audax’ { Swift and Bold }.
When General Wellesley landed in Portugal in 1808, the 5/60^th were the first unit ashore at Mondego Bay and from the start were brigaded with the 95^th Rifles to form a brigade of riflemen. The 5/60^th were the first British unit to be dressed in a green jacket with red facings and armed with the Baker rifle in place of the smooth bore musket. As such the Battalion represented the first British attempt at developing specialized  light infantry that by nature of their role in battle – dispersed as skirmishers, flank guards, scouts, marksmen etc. – they carried no colours and this became the rule for all Rifle Regiments and remains so today. Due to their dispersion across the battlefield orders were given by bugle horn, a practice which is maintained on parades today, as is the retention of buglers rather than drummers in Rifle and Light Infantry Regiments.

The following list of Peninsula Battle Honours were gained at the cost of 68 officers and 767 men, as well as a further two officers and 228 men reported as missing.
Peninsula, Roleia, Vimiera, Duoro, Martinique, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes d’ Onoro, Albuera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajos, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse.

 Our vignette VP60 – features five 60^th riflemen in various skirmish positions, with number six determined to take no hassle from a French Voltigeur.  Provided with its own scenic resin base it is painted and shaded in order to represent a typical Peninsula terrain in matte colours to our usual museum standard.

    
3 views of V60
 VP61
THE 61^st FOOT AT SALAMANCA 1812
PRIVATES CRAWFORD and coulson with the colours

During the fiercely fought battle of Salamanca on 22^nd July 1812, the 61^st was part of an attack ordered by Wellington to take the Greater Arapile, an important feature which was in the hands of the French.
The 61^st, along with the 11^th, attacked up the slope and despite fierce French resistance and flanking attacks, fought their way towards their objective. As the 61^st pressed home the attack it suffered heavy casualties and during the final charge nearly all the officers and sergeants fell. The Colours were seized by two privates, Crawford and Coulson, who carried them triumphantly to the summit.
No less than six reliefs of officers and sergeants had been shot under the Colours.
The 61^st went into action with 27 officers and 420 men and of these 24 officers, including the
commanding officer, and 342men were either killed or wounded. The Regiment received
 unstinted praise for its gallantry and courage, Crawford was immediately promoted to sergeant.

 Our vignette VP61 – Captures the moment of battle, when Crawford and Coulson seized the King’s and Regimental Colours, passing a fallen comrade during the advance. 
Provided with its own scenic resin base it is painted and shaded in matte colours to our usual museum standard.

3 views of V61

VKGD – 2^nd KING’S GERMAN DRAGOONS  at GARCIA HERNANDEZ 1812

In 1803, seeking to strike at the British but thwarted by the Royal Navy’s command of the English Channel, Napoleon sent an army corps to occupy the King of England’s Hanoverian electorate, over which Britain’s dynasty reigned, and forced her to adopt neutrality. The consequence of this particular aggression was a continual movement of men from the former Hanoverian Army to England, where they were formed as the King’s German Legion.
When the French invaded Portugal in the summer of 1810 for the third time, Wellington’s rearguards held off Massena and his army, falling back in good order to Lisbon and the Lines of Torres Vedres. During this period the KGL were constantly on duty screening the rearguard, manning outposts, and gaining a reputation as superb horsemen and swordsmen during many clashes with enemy cavalry.
During the winter of 1811-1812, Wellington successfully took the fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz and advanced into Spain with an army of  50,000 men. In late June the Allies drove in the defences at Salamanca and occupied the city. It was the first Spanish city to be liberated from the French.
Next morning the pursuit was taken up by the KGL Dragoons led by Von Bock. They were to achieve lasting fame and the admiration of the Allied armies when, near the village of Garcia Hernandez, they attacked and destroyed French cavalry and several battalions of infantry in square. During the charge on a large square of elements of the French 6^th Light Infantry which had ranks of men kneeling and standing with levelled bayonets, a loose horse was shot and fell thrashing in agony and scattering the French. Rittmeister Von Usslar Gleichen saw this chaos and led his cheering squadron through the gap and in minutes destroyed the square, hacking down those who resisted and capturing the rest.

Part one :- Features the wounded horse and rider pinning down an unfortunate victim, another
mounted Dragoon is in the act of  breaking the square and scattering the French 6^th Light Infantry in all directions.
The seven French and two mounted Dragoons are painted in matte to our connoisseur standard and fit together as a vignette with our unique interlocking bases. 

4 views of VKGD1

VP 2 ‘ FOLLOWING THE DRUM ’ 
A soldier’s life in Wellington’s day was bleak in respect of domestic comfort. The Army actively discouraged the rank and file from marrying; only six men in every hundred were officially allowed married status, with the commanding officer’s permission – this meant that their wives could live with them in barracks and were allowed to draw a soldier’s rations. The other camp- followers had to shift for themselves, there were no restrictions against such relationships and the soldier’s woman could seek work nearby; but their prospects were meager.
When a battalion was posted overseas the recognised wives were allowed to accompany their men, some even taking young children with them; the strict limits on the number allowed on the ration strength led to heartbreaking scenes as the women were drawn by lot at the port of departure. The ‘lucky’ women marched with the battalion’s baggage, sharing every hardship and many of the dangers of camp life.
On retreats or forced marches their fate was pitiable but it must be said they were often an unmitigated nuisance, blocking roads and accepting no sort of discipline. One cannot fail to be moved, however, by their sturdy courage. More than one exhausted redcoat would have been left in the road if his wife had not carried him on her back, musket and all.
In the aftermath of battle the wives of titled officers and illiterate privates could be seen together, searching among the piles of dead and wounded for their men.

VP 2 :-  Our vignette is of a very fortunate Light Dragoon being comforted and nursed by his lady, having survived the latest skirmish during Wellington’s campaigns in the Peninsula. Featuring its own scenic resin base the vignette is painted and shaded in matte colours to our usual museum standard.

3 veiws of VP2

also  see the Agincourt  page for our Knights