Ist Regiment of the Guards

[Bill Slavin]

I have added this battalion of 1st Guards to my Peninsular British army. They will represent one of the brigades of the first division (and themselves in battalion level games!)
So a bit of history for the curious. The 1st Guards were raised by Charles II in 1656 and are one of the three British guard regiments (the other two being the Scots Guards and the Coldstream Guards). They were with Moore in the Peninsula in 1808, and returned to fight under Graham at Barrosa during the attempt to lift the siege of Cadiz in 1811. They stayed in the Peninsula to fight in Wellington's army as he drove the French out of Spain and pursued them into France.
It took a bit of research to get the colours sorted but I think this is right. To my understanding the Guard regiments, instead of the traditional Union Jack "King's Colours", flew the burgundy flag, and the Regimental Colours were represented in battle by one of the company flags (which confusingly looked like the traditional King's Colours) but with the company device in the centre (in this case the Tudor Rose of the 2nd Company). So the effect is that the colours look as if they are reversed.

[Mr. Andrea]

wonderful

[santifernandez]

Very very nice paint.

[MikeRC97]

Great work Bill, these are wonderful figures from Italeri. I have these in my stash waiting to be painted, I’m planning on painting then all as 1st Guards light company which was part of the Allied defense of Hougoumont Farm at Waterloo.

[C M Dodson]

Hi Bill,

Lovely as always.

You are right about the flag.

The Crimson flag is the Kings colour in the Guards.

A small point, I have done it myself but I think your drum is upside down.

Whoops.

Keep up the good work.

Compliments of the season.

Chris

[Beano Boy]

Bill,Splendid painting and presentation indeed.
It looked like it was a very windy day as I viewed the battle field.
All in all a great sight. Thanks for your extra research you jotted down,
and thanks for posting. Seeing this has certainly brightened up my day. BB

[Bill Slavin]

Thanks, all.

Mike:
These are the HaT figures - another nice set, although I agree the Italeri are terrific as well.
Chris: Aaargh, really? I think I can swap this one around...
The problem is the first British drummers I painted were the Italeri drummers and that one is a one piece sculpt with the drum upside down! So I just keep repeating that error.

[MikeRC97]

Bill you’re absolutely right about the drummer in the Italeri set holding his drum upside (that’s so Italeri). And these are obviously the Hat set not those, I missed that.

I have this terrific Hat set as well - unpainted in my stash also, plan for this set is to swap the heads with the included light infantry heads to make them the 51st light foot in Spain. So many toy soldiers to paint, so little time...

[MABO]

Upside down or not: Your figs are very well painted and based in the setting for a battle in Spain.

[Marvin]

Great work, Bill. A wonderful sight and fabulous work! Many people seem to have these HaT figures stashed away (like myself) but few bring them to fruition, never mind with such aplomb.

And that's very interesting about the flags, something I wasn't aware of.

[Bill Slavin]

I had coveted these figures for so long and unable to get them, that when another collector generously offered to send me some of his unpainted stash I jumped at it! I still have 100+ figures, but will get them all painted eventually...

[KenzoSato]

Excellent work, congratulations