I decided to redo my 1st Guards using the Italeri British infantry set, rather than the HaT Peninsular set I had used previously. Both are excellent sets, and the HaT set obviously has the advantage of being dedicated to the Peninsular War, but I have always used both for my British (adapting the Italeri when the HaT set was out of production for a while) and the taller Italeri figures seemed better suited for a Guard regiment. So this group of figures are all new, outside of the command stand which I have kept from the previous group, which will have new life as KGL.
Historically the Guards were large battalions so this battalion has nine stands of figures (although ten would be more appropriate). I had to do the usual conversions with some of the Italeri, changing the Belgic shakos to stovepipes.
I love the look of the Guard units, their size but also the large dark red King’s Colours make them look especially formidable on the battlefield. I hope you enjoy the results.
A Bit of History
The 1st Guards, one of England’s premier infantry regiments, can trace its origins back to 1656 when a regiment was raised to protect the exiled Charles II.
During the Napoleonic Wars there were three permanent battalions in the regiment, with the first battalion composed of two grenadier companies, two light companies and eight centre companies. The second and third had only one grenadier and light company apiece.
During the Peninsular Wars the first and third were with Moore during the retreat to Corunna, returning to Britain to join the ill-fated Walcheren expedition in 1809. In 1810 they returned to Spain and were with Graham at Barrosa in March of 1811. They rejoined Wellesley’s army at Ciudad Rodrigo, and fought with that force throughout northern Spain and into France. They returned to fight at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, and after the war, in July 1815, received the designation 1st Grenadier Guards by Royal Proclamation, which they still have today.
Here are a few photos of the regiment:
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| I stayed with the original command stand, done with the HaT command set figures, other than the drummer, which is Italeri. The standard bearer back left (King's colours) was a modified officer figure. |
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| Some of the figures received modified shakos, but the one in the foreground simply lost his, so I sculpted some hair instead! |
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| The sergeant figure back left received a pike, in lieu of his more formidable swagger stick he was sculpted with! |
