http://www.caroledivall.co.uk Author of Redcoats Against Napoleon Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:48:21 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 2nd Battalion, Ciudad Rodrigo, January 1812 The cathedral at Ciudad Rodrigo. The marks on the stonework were made by roundshot. The month started with the officers continuing their Christmas and New Year celebrations, so that for some of them early morning drill was a painful experience.  On the 3rd January, however, ... http://www.caroledivall.co.uk/25th-january-1812 This is the fourth and final article in a series on the Household Brigade. "Scotland For Ever", by Lady Butler One of the most iconic images of the Battle of Waterloo is the charge of the Scots Greys, as immortalised by Lady Butler.  Whatever the deficiencies of the painting in terms of ... http://www.caroledivall.co.uk/the-household-brigade-at-waterloo 2nd battalion: Medais, Portugal (nr. the Spanish border) Typical of the rough country near the Portugese/Spanish border There have been seven deaths this month, but the number of sick present has reduced from thirty-four to seven.  The number of sick absent remains high, however, and it is expected that many of these ... http://www.caroledivall.co.uk/christmas-day-25th-december-1811 This is the third of four articles about the Household Brigade.  The first three articles deal with the three regiments which made up the brigade, and next month the fourth will examine the part they played at Waterloo. 1st King's Gragoon Guards, 1820 Like the Life Guards and the Horse Guards, ... http://www.caroledivall.co.uk/the-household-brigade-the-1st-king%e2%80%99s-dragoon-guards 2nd Battalion: Vila de Toro The Coa Valley The battalion was in Guarda until the 23rd.  , now they are marching through the Coa valley. Men and officers alike found Guarda cold and damp.  This has had a noticeable effect upon the men’s health, cases of rheumatism and dysentery being rife.  Surgeon ... http://www.caroledivall.co.uk/25th-november-1811 This is the second of four articles about the Household Brigade.  The first three articles deal with the three regiments which made up the brigade, and the fourth will examine the part they played at the Battle of Waterloo. A trooper of the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards Whereas the Life Guards ... http://www.caroledivall.co.uk/the-household-brigade-the-royal-horse-guards 2nd Battalion – Guarda, Portugal A view of Guarda drawn by Lt. Col. Leith Hay The beginning of the month brought to an end the stalemate, which had seen the battalion in the Sierra de Gata since mid-summer, when Marmont manoeuvred to get supplies into Ciudad Rodrigo.  On the 25th October there ... http://www.caroledivall.co.uk/25th-october-1811 This is the first of three articles on the cavalry regiments which made up the Household Brigade at Waterloo.  A fourth article will describe the part they played at Waterloo. His Majesty king Charles II The Life-Guards are the senior regiment in the British Army, cavalry taking precedence over the other arms ... http://www.caroledivall.co.uk/the-household-brigade-the-1st-and-2nd-life-guards 2nd Battalion, Peñaperda, Sierra de Gata Sierra de Gata in winter Despite the cold, particularly at night, and the shortage of food (the men have taken to digging up potatoes), the health of the battalion at headquarters is improving.  There are only an officer, a drummer and four rank and file sick ... http://www.caroledivall.co.uk/25th-september-1811 ‘The Russian Cavalry, with the simple exception of the English, is the best in Europe, and the Russian has this advantage even over the English, that their horses can not only stand more fatigue, but can likewise better suffer all the severities of climate.’1 General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson, who was ... http://www.caroledivall.co.uk/the-best-hope-of-europe-the-russian-army-part-2