"British Hussars in the Peninsular War" Topic

I am in the process of putting together my Perry Hussars and can't decide which unit to build. I am leaning towards the 3rd KGL Hussars but am not completely convinced. Which Hussar unit either saw the most action or were the best on the field? Please give at least a little support to your opinion. Thanks

I did mine up as the 1st KGL – great war record. Another reason I chose them was that they wore the same type of headgear (fur cap) in the Peninsular (at least from 1813) and Waterloo. I also wanted a unit with red facings. I had considered the 10th and 15th Hussars too – both good records (& red facings!), but I think they came out of the Peninsula for a bit and when they returned, they had shakos. I wanted busbies. Brit Hussars need more busbies! Dean

P.S. Here's how my 1st KGL came out link

i think the 10th were in peninsula with some great moments including the capture of lefevre-desnouettes

That's right – it was early in the war (1808) – when they still wore the taller busbies too, I think. Some of the British Hussar regiments even changed their facing colors too – as well as the officer's horse blanket color. And don't get me started on the busby, shako, busby changes! Dean

P.S. Some info on the KGL cav link

10th!

I think its fairly uncontroversial to say that the KGL Hussars were much better in the field than their British counterparts, at least in the first few years of the campaign….

I think that the 1st KGL would give you some good variety, superb figures Dean, really inspiring i might start my Hussars this weekend.
Thanks for sharing

1st KGL hussars, good war record and also the best British hussar uniform.

make it a real challange and try to change history…….do the Cumberland Hussars and see if you can redeam their dishonour.

Runicus

(ducking and running from the replies)

You mean these :-)

Let them ride to glory !! Or shoot them if they run away.

Fons
MMPS

"Back in the day," I acquired 20 British hussars in 30mm by stadden. They are great figures, early war with tall floppy busby, and in white breeches with hussar boots. I have 5 each from the 7th (white collar/cuffs – red bag); 10th (yellow – yellow bag); 15th (red – red bag); and 18th (White – sky blue bag). 5 represent a squadron, and I use 6 for heavy squadrons and for the French squadrons.

This same figure could be used for one of the Spanish hussar regiments, outfitted from Britain, but in Green. My Osprey is packed away with an illustration.

I can deploy any one of the hussar regiments as 20 figures as necessary. But then again, I have the 28th Foot in 1800 uniform, white breeches, gray gaiters, with French back-packs serving alongside the 4th Foot at Waterloo in the Belgic shako gray overalls. Not a purist.

The 1st KGL Hussars seem to have served the longest in Spain, and were usually attached to the Light Division. I avoid such elite units except for perhaps one battalion of the 43rd, and a half-battalion of 95th Rifles.

GdeP

Fonzie, they are very nice! More pics please.

Damn you all!!! the 15th Hussars, all the way!

John

15th. My wife's great great grandfather charged with them at Sahagun.

The 15th… The fellows who charged at Peterloo?

I vote for 1st kGL. My army has 2 Hussar Regiments. 1st KGL and the 18th. It just fell out that way. They look cool on the table, along with a regiment of Light Dragoons. All regiments 16 figures/28MM. However, thought of increasing the size of the KGL.

I think you'll find that the only cavalry that charged at Peterloo were Yeomanry.

Thought the15th made a charge,
"15th Hussars formed themselves into a line stretching across the eastern end of St Peter's Field, and charged into the crowd. At about the same time the Cheshire Yeomanry charged from the southern edge of the field.[48] At first the crowd had some difficulty in dispersing, as the main exit route into Peter Street was blocked by the 88th Regiment of Foot, standing with bayonets fixed" that's from a Donald Reid book on it.

88th foot were there too. Im not sure if they fired but at least one of the dead was bayoneted.

Sorry, my mistake. Anyway, my wife's great great grandfather had been made redundant by then. Discharged in 1814 with "poor legs", then recalled to a Veterans's Battalion until 1816.

I did mine as the 3 KGL Hussars. I don't like them cartridge box poorly defined but meant to be hidden by the pellise. Given the pellise was rarely worn in combat because it got in the way I left it off. Also the carbine is in the wrong place strapped where Perry's have it makes it useless. It should be slung from the carbine swipe on the carbine belt slung over the left shoulder. That way it can be fired and released without being lost. I would have thought Perry's would have got that right.