"The Hompesch Chasseurs." Topic

"HOMPESCH CHASSEURS WERE CUTTING EDGE UNIT IN THE BRITISH ARMY:
When formed by Baron von Hompesch and attached to the Duke of York's army during the War of the First Coalition, Hompesch's Chasseurs were put under the command of a Polish-born emigré officer who also commanded the Baron's Hussars:Francis de Rottenburg. Rottenburg was a cutting-edge thinker on light infantry tactics, and authored the first book on the subject.
De Rottenburg was raised in what is now Gdańsk in Poland. He spent almost a decade in the French army which came to an end with the French Revolution. In December 1795, de Rottenburg joined the British army, serving in Hompesch's Hussars, a unit of foreign-born troops. In 1794 he helped to establish Hompesch's Light Infantry (Chasseurs), which later became part of the 5th Battalion of the 60th Regiment of Foot, the first rifle-armed unit of the British Army. De Rottenburg rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the unit, and commanded it during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and the capture of Suriname in 1799…"

From here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Anyone have a miniature unit of them?

Amicalement
Armand

I have the metal for them, in Egypt. 18mm via AB conversions.

David F Brown

Thanks.

Amicalement
Armadn

Someone in our local group had a unit of them (converted Airfix plastic) back in the early 1970s. Your posting brought back memories.

Rick

They would be good looking a the wargaming table!

Amicalement
Armand

I think Minifigs do them in 15mm, for their French Rev. Wars range.

My fourth great grandfather George Frederick Baron Pfeilitzer gennant Franck was the key and early successful major of the early group of chasseurs. but moved to go with his friend,the Duke of York Rangers as soon as the opportunity came up. I understand things didnt go as well after that…

I have held and have a photo of his signed report to Von Hompesch from Zeewolde in January 1795 and to York from Stade and July 1795.

He was born December 1766 Struteln Mansion, Latvia (members of the family would serve Prussian, Polish or Russian) , won the Pour Le Merite as a Lieutenant with the Prussian, Major in these international forces and ended up as British Colonel before retiring in 1799.

After winding up in Europe, the Yorkies went the West Indies and alternated between Dominican, St Kitts and Tobago, secondly where he married his first Baroness Anna Mauduit-Garvey and Tobago which had been back in history Courland Latvian where he spent part of his civil service career

After that he went into the British civil service for about 30 years and died in London

What is striking is that he served both military and civilian as a British subject rather than citizen and so retained Latvian Courland, so was the only and first Russian citizen right in the core of British life – however from my last visit, I see many fellow citizens have fallen suit

I would have loved to hear his opinion on Brexit these days lol

Viscomte Robert Grouvel has some great material on both groups in Les Corps de Troupe de L'Emigration Francaise and I am surprised that Pfeilitzer didnt come up in this account as he is front row centre in Grouvel's in the first paragraph.

Would love to get a miniature of both troops for my mantle piece of the major!!!!

Trent Miniatures makes some Hompesch mounted rifles in 28mm (which I believe are the Hussars).