"The Swiss DeMeuron Regiment " Topic

"In the year 1781 French authorities helped to raise a new regiment in the Swiss canton, soliciting recruits in and around Neuchatel. The regiment was called the deMeuron Regiment, taking it's name from the commander, Comte Charles de Meuron, born in Neuchatel in1738 and who served in the French regiment D'Erlach. The DeMeuron Regiment consisted of 1020 men, 10 companies of 102 men each, fully armed and equipped.

This regiment was to serve the Dutch East India Company protecting the Dutch colonies, the Cape of Good Hope in particular. A Dutch base was established there in 1652, to act as a supply depot for the provisioning of ships on the long voyage from Europe to India. By the 1700's, Dutch settlers, the Boers, were well established there.

On January 7, 1782, the regiment landed in Capetown, only to re-embark shortly on the Hermione to Ceylon where they were to reinforce the Suffrens. Ceylon had been under Dutch rule since 1665, yet in the latter part of the 18th century, the British began to move eastward from India. In Ceylon, the DeMeuron Regiment took part in the expulsion of the British from Cuddalore, which was "sorely beset by the English under General Stuart."…"

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Amicalement
Armand

This link leads to reenactor's site that includes not only the history of the DeMeuron regimant before during and after the War of 1812, but includes the Canadian Voyageurs in a War of 1812 context.

A really good find, thanks.

Glad you enjoyed it my friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

"After the British conquered the Dutch possessions this regiment went into British pay,…"

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Amicalement
Armand

Le régiment du comte de Meuron en 1798

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I painted this regiment in 15mm using Swedish Guard Grenadier figures. Don't think I got the flag right though…

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

This post has come back up from 2020. But seeing it's here, I would just like to note that the facings of De Meuron's Regiment was a light blueish grey.