On 10th July 1810, a decree announced the creation of the Engineers of the Imperial Guard: A company of sappers would be part of the Guard under the the Commander of Engineering. This company would provide the Fire Brigade in the imperial palaces.
At its creation, the unit consisted of 139 men: three officers, 15 non-commissioned officers and corporals, two drummers and 104 sappers. Six sappers and 10 drivers were responsible for the service of eight water pumps.While the civil role of the Engineers of the Guard was limited to the fire safety of the imperial palaces, in the field the unit became engineers. In 1812, their numbers were increased to 200 men. At the time of the Russian campaign, the Engineers of the Guard were attached to the division of infantry of the Old Guard.
In 1813, the unit was joined by the company of sappers of the newly created Young Guard, bringing the number to 376 officers, non-commissioned officers and sappers. In 1814, the Engineers of the Guard becomes a battalion with four companies, of which the first only was of Old Guard, for a total number of 615 men.
Dissolved by the First Restoration, the Engineers of the Guard were reorganised by Napoleon in 1815 participating in the campaign of Belgium.
With the exception of a few Hinton Hunt, my Engineers are largely conversions from Zvezda Old Guard, Hat, the Waterloo 1815 dismounted Dragoons and some Franznap. This took quite a bit of work and there are about 250 sappers on parade.
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Hope you like them!
