AFPU44 | 03 Nov 2019 2:53 p.m. PST |
Hi I am building up Picton's 3rd Division of 1810 in which there was a Portuguese Brigade comprising the 2nd Battalion 9th Regiment and 1st Battalion 21st Regiment. When I create my 28mm units for General D'Armee I like to tag the command bases with the unit name and commander. Therefore, does anyone know where I might find out who commanded these units (I am assuming they were British Lt.Col's)? |
Artilleryman | 03 Nov 2019 4:02 p.m. PST |
I had a look at Burnham and McGuigan's 'The British Army Against Napoleon'. In it there are only two mentions of British officers in the units concerned. Lt Col Charles Sutton – 9th Line Lt Col Walter Birmingham – 21st Line Which battalions they commended is not made clear but it is a start. |
McLaddie | 03 Nov 2019 8:59 p.m. PST |
This might help: British officers in the Portuguese service 1809-1820 by Pedro de Brito link |
Rod MacArthur | 04 Nov 2019 12:10 a.m. PST |
I seem to recall that some Portuguese battalions had Portuguese battalion commanders with British officers as Second in Command. Rod |
AFPU44 | 04 Nov 2019 6:26 a.m. PST |
Thanks very much for the leads, which I'll follow up on and maybe just go with Sutton and Birmingham. The 21st only had one battalion so looks like Walter Birmingham woul dbe the right man. |
AFPU44 | 04 Nov 2019 8:35 a.m. PST |
One last question regarding uniform for the British officers. Presumably Portuguese uniform or not? |
Prince of Essling | 04 Nov 2019 10:43 a.m. PST |
Regimental commanders can be found by clicking on the appropriate regiment: link I would expect the British officers would have worn Portuguese uniforms. mat be Halliday can through some light on this? PDF link The present state of Portugal, and of the Portuguese army : with an epitome of the ancient history of that kingdom by Halliday, Andrew Publication date 1812 |
Rod MacArthur | 04 Nov 2019 2:05 p.m. PST |
British Officers serving with the Portuguese Army were given a step in rank, so I think most would have worn Portuguese uniform to reflect this. Certainly Alexander Dickson did, since his Portuguese rank enabled Wellington to appoint him as his senior Artillery commander, over the head of several British RA officers who were senior to him. Rod |
Prince of Essling | 04 Nov 2019 2:30 p.m. PST |
Halliday has a fairly exhaustive list of British officers serving with the Portuguese Army in 1812. Only the initial batch of 24 British officers received a double step in rank, all subsequent British officers transferred to Portuguese service received a single step in rank with no advancement in their British rank. This led to much acrimony. (Foot Note 5 to Wellington's Fighting Cocks by John Grehan in "The Peninsular War Aspects of the struggle for the Iberian Peninsula" edited by Ian Fletcher). |
AFPU44 | 04 Nov 2019 2:43 p.m. PST |
Thanks Prince of Essling the link is perfect. Consider my questions well and truly answered. |
huevans011 | 04 Nov 2019 7:56 p.m. PST |
I would expect the British officers would have worn Portuguese uniforms. The Osprey on the Portuguese line infantry and staff recounts the tale of Capt William Warre of the 23rd Light Dragoons, who was seconded to Beresford's staff in 1809 and who avoided obtaining a Portuguese uniform until 1811 because of price. |