Next Out In Our Toy Soldier Series:
British Light Infantry, The French and Indian War 1750's
Toy Set no. 619, An Officer and seven Privates
Traditionally, light infantry or skirmishers were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight formations that were the core of large battles. Light infantry often fought in close coordination with heavy infantry, where they could screen the heavy infantry from harassing fire, and the heavy infantry could intervene to protect the light infantry from attacks of enemy heavy infantry or cavalry. Heavy infantry originally had heavier arms and more armour than light infantry, but this distinction was lost as the use of armour declined and gunpowder weapons became standardized.
The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was the North American chapter of the Seven Years War. The name refers to the two main enemies of the British - the royal French forces, and the various American Indian forces allied with them. The conflict, the fourth such colonial war between the Kingdoms of France and Great Britain, resulted in the British conquest of all of New France east of the Mississippi River, as well as Spanish Florida. The outcome was one of the most significant developments in the persistent Anglo-French Second Hundred Years War. To compensate its ally, Spain, for its loss of Florida, France ceded its control of French Louisiana west of the Mississippi. France's colonial presence north of the Caribbean was reduced to the tiny islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
For further information, contact Steve Hare at shop@traditionoflondon.com.