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gardeimperiale1815@fcoy.freeserve.co.uk
Welcome! 
Our aim is to re-create part of Napoleons Imperial Guard on campaign in the hundred days war of 1815. We wish to portray different aspects of the guard at that point. 3eme Regt Grenadiers a Pied, Artillery, to Young Guard conscripts, and all the people who marched on campaign with them. We do not wish to look like soldiers just off parade duty in Paris, but slightly worn and yet still proud members of the worlds finest soldiers of that period in history. We re-enact in Spain, France, and Britain.
Follow the Eagle of the Emperor of France.
Meet new friends, and have great fun re-enacting.
Advance to the pass de charge, feel what it’s like being in a French Column.
Stand in a firing line in the smoke of battle.
Live in the authentic world of a Napoleonic Soldier.
You have seen the films, read the books,
now try the life.
And then go home for tea.
Uniforms:
The picture shows the grenadier in parade dress, on duty he would be wearing black gaiters. The bearskin ("big enough to hold 2 bottles of wine") decorated by a red brass plate stamped with the Imperial eagle looking left, on both sides, a flaming grenade,The cocade, white outside had a crowned eagle of "aurore" wool in the center, the same eagle reappears on the brass or copper buttons. The cartridge pouch contains 50 bullets, the cover bears the crowned eagle in red brass surrounded by 4 grenades but the flame is pointing outwards. After 1807 the white cross on red background on top of the bearskin is replaced by an embroidered grenade of white cotton. In campaign a "surtout" is worn, imperial blue with 7 yellow copper buttons (9 after 1807), wide pants blue or white were worn over the gaiters. After 1804 a greatcoat was supplied, double breasted with 2 rows of 8 buttons, it was worn with epaulettes. An oilskin cover was placed over the bearskin on the march, the plume was tied to the sabre. The total weight of the equipment was 32kg! And they did sometime cover up to 180km in 60 to 72 hours!
THE WATERLOO CAMPAIGN
According to Leon Fallou writing in his 1902 publication "La Garde Imperial" the 1st and 2nd Regiment and part of the 3rd Regiment were reasonably well dressed and equipped. He suggests that the 4th Regiment were dressed in a bizarre fashion. Lachouque states that the Old Garde Infantry were not much better dressed and equipped than the Young Garde. He points out that the uniforms of the 1st and 2nd Regiments were correct in that they wore the Bearskin bonnet, and had the half belted overcoats, blue trousers, and the large Garde pattern knapsacks and Garde pattern sabre briquet. However the 3rd Regiment were not so uniformly dressed. Many wore the Young Garde shako, others wore the bicorn or bonnet de police. The 1st and 2nd Regiments carried the Garde pattern musket but many of the 3rd Regiment carried the line pattern one. In the 3rd and 4th Regiments the overcoats varied from blue through to grey. This appearance did not affect the superb fighting qualities of these men. There were 2 battalions in the 3rd Regiment each of about 580 men. They advanced on the left flank at Ligny. At Waterloo they were held in reserve for most of the day, the 1/3 under Maj Guillemin, advanced on the right flank of the Imperial Garde assault on the Mont St Jean ridge, reaching the ridge itself. It took the batteries of Cleeves and Lloyd and broke the Brunswickers. The British 2/30th and 2/73rd fell back in disorder under the pressure as did 3 battallions of Nassauers. After being weakened by cannon and musket the 3rd Netherland Division finally broke this brave 1/3 Garde unit. The 2/3 under Maj Belcourt formed a rallying square on a slight rise between Hougmonte and La Haie Sainte. It had difficulty stemming the Allied assault losing over 200 men. It was reduced to a triangle when it was attacked by Cavalry and shelled with grapeshot. It then ceased to exist as a fighting unit. The 4th Regiment, 520 strong under Marchel de Camp Baron D'Harlet, took part in the battle of Ligny and with a wounded commander still leading them, breasted the ridge at Mont St Jean, although greatly weakened they pushed back 2 British Battalions, 33rd and 69th foot. Eventually the 4eme losses were too great and these men also retired down the ridge under great pressure.