Napoleon's drive to cut costs in 1809 saw him disband the expensive 2nd Grenadiers and Chasseurs à Pied, but at the same time he wanted something less expensive to bolster up the already conscript-heavy Grande Armée. The idea of the Young Guard was conceived - picked conscripts who could be used in battle without the trepidation that invariably occurred when the Old Guard were committed.

The first of these regiments was formed as the Tirailleur-Grenadiers by Imperial Decree on 16th January 1809, recruits were to be a minimum of 5'6" in height, and able to read and write. Napoleon chose the term Tirailleurs in case the word conscript might bring 'unpleasant connotations.' Under the watchful eye of Marshal Mortier, two battalions totalling 2000 men, with NCO cadres from the Grenadiers A Pied were recruited.

It was intended that the units of the Young Guard would be a finishing school for subsequent elevation, first after two years service to the Middle Guard, and then after a further four, the Old Guard. This way Napoleon would in theory always be able to keep the Old Guard up to scratch. The Regiment was initially dressed as light infantry, but with red turnbacks, shoulder straps and Polish cuffs, to distinguish their status.

The Regiment was blooded in the cauldron of Aspern-Essling, distinguishing itself there and again at Wagram. They were then sent to Spain to help torture the locals, where they were again most efficient. On December 30th, 1810, the name of the regiment was curtailed simply to the 1st Tirailleurs, coinciding with the massive expansion of the Young Guard which was to end in 19 regiments of Tirailleurs and a similar number of Voltigeur formations.

Russian Campaign

The 1812 Russian campaign decimated the Regiment. Included in 'Old Man' Roguet's 2nd Guard Division - considered by many to be the best combat division in the Grande Armée - they were brigaded with the 1st Voltigeurs under Lanabère. Although largely uncommitted at Borodino, Lanabère managed to get himself mortally wounded. By October nearly half the men were either sick or straggling, and it would get worse. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Old Guard, they beat off the Russians at Krasnyi to maintain the line of retreat, Roguet's division being the last to retire. By the end of November the entire Young Guard totalled 800 men.

Nevertheless, by Herculean efforts Napoleon rebuilt the Young Guard for the 1813 campaign. The uniform was suitably simplified, with a bog standard habit-veste replacing the old jacket, and instructions to do away with the sabre-briquet for all but NCOs. This was taken on without complaint, but instructions to remove all shako trimmings and for the Regiment to stop wearing its red-over-white plume were less popular, although how much was unofficially retained is open to conjecture. Certainly the Regiment was seen in 1813 with its full plumes on parade.

Initially the new recruits were subject to a spot of desertion, but they did well at Lützen, losing 10% casualties in the counterattack, however, as the campaign went on they quickly got settled in and the Regiment's crowning glory was on the field of Dresden, when during the attack on the second day it wrecked six battalions of Prussians, earning 100 Legions of Honour in the process. Things did not go as well at Leipzig, where despite distinguishing themselves again the Regiment suffered horribly. They carried on throughout the dour days of 1814, winning wherever they fought, but paying in blood.

With Napoleon's abdication, the world thought that the Young Guard had been consigned to history, but of course it was not to be. The Regiment was reformed for the Waterloo campaign, fighting at Ligny and Waterloo itself, where it would fight for the last time. One can picture the scene - oft repeated in Nasal spray adverts down the years - as Duhesme turned to the Regiment's colonel, Trappier de Malcolm, saying: "There is Plancenoit; take it for me," to which he may have replied "I'm not sure that we can," receiving in finality the immortal line, "Course you can Malcolm!" Unfortunately despite taking Plancenoit from the Prussians, they wanted it back and eventually got it. There would be no more hurrahs.

Throughout its history the Young Guard was something of the James Dean of the French Army. More than a touch 'lad-ish', the Old Guard used to complain that the Tirailleurs 'made noisy demonstrations and went out with girls'. The Regiment helped accentuate this image with their rakish marching son: "Les Tirailleurs sans souci / Ou sont-ils?...Les voici!" If that wasn't enough at Nogent on February 22nd, 1814 the Regiment burgled a costumier's shop and fought in fancy dress!

UNCLE IAN'S FIVE-YEAR PLAN

I wonder if every unit has an uncle with a five-year plan? The modern re-enactment unit portrays the 1st Tirailleurs as they were on the eve of Dresden in 1813, before the day of their greatest glory This has a number of advantages for the novice re-enactor: the uniform is simpler and without an extra cross belt and sabre-briquet, substantially cheaper. We have chosen to retain the traditional full plume, although on 'campaign' a simple red pom-pom will be more appropriate.

The unit was raised very much in the spirit of the Tirailleurs themselves. Unlike some of the other units in the Napoleonic Association, there is no huge desire to portray 'living history', we are primarily interested in attending battle re-enactments and having a good time. That isn't to say that the members don't care passionately about their identity. Those in the know will realise what a hard fight it was just to get where we are today, and all that effort was certainly not for nothing.

Anybody in doubt might like to bear in mind that I am in favour of bringing back duelling. The unit is also something of a politically incorrect animal as follows: There are no women. Certainly not in the ranks. We don't cast any aspersions on units that fill out there ranks with the gentler sex, it's just not our way.

The chosen period means that for a large amount of the time the members are going to be in 's-t order' if you know what I mean. Anybody afraid of getting their hands dirty had better not think about joining. There is no sense of elitism here. Having said that there is no interest in living history, the unit is in the process of buying its first authentic tent, so perhaps I should clarify that. We believe that during re-enacting and the period immediately before and after, we behave like Young Guardsmen (although some of the members look more like Old Seamen), but that after the show is over we are just playing. The emphasis is always on having a good time, and for a few hours escaping the twentieth century and pretending to be in a more glorious (unless you required the National Health) time.

Like the XVLD, we too have a target for Waterloo 2000 - to be there! The aim of the unit is to field between 30 and 40 men at four or five battle events a year, including at least one overseas event, so reliability and consistency are characteristics which will be of benefit to potential recruits. A sense of humour is obvious, and it will be a definite advantage if you are not a sissy. At present the unit is recruiting its second draft, so if you want to get in on this year's training - once a month at the unit depot at Fontainebleau (all right, Bridgnorth) now's the time to join. Equipment is not as expensive as you might think, especially with muskets now available at less than £200. Nobody is turned away on the grounds of a lack of cash, and being as the starting field equipment is greatcoat and overalls, you will find yourself in the field sooner than you might think. This year the unit is concentrating on recruitment and training, so appearances at events will be limited to a few members poking their oars in, helping defend and man the guns of our brigaded colleagues the 4eme Artillerie and avoiding being ridden over by the 1er Chasseurs.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For further information about the 1er Tirailleurs, please contact:

Ian Barstow
57 Station Road
Purton, Wiltshire, SN5 9EL
A warm and wet welcome is assured.

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