Red Lancers of the Guard
NCO Uniform Study
by Adrian George, UK
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The four-squadron lancer regiment was uniformed in classic Polish style, in striking scarlet with dark blue facing’s and yellow chords (gold for officers). My illustration is of an NCO in full dress, on campaign, as with all regiments, a much simpler appearance would be adopted. A waterproof black oilskin cover would protect the Polish style headdress, the Czapska,, the scarlet breeches would be replaced by leather strengthened blue riding pantaloons, with a scarlet outer stripe. Often in warmer climates the much lighter stable overalls would be warn. On return from the disastrous Russian campaign of 1812, the much-depleted ‘Red’ Lancers were reinforced as best they could and increased in size, from four to 8 squadrons. By March 1813 they were increased still further to ten squadrons, the first five being classed as ‘Old Guard’ the remaining five ‘Young Guard’ Fighting through the hard campaigns in Germany in 1813 and France the following year. The regiment was disbanded on 12th May 1814 after Napoleon’s first abdication. The five ‘Old Guard’ squadrons were retained and renamed ‘Corps Royal des Chevau-Légers Lanciers de France’. Rallying to Napoleon in 1815 the regiment again resumed it’s Imperial title, this time as a composite formation which also included the Polish Elba Squadron which had returned from Elba with the Emperor. Brigaded with the Chassuers de la Garde, the ‘Red’ Lancers fought their last engagement with stubborn determination on the field of Waterloo. Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire # 79 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2004 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com |
Following the annexation of the Kingdom of Holland to France
in 1810, Napoleon incorporated both foot and horse formations
of the Dutch Royal Guard into the French Imperial
Guard. The Dutch foot Grenadiers would eventually
become the 3e regiment de Grenadiers
‘Hollandais’. The horse units, formally belonging
to the Dutch Guard ‘Huzars’ & ‘Kurrassiers’,
joined the French Guard as the 2e Chevau-Légers-Lanciers
‘Hollandais’ in September 1810.