John Grehan travels about the Continent obtaining material for the Partizan Press Uniform Books to be published in the near future. He will be author of three of the series, including one on the Imperial Guard. Much of the research for this publication was performed in the Musee de l'armee in Paris, and this report is an account of his visit there.

The French claim that Le Musee de l'Armee is amongst the largest of its kind in the world, and it is certainly very extensive. The entry ticket is valid for two consecutive days and if the intention is to study everything thoroughly, then a second day is very useful.

Housed in the magnificent building of l'Hotel des Invalides, which was built by Louis XIV for his disabled soldiers, the exhibits are very well displayed and clearly marked. There are separate sections for the periods of the First Republic and the First Empire. In the rooms devoted to the Republic there are engravings illustrating Valmy, the Vendeean Wars, and a very detailed diorama of the crossing of the bridge at Lodi. Of the uniforms on display the most exotic is a Trumpeter of the Dromedary Regiment of 1799, complete with bright red dolman and pelisse covered in white lace and fur.

The First Empire rooms contain a wonderful display of uniforms. Almost every uniform type can be seen and it would be unrealistic for me to list them all in this report. The artillery however, is relatively poorly represented but there is an interesting uniform of a Capitaine de Batteries d'Artillerie d'Accompagnement du 6eme Regiment de Ligne. The Imperial Guard is particularly well covered with a Matelot du Bataillon des Marins and a Sapeur du Bataillon du Genie being amongst the more interesting items. There is also a very realistic lifesize model of Marshal Ney. On display are a large number of Napoleon's personal items including the Emperor's field tent complete with his camp bed and folding table; and there is a reconstruction of the drawing room at Longwood House on St.Helena where Napoleon died.

In an entirely separate room, the Vauban Hall, is a collection of cavalry throughout the ages that features a dragoon of the 23eme Regiment 1803, and a superb model of a Chasseur a Cheval de la Garde, both mounted. Opposite the Vauban Hall is the Turenne Hall, containing the museum's collection of Colours and Standards; the most prized relic here being the Colours kissed by Napoleon at Fontainebleau on his departure to Elba. The Gribeauval Gallery, inevitably, holds a collection of artillery models and equipment.

There is so much to see at Le Musee de l'Armee that it is possible to miss many items, but some time; should be saved for a visit to Napoleon's tomb. This is housed in the Eglise du Dome, a beautifully decorated church of which Napoleon's tomb forms the centre-piece.

The museum is open every day excluding Christmas Day, New Year's Day, May Day and 1st November. Opening times are from 10am to 5pm during the winter and 10am to 7pm in the summer. Napoleon's tomb is open until 7pm during the summer months.

The entry fee is currently 34 Francs for adults and 24 Francs for children over seven years of age, students and Senior Citizens (over 60 years of age). Children under seven are admitted free. Photography is permitted without prior consent but flash can only be used in the Eglise du Dome.

There is a small bookshop which is far inferior to that in our National Army Museum, with disappointingly few books on the Napoleonic period.

The Dusty Archive

Introduction
Public Records Office
National Art Library
Musee de l'Armee, Paris
Future Museum Reports and Conference
Books
Memorials
Napoleonic Old Wives' Tale: Buttons