History

The Netherlands 'Korps Guides te Paard' was erected by Decree No. 108 dating 18 February 1815, and composed of (North-Netherlandish) troopers from the cavalry and horse artillery. Its duty was not that of bodyguard to the Prince of Orange, as sometimes is stated, rather the troopers were divided among the staffs and headquarters of the Netherlandish troops, to be used as dispatch-riders. They never operated as a unit, and as far as I know no members of the Guides participated in any real fighting at the battles of Quatre-Bras or Waterloo. I also could find no killed or wounded Guides in the reports of the Netherlands losses. During the Waterloo campaign the Guides had a strength of 67 men and 70 horses (strength of 12 June 1815) and were commanded by Captain C.A.S. Baron von Heinecken.

On 4 December 1819 the Korps Guides te Paard was disbanded and its men incorporated in the Regiment Lansiers (Lancers) No. 10.

Uniform

Although on formation on 18 February a uniform was decreed for the Guides, it is very doubtful if it was worn during the Waterloo campaign, taking in account the short period of its existence, the fact that the men already had a uniform because they came from the cavalry or horse artillery, and the fact that resources were limited and uniforms were needed more by other units at that time. However, the uniform that was decreed was as follows:

Dark blue, shorttailed, single-breasted coat of the same cut as for the carabiniers. Red collar, cuffs, turnbacks and piping. Blue wings with red lace on both shoulders. Two 'stripes' of yellow lace on each side of the collar. Yellow buttons. White waistcoat. White trousers or grey overalls.. Short hussar boots. The same cylindrical shako as was worn by the horse artillery, with a crowned 'W' cipher in brass, and yellow cords Black panache of cock feathers (On 4 December 1817 the panache of cock feathers was replaced by one of horsehair). Dark blue greatcoat. White shoulder belt across the left shoulder, and a white waist belt with brass clasp. White gloves.

Armament

Consisted of a curved hussar sabre with blank metal scabbard, brass hilt and white sabre knot, and two pistols. On 17 September 1815 the armament was augmented by a lance of Austrian pattern with a three-coloured pennon; red over white over blue. NCO's wore one or two chevrons, according to their rank. The troopers wore the rank distinctions of a corporal.

Horse furniture was the same as for the light dragoons, with black leather and brass fittings. Dark blue pointed shabraque with wide red edging and in the points a crowned 'W' cipher in red. Dark blue portmanteau with red edging. Leather saddlebags at the back of the saddle behind the rider.

Sources:

F. Forbes Wels: "De Nederlandse Cavalerie" (Bussum 1963).
F.J. G. ten Raa: "De uniformen van de Nederlandsche Zee- en Landmacht hier te lande en in de koloniln" ('s Gravenhage 1900).
W.E.A. Wapperman: "De vorming van het Nederlandsche leger na de omwenteling van 1813 en het aandeel van dat leger aan den veldtocht van 1815" (Breda 1900).