|
Napoleon's ruthless expansion and enforced revisions of the political map of Europe created many tens of thousands of refugees, many of whom ended up in the motey ranks of various, often short-lived corps in British pay. The KGL was something different: a large force of all arms, which would come to represent a significant minority of Britain's troops in the field, whose professional quality would keep it in the forefront of the British effort to bring down he French dictator and to free the Hanoverians' country from occupation by his troops.
At the front of this task; The Second Light Battalion, who's members had made up the oldest and most experienced members of the KGL, Many of whom had found their origins in the Hanoverian Army. The KGL campaigned in several western European countries at a time when the political map of Europe was constantly being re-drawn. From the Baltic in the north to the island of Malta in the south, from Ireland and Portugal in the west to Pomerania in the east, the KGL marched and frequently fought in a continent very different to that of today.
The KGL was raised in December of 1803, when the King’s German Regiment was approved to become a Legion of 5000 Strong in service of the British Empire. Due to their association with Hannover, the King’s German Legion was one of a very small number of Foreign forces permitted to serve alongside British Regular forces on mainland Europe.
Although the Legion never fought autonomously, its units participated in campaigns in Hanover, Pomerania, Copenhagen and Walcheren, the Peninsular War under General Sir John Moore; and the retreat to Corunna; The Peninsular Campaign under the Duke of Wellington, including the battles of Bussaco, Barrosa, Fuentes de Onoro, Albuera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Garcia Hernandez, Burgos, Venta del Pozo, Vittoria, San Sebastian, and Nivelle,
The 2nd Light Battalion would earn their first Battle Honour at Venta Del Pozo, Defending the Allied Rear from repeated Artillery and Cavalry attacks, their 2nd with the conclusion of the Peninsula war, and their 3rd for their Valiant defense of La Haye Sainte at Waterloo
At the Battle of Waterloo, the 2nd Light Battalion defended the farmhouse and road at "La Haye Sainte.", Wellington knew the importance of La Haye Sainte at this point, and Napoleon did too, both knew that the Army that controlled La Haye Sainte controlled the Centre of the Battlefield, the point of the British line that Napoleon must break to force the withdrawal of the British. But for nearly 6 exhausting hours, the Riflemen of the 2nd Light Battalion defended the position with their lives, until their Bayonets were dull or snapped, and their Ammunition ran out. Despite their horrific condition, at 6:30pm, the Riflemen informed Major Baring that they would gladly continue the struggle to blunt the attacks of the Frogs, if given sufficient supplies of Ammunition, but at nearly 7pm, the 2nd Light Battalion withdrew to the Allied line, without a single spare shot available to them.
In 1816 the King's German Legion's service to the British would end, and their forces would be re-integrated into the Hanoverian Army, the 2nd Light Battalion would form up
with the 1st Light Battalion and form the Garde-Jager Battalion, and would carry their battle honours into the German army as Nr.10 (Hanoverian) Jager Battalion, carrying them until 1918 when the unit was disbanded in compliance with the treaty of Versailles.
|
Show Posts
