1st "Grenadier Guards" Regiment of Foot Guards [EU/NA]

[John Price]

I hate it almost as much as I hate Domba

[Janne]

i love dumba

[Ry@n]

lcpl bluemoon or i leave

Derrick

Runkkuritari is Derrick how many times do I have to say this, just because they are both Finnish!!!

sus

[MsEricson]

I hate it almost as much as I hate Domba

You should say it more often

[TheRealHunter]

lcpl bluemoon or i leave

[Vladdleco]

where 18e ?

[John Price]

where 18e ?

Alive in spirit

[Kubus]

where 18e ?

[Knightmare]

i love dumba

[Wolfster]

this looks cute

Hello Wolfster, still skulking around 

hello big man - unfortunately for you, yes I still peruse once every year or so

[John Price]

this looks cute

Hello Wolfster, still skulking around 

hello big man - unfortunately for you, yes I still peruse once every year or so

A couple of people that came to 18e from 44th right after you left NW still play here funnily enough

[John Price]

Welcome back to Haza, gave up his position as 2iC of 18e for Pluto...Pluto is gone and he comes back...

[BlueMoon_IT]

           ♕ Honi soit qui mal y pense ♕ Evil be to him who evil thinks ♕

To the surprise of absolutely no one, we are back once more to attend some NW events again. Even though we consist of a lot of veterans, the 1stFG is still welcoming new blood to our ranks who seek a friendly community and are willing to improve in the game. The 1stFG is a semi-competitive regiment with a good mix between both casual, fun events and competitive events/tournaments. We are trying to have a relaxed and friendly atmosphere while still keeping an professional attitude.

The Peninsular War 1808-1814 At the beginning of the 19th century, Britain was busy preparing for Napoleon's invasion, but after Trafalgar the government felt confident enough to send a force to occupy Sicily in 1805. This force included the 1st Guards Brigade (1st and 3rd Battalions 1st Guards). But in 1808 there was more important work to be done. The Brigade, part of a 13,000 strong force, was sent to the Peninsula to reinforce Wellesley's army which had successfully driven the French from Portugal. They landed at Corunna and marched inland to join up with Sir John Moore's 20,000. They then moved north to fight Soult's army beyond Valladolid but on Christmas day news arrived that Napoleon himself was leading a superior force to cut them off from their base at Corunna. Moore had no choice but to retreat to Corunna and save the Army. Corunna 1808 The story of the retreat to Corunna is a harrowing one. It was the middle of winter and they had to cross mountainous terrain with little food and tattered clothing. The trek took nearly three weeks and there were successful rearguard actions by the cavalry. The two battalions of Guards arrived at the port, apparently marching in step behind their corps of drums, setting a fine example to the rest of the army and helping to raise morale. A few days later the battle of Corunna started when the French took advantage of the late arrival of the British fleet, and attacked. Soult's men were strongly resisted and eventually retired but not before Moore was fatally wounded on 17th January 1809. Walcheren 1809 The 1st Guards only had a few months to recover from their exertions in Spain. By late summer they were packed off on the ill-fated expedition to the Dutch island of Walcheren with the objective of capturing Antwerp. The attack failed and the whole army was struck down with a terrible fever. The expedition was abandoned and they returned home. Barrosa 1811 The 1st Guards returned to Spain in 1810 where they found themselves besieged in Cadiz. The composite brigade was commanded by Major-General Dilkes of the 3rd Guards. There were 6 companies of the 2nd Battalion and 3 companies each from the other two Guards regiments. On the 5th March 1811 they, with some Spanish troops, were sent up the coast to attack Victor's army. They were separated from the Spanish so had to fight two French Divisions alone. They had just completed a 15 hour march but managed to defeat a force of cavalry and infantry from a strong defensive position. The attack was headed by the 1st Guards and cost them a third of their number after an hour and a half of bitter fighting. When the two year siege of Cadiz was lifted the Brigade made their way to join a further influx of Guards who were wintering at Cuidad Rodrigo. They were the 1st Battalion of the 1st Guards. Wellesley, now the Duke of Wellington was in command of the army and formed two Guards Brigades: 1st Brigade under Maj-Gen Howard of the Coldstream Guards to consist of 1st and 3rd Battalion 1st Guards and the composite battalion of Coldstream and 3rd Guards. 2nd Brigade under Maj-Gen the Hon E Stopford of the 3rd Guards, to consist of the 1st Battalions of the Coldstream and 3rd Guards. The army moved north to drive the French from Spain. There was a 3 month delay while they besieged San Sebastian.

A 'Forlorn Hope' party of volunteers from the 1st Guards assaulting the fort of San Sebasian [1813]

The Duke of Wellington watches as the 1st Guards charge the French Imperial Guard

Waterloo 1815 Napoleon's last hundred days brought about the most famous battle in European history. When he escaped from Elba on 26th February and entered Paris on 20th March, he was able to raise an army of 123,000. Wellington had to work fast to raise enough seasoned troops to stop him but he was disappointed with the men available. There were not enough 1st battalions from the infantry regiments. His final tally of 106,000 was made up of Belgian, Dutch and German allies as well as the British troops. The British infantry that fought at Waterloo numbered 17,000. Of these, 3,836 were Foot Guards. The Guards were organised in two brigades in the 1st Division. The 1st Brigade was made up of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 1st Guards, and the 2nd Brigade consisted of Coldstreamers and Scots Guards. Major-General Peregrine Maitland commanded the 1st Guards Brigade whose strength was: 2/1st Guards, 29 officers and 752 men, and 3/1st Guards, 29 officers and 818 men. Each battalion had about 40 sergeants and 20 drummers. Quatre Bras, 16th June It was on the evening of the Duchess of Richmond's ball, 15th June, that Wellington discovered that Napoleon had 'humbugged' him. The army had to be mobilised that night so nobody had much sleep. The Guards were camped at Enghien and received the order at 0130 hrs. They marched out at 0400 and were force-marched all day in hot weather. At 1700hrs, as the 1st Guards arrived at Quatre Bras they were thrown in to the battle and drove the French back out of a thick wood. They suffered heavy casualties. The two 1st Guards battalions lost 3 officers, killed and 43 other ranks. Wounded: 10 officers and 491 other ranks. 17th June The allies retained control of Quatre Bras but Blucher's Prussians had been hit hard at Ligny and forced to withdraw. The following day was spent withdrawing to Mont St Jean. There was a cavalry battle at Genappe but the Foot Guards were not involved. The heavy rain started at midday and continued through the night. The Light Companies of both Guards Brigades, under Lord Saltoun, were ordered to secure the Chateau of Hougoumont while the rest of the Guards took up positions behind Hougoumont.

Battle of Waterloo 18th June The actual battle of Waterloo was fought between 72,000 of Napoleon's French troops and 68,000 allied troops under Wellington. Blucher's Prussian army did not arrive until it was almost all over. Hougoumont Lord Saltoun commanded the two Light Companies of the 1st Guards who were ordered to hold the garden and orchard of the chateau while the other two Light Companies of the Coldstream and Scots Guards were commanded by Lt-Col James Macdonnell, responsible for the buildings. The night had been spent by all of these men busily fortifying the buildings ready for an attack early on the 18th. But Napoleon delayed his advance on the allies so the first attack did not happen until 1100 hrs. The 1st Guards held the orchard but the brunt of the attack was taken by the Coldstream and Scots Guards who fought with great heroism all afternoon. The Imperial Guard The Guards were again in the thick of the battle at the climactic confrontation with the famed Grenadiers of Napoleon's Imperial Guard. Marshal Ney led the assault which began with a French artillery barrage. Wellington ordered his men to lie down on the reverse slope to reduce casualties. Some of the 1st Guards even managed to snatch some sleep as the shot whistled overhead. At 1930hrs the advance began. There were 6,000 Grenadiers, seasoned veterans, moving in two massive columns on a frontage of 70 men shoulder to shoulder. One column was heading towards the 1st Guards who numbered around 1,000. They lay out of sight but could hear the sound of thousands of marching feet and roars of 'Vive l'Empereur'. When they were 40 paces away, Wellington shouted 'Now Maitland. Now's your time!' When the Guards sprang to their feet they were in four ranks. The front rank opened fire, killing 300 Frenchmen. The other ranks repeated this, combined with a barrage of grapeshot from the artillery, the Imperial Guard wavered and tried to fall back. Then Lord Saltoun led a charge of the 1st Guards which routed their French counterparts. The 'invincible' Imperial Guard was routed. The cry went up throughout the French army that the Guard were retreating. The whole of the British force swept forward and drove the enemy back across the valley and up the opposite slope. Cavalry and infantry, tired as they were pursued them off the field of battle. Even the weary Guards from Hougoumont joined in. The casualty figures for the 1st Guards Brigade on the 18th June were, 4 officers and 131 other ranks killed, 11 officers and 346 other ranks wounded.

1st Guards Light Coy. at the defense of Hougoumont [Waterloo 1815]

Commissioned Officers Colonel [Col] Lieutenant-Colonel [LtCol] Major [Maj] Captain [Capt] Lieutenant [Lt] Ensign [Ens]

Non-Commissioned Officers Serjeant Major [SjtMaj] Colour-Serjeant [CSjt] Serjeant [Sjt] Corporal [Cpl] Squadron Serjeant [SSjt] Serjeant [Sjt] Staff Corporal [SCpl] Corporal of Horse [CoH]

Specialist Enlisted Chosen Man [Chsm] Fusilier [Fus] Lance Corporal of Horse [LCoH] Horse Guard [HGrd] Veteran Trooper [VTrp] Trooper [Trp] Horseman [Hsm] Recruit [Rec]

Enlisted Lance Corporal [LCpl] Grenadier [Gren] Kingsman [Kgm] Private [Pte] Recruit [Rec]

[John Price]

I hate you

[Vegi.]

Dont make me also put you on the ignore list Bluemoon