REPUBLIQUE
GRAND-TACTICAL NAPOLEONIC WARFARE IN MINIATURE

The figure of a British line infantryman shown at left depicts a typical soldier during the Peninsular war period from 1808 to 1814. He is wearing grey trousers or overalls instead of (or over) his regulation white breeches. The blue regimental facing colors visible on his collar and cuffs indicate he is from a "royal" regiment, in this case the 18th Royal Irish Regiment. His shako is a model 1806 version with a rear neck flap which could be folded down in foul weather.

This figure of a British line infantryman portrays a man from the grenadier company of the 35th line wearing the model 1812 Belgic shako which is best known for having been worn by units during the Waterloo campaign. The laced "wings" on his shoulders indicate his grenadier status. He is wearing buff colored trousers over his regulation white breeches, and his orange regimental facing colors coupled with his oval shaped strap buckle (located at the center of the chest) indicates his regiment.

A British jacket and stovepipe shako from the French Army Museum. The jacket is posted as being from the British 83rd Line Regiment, which is supported by the pale yellow regimental facings on the cuffs, shoulder straps and collar. This image was shot with film, and was therefore slightly affected by the yellow tinted lighting in the museum, which partially disguised the red color of the jacket. The cylindrical shape of the shako is apparent from this view, as is the large brass shako plate. There were two versions of the stovepipe shako; the first version, authorized in February of 1800, was straight sided (like the example shown here). In October of 1806 a new version was authorized, the main difference being that it tapered slightly toward the top. The Belgic or "Waterloo" shako was actually authorized in March of 1812, with supplies reaching troops in the Peninsula only toward the very end of that conflict.

A close-up of the British jacket shown above. This photo is a native digital image, and so the natural colors and tones of the jacket are more apparent than in the photo taken above. The white worsted strips of lace adjoining the pewter buttons are all clearly visible. Note the strips of lace also on the cuff.