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Thursday, February 1, 2024

Bavarian Light Infantry Battalion #1

 

The first Bavarian Leichte-Infanterie Bataillone were formed from the earlier Feldjägers. There were 4 such battalions in 1801, rising to six in 1803 and 7 in 1808. The sculpts for this battalion in "skirmishing" poses is once again by Lucas Luber of Piano Wargames in Germany. 

Each battalion had 4 Fusilier companies and one Jäger company, nominally of  about 140 men in peacetime, rising to 200 men per company in wartime. 

The battalions were generally known by the name of their commander. As these changed often, this could be confusing. For example, this battalion was known as "Metzen" from 1801 - 1807, "Habermann" from 1807 - 1809, "Gedoni" 1809 - 1811, "Hertling" 1811- 1812, and finally "Fick" from 1812 - 1814!

The uniforms of the 7 battalions were the same aside from the collars and the colors of the buttons. All units had dark green jackets with  black lapels and cuffs, both piped red, green shoulder straps piped red, and red turnbacks. 

The light battalions had both drummers and hornists. These were distinguished by added lace in the button color (white or red), with green plumes for the hornists (and red, drooping plumes for the Sappers, or "Zimmerman")

Commissioned Officers wore the traditional silver and blue sashes common the Bavarian officer corps at all levels. In 1811, the battalions were reorganized along the French model, having six companies, one of which was the Jäger company (Green plumes, and about 40 of the men carrying rifles), and one the Carabinier company (red plumes). 


Battalion Distinctions, Bavarian Light Infantry, 1804 - 1809

Battalion #

Collar

Buttons

1

Red

Brass

2

Red

Pewter

3

Black piped Red

Pewter

4

Black Piped Red

Brass

5

Yellow piped Red

Pewter

6

Yellow piped Red

Brass

7

Light Blue

Pewter


20 comments:

  1. Lovely work on some very nice figures, really top notch. The uniform info is very handy as well.

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  2. Tremendous figures and that cornice player actually looks to have puffed out cheeks !

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    1. He does indeed, Gary! Mind you, as a former brass instrument player, if you're doing that, you're not doing it correctly, but still's it is effective at conveying a sense of motion.

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  3. The figures certainly have been well painted and posed. The unit is full of movement. Great work.

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    1. This was definitely some work of Lucas that I could not pass up!

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  4. Lovely work Peter, and the dynamic poses really serves to make it look like a unit in action.

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    1. Another nice-looking bunch of figures from your favourite German there Peter - and you have done a nice job painting them up, too!

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    2. Thanks, Keith! Lucas' work will be featured prominently in my next game.

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    1. Thank you, Richard. This will be "Bavarian Month" here on The Danube!

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  7. Some good looking figures Peter I love the variety of poses. I can't wait now to get at my Victrix Bavarian light battalion. Just have to finish off the French 9th line and then do a Bavarian artillery unit and then I can get to the huge bag of Victix Bavarians.

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    1. Thanks, Chris. I think Bavarian Light infantry may have been the every first Minor State unit I ever painted, back in the early 1970's; this is my 3rd (Scruby 1970's, Foundry 1990's, and Piano now).

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  8. Outstanding work! I really like the variety of poses.

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    1. Thanks, Jon; glad you like them! I enjoyed painting this unit a lot!

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  9. Seeing these makes me want to paint some Napoleon era figures, thanks!

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