Jan 1

Additional Companies Trained as Light Infantry

I've come across a reference in John Aitcheson's (3rd Foot Guards) memoir to an order in 1812 for a second company to be trained as light infantry, in addition to the light company. I can't find anything about it in Wellington's Dispatches. Does anybody know if this was a Guards only thing?

Rod MacArthur

Jan 1

I posted this earlier, but it seems to have disappeared, so I am posting it again.

1st Foot Guards always had one extra Grenadier and one extra Light Company (so 4 Grenadier and 4 Light Companies but only the equivalent of 3 battalions). From Dec 1813 to Sep 1814, 1st Foot Guards had 3 extra companies whilst Coldstream and 3rd Foot Guards had 2 extra each. These extra companies had a normal centre company establishment, but were probably all used as Light Companies.

No other infantry battalions were established for additional light companies.

Full details can be seen in this article on one of my websites:

https://rodwargaming.wordpress.com/miltary-historical-research/organisation/authorised-establishments-of-the-british-army-1802-1815/

Rod

Rob Griffith

Jan 2

Thanks Rod, that may help to explain another little mystery – why when they got to the peninsular the brigade of 1st Guards, No.5 company of the 5/60th that had been in the 1st Division and was assigned to them later left for the 3rd Division in November 1813. They may have felt they didn't need the extra light troops.

Rod MacArthur

Jan 2

Rob,

I hadn't realised that one of the companies of 5/60th left the Guards in November 1813. Where did you get that from? Both Rigaud’s “Celer et Audax” and Oman show the orbat earlier in 1813 as one company with Stopford’s Guards Bde, 3 Companies with the HQ in 3 Div and 5 other companies with brigades in 2nd, 4th and 6th Div. Neither of those sources give company numbers, so you clearly have a better source.

Interestingly, the total number of companies given above is 9. However a second Guards Brigade was formed in November 1812, originally Howard’s later Maitland’s. This comprised 1st & 3rd Bns 1st Foot Guards. They were not at Vittoria, as noted by Oman in his Orbat of that battle Vol VI p750, so I wondered whether the “missing” company of 5/60th was with that Brigade.

Rod

Rob Griffith

Jan 2

Hi Rod, my info is from the Regimental Returns for the 5/60th, and confirmed by the Army level returns that lists the army by brigades and divisions. I wrote the recent history on the battalion - 'Riflemen' - so I've looked in depth at lots of primary sources.

No.5 Company was with the original Guards brigade of 1st Div and No.9 was with Stirling's brigade until it went to 6th Div. No.5 then went to the new guards brigade and No.9 took their place with the original guards brigade. As far as I know No.5 stayed with 1/1st and 3/1st Guards whilst they were in the rear sick. The November 1813 return is the first that has them with 3rd Div and the battalion HQ. They stayed there until the end of the war.