5th Line Battalion, King's German Legion
- 5th Line Battalion, King's German Legion
The 5th Line Battalion of the King's German Legion was raised during the year 1805 as the fifth out of eight line battalions that the Legion levied in total.
The battalion was initially brigaded with the 6th Line Battalion of the Legion. It served from 1805 until 1816 in Ireland, Walcheren, Copenhagen , Sicily, Peninsula and Belgium.
Waterloo
On 18th June 1815, during the Battle of Waterloo, the battalion was nearly wiped out during the fighting in the center of Wellington's battle line, in the wake of the so called `crisis´. Around 6 o'clock Sir Charles Alten, their divisional commander, ordered Col. von Ompteda to send forward the 5th line battalion to attack the French infantry, who were pursuing the men from the 2nd light battalion KGL, retreating from La Haye Sainte. Von Ompteda, who had noticed French cavalry nearby, protested the order, but was told to obey his general by the Prince of Orange, who had overheard the exchange. Von Ompteda mounted his horse, ordered the 5th into line (they had been formed in square to fight cavalry) and, at their head, advanced on the French infantry. The enemy infantry ran, but riding out of the mists of smoke came a regiment of cuirassiers . They charged into the flank and rear of the 5th line who, with their muskets unloaded, were cut to pieces. Von Ompteda was among those killed, a colour of the battalion was lost and only 19 men escaped back to the aliied line. [Chappell p 35f]
Uniforms and equipment
Uniform and Equipment of the Legion's Line battalions was of standard British pattern of the time. In accord it was repeatedly revised during the years from 1803 until 1815. In general it comprised:
*red uniform with dark blue cuffs and collar, laced with regimental lace
*grey legwear
*white leather equipment
*Brown Bess musket
*stovepipe shako, later Belgic shakoThe principal distinction from British units was that the standard pack was painted dark blue rather than black.The 5th's light Company was partially armed with Baker rifles and was separated from the battalion at Waterloo in the midst of the battle to assist in the defense of La Haye Sainte.
References
Literature
*Chappell, Mike "The King's German Legion (2) 1812-1816" Osprey 2000 ISBN 1 85532 997 2
External links
* [http://www.kgl.info King’s German Legion] (in German) 2nd light battalion and 5th line battalion re-enactment society
* [http://www.kgl-linie.de King´s German Legion] (in German) 5th line battalion re-enactment group
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
King's German Legion — The King s German Legion (KGL) was a German military unit, but was an integral part of the British Army. It was in existence from 1803 till 1816. It has the distinction of being the only German force to have fought without interruption against… … Wikipedia
King's Royal Rifle Corps — The King s Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army formation, originally raised in colonial America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. HistoryThe King s Royal Rifle Corps was raised in the American colonies in 1756 as the … Wikipedia
Georg Hartog Gerson — (August 25, 1788 – December 3, 1844) was a medical doctor and surgeon in the King s German Legion during the Napoleonic Wars.Dr. Gerson was born in Hamburg. He came from a family of doctors who had been living and working in Hamburg and Altona… … Wikipedia
French Foreign Legion — Infobox Military Unit unit name=French Foreign Legion caption=The Legion emblem. dates=10 March 1831 present country=FRA branch=French Army type= role= size= c. 7,700 men in nine regiments and one sub unit current commander= Brigade General Louis … Wikipedia
7th Infantry Division (United Kingdom) — Infobox Military Unit unit name= 7th Division caption= dates= September 1914 1918/19, ? 1939 country= United Kingdom allegiance= branch= Regular Army type= Infantry role= size= command structure= current commander= garrison= ceremonial chief=… … Wikipedia
François Étienne de Kellermann — Francois Étienne de Kellermann, 2nd Duc de Valmy (August 4 1770 June 2, 1835) was a French cavalry general noted for his daring and skillful exploits during the Napoleonic Wars. He was the son of François Christophe de Kellermann and the father… … Wikipedia
Order of battle of the Waterloo Campaign — This is the complete order of battle for the four major battles of the Waterloo Campaign. v … Wikipedia
History of the British Army — The history of the British Army spans over three and a half centuries and numerous European wars, colonial wars and world wars. From the early 19th century until 1914, the United Kingdom was the greatest economic and Imperial Power in the world,… … Wikipedia
Light Division — The Light Division Active 1803 – 1815 1853 – 1856 1914 – 1918 1968 – 2007 Country Great Britain Branch British Army Type Light Infantry … Wikipedia
Battle of Waterloo — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Waterloo partof=the War of the Seventh Coalition caption= Wellington at Waterloo by Robert Alexander Hillingford. date=18 June 1815 place=Waterloo, present day Belgium south of brussels result=Decisive … Wikipedia
