Book of interest

 Get it from here. The author Bernard Coppens has passed away. Read about him here

Depictions of Nassau troops at Waterloo.

 

Osprey art by Patrice Courcelle

Bernard Coppens

French Napoleonic greatcoat from the excellent 'Napoleon's Waterloo Army' by Paul L. Dawson

 The only extant 1st Empire other ranks greatcoat is preserved in the Musée de l’Empéri. Here we see details of this garment. It is made from Beige cloth, which is light brown hue and not modern Beige as we understand it. (Musée de l’Empéri, Collections du Musée de l’Armée, Anciennes collections Jean et Raoul Brunon)

A must-have book for the Waterloo fan

Waterloo the truth at last

 Just ordered this from the library. Looking forward to it.

Blurb says

During October 2016 Paul Dawson visited French archives in Paris to continue his research surrounding the events of the Napoleonic Wars. Some of the material he examined had never been accessed by researchers or historians before, the files involved having been sealed in 1816. These seals remained unbroken until Paul was given permission to break them to read the contents.Forget what you have read about the battle on the Mont St Jean on 18 June 1815; it did not happen that way. The start of the battle was delayed because of the state of the ground not so. Marshal Ney destroyed the French cavalry in his reckless charges against the Allied infantry squares wrong. The stubborn defense of Hougoumont, the key to Wellingtons victory, where a plucky little garrison of British Guards held the farmhouse against the overwhelming force of Jerome Bonapartes division and the rest of II Corps not true. Did the Union Brigade really destroy dErlons Corps, did the Scots Greys actually attack a massed French battery, did La Haie Sainte hold out until late in the afternoon?All these and many more of the accepted stories concerning the battle are analysed through accounts (some 200 in all) previously unpublished, mainly derived through French sources, with startling conclusions. Most significantly of all is the revelation of exactly how, and why, Napoleon was defeated.Waterloo, The Truth at Last demonstrates, through details never made available to the general public before, how so much of what we think we know about the battle simply did not occur in the manner or to the degree previously believed. This book has been described as a game changer, and is certain to generate enormous interest, and will alter our previously-held perceptions forever.

Soldier and camp-follower

 

Le fantassin de 1812 et 1815 Michel Petard

 

Uniforms of Waterloo Haythornthwaite

 This book from 1974 I had as a teen. My parents bought it for me. I will post some of my favourite images

95th in a Belgic shako

 

From Yves Martin

 "Peter von Hess - Maraudeurs d'infanterie légère

Notre ami Don Troiani m'a envoyé cette photo d'une peinture de Peter von Hess qui se troue au musée d'art de Milwaukee."

JOSSE DENIS LE COEUR SOLDAT DU 59ème RÉGIMENT D'INFANTERIE, Premier Empire : portrait miniature

 From here. Note earrings and the colour of the coat

Recruits

 

Life Guards at Waterloo Patrice Courcelle

 

Waterloo Henri Lachouque

 This coffee table book came out in 1972 - 75 for the English Edition. Introduction by David Chandler. A very pro French book but sometimes you need that. Highly illustrated it really is an enjoyable book. 

Uniforms of Waterloo in Colour 1974

 This book I had. Haythornthwaite.

 

From here

French

 Voltigeur and line infantry major, end of the Empire (old army museum mannequins)

Rifles Mark Urban

 The charity shops are currently open and I picked this book today. The attached image was interesting.

Recruiting Party,1808

 

Napoleon's Last Army

 Forthcoming book of interest

'Years in the making in both the creation of the stunning and unique art work by my valued friend Keith Rocco, based on decades of archive work which I have undertaken in Paris.

Our joint collaboration evocatively brings the Armée du Nord back to life as it appeared in those chaotic days in June 1815. Infantry, cavalry and artillery from each Army Corps as well as well as the officers and men of the Garde Imperiale, are brought back to life in the vivid illustrations.

The book is a testimony to the skill of Keith Rocco and the soldiers themselves who served in the Emperors last campaign. I will update you all with details for the publication schedule as and when things are finalised. This is a 'must have' book for all those interested in the 1e Empire.'

Out now - Napoleon's Women camp followers

 Get it from here