Légion Britannique 2nd Bn
Hierarchical Path: Seven Years War (Main Page) >> Armies >> Hanoverian Army >> Légion Britannique 2nd Bn
Origin and History
In December 1759, 5 free battalions were formed in Paderborn by General Spörcken.
By an order given on February 13, 1760, the Hanoverian brigades of Count Kielmansegg, von Post and von Scheiter as well as regiments stationed in Westphalia and the garrisons of Münster had to contribute a total of 5 captains, 25 officers and 60 NCOs for the foot. Similarly, Hanoverian cavalry regiments (Leib-Regiment Reuter, Grothaus, Hodenberg, Heise and Walthausen and 3 Hanoverian dragoons regiments had to contribute 10 officers and 20 NCOs for the horse squadrons. These commandeered officers and NCOs were later returned to their original unit. Furthermore, 10 NCOs and 100 men originating from Busche Dragoons, Reden Dragoons, Breitenbach Dragoons, Leib-Regiment Reuter, Grothaus, Hodenberg, Heise, Walthausen, Freytag Jager Corps, Luckner's Hussars and Scheither's Corps were permanently transferred to these new battalions. By April 1, each battalion consisted of 1 cavalry squadron and 4 foot companies. Battalions were not designated by a number but rather by the name of its commander. By this date, the present battalion was under the command of Major von Udam and was based in Soest. On April 9, Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick named the new unit Légion Britannique. On May 5, the chancery of the British King George II issued letters patent to all officers of the Légion Britannique. Indeed, although it served with the Hanoverian Army, the entire unit was under British pay. On May 20, George II appointed Major von Bülow commander of the Légion Britannique. Initially, all battalion remained in their garrison place, filling their ranks. By August 14, the unit counted only 2,039 men, still missing 1,093 men to reach its full establishment of 3,132 men.
Throughout the war, it consisted mainly of deserters, foreigners and sometimes prisoners of war. As with all other battalions of the Legion, desertion was endemic in the unit.
Each Legion battalion consisted of four companies of about 125 men for a total of 500 men in each battalion. Until 1762, before the amalgamation of all dragoon squadrons into a distinct Legion unit, the battalion also counted a dragoon squadron of 101 men.
During the Seven Years' War, the 2nd Battalion was under the command of:
- from 1760: Major von Udam
Towards the end of the Seven Years' War, in December 1762, the British transferred the unit to the Prussian service. On March 27, 1763, the Légion marched to Magdeburg where it was disbanded. Foreigners were incorporated into Westphalian regiments of the Prussian Army.
Service during the War
The unit was intended for the Kleinkrieg and fought many skirmish actions.
In July 1760, the five battalions of the Legion were detached along with Hessian Hussars and a battalion of Hanoverian Jägers to capture the bridges over the Diemel at Liebnau and Trendelburg. Later during the same month, at Warburg, they were deployed on the right flank along with battalions from Scheither (No. 1A), Estorff (No. 12B), Block (No. 8B), Monroy (No. 10B), and the 87th Foot (Keith's Highlanders). The right flank was under the command of Lieutenant-General Hardenberg. During the battle, the Legion had to make demonstrations against the French front to cover the outflanking march of the main army. The Legion also took part in the pursuit of the defeated French, it seized the opportunity to loot the town of Warburg. On August 15, the 5 battalions were sent to the rear to complete their recruitment: 2 battalions were sent to Münster, 2 to Osnabrück and 1 to Paderborn. They remained in these locations, still undermanned and poorly equipped, till they took their winter-quarters.
Later at Vellinghausen, July 1761, the five battalions were part of the reserve. Two of the battalions had to be deployed in Haus Antepoth on the extreme left of the Allied line where they successfully contained a French attack.
The 2nd battalion lost the combat of Meppen.
On December 9, 1762, the battalions of the unit received orders to march to their winter-quarters in Horstmar and Ahaus between the Ems River and the border with the Netherlands. The British Colonel Beckwith received overall command of the Légion Britannique. The unit was then transferred into the Prussian service.
Uniform
Privates
| Headgear |
| ||||||||||||
| Neckstock | black | ||||||||||||
| Coat | middle blue with 13 pewter buttons down the coat front
| ||||||||||||
| Waistcoat | white | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | dark straw | ||||||||||||
| Gaiters | black | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
|
Troopers were armed with a musket and carried a dark brown haversack with a metal canteen on the left hip.
Dragoons
Dragoons wore the same uniform as the infantry. However, they were distinguished by a silver aiguillette on the right shoulder and they wore black boots instead of gaiters.
The saddlecloth and housings were red laced white and carried king George's cipher.
Officers
Officers had silver lace lining the cuffs and vest, a green cockaded hat, and carried a red sash slung over the right shoulder.
Musicians
Not known
Colours
The colours were of the British pattern but the details are not known.
References
Grosser Generalstab Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II, Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Part 3 Der siebenjährige Krieg 1756-1763, Vol. 1 Pirna und LobositzBerlin, 1901, App. 1
Mulder, Luke: Growth of the Hanoverian Light Troop Establishment During the Seven Years War, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. XI No. 4
Pengel, R., and G. R. Hurt: German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press
Schlichtegroll, C. U.: Pentz von: Die “légion britannique”, Leipzig, 1931
Vae Victis: Les troupes légères du Roi Georges (article no more available online)
Yahoo LaceWars Group Message No. 13336, 13341
