8th Line Battalion
Encyclopedia
The 8th Line Battalion of the King's German Legion
was raised during the year 1806 as the last out of eight line battalions that the Legion levied in total. It was only half completed when the Britisch Expeditionary force withdrew from Hanover early 1806 and subsequently filled up as recruits became available.
The battalion was initially brigaded with the 7th Line Battalion of the Legion. It served from 1805 until 1816 in Ireland, Walcheren, Copenhagen, Sicily, Peninsula and Belgium.
On 18 June 1815, during the Battle of Waterloo
, the battalion was nearly wiped out during the fighting in the center of Wellington's battle line and lost a flag.
The principal distinction from British units was that the backpack was of dark blue colour rather than black.
King's German Legion
The King's German Legion was a British Army unit of expatriate German personnel, 1803–16. The Legion achieved the distinction of being the only German force to fight without interruption against the French during the Napoleonic Wars....
was raised during the year 1806 as the last out of eight line battalions that the Legion levied in total. It was only half completed when the Britisch Expeditionary force withdrew from Hanover early 1806 and subsequently filled up as recruits became available.
The battalion was initially brigaded with the 7th Line Battalion of the Legion. It served from 1805 until 1816 in Ireland, Walcheren, Copenhagen, Sicily, Peninsula and Belgium.
On 18 June 1815, during the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, the battalion was nearly wiped out during the fighting in the center of Wellington's battle line and lost a flag.
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 was composed of:- Red uniform with dark blue cuffs and collar, laced with regimental lace
- Grey legwear
- White leather equipment with black leather pouch.
- Brown BessBrown BessBrown Bess is a nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army's Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. This musket was used in the era of the expansion of the British Empire and acquired symbolic importance at least as significant as its physical importance. It was in use for over a hundred...
musket - Stovepipe shakoShakoA shako is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a peak or visor and sometimes tapered at the top...
, later Belgic shako
The principal distinction from British units was that the backpack was of dark blue colour rather than black.