miscellaneous
French Suuply column under attack at
Danzig
french auxiliary (train and medical) services
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| A French convoy |
INTRODUCTION
When the Revolutionary Wars began, the Auxiliary branchs of all European
Armies were civiliain and only formed at time of wars, being disbanded
when the hostilities finished. With the time, the advantages of a
permanent militarizations for some of them (Supply, Medical, Artificiers)
were seen so, at least in the French army, for 1813 these Auxiliary
branchs were given a full military status
UNIFORMS AND MINIATURES
1) French Artillery Train
The 1812 Regulations prescribed iron grey jackets (previously sky blue)
with dark blue collars, cuffs, lapels, pocket-piping and turnbacks (with
iron grey crowned 'N' or iron grey or white grenades) all piped iron
grey, grey shoulder straps and cuff-flaps piped blue. The shako wore
white metal plate and chinscales and grey/white pompons. Previous
uniforms were also carried so there was many variations.
2) French Baggage Train (Train des Equipages)
The 1812 Regulations resulted in a similar uniform to the French
Artillery Train but with chesnut facings and white piping. A iron
grey five-points star was carried at the turnbacks. As above, some
variations in piping are recorded.
3) French Artillery forgers and workers
The forgers (Maréchaux-ferrants) were attached to horse Regiments
and artillery. They wore a blue single breasted jacket with a red horse-shoe
in the right arm, bonnet de police and white canvas trousers. The
workers (ouvriers) wore a similar uniform. The aprons were of
cuir.
4) French Medical Service
The Medical officiers wore a blue (hue variable) surtout with collar and cuffs in black, scarlet and green for doctors,
surgeons and pharmacists respectively. From 1812 the coats had facing
coloured lapels but the surtout probably persisted. Breeches of the same
colour than coat. Waitscoats of same colour than coat for doctors and
facing colour for others. Black bicorn. The sword was carried on a black
waist belt.
Medical orderlies (Infirmiers) wore infantry uniform in
chesnut with garance (madder or dark red?) collar, lapels, cuffs and
turnbacks. Infantry equipment, black shako with brass plate and
chinscales. The stretcher bearers (Infimiers-brancandiers) had a
pike, a piece with holes atop their backpacks and the canvas "bed" of
the stretcher wrapped around his waist.
All figures were the ones included in the respective HAT sets with
exception of Medical orderlies that were ITALERI 6006 French line
infantry.
MODELS
HAT has released a line of equipment models for the Napoleonic Wars
comprising (until now) French heavy Wagoons, French Ambulance, French
Field Forge and French Wurst Medical ambulance (Pontoons lie int the
future). These models can be used with any Army with the corresponding
painting conversion. In Spain (and maybe in Poland and Russia?) mule or
oxen packs were used instead horses.
See a scheme of the uniforms and my version of the painted models and
figures. The Field Forge has detachable horse-train and workers.
| UNIT |
MODELS FIGURES |
COLOR SCHEME | PICTURES | ||
| French Artillery Train | HAT 8101 |
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A very old version (note the poor painting!) |
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French Baggage Train (Train des Equipages) |
HAT 8106 |
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| French Field Forge | HAT 8107 |
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| French Ambulance | HAT 8104 |
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| French Würst medical vehicle and infirmiers | HAT 8102, ITALERI 6006 |
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Les Uniformes des Guerres Napoléoniennes
Tome I. Troupes françaises. Troupes Alliés
B. Coppens, P. Courcelle, M. Petard, D. Lordey
Éditions Quatuor, Entremont Le Vieux, 1997
Napoleon's Specialist Troops
Osprey Men-at-Arms Series No. 199
P. Haythornthwaite, B. Fosten
Osprey Publishing, London, 1988