ATS's Minden Commemorative (1 Viewer)

[trooper]

250 years ago at Minden in Hanover British and French forces faced each other during the Seven Years War. A huge mass of cavalry threatened the British line and the order was given that six infantry regiments under the command of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick should advance AT beat of drum. The order was misworded by an ADC to read "advance BY beat of drum" and off they went. As they advanced they passed through rose briars and many men snatched the flowers and stuck them in their headgear and equipment. The French cavalry sent their front line to sweep these insolent infantry away and they thundered down to within ten yards of the line where they were met with a crushing volley that reduced them to tatters. A second and third charge was dealt with in the same way and panic set in and the French vacated the field.
The six regiments were the 12th, 20th, 23rd,25th, 37th and 51st Foot and Minden Day is still celebrated in the descendents of those regiments with the drums and colours being decorated with roses.
ATS's commemorative piece shows a drummer of the 20th Foot in the uniform of Minden and a drummer of the same regiment, the Lancashire Fusiliers, in the last full dress both wearing the Minden roses on a base also decorated with a rose.

 

[aujj65]

Thanks for bringing up Minden - this period of history is always overlooked

Very nice figures by the way.

Jeff

 

[trooper]

Forgot to mention, price on set Painted £38.50, unpainted £18.50 plus p/p ATS website www.ats-uk.net