Danjou's Last Stand 04.30.1863 (1 Viewer)

[kogu]

Hello everybody,
just would like to share some figures that are currently among my favourites.
Shown are only 3 figures from a set of 8 by Tradition, called "Danjou's Last Stand". At later date I would want to post the entire set but need to wait for one scenic item I need to display them.
Danjou's Last Stand happened at the Battle of Camarone in Mexico, when a small group of the French Foreign Legion (62 men) faced a superior Mexican Army (more then 1000) in battle.
While the commander Danjou died, his prostetic left hand was found and saved and is up to today the Legion's most sacred relic. Camerone-Day is the Legions most honored holiday and is celebrated even under fire.

For the friends of the glossy Toy Soldiers these three figures are excellent sculptings and in unusual animated poses.

Here are two pictures of the 3 braves (front and rear) with the main character in the center.

Konrad

 

[kogu]

And some single shots of each figure.
Hope you like them.
Konrad

 

[1879fanatic]

Great posting! A little history to go along with some unusual figures from the 1800's. And from one of the premier gloss makers. Thanks, and waiting for any more! Mike

 

[kogu]

Thank you, Mike,
here is a short, brief description of the event which I copied from the Wikipedia website.

On the 30th of April, at 1 a.m., the 3rd company — 62 soldiers and 3 officers — was en route. At 7 a.m., after a 15-mile march, they stopped at Palo Verde to rest. Soon after, a Mexican Army force of 600 cavalry was sighted. Captain Danjou ordered the company take up a square formation, and, though retreating, he rebuffed several cavalry charges, inflicting the first heavy losses on the Mexican army.
Seeking a more defensible position, Danjou made a stand at the nearby Hacienda Camarón, an inn protected by a 3-metre-high-wall. His plan was to occupy Mexican forces to prevent attacks against the nearby convoy. While his legionnaires prepared to defend the inn, the Mexican commander, Colonel Milan, demanded that Danjou and soldiers surrender, noting the Mexican Army's numeric superiority. Danjou replied: "We have munitions. We will not surrender." He then swore to fight to the death, an oath which was seconded by the men. Around mid-day the Mexicans were increased in size by the arrival of 1,200 infantry.
At noon, Captain Danjou was shot in the chest and died; his soldiers continued fighting despite overwhelming odds under the command of an inspired Lt. Vilain, who held for four hours before falling during an assault. With ammunition exhausted, the last of Danjou's soldiers, numbering only five under the command of Lt. Maudet, desperately mounted a bayonet charge. Two men died outright, while the rest continued the assault. The tiny group was surrounded and literally beaten to the earth. Colonel Milan, commander of the Mexicans, managed to prevent his men from ripping the surviving legionnaires to pieces. When the last two survivors were asked to surrender, they insisted that Mexican soldiers allow them safe passage home, to keep their arms, and to escort the body of Captain Danjou. To that, the Mexican commander commented, "What can I refuse to such men? No, these are not men, they are devils," and, out of respect, agreed to these terms.

 

[1879fanatic]

Many thanks, Konrad,
I was content with the history you supplied in the first description but the wikipidia was special. I like when a little blurp of history goes with the photos of our toys. keep playing. mike

 

[Njja]

Wonderful pictures, great story!

 

[Dickbuttons]

Thanks -- great story and photos.

Dick

 

[trooper]

The Mexican army was so impressed with Danjou's exploit that whenever a unit passed by Cameone they halted, presented arms and was told the story. I don't know whether they still follow this tradition nowadays, but apparently it was still common in the early 1900's and I have heard of at least one instance in the 1930s.

 

[kilted vampire]

The hand of Cpt. Danjou is on display in a Museum for the FFL. It was wooden. Made after he lost it in Africa.

 

[kogu]

Here is some more info about the influence that the Camerone event had to the FFL until today, taken from the Osprey "Men At Arms" book.

"The hopeless defence of Camerone became the Legion's most highly regarded battle honour, not for its military significance but for the spirit it showed. The hand of Danjou is the Legion's most revered relic, and is paraded each 30th April before the 1st Regiment of the Legion at the base depot (Aubagne, France).
The account of the battle is read to every Legion unit on Camerone Day; this is never omitted, and was shouted from fox-hole to fox-hole at Dien Bien Phu weeks before the fall of the fortress.
The ashes of the Camerone dead are preserved in a reliquary carved as the Mexican Eagle, and are held in rotation in the chapel of each Legion regiment. Every recruit has it drummed into him over and over again during his training that he is personally expected to live up to the standard of uncompromising defiance set by Danjou and his men on 30 April 1863: the Legion must never, ever surrender, and when all hope and means of resistance is gone the Legionaire is expected to die weapon in hand, running, walking or crawling towards the enemy."

 

[kilted vampire]

Here is some more info about the influence that the Camerone event had to the FFL until today, taken from the Osprey "Men At Arms" book.

"The hopeless defence of Camerone became the Legion's most highly regarded battle honour, not for its military significance but for the spirit it showed. The hand of Danjou is the Legion's most revered relic, and is paraded each 30th April before the 1st Regiment of the Legion at the base depot (Aubagne, France).
The account of the battle is read to every Legion unit on Camerone Day; this is never omitted, and was shouted from fox-hole to fox-hole at Dien Bien Phu weeks before the fall of the fortress.
The ashes of the Camerone dead are preserved in a reliquary carved as the Mexican Eagle, and are held in rotation in the chapel of each Legion regiment. Every recruit has it drummed into him over and over again during his training that he is personally expected to live up to the standard of uncompromising defiance set by Danjou and his men on 30 April 1863: the Legion must never, ever surrender, and when all hope and means of resistance is gone the Legionaire is expected to die weapon in hand, running, walking or crawling towards the enemy."

Unless being chased by either the Mummy or the Undead(yours truly)

 

[kogu]

Unless being chased by either the Mummy or the Undead(yours truly)

Nope, no exceptions

 

[Russell]

Konrad-Kogu, I just came across this thread today. Nice photos and a really wonderful story.

 

[HAWKEYE]

Those are great figures, i saw them at ostn a few years back and strongly considered buying them, are they still available?

 

[jazzeum]

Greg,

Thanks for bringing this thread up. I don't remember it at all and these are great figures. Thanks Konrad

 

[kogu]

Those are great figures, i saw them at ostn a few years back and strongly considered buying them, are they still available?

Hi Hawkeye,
these are still available from Tradition of London in the U.K. and Hobbybunker here in the U.S. also has them listed in their Tradition section.
Konrad

 

[HAWKEYE]

thanks, i might have to add them to my train order

 

[HAWKEYE]

they really tell a story

 

[Dave M]

If you are buying the painted version of these figures you may be interested to know that the fringed eppaulettes are the wrong colour.
All the men at 'Camerone' were Fusiliers whose eppaulettes were Green and Red, the 'Tradition' figures are painted as Grenadiers with Red ones.

They also available as castings so you could paint them yourself in the correct colours

 

[Obee]

Hello everybody,
just would like to share some figures that are currently among my favourites.
Shown are only 3 figures from a set of 8 by Tradition, called "Danjou's Last Stand".

Konrad

I have just received a full set of the 9 figures from this set, following a successful eBay bid from an Aussie seller.

The figures I have got are the Model Soldier kits, which unlike the ones you have shown, which are toy gloss figures on a rectangular base, these have a rounded base.



On close examination I could see the signature "CATON" on the base, so they are another example of the wonderful sculpting done by our late Forum member, TROOPER.



I am looking forward to assembling and painting this set, in a matte finish, and will then post that on a new thread in the coming months.



John