52nd Oxfordshire Light Infantry

28mm Napoleonic British, the 52nd Oxfordshire Light Infantry.

Time for some more Napoleonic British, namely the 52nd Oxfordshire Light Infantry Regiment. This regiment has an impressive record culminating in being instrumental at repulsing the French Middle Guard at the battle of Waterloo 1815 specifically the 4th Fusilier-Chasseurs on my previous post.
 
Under the command of their colonel Sir John Colborne, they were part of Adam's 3rd Brigade, together with the 95th Rifles and 71st Highland Light Infantry during the Hundred Days (Waterloo) Campaign.

This regiment seems to have kept their old stove pipe shakos (hats) from the peninsular wars rather like the 28th Gloucester regiment. Their facing colours (cuff and collars) were a light buff, buttons were silver. Shako badges were probably brass (bugles) but could be silver (bugles) for light infantry. The Green plume denoting light infantry status.

Trained to operate in loose skirmish order as well as close order, just as regular line infantry, forming squares against enemy cavalry charges as necessary, the regiment number 1,130 rank and file at the battle Waterloo suffering 168 wounded and 38 killed during that engagment.

The 52nd Regiment elected to carry their 'colours' (flags) during the Peninsular wars, other light infantry regiments did not. During this period the regiment acquired the battle honours: Hindoostan, Vimeiro, Corunna, Bussaco, Fuentes d'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vitoria, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula and Waterloo.

In my opinion I regard the Light Infantry to be one of the most useful and versatile regiments to be fielded in any Napoleonic British wargames army on the table, second only to the 95th Regiment of Rifles.

Next on the painting table for my mini Napoleonic campaign are two Battalion of Belgian line infantry, all Perry miniatures.

So until then,
Tally ho, Peter