I have had these figures unpainted for a long time and seeing I was working through touching up and basing all of my old French cavalry units I thought it was about time I finished them. I am not sure who is the manufacturer, but they look like either Perry or Dixon Miniatures.

I normally use mdf bases but after trying 40mm rounds and the 50mm rounds I was forced to use some 50mm metal “mudguard” washers to provide the stability required to prevent them from toppling over.

The Dromedary Regiment was established by Bonaparte on January 9 , 1799 during the Egyptian Campaign upon hi arrival in Egypt. The Regiment consisted of two squadrons, each containing four companies of of three officers, a trumpeter and 59 men. These soldiers were hand-selected mounted infantrymen which fought on foot to protect the French supply columns against Arab marauding horsemen. The camels were only used for rapid deployment on foot.

From the beginning Napoleon wanted two dromedary riders on each camel, both armed with lances, however the French did not have enough riding skills to use the weapons effectively whilst mounted and they were transformed into mounted infantry

All of the French commanders liked the Regiment and each of them made changes on the Dromedary Regiment’s uniform, hence the varied depictions of them. Napoleon ordered his Chief Quartermaster Francois Bernoyer to make an “unusual and attractive” uniform for this regiment. General Kléber added some more aesthetics and weakened Arab motives. After the death of General Kléber, new commander General de Menou mnade further modifications.

This uniform is based on the sample brought from Egypt in 1802 and now is in the House of Invalides.

Dromedaries participated in the battle of Heliopolis. After the surrender of Alexandria dromedaries were sent to Toulon and Marseilles by sea. Part of dromedaries turned to gendarmes and others became chasseurs of the Consular Guard.

The civilians are from the Eureka Miniatures civilian ranges:

The Regiment on “Sightseeing” duties: