With our group now playing a lot of Lasalle 2 it was time for me to get cracking and finishing off my 28mm British Army. I have a fair amount of the infantry completed, but need to finish off and base the cavalry. I decided to start with the Household Cavalry.

Founded August 1650 in Newcastle upon Tyne by Sir Arthur Haselrig on the orders of Oliver Cromwell as the Regiment of Cuirassiers, the regiment became the Earl of Oxford’s Regiment during the reign of King Charles II. As the regiment’s uniform was blue in colour at the time, it was nicknamed “the Oxford Blues”, from which was derived the nickname the “Blues.” In 1750 the regiment became the Royal Horse Guards Blue and eventually, in 1877, the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues).

It wasn’t until 1812 that The Blues were called to serve Wellington in his Peninsular campaign. They quickly saw action at the battles of Salamanca and Vittoria amongst many other countless smaller actions. One new colonel to join the regiment was Wellington himself in 1813.

During the battle of Waterloo, Wellington’s regiment was brigaded with the Life Guards and the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards. They took part, together with the Union brigade, in the massive extended line charge against the French. It was a very effective operation which threw out of the way the French Cuirassiers advancing in support of d’Erlon’s left and crashed into the left and rear of the Left-hand French division. Halting the French advance. The Household brigade also had the sense to limit their advances, unlike the Union Brigade, which paid dearly for its over enthusiasm.

Tomorrow I hope to complete the 1st Life Guard.