The Gendarmes de elite of the Imperial Guard nicknamed the Immortals by their comrades in the Guard on account of them not being deployed in the front line in the earlier campaigns, although later Napoleon made sure at least some of them saw combat in his later actions, I wondered if there was an element of dislike towards these military policemen by the soldiers of the Guard, I remember my brother describing military policemen as squaddies who liked beating up squaddies!
This unit is made up of the six spare figures of grenadiers a cheval that I got as the unit came from Colonel Bill's as an eighteen figure unit, looking around for something to do with those spare figures I figured they'd pass as Gendarmes de elite in spite of the aigiletes being on the wrong side.I converted a trumpeter with a plastic Perry trumpet and at some point I'll expand the unit to twelve figures but for the moment six is all I have.
I've got the flag ready for when I get a figure to hold it!
In addition I had a game with my nephew and his Penisular war British, a historical scenario with his British having to advance across rough ground and uphill, with the outnumbered French having to hold the top of the hill with time limitations on the game and bonuses for fighting at the top of the hill.
In the meantime? More Napoleonics, on horses!
All the best
Iain
Excellent use of the spare miniatures Iain, they really look the part. The game looks excellent as I've come to expect from what you've shown in the past, and at least you had fun, even though you lost.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave,recycle and reuse and all that and the game was great whatever the outcome!
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Fine guardsmen, Iain! Too bad about the dice letting you down. I suffered from a similar malady in Sunday’s game with Matt.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jonathan, somedays you just can't win!
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Great looking troops and game Iain. I assuming Black Powder? 😀
ReplyDeleteThanks Stew, sorry ,yes I should have said Blackpowder but unusually not a One Hour Wargame scenario!
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Very nice conversion on these Iain, and I would never have noticed the aiguillettes if you hadn't mentioned them. Great job. I think the moral of the story from the game with you nephew is never lend your dice to anyone else.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence, at least they have aiguilettes, even if they are on the wrong side!
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Lovely unit and great looking game sir!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Michal!
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Excellent gendarmes and a lovely looking Peninsular War game!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cyrus on both counts!
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I find the Gendarmes enjoyable, but the pics of the game are absolutely thrilling!
ReplyDeleteThanks Suber, I'm glad I was begining to worry it was getting a bit repetative withall these Napoleonic games?!
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Nice 'coppers' Iain, I can just see one of them with a speed gun ready to to give tickets to charging cavalry for exceeding the charging speed limit. On the serious side, another unit that we don't see featured enough. Thank you - oh and the wargame looks fun too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, I can't see them going too fast on their big heavy horses, but who knows,glad you liked the game!
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Nice job on the gendarmes and trumpeter conversion. Good to see the figures out on the table. Was it napoleon who said give me a lucky dice :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Norm, give me a lucky general, I think, I definately wasn't that in this game!
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I did exactly the same thing about twenty years ago Iain - I have six Front Rank Horse Grenadiers deputized into the Gendarmes, and I added the aiglette with cotton thread! The game looks good and as Larence mentioned, the moral of the tale is, neither a borrower nor a lender (of dice) be!
ReplyDeleteYou see , great minds, don't fancy the cotton thread, sounds fiddly!
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Great looking unit, just like the Grenadiers of last time, but they really do need the extra six men and their standard.
ReplyDeleteYou're right of course Joe, which is why I bought the flag! I can convert a commander and a flag bearer but I need four rank and file, I'll see what Colonel Bill has next time I'm at a show I think?
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A lovely new unit Iain.
ReplyDeleteA cracking looking game…you’ve clearly being rolling my old dice 😂
All the best. Aly
Thanks Aly, I did think of you as my die repeatidly failed me!
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Lovely Immortals, Iain! Great looking Peninsula gaming too,
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean, nice to hear from you!
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Considering, like the Mamelukes of the Guard, the small size of the actual unit, 6 figures is probably about right. That's how many Gendarmes I have myself .
ReplyDeleteYou are as always no doubt correct but I think I'm going to raise them up to a full size unit at some point!
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As with the Big Heels/Gods below, those Immortals look grand! Figure to man scale is always variable, so the extra six and a flag for sure!
ReplyDeleteTop looking game. Lovely figures and I really like the terrain mat.
You should have been defending that hill in line though Iain!
Kind regards, James
You are of course correct in all areas, the scenario gave me special benefits to remain in march attack but I think you're right on balance!
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Very nice Gendarmes Iain. You make those bearskin caps look good! I hope you learned the lesson, don't ever lend dice to your nephew, haha.
ReplyDeleteAm also a big fan of your Gendarmes. Once again Iain, nicely done.
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