260 years ago today the 23rd Regiment of Foot fought in the Battle of Minden, 1759. Here is our interpretation of what a centre company soldier of the Royal Welch Fuzileers may have looked like.
The battle, fought just outside of Minden, Germany, was part of a global conflict known as the Seven Years War. It was a decisive engagement between an allied army of troops from Britain, Hanover, Hess and Prussia against the French.
Against the usual practices of battle, an ambiguous command sent six British and three Hanoverian infantry battalions against French cavalry whilst in ‘line’ formation. A move that could have been disastrous. However the infantry managed to repel three cavalry charges and move against the French infantry. In the words of the French commander, “I never thought to see a single line of infantry break through three lines of cavalry...and tumble them in ruins”.
MINDEN is a battle honour held by all British regiments that fought. Later generations of the American War of Independence and Napoleonic Wars spoke of the ‘Minden men’ with some reverence. Our reconstructed Napoleonic 23rd colours each carry the honour as they once would have. And today, the successor regiments within modern day British Army will still be celebrating ‘Minden Day’.
No matter what country they fought for, the average soldier served and suffered. That is always worth remembering.
Ich Dien
NB: Thanks to the Old 68th Society for the lending of some of the accoutrements. We plan on making our own shortly after some museum visits to view surviving examples!
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