Thursday 13 January 2022

Pontius Pilate's Bodyguard


Here's the third finished unit for my 1672 armies and the first French unit, Régiment de Douglas (also known as Hepburn's and Dumbarton's regiment at different times). Founded in 1633, the regiment later became the Royal Scots, the oldest regiment in the British Army, nicknamed "Pontius Pilate's Bodyguard."

I might later do an alternative command stand with British flags- I also intend to do the same unit in Front Rank minis for Sedgemoor. All of the minis but two were beautifully painted by Richard O'Connor. The lovely French colours are Flags of War. I assembled everything, basing on my FK&P06's, Ian Notter flocked and then I tufted. I've recently taken to matt varnishing the flock, it gives a pleasing finish.


In other news... I'm currently working on the end of January update of the Ancient Army lists. I just received a restock of the Deep-Cut mats and terrain strips, and currently have all the bases, in fact happily I have pretty much everything in the BigRedBatShop in stock.

12 comments:

Jim Duncan Wargamer said...

Hi Simon

Always a contentious point but being a Scot I would say you are correct.

Others will say different.

Always a debate, in the Regular Army the 1st Foot, which later became the Royal Scots and is now the Royal Regiment of Scotland is officially the oldest being in service since 1633. However the 3rd Foot later the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) now the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment actually dates from 1572 but was an English Regiment in Dutch Service until returning to England in 1665 at the outbreak of the Anglo-Dutch War. Of course the oldest regiment in the Army Reserve, what was the Territorial Army actually outdates both regular regiments. The Honourable Artillery Company. This regiment traces its history back to 1087, but in its current form was established by Henry VIII in 1537 and has been in service ever since forming both infantry and artillery units that have served with distinction in the Boer War, First World War and Second World War and in Bosnia in the 1990s. Its unique in having served on both sides in the English Civil War.

https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-oldest-regiment-in-the-British-army

AJ (Allan) Wright said...

The red over black primer really makes the red 'pop'! Nice unit.

David said...

I like those a lot!

rross said...

Another beautiful looking unit

Matt Crump said...

Beautiful unit Simon👍

BigRedBat said...

Thanks all! Interesting point Jim, I'll have a read around that. But was not the Buffs a new regiment formed from soldiers expelled from regiments that remained in Dutch service. I think that might disqualify them as the oldest regiment. :-)

Jim Duncan Wargamer said...

Always debatable Simon but I think the Scots have it.

The Dutch fight for independence from Spain in the 1568–1648 Eighty Years' War was supported by Protestants across Europe; the origins of the regiment were Thomas Morgan's Company of Foot, a group of 300 volunteers from the London Trained Bands formed in 1572.[1] In 1586, these English and Scottish volunteer units were brought together in the Anglo-Scots Brigade, which in various formats served in the Dutch military until 1782.[2]

When the Second Anglo-Dutch War started in 1665, the Brigade's units were ordered to swear loyalty to the Stadtholder and those who disobeyed were cashiered. Using his own funds, Sir George Downing, the English ambassador to the Netherlands, raised the Holland Regiment from the starving remnants of those who refused to sign.[3] In 1665, it was known as the 4th (The Holland Maritime) Regiment and by 1668 as the 4th (The Holland) Regiment.[3]


Prince George of Denmark, the regiment's patron from 1689–1708
When the Third Anglo-Dutch War began in 1672, the Duke of Buckingham was authorised to recruit an additional eight companies but the two countries made peace in the February 1674 Treaty of Westminster.[4] These men were incorporated into the Anglo-Scots Dutch Brigade and fought in the 1672-1678 Franco-Dutch War; in November 1688, it accompanied William III to England. It was transferred onto the English military establishment as the "4th The Lord High Admiral's Regiment" and in 1689 became the 3rd (Prince George of Denmark's) Regiment of Foot.[3] During the 1689–1697 Nine Years War, it served in the Low Countries, including the battles of Walcourt, Steenkerque and Landen. It returned to England when the war ended with the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick.[5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffs_(Royal_East_Kent_Regiment)

Triarius/HolyOldMackinaw said...

Beautiful figures. I love that haughty looking fellow with the spontoon in front, adds a lot of character to the regiment!

fireymonkeyboy said...

Fantastic work on these. Details are amazing. What make are the figs - you noted you'd do them again with FR, so I'm assuming these are something else?

BigRedBat said...

Hi FMB, these are all from the ex-Copplestone 1672 range, now sold by NorthStar.

Steve-the-Wargamer said...

Stunning!

ICM said...

Utterly beautiful. But I am NOT going to start another period!