When Napoleon imposed the Convention of Artlenburg (Convention of the Elbe) on July 5, 1803 the Kurfürstentum Hannover (Electorate of Hannover) was disbanded and its army dissolved. Many former Hannoverian officers and soldiers fled the French occupation to Britain, as King George III of the United Kingdom was also Elector of Hannover.
The same year, Major Colin Halkett and Colonel von der Decken were issued warrants to raise a corps of light infantry, to be named "The King's German Regiment". On December 19, 1803, the corps was formed with the name the King's German Legion.
The number of officers and enlisted men grew over time to around 14,000, but during the 13 years of its existence, about 28,000 men served in the Legion.
Organization
The legion was composed of:
Infantry
8 line battalions
2 light battalions
Artillery
2 horse batteries
3 foot batteries
Cavalry
2 dragoon battalions
3 light dragoon battalions
Corps of Engineers
The Legion was stationed in Bexhill on Sea and Weymouth. Later some of them were sent to Ireland.
Campaigns
The Legion never fought as an unit, so it is difficult to follow the various battalions in their campaigns.
The Legion's units fought in battles in Hannover, Pomerania, Copenhagen, and the Walcheren Peninsula under General Sir John Moore; and the retreat to Corunna; the Peninsula under the Duke of Wellington, including the battles of Busaco, Barrosa, Fuentes de Onoro, Albuera, Ciudad Rodrigo , Salamanca, Garcia Hernandez , Burgos, Vittoria, San Sebastian , Nivelles , Sicily and the eastern parts of Spain, Northern Germany and Göhrde .
At the Battle of Waterloo, the 2nd Light Battalion -- with members of the 1st Light Battalion and the 5th Line Battalion -- famously defended "La Haye Sainte" until they ran out of ammunition.
The Legion was known for their excellence and their fighting ability. The cavalry was reputed to be one of the best in the British army.
After the victory at Waterloo, the Electorate of Hannover was re-founded as Kingdom of Hannover. However, the army of Hannover had been reconstituted even before the final battle, so that there were 2 Hannoverian armies in existence.
In 1816 the Legion was dissolved and some of the officers and enlisted men were integrated into the new Hannoverian army -- but not all, which led to much hardship, especially for the enlisted men.
See also
External links
Sources include:
- Chappell: The King`s German Legion (1) 1803-1812
- Chappell: The King`s German Legion (2) 1812-1815
