A few weeks back I came across the Miniature Figurines S-range
Imperial Guard Band that Tony kindly gave me a couple of years ago. Looking at
the figures again it struck me it was a shame that they were hidden away in a
box as they are a really charming little set and the painter had done a good
job.
Now, of course, these are not Hinton Hunt but they are contemporary being from the period when Miniature Figurines produced 20mm figures. I vaguely remember seeing listings for the band set in 1970c but back then I would never have invested pocket money in non-combatants. I have no catalogue now, but the code numbers are clearly stamped on the top of the bases. This is what I have:
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| Percussion section |
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| Brass section |
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| Woodwind section |
As far as I can find out the complete band should be in three ranks of seven (percussion, brass, woodwind) plus the bandmaster. I’m a bit puzzled as to what the missing number 14 would have been – any ideas?
I didn’t repaint these as that would have been a diversion too far, so I just jazzed them up (no pun intended) by touching up the white then giving them a couple of coats of gloss varnish and basing in my house style.
Order of Battle – I have added a new page to the blog
listing all my units together with links to their debut appearances. This has
been useful to me in focussing my mind on gaps in the OOB’s and hopefully
you’ll like perusing them too. There is a link under the ‘pages’ heading on the
sidebar or just click here.
25 comments:
hi i bought the same band off ebay a few months ago, your missing figure is a drum major
Thanks Bob, that's really helpful!
WM recently acquired some of this band but I don’t think he has the full set either.
Can’t wait to encounter them, it’ll mean one less combat unit that can fit within the stacking limit.
Can they play God Save the King?
Rob, as non-combatants the band won’t count towards the stacking limit! Sadly they can only play The Marseillaise…
These really are splendid. Perhaps at band practice they can learn to play Ca Ira. I hope you find a drum major at some point - I'm sure you can always find some more drummers.
Stephen
Thanks Stephen, the lads are currently working there way through the entire music score for the film Waterloo!
They better drop La Marseillaise from their repertoire if they ever want to get another Imperial booking - Napoleon, as an Emperor, strongly disapproved of such revolutionary sentiments.
Good point Rob but I think he would've liked God Save the King less!
Just checked out your full OOB - had no idea it was so extensive. Massive achievement. That's a serious mountain of metal, and a heartbreaking chronicle of one man's loss of eyesight !
A delightful addition Ian, and hopefully a drum major will show up at some point, there has to be a few out there somewhere!
In his book "Weapons & equipment of the napoleonic wars" Philip Haythornthwaite gives on page 10 the composition of a military band and the position of each instrumentalist.
2 horn
3 clarinet
1 oboe
2 snake
2 trombone
2 bassoon
1 flute
1 trumpet
1 cymbls
1 bass drum
1 jingling jhonny
1 triangle
1 band master
Concerning the imperial guard, the numbers varied a lot:
29/07/1804: 47 musicians
according to Kastner: 43 musicians
1810 according to Boersch: 39 musicians 01/07/1814: 43 musicians
Cent jours: 32 musicians
4 horn
10 clarinet
1 oboe
2 serpent
2 trombone
3 bassoon
1 flute
2 trumpet
2 cymbls
1 bass drum
1 snare drum
1 jingling jhonny
1 deputy band master
1 band master
In 1815 a new uniform was made for the musicians of the guard, but these new outfits were never worn. cocked hat still trimmed with red and white feathers, the plume remained white but the lower third was crimson. These uniforms were sent to the army to be worn when the Emperor entered Brussels. But there was a small setback called Waterloo. (Napoleonic soldiers special issue n°2 page 17).
The drum major is in front of the drums of all the battalions of the regiment and not with the music which has its own band master and walks behind the drums.
During the Empire, the position was occupied by Mr.Jean Nicolas Sénot, surnamed "the handsome Sénot".
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Nicolas_S%C3%A9not
I think your band is singularly lacking in charinettes.
The Marseillaise was not played during the Empire. It will only become our national anthem after the second empire during the III republic in 1879. During the first Empire bands played "the song of departure", "victory is ours" and above all "watch over the salvation of the Empire".
Good to see these little chaps - they polished up beautifully! Sorry about the lack of a drum major, these were all I had. I never quite understood this set - there was also a sort of corps of drums in the S-Range catalogue, and that had a drum major, but he's in what looks like campaign order, with a backpack and all that.
hi, i have tried to post a picture to help you with your search for the drum major but not been able to, i did get 42 figures in my purchase but sadly only one DM otherwise i would have gladly supplied you with one
DS - there are quite a lot, not sure if achievement is the right word! Actually the eyes are holding up so far...
Thanks Lee, maybe one will turn up!
FF - thanks for the info!
Tony - I really should have got around to these sooner as they are such characterful figures. I'm thinking +1 to morale for all units within 10 inches?
Bob, no problem - I'm pretty happy with them as they are. Your band sounds most impressive as 42 figures would be almost a full Brigade in my rules!
i have had a friend post the original ebay pictures on his blog (wargame amateur)so you can see the figure you will be searching for, i am planning to repaint them - full band for the guard and two smaller bands for line regiments
https://wargameamateur.blogspot.com/
Thanks Bob, it's great to see a pic of the drum-major!
The Band is grand, Ian!
as Rob says, I also have some of these, but they won't be making an appearance until my Guard is a bit bigger!
All the best
WM
Very nice indeed Ian…
I also have a bag of these toys… I must check if I have the full band.
They also made a British band… I’ve always thought if I found one I could have some sort of battle of the bands.
All the best. Aly
WM - I'll look forward to seeing your own band in due course!
Aly - battle of the bands, I like it! I've been surprised at just how many people seem to have this set it must have been quite popular back in the day for so many castings still to be around.
Lovely to see these Ian, and very appropriate to include some minifig s series figures with the Hintons. They really are quite grand!
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