Apprenticeship for Glory - Wellington in India, Army Parade

A few years ago now, I decided to take the plunge and purchase figures for a small (ish) period that had intrigued me for a while - the British and Indian Confederacy armies that fought a variety of native Indian armies in the early years of the 19th century, mainly under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley, at the time that his elder brother Richard was the fifth Governor General of British India.

Amongst several actions fought in the sub-continent, the most famous was the Battle of Assaye, a major battle of the Second Anglo-Maratha War fought between the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company. It occurred on 23 September 1803 near Assaye in western India. An outnumbered Indian and British force, comprising 9,500 (including two British infantry regiments and one cavalry regiment) and 17 cannon under the command of Arthur Wellesley, defeated the combined Maratha army of Daulatrao Scindia and the Bhonsle Raja of Berar, comprising 10,800 European trained Indian infantry, 10,000–20,000 Irregular Infantry, 30,000–40,000 Irregular Cavalry and 100+ cannon. 

Assaye was 34-year-old Wellesley's first major success and despite his anguish over the heavy losses, it was a battle he always held in the highest estimation. After his retirement from active military service, the Duke of Wellington (as he later became known) considered Assaye the finest thing he ever did in the way of fighting, even when compared to his later military career.

A number of figures were thus selected and purchased from the rather attractive looking Redoubt Miniatures range - and today, the results are on parade for your approbation! 

2 Bengal Infantry 

3 Bengal Infantry

6 Bengal Infantry 

10 Bengal Infantry

2 Madras Infantry

4 Madras Infantry

7 Madras Infantry

12 Madras Infantry

13 Madras Infantry

33 Regiment of Foot

74 Highland Regiment of Foot

78 Highland Regiment of Foot

Regiment de Meuron (Swiss in British Service)

Madras Native Artillery

Royal Artillery

Rocketeers (these are just spare artillerymen and left over rocket frames from the Old Glory Napoleonic rocket set!)

Speculative HEIC Cavalry 1

Speculative HEIC Cavalry 2

Speculative HEIC Cavalry 3

Colonel Sir Arthur Wellesley, 33 Regiment of Foot, and staff.

Great figures and a fun collection. Looking at them again, perhaps a small expansion is in order - two more bases for each of the native cavalry regiments, plus one British Light Dragoon regiment may be in order - something to ponder...!

By the way, all the flags carried by the Bengal and Madras troops are speculative - I basically just figured out the Honourable East India Company flag, then added the Union flag in the upper canton. For some, I also added the HEIC coat of arms into the middle of the flag, and for one (7 Madras), I did Regimental colours, using the facing colour a la British line infantry and making up the rest of the design!

Hope you enjoyed the parade and as always, the more visitors who comment, the better I like it!