Bückeburg Carabiniers
Hierarchical Path: Seven Years War (Main Page) >> Armies >> Schaumburg-Lippe Army >> Bückeburg Carabiniers
Contents
Origin and History
The Mounted Carabinier Company was formed in 1753. The company consisted of roughly 75 mounted light troops (later 150) and 50 foot.
The regimental inhaber was:
- from 1753: Count Wilhelm zu Schaumburg-Lippe
The unit was commanded by:
- from April 1757: Major Johann Casimir von Monkewitz, equerry of Count Wilhelm's stables
Service during the War
During the war, the unit was very active in scouting and skirmish duties and had the reputation neither to give nor to take quarter.
On July 26 1757, the unit was present at the Battle of Hastenbeck where it was detached to scout along the Weser along with the Hanoverian Hussars (1 sqn) and Bock Dragoons (1 sqn).
On August 5 1758, at the Combat of Mehr, about 40 men of the unit were part of Imhoff's force who repulsed the French attempt directed against the Allied bridgehead at Rees.
In June 1759, the unit was part of the Allied Main Army under the command of the Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick. On July 1, during the French offensive in West Germany, the unit was probably at Lippstadt when a French detachment under the Comte de Melfort approached the town and summoned its commander. On July 18, the unit dispersed a French party near Lippstadt.
Uniform
Description of the uniform of 1762 based on Wilmans' document kept in the Staatsarchiv Bückeburg.
Privates
| Headgear | blackened Spanish style steel helmets with a brown bearskin turban; on the front of the helmet was a green shield with the inscription "Pulchrum Mori Succurrit In Extremis" (in danger lurks a fine death) | ||||||||
| Neckstock | red | ||||||||
| Coat | black elk leather tunic without buttons
| ||||||||
| Breeches | buff leather | ||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
| ||||||||
| Horse Furniture |
|
Troopers were armed with a straight steel hilted sword with black fist strap, two pistols and a carbine. The carbine was slung from the shoulder belt on a swivel hook. Troopers wore a blackened steel full cuirass and upper arm scales (these arm scales were abolished in 1758 as being too restrictive and heavy). The black iron breastplate soon led to the nicknames 'Eisern' or 'Schwarzen Männer'.
Troopers were mounted on black Spanish stallions.
N.B.: The 50 foot carabiniers had the same uniform, but no armour, sabretache or sabre. They wore cloth breeches instead of buff leather breeches, and black shoes with grey gaiters instead of riding boots.
NCOs
NCOs wore the same uniform as troopers with the following distinctions:
- silver braid edging the cuffs
Officers
The officers carried a silver breast plate rather than a blackened plate with gold decoration around the outside and breast. Also carried a gorget with the monogram W.
Musicians
No known particularities.
Colours
The Carabiniers had two standards: one "Leibstandarte" and one regimental standard.
The color of the regimental standard was red with a black border. Thereupon a silver "W" (for Wilhelm), beyond a silver count crown. The crown had dark red cushions.
The standard was fixed to the flagpole with silver nails. The flagpole was black with a silver finial.
References
- Düring, G. W. von, Geschichte des Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburgischen Karabinier- und Jäger-Korps. Berlin 1828 - online Google books
- Herzfeld, Karl: Das Truppenkorps des Reichsgrafen Wilhelm zu Schaumburg-Lippe, in: Die Zinnfigur, vol. 23, no. 6 (1974), pp. 171-174
- Knötel, Richard: Farbiges Handbuch der Uniformkunde: Die Entwicklung der militärischen Tracht der deutschen Staaten, Österreich-Ungarns und der Schweiz. Begründet von Prof. Richard Knötel. Grundlegend überarbeitet und bis zum Stand von 1937 fortgeführt von Herbert Knötel d.J. und Herbert Sieg. Dem Stand der Forschung angepaßt und ergänzt von Ingo Pröper, überarbeitete Neuauflage, Stuttgart 1985
- Knötel, Richard, Uniformkunde, Lose Blätter zur Geschichte der Entwicklung der militärischen Tracht, Rathenow 1890-1921, vol. I, plate 34, Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg. Karabiniers. 1753-58. 1759
- Wilmans, M.: Anciennete von Seiner Hoch-Reichs-Gräflichen Erlauchten! des Regierenden Herrn Graffen zur Schaumburg-Lippe, und Sternberg, Ritter des Königl-Preushen Grossen-Ordens, von Schwarzen Adler! General en Chef Seiner Königl. Maj. von Portugal Combinirten Armée, Infanterie Regiment, Grenadier-Garde, Carabenier zu Pferd, und Jäger zu Füss, imgleichen Artillerie, wie auch Ingenieur, und Mineur-Corps; Benebst denen Fahnen-Divisen, und Uniform, Bückeburg den 12. Juny 1762, Staatsarchiv Bückeburg au F 1 A XXXV 18 Nr 73
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
