Albemarle Infantry

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Hierarchical Path: War of the Spanish Succession (Main Page) >> Armies >> Dutch Army >> Albemarle Infantry

Origin and History

The regiment was raised in February 1701 in the Canton of Zurich. It consisted of 1,200 men in six companies.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the colonel of the regiment was:

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the colonel-commandant of the regiment was:

  • from February 1701 to 1718: Johan Félix Werdmüller (promoted to brigadier in 1707, at the death of the Earl of Albemarle in 1718, he was promoted to colonel).

The regiment was disbanded in 1795.

Service during the War

By 21 December 1702, one battalion of the regiment was quartered in Aachen and another in Berg-op-Zoom.

In April and May 1703, the regiment was at the Siege of Bonn. At the beginning of December, the two battalions of the regiment were stationed in Maastricht and Viset.

On 2 July 1704, the regiment was supposedly at the Battle of the Schellenberg, but we find no trace of it in our order of battle. On 13 August, it took part in the Battle of Blenheim. In October and November, it was at the siege of Trarbach.

On 23 May 1706, the regiment took part in the Battle of Ramillies.

On 28 September 1708, the regiment took part in the Engagement of Wijnendale. It later took part in the capture of Ghent.

On 11 September 1709, the regiment fought in the Battle of Malplaquet.

In 1710, the regiment took part in the sueges of Béthune, Saint-Venant and Aire-sur-Lys.

On 24 July 1712, one battalion of the regiment took part in the Battle of Denain, where its commandant Stocker was killed and the Earl of Albemarle and the battalion were taken prisoners.

Uniform

Privates (1701-1705)

Uniform in 1701 - Copyright Kronoskaf
Uniform Details as per Belaubre and Pochon
Headgear
Fusilier black tricorne laced white
Grenadier no information available
Neck stock white
Coat red with yellow lining, with brass buttons on the right side
Collar none
Shoulder Straps none
Lapels none
Pockets no information available
Cuffs red, each with 5 brass buttons
Turnbacks none (it seems that the basques of the coat could be turned back if needed, but this was a rare practice during this period)
Waistcoat yellow
Breeches yellow
Stockings red
Leather Equipment
Crossbelt natural leather
Waistbelt natural leather, worn above the coat
Cartridge Pouch black
Bayonet Scabbard natural leather
Scabbard natural leather with a metal tip
Footwear black shoes


Armaments consisted of a musket and a bayonet; and a sword.

Privates (1705-1713)

Uniform in 1705 - Copyright Kronoskaf
Uniform Details as per Belaubre and Pochon
Headgear
Fusilier black tricorne without lace
Grenadier no information available
Neck stock white
Coat indigo blue with red lining; with tin buttons on the right side
Collar none
Shoulder Straps none
Lapels none
Pockets no information available
Cuffs red, each with 3 tin buttons
Turnbacks none (it seems that the basques of the coat could be turned back if needed, but this was a rare practice during this period)
Waistcoat yellow
Breeches yellow
Stockings red
Leather Equipment
Crossbelt natural leather
Waistbelt natural leather, worn above the coat
Cartridge Pouch no information available
Bayonet Scabbard natural leather
Scabbard natural leather
Footwear black shoes


Armaments consisted of a musket and a bayonet; and a sword.

NCOs

no information available

Officers

Pochon depicts an ensign of the regiment with:

  • a black tricorne laced white
  • a white neck stock
  • a blue coat with red cuffs (each with 5 tin buttons), blue horizontal pockets edged red (each with 5 tin buttons and 5 buttonholes piped red
  • a white waistcoat
  • straw yellow breeches
  • red stockings
  • black shoes with straps and buckles

Musicians

no information available

Colours

Ordonnance colours: white cross; each canton consisted of 11 flames (red, yellow, blue, black, blue, red, blue, black, blue, yellow, red)

Ordonnance Colour - Source: Kronoskaf

References

Belaubre, J.: Les régiments suisses au service des Provinces unies, 1970

Pochon: Les Suisses au Service de Hollande

Wikipedia German Edition - Schweizer Truppen in niederländischen Diensten

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.

Acknowledgement

Jean-Louis Vial for the initial version of this article