Charles Churchill's Regiment of Foot

Charles Churchill (1656–1714),
Governor of Guernsey (1706–1711)
by Godfrey Kneller (1646–1723)
(circle of) Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery

After having completed the Regiment Angoumois for the French, I turned to the Blenheim order of battle in order to complete a matching Allied regiment. I field both sides so I like to keep them balanced...

 

So here is another regiment leaving the painting table destined for the miniature army of the Duke of Marlborough 

 

Better known to posterity as the Buffs this regiment had an interesting start in life being able to trace it's ancestry to 1572 and those English who fought for the Dutch against the Spanish in the Thirty and Eighty Years wars. 

 

By 1655 these troops were down to about battalion strength (and as the Dutch were at War with Britain at the time that is probably not surprising! ), under the command of one John Cromwell

 

After the restoration of Charles II (1660) he requested their return in early '65, and on the outbreak of the 2nd Anglo Dutch War (March 1665) those remaining English troops who refused to swear allegiance to Holland were cashiered - the remnants were invited to serve in a new regiment funded by Sir George Downing the English Ambassador to Holland. and returned to England  where they were ranked as the 4th of Foot.

They were first named the 4th (The Holland Maritime) Regiment and then in 1668 renamed the 4th (The Holland) Regiment. The regiment operated essentially as marines serving in the fleet, on board ship.

Four commanders later, and in the Monmouth rebellion the wonderfully named Theophilus Oglethorpe was appointed as colonel (October '68). He remained loyal to to James II and was removed from command after refusing to take the oath to William. 

After the Glorious Revolution, in the subsequent army reforms, the Third, or Marine regiment, was incorporated into the Second Foot Guards so the Holland Regiment was stepped up and now ranked as the 3rd Foot. To avoid confusion with William's other "Dutch" British regiments they were also officially renamed the "Prince George of Denmark's Regiment" (until 1708 when the aforesaid Prince died), but as was the more common usage of the time, were better known by the name of their Colonel..

That commander was Charles Churchill (he was Marlborough's younger brother) who funnily enough had joined the regiment as an ensign in 1674. 

Under him the regiment was sent to Flanders for eight years as part of the Allied forces. They fought at Steenkerque in August 1692, and returned to England in 1697.

In 1702 they were part of the expedition to Cadiz, and the landings near Vigo. In 1703 it was back to Flanders where the next year the regiment was part of the march to the Danube, where they fought at Schellenberg, and Blenheim. 

After Blenheim the regiment was used to escort prisoners to the United Provinces and remained in garrison the rest of the year.

At Blenheim, Churchill (who along with Cadogan, was a key advisor to his elder brother) commanded the centre of the allied army, his regiment served under him, in Webb's Brigade commanded by Major General John Richmond Webb, along with Thomas Meredyth's Regiment of Foot, The Queen's Regiment of Foot, and 1st/His Majesty's Royal Regiment of Foot. They would have been part of the crossing of the Nebel, and the subsequent attack on the surrounded French foot in Blenheim.

 

Under Churchill, the regiment went on to participate in the breaking of the Brabant lines and Ramillies before getting a new commander when Churchill was promoted to command the 2nd Foot Guards. After him they served at Malplaquet and Oudenarde. Veterans..

Steady the Buffs!

So..  15mm Minifigs except for the drummer and the officer who I think are Dixons - painted January 2021.

Sources: 

• http://www.spanishsuccession.nl/armies_uk/regiment_f3_charles_churchill.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffs_(Royal_East_Kent_Regiment)
• https://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=3rd_Foot
• http://www.kentfallen.com/PDF%20reports/BUFFS%20DATES.pdf  (PDF history of the regiment)
• Official Army History of the Regiment [clicky]