The Flag of the 45th Regiment
As on the previous versions from 1812 and 1813, the silk lined tricolour was trimmed with gold. Although we don’t know exactly why, the dimensions are different, starting at 80cm and later becoming 120cm. As it was needed quite quickly, it was decorated with simple embroidery of golden coloured laurels. The golden coloured letters are also embroidered on a black material and stitched in place.
The names of the battles of ESSLING and WAGRAM are included, which is odd as we know that the 45th Regiment were fighting in Spain, thousands of kilometres away. We also know that the 4th Battalion, which had troops stationed in Liège, were assigned to play their role in the first Brigade of the Regimental Infantry of the legendary Grenadiers of OUDINOT, and therefore took part in these two great battles.
At 90cms long, the tricolour ribbon, which is embroidered and fringed with gold, is attached below the Eagle by two ties, finished off with two golden tassels.
The Eagle and Standard of the 45th Regiment
The Eagle of the 45th Regiment
Distributed on the 1st June 1815, this model was used throughout the 100 days. It was a simpler version of the one issued on the 5th December 1804. Because of this, each one would be worth only 95 francs instead of 145. Its weight was almost the same, about 1850 grams, with a height of approximately 308mm.
In order to throw some light onto this period of French history, it is important
to remember that only the numbers fixed to the base had survived the burning of 1814.
As careful as all the other Finance Ministers, the one under King Louis XVIII had
taken precautions to un-
In payment for this fine, loyal service, the artisan who took on this delicate work had authorisation to keep the numbers which had been attached onto the bases.
At the return of the Emperor, obviously wanting to be held in high esteem, the artisan
offered to give these treasured numerals to Napoleon who hastened to give the order
that the numbers from 1804 should be put on the bases of 1815 model -
The Eagle and Standard now reside in Edinburgh Castle.
Now quite faded, the standard nevertheless still looks quite glorious. We are hoping to publish a report by the Chief Curator at the Scots Grey’s Museum, Edinburgh Castle, concerning the conservation project carried out on the Standard about 10 years ago.
Details of battle honours figure on the reverse of the flag material of the 1815 model of the 45th.
The (battle names) are stitched in gold thread on black fabric sewn in place – this
method allowed very quick production (a quick fix). Though the official histories
are in agreement saying that the 45th were well and truly at Austerlitz and Friedland
, they don’t all agree about attributing Jena to the 45th, besides, not that there’s
anything astonishing about that when one knows of the passivity of Bernadotte, commander
in chief of the first Army Corps on the day. But the fact is that Jena features well
and truly on the flag conserved at Edinburgh. One could equally well believe there
was a mistake over the battles of Essling and Wagram, because at that time the 45th
were fighting in far-
Notes: 1. From 1803 – 1813, 27 Line Infantry Regiments were “missing” either by being laid off or by transfer, which explains why the 45th took the name 42nd under the restoration, that being due to the fact that the 31st, 38th and 41st were ‘vacant’ under the Empire. (See History During The Restoration and Waterloo Campaign)
2. From 10.6.1815 after the parade of St Sauve (near Valenciennes) the first Corps of the Army of the North came under the command of Lieutenant General Drouet D’Erlon. The first two battalions of the 45th commanded by Colonel Chapuzet numbered 43 officers and 960 men. They formed part of Lieutenant General Marcognet’s division.
Brigade of Marechal de Cap Grenier: On 14th September 1815, at Angouleme, the 2 battalions comprised only 20 officers and 152 men.
Standard Bearer
3. Whilst fighting in Spain in 1809, Pierre Guillot took a shot in the right foot. Still in Spain in 1811, he suffered a lance wound in his left flank. 2 years later he was wounded in the right thigh. Yet again in Spain, he was taken prisoner by the English on 1.11.1813. Freed on 18.6.1814, he returned to the town of Conde where his regiment had its base. Guillot was born on 2.9.1771 at St Remy de Provence, and was laid off with his regiment on 26.9.1815 in France.
The Flag of the 45th Regiment (continued)
Confirmed from the 1815 model conserved in Edinburgh castle: without knowing exactly why, the fabric of lined silk measures 1.2 metres at the sides instead of 0.8m.
The sides are bordered by a simple laurel frieze sewn with gold thread. These are called facings “affrontes” and three motifs are repeated four times being separated by a rose. The inscriptions are sewn in part, in gold thread on black fabric, then sewn into place. The gilded letters making up the word “Empereur” measure on average 4.5 cms, the others only 3.5 cms.
Soutache – with gilded fringes 2.5 cms deep, this borders the four sides and keeps the two sides of the emblem in place.
The blue silk cover is on a runner on the 2.5 metre long flagpole; once fixed in place it is attached by two running cords. Details of the laurel frieze: this repeats 8 times along the sides, separated by four roses and in the corners of the silk square by 4 palm fronds placed diagonally.
Tie: in silk, formed from three sewn bands, it is knotted under the plinth of the eagle with the aid of a double cord in gold thread .6m long, which finishes with two fringed tassels. The tie itself is 0.16m wide and 1.06 m long, folded into two equal sections – each end is embroidered and fringed with gold.
Embroideries on the tie: in gold thread, you can recognise the motifs which figure already on the standards distributed in 1812/1813.