‘3rd Hussars, Infantry and Light Infantry. King’s German Legion’, c.1815 (aquatint)

‘3rd Hussars, Infantry and Light Infantry. King’s German Legion’, 1815 (c). Coloured etched aquatint by J C Stadler after Charles Hamilton Smith. From the series ‘Costumes of the Army of the British Empire, according to the last regulations’, published by Colnaghi and Company, Cockspur Street, 1815. The King’s German Legion was formed from King George III’s exiled Hanoverian subjects (the King was also the Elector of Hanover) in 1803. The British refused to accept the French occupation of that country and the subsequent treaty codifying the dissolution of Hanover’s military. In July 1803 the King therefore gave permission for the creation of the King’s German Regiment and the Foreign Corps. On 19 December these merged to form the King’s German Legion. It eventually grew in size to include 10 line battalions, two rifle battalions, five cavalry regiments and artillery; around 14,000 men in total. Its home depots were at Bexhill-on-Sea (infantry) and Weymouth (cavalry) and during its 13-year existence some 28,000 men passed through its ranks.