2nd King’s German Dragoons, 1806–1812

del Prado 1:30 Scale Figure Review

2nd Regiment, King’s German Dragoons, 1812, 1:30 Miniatures del Prado.

The King’s German Legion was formed in England on 10 August 1803 from veterans of the Hanoverian Army, and disbanded on 24 May 1816 in Hanover. Battle Honours and Traditions of the K.G.L. were passed on to the newly raised regiments of the Army of the Kingdom of Hanover.

There were two dragoon regiment in the King’s German Legion, which were designated heavy dragoons from 1808 to 1812, and converted to light dragoons in 1813. Both regiments wore red coats, with dark blue facings for the 1st and black facings for the 2nd regiment. In 1814, both regiments received dark blue British light dragoon uniforms. The 2nd King’s German Dragoons distinguished themselves in many skirmishes and battles of the Napoleonic Wars. The Duke of Wellington and other contemporary observers noted that the heavy cavalry of the King’s German Legion was exceptionally well mounted, and that the men took good care of their horses.

Evaluation

Horse and rider are anatomically correct.

The red uniform with black facings looks smart, and the elegant bicorne hat goes very well with it. The KGL dragoon wears his bicorne pointing fore and aft, unlike the officer of the 5th Dragoon Guards who wears the bicorne sideways.

Hanoverian horses are decendents of the Great Medieval Warhorse. They have been bred at the state stud farm in Celle near Hanover since 1735. The Hanoverian horse’s height of 160 to 175 cm makes it an excellent heavy cavalry mount. This horse is noticeably taller than the officer’s horse of the 5th Dragoon Guards also available from del Prado.

The 16-page booklet by Osprey Publishing contains several colourful illustrations of KGL cavalry during the Napoleonic Wars.

Compatible with 1:30 scale King & Country military and civilian miniatures.

The saddle has not been modelled, it is only painted on the saddleblanket.

This 1:30 scale del Prado KGL dragoon is a smart trooper of the elite Hanoverian cavalry in British service. The figure may be painted with dark blue facings to represent a trooper of the 1st King’s German Dragoons.

del Prado miniatures

del Prado Miniatures