5TH LINE BATTALION

The '5th Line Battalion' of the King's German Legion was raised during the year 1805 as the fifth out of eight line battalions that the Legion levied in total.
The battalion was initially brigaded with the 6th Line Battalion of the Legion. It served from 1805 until 1816 in Ireland, Walcheren, Copenhagen, Sicily, Peninsula and Belgium.
On 18th June 1815, during the Battle of Waterloo, the battalion was nearly wiped out during the fighting in the center of Wellington's battle line, in the wake of the so called `crisis´.

Contents

Uniforms and equipment

Uniforms and equipment

Uniform and Equipment of the Legion's Line battalions was of standard British pattern of the time. In accord it was repeatedly revised during the years from 1803 until 1815. In general it comprised of:

★ red uniform with dark blue cuffs and collar, laced with regimental lace

★ grey legwear

★ white leather equipment

★ Brown Bess musket

★ stovepipe shako, later Belgic shako
The principal distinction from British units was that the standard pack was painted dark blue rather than black.
The 5th's light Company was partially armed with baker rifles and was separated from the Bn at Waterloo in the midst of the battle to assist in the defense of La Haye Sainte.