5th Line Battalion, King's German Legion facts for kids

The 5th Line Battalion of the King's German Legion (KGL) was a special group of German soldiers who fought for Britain. It was formed in late 1805. This battalion was one of eight similar units created by the KGL.

At the end of 1805, Britain sent troops to Hanover, a German region. French soldiers had left Hanover to fight in the Battle of Austerlitz. This was a great chance for the KGL to recruit many new soldiers.

After Napoleon won at Austerlitz, the British troops in Hanover had to leave. All the KGL units, including the newly formed 5th Line Battalion, sailed back to England in February 1806.

The 5th Line Battalion served from 1805 until 1816. They fought in places like Ireland, Copenhagen, Portugal, Spain, and southern France, and Belgium. After the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the unit was part of the British forces occupying France. In December 1815, the order came to close down the battalion. The soldiers marched back to Hanover and were officially disbanded in early 1816. (You can learn more about the King's German Legion).

The Battle of Waterloo: A Brave Stand

On June 18, 1815, the 5th Line Battalion fought bravely at the Battle of Waterloo. They were in the middle of Wellington's army. The battalion faced a very tough situation during what was called the 'crisis' of the battle.

Around 6 o'clock in the evening, Prince of Orange, a commander, told Sir Charles Alten to send the 5th Line Battalion forward. Their job was to attack French soldiers. These French soldiers were chasing men from another KGL unit who were retreating from La Haye Sainte.

Colonel Christian Friedrich Wilhelm von Ompteda, who led the 5th Battalion, saw French cavalry nearby. He protested the order to Alten, worried about his men. But the Prince of Orange overheard and told von Ompteda to obey.

Colonel von Ompteda got on his horse. He ordered his men to change from a square formation (used to fight cavalry) to a line formation (used to attack infantry). He then led them forward against the French infantry. The French infantry ran away.

However, from the smoke, a group of French cuirassiers appeared. These were cavalry soldiers wearing metal armor. They charged into the side and back of the 5th Line Battalion. The KGL soldiers had not reloaded their muskets, so they couldn't fire back. Many were killed. Colonel von Ompteda was among those who died. The battalion also lost one of its important flags. Only 19 men managed to escape back to the allied lines.

The battalion's surgeon, Georg Hartog Gerson, was remembered for his actions during the battle. His uniform coat, called a coatee, is still on display today in a museum in Hamburg, Germany.

What They Wore: Uniforms and Gear

The uniforms and equipment for the KGL's Line battalions were similar to what British soldiers wore at the time. They were updated several times between 1803 and 1815. Generally, their gear included:

• Red uniform coats with dark blue cuffs and collars. These had special lace patterns.
• Grey pants.
• White leather belts and straps for carrying equipment.
• The Brown Bess musket, a common type of rifle.
• A tall, stiff hat called a shako. Early ones were "stovepipe" shaped, later ones were "Belgic" style.

One main difference from British units was their backpack. The KGL's backpacks were painted dark blue, not black.

The 5th Battalion also had a "light company." Some of these soldiers used Baker rifles, which were more accurate. During the Battle of Waterloo, this light company was separated from the main battalion. They helped defend the farm of La Haye Sainte.