Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Pikes, Muskets and Flouncy Shirts => Topic started by: Dr. The Viking on 20 May 2010, 06:11:23 PM
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Hi there,
I was wondering if there was any smaller national contingents of the lesser European countries in the French & Indian War? Perhaps as mercenaries or something similar. Danish/Swedish participants would be of special interest.
I'm guessing that the odds are slim.. but I'd like to try my luck here with you guys. lol
EDIT: Was wandering.. now wondering
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Not that I am aware of. The closest I can think of is the French Voluntaires d'Etrangers which was made up mainly of Swiss and Germans (I think) but dressed much as any other French regiment.
Of course some English at the time considered the Scots rather foreign, but I don't think that's what you meant! ;)
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Screw it... I'll just make up my own Danish immigrant swashbuckling hero fighting the villainous French alongside the heroes of the Galactic British Empire (no reason to take sides or paint stereotypes)
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lol No reason not to! One of the most famous "British" officer in my neighborhood was Colonel Henri Bouquet, a Swiss, so a Dane is not as far-fetched as you might think!
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Thorbjørn - surely you vikings were there fighting the skraelings 800 years before the French and British anyway... ;)
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lol No reason not to! One of the most famous "British" officer in my neighborhood was Colonel Henri Bouquet, a Swiss, so a Dane is not as far-fetched as you might think!
Yes, we tend to go around the world. I really like the looks of things in this conflict and as a boy I heard "the last mohican" over and over again. Had it on a set of tapes (9! tapes that is). Oh and "The Settlers in Canada" by Captain Marryat. But that's set a bit later me thinks.
Thorbjørn - surely you vikings were there fighting the skraelings 800 years before the French and British anyway... ;)
Next time we meet I'll tell the tale of how the English got their language. Although I'm pretty sure vikotnik and zafarelli could perhaps be persuaded to do it too.. lol
Now who makes the Indiana Jones of the F&IW in miniature?
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The ranks of the 60th Foot contained a great many Swiss and Germans. Many of the officers in the various battalions serving were European "mercenaries". :)
Albany, Schenectady were originally "Dutch" settlements (as had New York itself as New Amsterdam), A & S and surrounding areas were still largely populated by people of Dutch, German and similar European descent. So, some New York militia units especially contained quite a lot of these. I'd say that would be your best bet for your roving Dane ;) :D
Oh, and you could quite easily fit him into a ranger unit. 8)
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
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www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
There now, I bookmarked the page for whenever I have the bees to realise this. lol
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Hi there,
I was wandering if there was any smaller national contingents of the lesser European countries in the French & Indian War? Perhaps as mercenaries or something similar. Danish/Swedish participants would be of special interest.
I'm guessing that the odds are slim.. but I'd like to try my luck here with you guys. lol
I am sure Peter Jackson would make a great film with this as a subject. ;)
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I am sure Peter Jackson would make a great film with this as a subject. ;)
Yes! Starring Elijah Wood as one of Thorbjørn's great great great ancestors! lol
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Well I'll be damned! lol
EDIT: Oh and Mameluke -how can I get my hands on one of those Zorroes? Preferable a dyslectic one. ;)
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As was said earlier there had been Dutch colonies, but these had been taken ove by the British by this time. There were some Germans serving with the British but not as separate units. Both the French & British had foreigners serving in their Armed forces but not in independent units. Many of the colonists were of various european dissent, including Swedes, Danes, Germans & Dutch. Scotts & Irish were also considered foreign and may have served on either side.
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Well I'll be damned! lol
EDIT: Oh and Mameluke -how can I get my hands on one of those Zorroes? Preferable a dyslectic one. ;)
By way of a donation to the King Kong film appreciation society or here: www.boothillminiatures.co.uk The choice is yours ;)
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I actually have ancestors who were "Pennsylvania Dutch". In true American fashion the term refers not to actual Dutch but rather the early German settlers (specifically Mennonites I believe). To the colonial ear their uncivilized mumbling of "deutsch" sounded like "Dutch". lol
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Thorbjørn you could refight battles some 100 year before, lot of Swedish against Algonquins and Dutch with Iroquois against the French. is my favourite period at the moment.
Piero
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As was said earlier there had been Dutch colonies, but these had been taken ove by the British by this time. There were some Germans serving with the British but not as separate units. Both the French & British had foreigners serving in their Armed forces but not in independent units. Many of the colonists were of various european dissent, including Swedes, Danes, Germans & Dutch. Scotts & Irish were also considered foreign and may have served on either side.
That's right, no units of other nationalities as such, but as said, loads of other national descent types in some of the colonies, especially Duch and other northern Europeans still being the majority in some areas, although now subjects of Britain, look at some of the names in the Colony of New York at the time.
There were certainly Irish serving in French regiments in Canada, I'd be interested to hear of any Scots or Irish living in British colonies who (willingly) defected to the French, now that would be a 'ripping yarn' :)
Piero, I agree re the earlier stuff involving the Swedes being interesting, though I still think the mid eighteenth century has the edge on it. ;)
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com
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There was a huge Dutch population in the New York area I believe...
Darkoath
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A little bit off but you could make Royal Suedois, the Swedish regiment in French service. Sadly the were never in America, but who knows, maybe the papers of there campaigns got lost for our historians to read :)
I think that von Fersen fought with the French "over there", sadly i cant remember any details
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A little bit off but you could make Royal Suedois, the Swedish regiment in French service. Sadly the were never in America, but who knows, maybe the papers of there campaigns got lost for our historians to read :)
I think that von Fersen fought with the French "over there", sadly i cant remember any details
I think I'll do like any great novelist (meaning Bernard Cornwell) and invent my own hero with just the basics I require. lol
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What about the Danish colony in Greenland?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_colonization_of_the_Americas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_colonization_of_the_Americas)
Maybe your character took a wrong turn when crossing the Atlantic or took to trading with the Canada's first people.... etc... etc.
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I think I'll do like any great novelist (meaning Bernard Cornwell) and invent my own hero with just the basics I require. lol
I'd say that's the way to go :D, but does that mean every bit of posh totty he bumps into will fall madly in love with him, despite him neither having the funds nor the common sense to get himself a hat, like Sharp? lol
www.gallopingmajorwargames.com