Big Brothers VI

The delay was to allow me to finish off two squadrons this month and bring you the first half of:

3^e Régiment de Cuirassiers

In May 1635, Timoléon de Sercourt d’Esclainvilliers' company of light horse was integrated into Cardinal Duc régiment, fighting as part of that unit at the Battle of Rocroi (1643). 

Around the same time the unit was retitled régiment d'Esclainvilliers and then, c.1656, régiment Commissaire général cavalerie. After nearly half a century of service – mostly in Flanders – the regiment became 3^e régiment de cavalerie in 179, fighting at Valmy and Marengo, before becoming 3^e régiment de cuirassiers c.1802.

The 3^e régiment de cuirassiers fought at Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau, Friedland, Eckmühl, Essling, Wagram, as well as sending a detachment to Spain. Along side 1^r and 2^e cuirassiers this detachment formed the1^r regiment provisoire de grosse cavalerie, which eventually became the 13^e régiment de cuirassiers.

For the invasion of Russia, Col Charles Eugène Lalaing d’Audenarde commanded the regiment under Général de brigade Bertrand Bessieres as part of 1^r divsione de grosse cavalerie.

Serving France through the Franco-Prussian, First and Second World Wars, as well as in Algeria, the regiment was finally disbanded in 1998 as part of the general reorganization of the French Army that followed the end of conscription.

In 1812, they were dressed in traditional Cuirassier garb, with red collars pipped blue, blue cuffs pipped red, red cuff flaps, and red turnbacks.

So, aside from collar colour, the easy way to distinguish these boys from 2^e régiment de cuirassiers is in the colour of the musicians' sheepskins, which are the more traditional black.