French Infantry During the Seven Years War 1756-1763 Vol 1

At the risk of being boring here is another review for your delectation as I shift my painting focus from 1940 France to something a little more exotic....

I’ve had this book for some time and have only now finished reading what to me is a good guide to the organisation of the French army during the Seven Years War. French Infantry During the Seven Years’ War 1756–1763 Vol 1 by Jean-Lous Vial is number 137 in Helion’s splendid ‘from Reason to Revolution’ series. 

 

The book looks at the organisation and evolution of the French infantry regiments during this period. The author examines in some detail what made a French regiment ‘tick’, that is, the hierarchy, the recruitment of soldiers and their training, officer training and career prospects, housing, uniforms and equipment. There are also separate chapters devoted to the Provincial Militia the Grenadiers Royeaux and the Coastguard Militia; indeed these last three were my favourites.

 

The author has used a comprehensive range of primary and secondary sources, and he makes good use of contemporary correspondence to illustrate the narrative. The book also contains a number of black and white illustrations, largely contemporary or near contemporary. There are also eight full-page colour plates of a variety of French infantry soldiers drawn by the talented Sergey Shamenkov. 

 

This book certainly has something to add to what is already available on the subject, much of which is now quite dated. This more recent examination of the French army is therefore a valuable new look and I would recommend it to anyone interested in this subject. I also look forward to the next two volumes in the series.

Shame I sold all my SYW collection (including my lovely French army).......maybe not.

 

 

ISBN 978-1-804514-36-8.          166 pages, softback