1870-71

[Chris Boonzaier]

A British medal collector had this question...
can anyone help?

Another of my holiday finds was a framed and glazed issue certificate
for the Franco-Prussian War Medal for Combatants to "Fusilier August
Villain, 9th Company, 8th Brandenburg Infantry Regiment No. 64 (Prince
Friedrich Carl of Prussia)". The certificate is dated Prenzlau, 1st
June, 1872, and signed "Zaborowski, Colonel and [illegible, but
presumably "Battalion" or Regiment"] Commander", next to the rubber
stamp of the Second Battalion.

What is the significance of the rank "Fusilier" in an infantry (i.e.,
not a Fusilier) regiment of the time? Surely all infantrymen carried
rifles rather than fusils (or muskets) by this late date? (Dreyse
Needle rifles, weren't they?)

Initial research shows that this regiment was at the forefront of the
action at Vionville-Mars La Tour, and that vast numbers of its officers
were wounded or killed in the battle. Can anyone enlighten me as to
the other actions in which this regiment was involved? Or suggest a
published or on-line source for details of their war?

[Glenn2438]

Füsilier

Chris,

unfortunately the vast majority of my library is en-route to Germany as we speak so I can't answer the points regarding the regiment's involvement in the Franco-German war at this point. However with regards the title Füsilier, The 3rd battalions of Prussian infantry regiments were usually titled Füsilier battalions and the private soldiers within those battalions were termed Füsilier instead of Musketier or Grenadier.

The 1872 Rang- und Quartier-Liste shows Oberst z.D. von Zaborowski as the Bezirkskommandeur Prenzlau with dual responsibility as the commander of the 2. Bataillon, 8. Brandenburgisches Landwehr-Regiment Nr. 64.

Regards
Glenn

[Dave Mosher]

Chris

Here are the specific actions and dates listed in the Ruhmeshalle Unserer Alten Armee:

1870

Aug 16- Vionville-Mars la Tour
Aug 18- Gravelotte-St. Privat
Aug 19-Oct 27- Encirclement of Metz
Nov 30- Nancray
Dec 3,4- Orleans

1871

Jan 6- Azay-Mazange
Jan 7- Epulsay
Jan 8- Montaille
Jan 9- Ardenay
Jan 10-Jan 12- in front of Le Mans


Regards

Dave

[Bob Lembke]

Fuesilier

I was thrown off by the reference to the 2nd battalion, but the 9th Company as cited on the certificate would have placed the Landser in the 3rd battalion, and hence a Fuesilier.

Bob Lembke