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Note: H00021
Note: Addresses:-
1845 Berlin, Brandenburg, Prussia, Germany.
(During the Crimean War the British Army recruited German and Swiss Legion's under a special provision known as the Enlistment of Foreigners Act 1854. A total of 14,000 men were recruited into the British Foreign Legion and the service records are kept in WO 14 along with the muster lists of those British soldiers who went to the Scutari depot.
Formation of the Legion
The British-German Legion was formed during the Crimean War of 1853-1856. Due to disease, battle casualties and disinterest at home, the traditionally small British Army was suffering a severe manpower shortage during the war. To help alleviate this it was decided to raise a body of foreign nationals to fight in the Crimea. They were to be called the British Foreign Legion. The response from young men on the continent was greater than expected and the British were able to form these volunteers into separate units based on their nationality. The British-German Legion was born. It would not be the first time that German nationals had fought under the British flag.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) the Crimean war ended before the British-German Legion saw action and this left the British Government with a rather awkward problem. How to dispose of all these young men. Most of them could not return to Germany as they had now sworn allegiance to a foreign power. The obvious solution was to ship them off to the colonies. The British-Government wished to settle them in South Africa, in the Border Region of what was then "British Kafferia" and volunteers were called for. While many decided in favour of India or the America's and some chose to remain in Britain, 2362 accepted the British Government offer of settlement in South Africa. A breakdown of this figure reveals 59 officers, 42 Cadets and 2261 non-commissioned officers and men. In addition there were 30 wives of officers, 331 wives of other ranks and 155 children. A total of 2918 settlers.)
From his attestation on joining the British Foreign Legion in the 1st Rifle Batt. 16th July 1855 aged 34.
Born in or near: Berlin
In the state of: Preussen
Age: 34 Years - Months
Previous Profession: a Guilder
Height: 5 Foot 6 Inches
Facial colour healthy: Eyes: Brown, Hair: Dark Blond
Distinguishing Marks: On the left hand the little finger is bent.
Previous service: From 1850 to 1851 was in the first battalion to enter and hold Halosin.
The British Foreign Legion had many Swiss men in it. It was not well thought of by the British Army, and caused trouble along the South Coast of England. It was very soon disbanded.
This rather points to the story below being false, but as his father in law was a Campaign Surgeon it may be him who was the doctor to Napoleon?
It is possible that he was a physician to Napoleon III. ( Story from Heather Learmouth recalling what she had been told by her grandmother )
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