Returning to that research, I found a South African army officer with an interesting background.
A gravemarker records the following:
In loving memory of John Douglas de Fenzi Late Captain of the British German Legion and formerly of the Prussian Guard Cuirassiers who died 25th Octr 1871 Aged 45 years The Lord is my shepherd illegible
In 1854 the British government began recruiting mercenaries in Europe to fight in the Crimean War. The war was over before any of the three German, Swiss, and Italian legions raised could reach the front, and the government was faced with the problem of disposing of these redundant mercenaries. It was consequently relieved to oblige when the High Commissioner for South Africa requested military settlers for British Kaffraria. The men of the British German Legion (BGL) were encouraged to volunteer, and in 1856 the majority did so. They proved unsuccessful settlers, however. In 1858 half of them volunteered for military service in the Indian Mutiny, and those remaining in British Kaffraria were disbanded in 1861.
John Douglas de Fenzi apparently chose not to go to India, but my interest, beyond his family connection, is how did he become a member of the Prussian Guard Cuirassiers? Was this also a mercenary role?
Presumably, he was living in Britain when recruited for the BGL - or was he in Germany?
What role did he have in the Prussian Guard Cuirassiers? And where?
Douglas de Fenzi
by William Douglas
Oct 14
Researching the Douglas of Garvald family, I encountered the Douglas de Fenzi family
Confusing press reports - Douglas of Garvald - The Douglas Archives (ning.com)
Returning to that research, I found a South African army officer with an interesting background.
A gravemarker records the following:
In loving memory of John Douglas de Fenzi
Late Captain of the
British German Legion
and formerly of the
Prussian Guard Cuirassiers
who died 25th Octr 1871
Aged 45 years
The Lord is my shepherd
illegible
In 1854 the British government began recruiting mercenaries in Europe to fight in the Crimean War. The war was over before any of the three German, Swiss, and Italian legions raised could reach the front, and the government was faced with the problem of disposing of these redundant mercenaries. It was consequently relieved to oblige when the High Commissioner for South Africa requested military settlers for British Kaffraria. The men of the British German Legion (BGL) were encouraged to volunteer, and in 1856 the majority did so. They proved unsuccessful settlers, however. In 1858 half of them volunteered for military service in the Indian Mutiny, and those remaining in British Kaffraria were disbanded in 1861.
John Douglas de Fenzi apparently chose not to go to India, but my interest, beyond his family connection, is how did he become a member of the Prussian Guard Cuirassiers? Was this also a mercenary role?
Presumably, he was living in Britain when recruited for the BGL - or was he in Germany?
What role did he have in the Prussian Guard Cuirassiers? And where?