Les Fusiliers Grenadiers de la Garde

English

Eman Vovsi . Grouchy

Remi. Oleg Bogatov

Alain Le Coz

Juris Preimanis . G.M.Etienne
RVRK

Aleksey Linkevich . Batiston
RVRK

Oleg Eizvertins. Ejus
RVRK

Roman Merenanu. RomBur

Dins Merirands
RVRK

Aleksandr Slogis
Aleksandr Slogis
RVRK

Evgeniy Eizvertin

Genadiy Hitrov

Valeriy Novikov
RVRK

Juriy Kulik. Julien
RVRK

AT THE BEGINNING OF A LEGEND… It was by the end of the 80s, when in the republics of the former USSR became the process of reorganization and reconstruction - the new ideology and open minds started slowly to take over … Various clubs, organizations societies were created, sometimes very unusual ones… Our personage, long time military history lover and now University student, decided to organize a History club.

In Summer of 1988, after he'd collected 10 special coupons, he placed a free add within the most popular Russian newspaper in Latvia, "Sovetskaya Molodez" ("The Soviet Youth"): he is such-and-such, interested in history, military history, uniforms, armament, flags, etc. Surprisingly, he got nearly 20 letters in response! One letter was especially interesting: a guy named Igor Graholsky also was much moved by military history, especially Napoleonic epoch.

Igor also wrote that, for example, in St.-Petersburg there is a section of "bonapartists" under supervision of Oleg Sokolov, and in Moscow - "Russo-files" and a group of Peter Kosmolinsky, (creator of a first true military miniatures in Russia) who was the president of the first Military-History Committee.

So, our personage and Igor decided to meet immediately and from then on it was decided - they had to have their own History club! But how, where should they start? There were already several of them - Igor and two his friends, and also Pavel Vigdorchik (RPI student) and two high school classmates, Sergei and Richard, all history buffs. Then Igor decided to make a trip to Moscow and also visit the Borodino battlefield, at the beginning of September of 1988. So be it! And this trip changed a life of all adventurers (there were only 5 of them) completely.

In Moscow, our friends visited Peter and for the first time saw the self-made brochures about uniforms, prepared by the enthusiasts, just as they are. And of course, collection of Mr. Kosmolinsky's, nearly 300 painted soldiers, was magnificent! Then to Borodino! And over there our friends for the first time saw the real "uniformists", perhaps the first real group in the former USSR. There were nearly 20 "French" soldiers, guys just you and I, but! They were dressed in the uniforms, wore shakos and bicorne, and were armed with muskets and swords!

They were under command of brave lieutenant Daumesnil (Pavel Suslov) and arrived from St.-Petersburg. Later some other groups from Moscow and Kiev joined them. There also were groups dressed in "Russian" uniform and portraying the Russian army of 1812. Our friends took part in the march, and Igor - in the battle, where he proudly bore the fanion of the 1st Polish Infantry regiment. "French" and "Russians" show little "battle", then showed some samples of arms and equipment… Our travelers exchange handshakes with many new friends. That's it - we will create the uniformed group in Riga!

But which unit to create? Our personage and his new friend Vladimir Nikiforov (State University's student) decided to create a unit of the Russian Guard and made uniforms using their old parade coats from the times when both were in the ranks of the Soviet Army... Igor (with Polish background), wanted to create a Polish unit.

But all problems were solved when our friends once again were on the road - they were invited by St.-Petersburg's Napoleonic Association to take part in the celebrations commemorated to the anniversary of the battle of Austerlitz and coronation of the Emperor Napoleon, 2 December 1988 week-end. Over there, for the first time our personage and some of his friends were introduced to Mr. Oleg Sokolov, president of the Association, wearing the real uniform of the French brigade general of the Napoleonic army!

Our visitors participated in the scientific conference, listened to several interesting topics, including Ulm's operation of 1805. They also saw drills and training of the "French". Especially, they liked the biggest group, under command of their old acquaintance, Daumesnil.

There were soldiers dressed in the uniform of "Fusiliers-Grenadiers" of the Imperial Guard. Asking, why they in fact decided to made such uniform, our friends were told, that it is, in fact, the Guard unit, just the rank below the famous Old Guard. Plus, they added, there is a lot of white fabric, no need to paint or embroider anything, and therefore easy (and cheaper!) to make. Mr. Sokolov also added, that it will be good if "we all will be dressed alike, so it will present an effect of a big mass on the "battlefield". Plus, we all going to be together, anyway." And so thinking, our friends decided to join and in the mid-December 1988 the "Fusilier-Grenadiers" of the Imperial Guard became their life!

After that, they were in contact with the President of the Balto-Slavic Society, which offered help, support and good wishes. In September 1989, our personage first time was dressed up as Fusilier and took part in the Borodino re-enactment… At the same time our friends tried to equip themselves. They needed to go to St.-Petersburg several times and learn, study, measure and endlessly ask… Corporal Oudinot (Kostya Erymov) provided a big help in clarifying some important details of equipment and uniform; his friend, a brave sergeant Lannes, has showed evolutions and musket drills, presented various regulations and manuals.

By that time there was already ten of them: Vladimir Nikiforov (his talent as painter helped very much at the beginning), Pavel Vigdorchik (Friant, who translated first MAA Osprey series with great success; now, he lives in Israel and a member of local Napoleonic Association); high school friends Sergey (Duroc, appointed aide-de-camp to the first unit's commander), Richard (he carried the first fanion of the unit) and Alexander (French well-speaker); later the group was joined by Sea technician student Juris Preimanis (Etienne, a big plastic soldiers' fan), then Alexey (Batiston), the proud father and big enthusiasts of Napoleon's and also the one who wanted everything to be done by "the book"; a son of the one of the "new Russians" Andrey (Junot).

One of the latest of that first wave was Igor Rudobeletz, a personal friend of the first unit's commander. Latter decided to be called Grouchy, despite all the rumors that follows this noble name for nearly 200 years and simply because their first names are alike.

Note that thanks to Etienne's mother, a very talented specialist of one of the style salon, our Fusiliers all were dressed up in their first uniform! Generally, all Spring-Summer season of 1990 was dedicated to preparation for Borodino, were they planned to act as independent organized unit. Fusils were bought in St.-Petersburg, for buttons were used Navy buttons (from the distance the anchor, when placed upside down, remained an Imperial eagle), or first real Guard buttons were cast on the plant were worked our personage, they then were "gilt" by paint, etc.

Also, due to Igor Graholsky's great efforts, personal contacts and organizational skills, in June 1990, two fusiliers took part in the great re-enactment at Waterloo, Belgium. They were drilled by real French unit at the camp, paraded toward city streets and finally, participated in the battle along with 2,000 other participants from around the world. It was really great experience!

And there it is - a great day of Borodino, in September 1990. Our fusiliers were officially recognized and were presented their first fanion (now, a part of private collection of the first unit's commander in New York).

Note that those wery first Fusiliers from St.-Petersburg's were transformed into the 32nd Line Infantry Regiment. Here, at the sacred Borodino battlefield, the Fusiliers were baptized under fire: on the bridge, they helped to defend an eagle of the 46th Line Regiment and later, Fusilier Etienne performed a "courage under fire" - he seized the standard of the Moscow Dragoons!

Unfortunately, due to the chaos and mutual muddle it was not officially recognized… However, at the monument of the Grande Armee, the Fusiliers were officially noted and thanked, its commander was promoted to corporal. This was the start of a legend…

Emm Vovsi (Grushi ). New York. 2003 year.