Sharpe

[heathen_son]

Any fans of the BBC's 1990's production of Sharpe?

-Fy3tSim3to

[Tolleson]

I have only seen a few episodes.

Big fan of the book series. :thumb001:

Just started a new one on Monday. :)

Have enjoyed alot of Cornwell especially the Saxon Series and the Arthur Series.

[heathen_son]

I've never read the books, and I'm told the TV series takes some liberties at times.

However, I was hooked from the first episode when Sharpe saves Nosey and gets made a lieutenent, then starts scrapping with his insubordinate men and brings them into line. Such an excellent character.

I am half way through the boxed set. It has gotten a bit weak plotwise, though Elizabeth Hurley's breasts do perk things up a bit. Seems to be gaining momentum again though. And the music is always great. I have to stop myself from joining the local Infantry regiment every time I watch an episode.

[Germanicus]

The South Essex Regiment, later the Prince of Wales' Own Volunteers, is a fictional infantry line regiment in the British Army that was created by Bernard Cornwell in the Sharpe series of books.


Fictional history

It first appeared in Sharpe's Eagle, commanded by Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson. Sharpe was transferred to the South Essex when his previous regiment, the 95th Rifles, was withdrawn back to England, and made a captain shortly after the battle of Valdelacasa in which the South Essex and the Spanish Regimenta de Santa Maria were badly mauled by French cavalry. In this action, both the South Essex and the Regimenta de Santa Maria lost their Colours. Simmerson tried to ruin Sharpe's career (and save himself) by blaming the loss of the Colours on Sharpe. However, Sharpe then captures a imperial eagle, in doing so, recovered some honour and the South Essex's pride.

After Simmerson showed ill judgement and cowardice at the Battle of Talavera (where Sharpe captured a French Imperial Eagle, which then went on to be displayed on the regiment's Colours), Colonel William Lawford, an old friend of Sharpe's, took command. Lawford was wounded soon after and the South Essex went through a string of colonels.

In Sharpe's Regiment, the South Essex is renamed the Prince of Wales' Own Volunteers (in reality, the Prince of Wales' Volunteers was (or is) the South Lancashire Regiment). When the regiment returns to Spain it is commanded by Colonel Bartholomew Girdwood, who suffers a breakdown during an attack into French soil. Sharpe leaves the regiment soon after, and Colonel Joseph Ford takes command. The regiment does not appear again until the Battle of Waterloo, where Sharpe and Sergeant Patrick Harper save the regiment from the advance of Napoleon's Old Guard at the end of the battle, where Sharpe is finally given command of the regiment by the Duke of Wellington.


Battle honours

This is a rough list of battle honours that it is likely the regiment would have gained during the Sharpe Series:
Talavera, 1809,
Busaco, 1810,
Ciudad Rodrigo, 1812,
Badajoz, 1812,
Salamanca, 1812,
Vittoria, 1813,
Pyrenees, 1813,
Toulouse, 1814,
Peninsula, 1808-1814,
Waterloo, 1815.

The regiment's fate after Waterloo is unknown. It is likely to have been disbanded due to its high regimental number (this is stated in the Sharpe Companion) but it could have been merged with the 44th Regiment of Foot or the East Essex which lost many men at Quatre Bras. In the latter case it would have become the Essex Regiment under the Cardwell Reforms and the battalion carrying its traditions would have been disbanded and the honours continued. This is of course speculation, but there are several similarities between the East and South Essex - both captured French Imperial Eagles, both have yellow coat facings, and they share a county designation.


Regimental Colonels

This is a rough list of the colonels of the regiment described in the books and the period they served as colonel. There are gaps where colonels are not known in the books. The Prince Regent, later George IV was the colonel in chief and added his patronage in 1813. Sir Henry Simmerson (1809) was the first Colonel, raised the regiment and led it on its first campaign. Relieved from command by the next colonel, William Lawford (1809–1812) who commanded the regiment during the Portugal campaign before being wounded at Ciudad Rodrigo. The regiment would then be commanded by a former staff officer of General Sir Thomas Picton, Colonel Windham from the siege and storming of Badajoz until his death shortly before the Battle of Salamanca (1812). It is then commanded by the American expatriate Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Leroy until his death at the Battle of Vitoria (1813). Lieutenant Colonel Bartholomew Girdwood would then assume command of the now renamed Prince of Wales Own Volunteers until his mental breakdown at the Battle of the Nivelle (1813). Sharpe would be in effective command until the French capitulation at the Battle of Toulouse (1814). The regiment is reformed after Napoleon's escape from Elba and the resumption of hostilities and is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Ford until his mental collapse under fire at Waterloo, where Wellington gives command of the regiment to Sharpe where they assist in defeating the Old Guard.

[CelticViking]

I liked a few Sharpe episodes :).

[Anusiya]

It was one of these mini-series I remember coming across on tv, and gradually getting hooked on. Though I don't remember much detail anymore. It's been years.

[Zorlux]

Yes I am a massive fan. Watched them too many times. I think Sean Bean playing Richard Sharpe is brilliant.