British 95th Rifles Bugler Advancing #1, Napoleonic Wars Toy Soldier, W. Britain 36045

This 54mm painted metal toy soldier sounds the advance to his fellows. He wears the distinctive green uniform of the 95th Rifles, adopted to scout and fight on the vast wilderness and forest of North America and put to good use fighting 'Old Boney' in the Peninsular War. The Rifles always worked in pairs to scout the enemy and were both hated & feared by the French, who derisively called them 'grasshoppers' because of their penchant for firing from well hidden positions in tall grass and then leaping up to run to a new position. the Rifles were armed with the formidable Baker rifle, which was more accurate and of longer range than the musket, although it took longer to load. As the rifle was shorter than the musket, it was issued with a 21-inch sword bayonet. Riflemen wore dark green jackets rather than the bright red coats of the British line infantry regiments of that time; close-fitting pantaloons, rather than breeches; black facings and black belts rather than white; a green plume on their "stovepipe shakoes" which the light infantry also wore, as well as other accoutrements unique to Rifles regiments.