Prussian flags 1870

[Leman]

I am having trouble identifying the flags on the FPW Prussian flag sheet. Are some of them old Napoleonic flags taken to war instead of the newer pattern? Are some of them flags harking  back to when some of the regiments were in fact the troops of smaller independent states before the formation of the North German Confederation? Finally, were any of these flags carried by troops in 5th Korps? Thanks in advance.

[mollinary]

I am having trouble identifying the flags on the FPW Prussian flag sheet. Are some of them old Napoleonic flags taken to war instead of the newer pattern? Are some of them flags harking  back to when some of the regiments were in fact the troops of smaller independent states before the formation of the North German Confederation? Finally, were any of these flags carried by troops in 5th Korps? Thanks in advance.

DP, many years ago I provided information on which these are based, but it is so long ago that I cannot remember what they were! What date V Corps are you looking at?  Give me the dates, or the regiments, and I will give you the appropriate patterns. As a simple guide, non standard flags are either Grenadier Regiments (1-12) or Guard regiments.   

Mollinary

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

You need sheet PNFL71, If you ask Leon nicely he will print the reference sheet that goes with it, some of your regiments do get a different flag, but not as different as Oldenbergers or Brunswickers...
5th Corps:
3rd Army
9 inf Div
17th Inf Brig
3rd Posen Inf No58; 4th Posen IR No59;
18th Inf Brig
2 W. Prussian Gren R No 7; 2nd Lower Silesian IR No 47;
Div troops 1st Silesian Jäger Btn No5; 1st Silesian Drag No4; 1st Silesian FA R No5,
10th Inf Div
19th Inf Brig
1st W Prussian IR No6; 1st Lower Silesian IR No46
20th Brig
Westphalian Fus R No37; 3rd Lower Sileasian IR No50
Div Troops Kumark Drag R No 14; 3rd Fr Unit Lower Silesian FA R No 5;
Corps Artillery: 2&3rd Horse Btys, Lower Silesian FA R No5; 2nd Ft Unit, Lower Silesian FA R No5

Looking at that, this is an 'old' Prussian Corps, formed pre 1866. It had no troops transferred out in 1870, so all shoulder boards are yellow with white piping and would have carried Standard Peussian colours in interesting varieties! You need the IR number to cross reference.
Colours would be of three patterns, depending when they were issued.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Mollinary was quicker off the draw, again! 

[mollinary]

OK, Here goes.

The majority are easy, as the regiments were newly formed in 1860-61. So  IRs 46, 47, 50, 58 and 59 all carry the same model 1828 flag with the traditional black cross. The third battalion of FR37 also has this pattern.  The Ist and 2nd Battalions of FR37 are  pattern 1820, which in this scale is still very similar, but with a different shaped eagle.  All the above flags were in pretty good nick in 1870. The two Grenadier Regts, Nos 6 and 7, carried old pre 1807 patterns, which were, at best, only tatters..  Each regiment had a Leibfahne for the 1st Battalion, and 2 Ordinarfahnen for the others. The bae colours for. GR 6 were dark green and red, for GR 7 light blue and yellow.   If you want to see what all these look like go to the North Star Site under their North Star 1866 range, all these flags are illustrated there.  One final point, it was normal for Grenadier Regiments to have White poles, the other regiments had black.

Cheers,

Mollinary

[Leman]

Thanks very much for the info Will. The two grenadier flags (green/red and blue/yellow) are on the flag sheet so I shall definitely be using them. The unit i am working on at present is IR 58 so bog standard standards for them. Will update the Froeschwiller site later this evening.

[mollinary]

It's a pleasure, but the name's Andrew!   Somewhat heretically I use Baccus flags for my 10mm Prussian figures, as Maciek 's do not cover the Prussians.  The Baccus ones fit the poles very well, and I feel less guilty when I attack them with a knife.  Their basic Prussian flag sheet for 1870 is pretty good, and the two Grenadier Regts are covered on their first Napoleonic sheet, NAF 18.  This sheet has one example of  each of the Leibfahne and Ordinarfahne.

Cheers,

Mollinary

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

No worries Andrew,
Always rely on you to come up with the excellent information.
Regards
Will

[Leman]

I'm putting this name mixup down to my little grey cells getting old, and it's not helped by me being named Andrew as well. Thanks to both of you for the help. Will now press on with belting.

[Hertsblue]

Isn't that common assault?  OK, I'm going....

[Leman]

Oh, a belting joke that one ...... erm, where's my coat?