The Portuguese have never been fond of their Spanish neighbours. This was doubly so when in 1807 Napoleon sent a large French and Spanish army across the border to crush Portugal and take its fleet to continue their war against the detested British. Great Britain and Portugal; however; had been old allies for countless years; and before long a largely untried British general called Wellesley was sent from London to eject the French from Portuguese soil. The Portuguese troops were brave but unskilled; and outnumbered in the early days of the conflict. Reforms of the Portuguese army taken by Sir Lt.General William Beresford changed that; adopting British drill and tactics. The changes transformed the Portuguese into an effective fighting force. The allied army was carefully organised with units of both nations mixed into divisions giving; it a distinctive character and indeed spurring on each nation to outperform the other. The line infantry in their blue coats; and their light troops in brown; performed very well and soon had Marshall Soult back over the Pyrenees with the allied army in hot pursuit. Wellington; as Wellesley famously became; applauded his Portuguese troops calling them his ?fighting cocks?; praise indeed from a man who knew a good soldier when he saw one. Less magnanimous was the popular name British soldiers used ? ?pork and beans? ? with good-humoured respect. Our plastic Portuguese soldiers are supplied with the option of the early Barretina shako used between 1806 and 1810; or the later Stovepipe-style version which entered service in 1810. Contains: ? 20 plastic easy-build Portuguese Line Infantry. ? 4 metal command miniatures: officer; drummer and two ensigns with wire flagpoles and banner tops. ? 2-page background guide including ten full-colour flags Note: These models are supplied unpainted; and some preparatory work may be required as well as assembly.
