As light infantry regiments were gradually introduced into the British Army, they were intended to be specially trained in skirmishing, but could and often did act just like any other line regiment. When in open or skirmish order, their worst nightmare was to be caught by cavalry, and if this happened then the men would group together as best they could for mutual protection, but if already formed up and with time to deploy, they would form the usual square formation. So long as the men remained steady, a square was very difficult to breach by cavalry alone, although it did make the men horribly exposed to infantry and artillery fire. The most famous incident of British infantry formed into squares was at Waterloo, and luckily for them the French only attacked with unsupported cavalry – had they done otherwise the outcome of the day might have been very different.

The principal purpose of the square was to show a continuous hedge of bayonets to the enemy, and that is what every man in this set is doing. They might be kneeling in the front rank, or standing further back, but with all bayonets pointing roughly at the horse’s face, the animals were unlikely to get close enough for their rider to reach the infantryman with his sword. All the poses in this set depict this, and do so very well. Some men are reaching more than others, which might reflect their position within the ranks, or simply their eagerness to directly threaten an opposing rider, but grouped together these figures give a good impression of a square in action. The last pictured piece combines all the command poses, showing a wounded flag-bearer supported by an officer, and with a bugler helping to hold the flag staff. Strelets have often been very innovative with their command figures, and this one makes for a particularly unusual scene. All regiments took great care of their colours, so if an ensign was wounded, then many would come to their assistance. With the rank and file formed up into square, those available to do so could easily be an officer and/or a bugler, so this all makes perfect sense. Some wargamers may bemoan the lack of more conventional command poses, but those are to be found in several other sets, so a little drama such as this is not misplaced.

When other infantry regiments were being issued the new shako (later known as the Belgic or Waterloo shako) from 1812, the light regiments retained their stovepipe ones as a mark of distinction, which we see here. Each has a bugle horn badge and a central short plume, and would be appropriate up to the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The men’s coats are the same as for the rest of the line apart from the wings on the shoulders, and all wear campaign trousers over gaitered shoes, as they should. Their equipment is also the same as for ordinary regiments, including bayonet scabbard, haversack, ‘barrel’ water bottle and cartridge pouch. Every private here also wears a full pack with a stiff, rectangular shape, dating these men from 1806, so these figures are accurate for many of the British campaigns against Napoleon.

The three command figures are armed only with a sword, and both bugler and officer have the same shako as the men. None have anything in the way of kit, but the officer and ensign have the officer’s coat and a sash round the waist, so are correctly done. The flag staff is 42 mm long to the tip of the spear finial (just over three metres), and has no flag, but good room for one to be added. The bugler could perhaps have been better equipped than this, but generally everything here is reasonable.

This is one of several sets by Strelets on Napoleonic British light infantry, all of which are presumably sculpted by the same hand as the style and quality is much the same. The proportions and detail are both good, but can be a bit clunky in places. Faces are quite good but hands are sometimes a bit vague, and occasionally things can get into quite a mess, as for example the left hand of the ensign. However, from a distance they will look fine, and while there is flash, it is not particularly bad.

With this and other sets, Strelets are clearly looking to fill the gap in Napoleonic British light infantry, and particularly if Waterloo is borne in mind, then a set in square like this will be one of the most important. Although the sprue contains less poses than the norm, and combines all the command figures into a single piece, it does the job well, and should be a valuable addition to any model British army from 1806 to the end of the Wars.