The Green Coats

​1811, 16th September, Villarejo, Spain. First Lieutenant George Simmons moves with the 1st Battalion of the 95th Rifles up to Villarejo, around 5 hours march North to Ciuadad Rodrigo.

The Peninsular War had started in 1808 and following numerous battles, the British and Portuguese remained largely in Portugal, with ongoing fighting along the Spanish border. George Simmons was part of the 95th Rifles, who wore an unusual dark green jacket as opposed to the well known red coat.
 
During the Peninsular War, George Simmons took part in combat at Côa (1810), where he was wounded, at Pombal (1811), Fuentes de Oñoro (1811), Ciudad Rodrigo (1812). Badajoz (1812), Salamanca(1812), Vitoria (1813), Pyrenees (1813), Nivelle (1813), Orthes (1814) and Tarbes where he was once again severely wounded.
 
George Simmons is known for letters he wrote home during his service, which is how we know where he was on the 16th September 1811. The letters were edited by Willoughby Verner and published in 1899 in the work A British Rifle Man: The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade, During the Peninsular War and the Campaign of Waterloo.

​This scene was built by James Pegrum as part of a series of models on world history. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see them first.