A French attack came on as much by noise as by numbers. Where the British waited in silence, the French believed in dash and clamour: the column rolled forward, drums hammering the pas de charge, officers waving them on, the whole mass shouting "En avant!" and "Vive l'Empereur!" until the ground seemed to shake. British soldiers who faced it remembered the sound as much as the sight — a wall of men coming at a half-run out of the smoke, roaring. The idea was to break the enemy's nerve before the bayonets even met. Against shakier troops it often worked; against a steady, silent line that held its fire to the last, the charge could dissolve in a single volley.

The eight-figure set is the charge itself — an officer leading, a drummer beating them on, and six fusiliers running with bayonets levelled, in dark blue coats, white trousers and red-pommed shakos. It is the spearhead of a French attack diorama. Send it in ahead of the French Line Infantry advancing in support, set the field music of the French Line Infantry Marching driving the pace behind, and put the elite French Line Infantry Grenadiers at the head of the assault.

Tradition of London model 0719. 54mm, white metal, hand-painted in gloss enamel. Eight-figure set — an officer, a drummer, and six fusiliers running, 1815. Supplied in the Tradition Classic Red Box. Allow 2–3 weeks delivery.