The best-known moment in the Gardes Françaises' history may never have happened quite as told. At Fontenoy on 11 May 1745, the British Foot Guards advanced to face the French Guards across open ground. Captain Lord Charles Hay stepped out in front and drank a toast to the French. As the story goes, he invited them to fire first, and the Comte d'Anterroches of the Gardes Françaises replied that the French never fired first. The famous wording comes mainly from Voltaire, writing years later. The offer was also no great favour: the side that fired first was left reloading while the other fired. Marshal de Saxe's army still won the battle.

The eight privates stand at attention, muskets held upright at the shoulder. They wear the regiment's dark blue coats with red cuffs and turnbacks, laced in white across the chest and at the buttonholes. Below are buff belts, white gaiters and black shoes, and black tricornes edged in white top their powdered hair. The Gardes Françaises and the Swiss Guards served side by side in the king's household troops, so pair this set with Garde Suisse and the second Garde Suisse set. Add The Garde Francaise (Seven Years War) to complete the French Guard brigade.

Tradition of London set 661. Eight foot figures on square gloss bases. 54mm scale (approximately 1/30). All toy soldiers cast in quality white metal and individually hand-painted in gloss enamels. Packed in the Classic Tradition Red Box. Please allow 2–3 weeks for shipping.