‘It’s them Zouaves from Bony’s Div. S’if you can rob some brandy off of them, Pegg, they call it Cog-nack. They might swap some for a bit of pork if you’ve got any left.’
The French-Algerian soldiers contained a surprising number of English-speakers and seemed to get on well with the British troops. They were older than most of their allies and with endless experience of the campaigns in North Africa. Almond, Pegg and the others admired their cheerfulness and resilience though pitied them the vast red pantaloons and white spats that they wore to which mud clung like glue. But though their platoons and companies ran an elan and derring-do that was attractive but which meant that they took more risks and casualties than their comrades from the French regiments of the Line. They also had a r
