Sharpe
Register
Advertisement
Rifles

Sharpe, Harper, Cooper, Harris, Perkins, Hagman

"They're coming, sir."
"Of course they were coming! They were his men.
"
— Sharpe's Company

Chosen Men were the Napoleonic eras equivalent of today's Lance Corporal. Whilst one step below the NCO (Non-commissioned Officer) ranks, the Chosen Man was selected from the ranks to lead a sub-unit of the Company, often for their intelligence and ability. The rank was unofficial insomuch as it was used only within the Company, with Commanding Officers able to promote and demote at will those who were chosen to wear the single white armband which denoted Chosen Men. They were usually spared ordinary duties and often went on to become NCOs.

In the Sharpe TV Movies the rank is used to denote a special unit within the company, where the Riflemen are Chosen Men, giving Sharpe a group of comrades with which he can form a stronger bond than is the norm between officers and the army's lowest ranks.

Novel Series[]

In the novels, 31 Rifles were separated from their unit during the Retreat to Corunna in 1809, these men became the core of the Light Company when the South Essex became a Battalion of Detachments, which included the orphaned Rifleman. By 1812, in Sharpe's Company, it is specified that only 12 remain on active duty.

Note: of Sharpe's Chosen Men, 11 were described as killed in the novels:
  • Sergeant Williams, Sharpe's Rifle's during a battle.
  • Rifleman Sean Donnelly, Sharpe's Havoc while on watch duty, killed by a French Sharpshooter.
  • Rifleman John Williamson, Sharpe's Havoc killed by Sharpe for desertion and fleeing to the enemy.
  • Rifleman Gataker, Sharpe's Eagle killed during the Battle of Talavera.
  • Rifleman Pendleton, Sharpe's Eagle killed during the Battle of Talavera.
  • Rifleman Isaiah Tongue, Sharpe's Gold killed by the French while warning Sharpe of an ambushed.
  • Rifleman Fergus Slattery, Sharpe's Fury killed during the Battle of Barrosa.
  • Rifleman Thompson, Sharpe's Battle killed at fort San Isidro.
  • Rifleman Christopher Thomas Cresacre, Sharpe's Company killed during the Battle of Badajoz.
  • Rifleman Daniel Hagman, Sharpe's Waterloo he was the last Rifleman to be killed in the novel series; he was mortally wounded and bled out.
Note: of Sharpe's Chosen Men, only two where listed as missing in action during the novels:
  • Corporal Matthew Dodd, Sharpe's Escape missing in action after the Battle of Bussaco, according to Rifleman Carter he was last seen  escaping from the French after being surrounded.
  • Rifleman Ned Tarrant. Sharpe's Havoc he was wounded in action after the French victory at Oporto and was unable to walk, so Sharpe was forced to leave him behind, his fate is unknown.
Note: Sharpe's Chosen Men who survived the war or very likely survived the war:
  • Regimental Sergeant Major Patrick Harper. Survived both the Peninsular War and also the Battle at Waterloo, alive as of Sharpe's Devil.
  • Rifleman Harris. Survived in the novels, alive as of Sharpe's Christmas, did not appear in Waterloo.
  • Rifleman Francis Cooper. Alive as of Sharpe's Christmas, he does not appear in Sharpe's Waterloo.
  • Rifleman Ben Perkins. Alive as of Sharpe's Christmas, he does not appear in Sharpe's Waterloo.
  • Rifleman Parry Jenkins. Alive as of Sharpe's Sword.
  • Sergeant Latimer. Alive as of Sharpe's Company.
  • Rifleman Green. Alive as of Sharpe's Company.
  • Rifleman McDonald. Alive as of Sharpe's Company.
  • Rifleman Smith. Alive as of Sharpe's Company.
  • Rifleman Nicholas Hine. Alive as of Sharpe's Battle.
  • Rifleman Jedidiah Horrell. Alive as of Sharpe's Battle.
  • Rifleman Finn. Alive as of Sharpe's Battle.
  • Rifleman Carter. Alive as of Sharpe's Escape.
  • Rifleman Sims. Alive as of Sharpe's Escape.
  • Rifleman Harvey. Alive as of Sharpe's Escape.
  • Rifleman McNeil. Alive as of Sharpe's Havoc.
  • Rifleman Cameron. Alive as of Sharpe's Rifles.

Television[]


See Also[]

Lance Corporal definition in Wikipedia Non-commissioned Officer definition in Wikipedia

Advertisement