Grenadier Officer, 1st Foot Guards, Reign of James II

According to Evelyn, writing in June 1678, "Now were brought into service a new sort of soldiers called grenadiers who were dexterous in flinging hand grenades." This is one of Edward Suren's justly famous "Willie" figures. I had the pleasure of knowing Suren and his charming wife and as a young man, was a frequent visitor to his little shop just off Sloane Square in Chelsea, London, many years ago. His 30mm figures always seemed to me to capture exactly their subjects, and I recall marvelling at the small dioramas on display in the shop, especially the depiction of an ailing marechal de Saxe at the Battle of Fontenoy.