18 October 2024
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The uniform worn by Napoleonic War teenage prisoner of war Charles Hare has been donated to the National Maritime Museum, along with his papers, and this unique collection has gone on public display for the first time, ahead of Trafalgar Day 2024
For generations, these extraordinary artefacts - Napoleonic-era uniform and contemporary documents - were the treasured possessions of the descendants of Charles Hare. But who was Charles Hare, and what was the story behind these items?
How did the Napoleonic uniform survive the passage of time?
For the past two centuries, the uniform of Naval Midshipman Charles Hare has been kept in the safe-keeping of his family.
Now, the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich has acquired this rare and very special uniform and manuscript from the descendants and for the first time it is on public display.
National Maritime Museum writes, 'They [the family] had taken excellent care of the uniform, which remains in good condition despite its age. Now, following conservation treatment from the team at the Museum, it is ready to be seen by the public for the first time. What makes it all the more special is that the uniform is the most complete surviving example of its type from the Napoleonic era.'
Who was Charles Hare?
Hare was a teenage prisoner in Napoleonic France who successfully escaped by disguising himself as an officer in the French Imperial Customs Service (Les Douanes)
This never seen before uniform went on display on 18 October in the Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery at the National Maritime Museum ahead of Trafalgar Day on 21 October 2024.
Kathleen Gazzard, Curator of Art at the National Maritime Museum said: ‘There were important changes in how prisoners of war were treated during the Napoleonic Wars. Captured British soldiers and sailors were forced to spend years in French custody. Some attempted to escape by disguising themselves as farm workers and laundrywomen, but Hare is the only individual we know of who impersonated a French officer. This may be because it was an exceptionally dangerous thing to do – if caught, he would have been executed as a spy. He must have been very brave.’
What does the Napoleonic uniform look like?
The uniform consists of a dark green coat with stripes of silver lace at the collar. Eagles are stamped on the buttons of the coat, together with an all-seeing eye and the words, ‘Douanes Imperiales’. These words are repeated on a belt buckle and a hat from the same uniform. Part of the uniform is a shako, a type of military cap characterised by its tall and cylindrical shape – with a leather peak and a soaring plume of green and white feathers.
What does Charles Hare's archival material consist of?
The archival material acquired with the uniform includes a blow-by-blow account of his escape. Written in Hare’s own words, this account charts every leg of his journey, gives an insight into his anxieties and fears, includes his jokes (often at the expense of the French) and concludes with the story of his pet dog, who accompanied him the whole way through his ordeal.
Find out more
For those interested in hearing a more detailed account of Hare’s ‘Great Escape’, Dan Snow’s History Hit has released a programme on History Hit TV and a podcast dedicated to the story which are both now available to download.
Dan Snow said ‘This is an absolutely amazing discovery revealing one of the most exciting unknown stories from the Napoleonic Wars, giving a rare insight into the human stories behind one of history's most tumultuous conflicts.’
More information can also be found on the website rmg.co.uk
The National Maritime Museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
