Vale René Chartrand

A post on Ken ('Ralphus')'s blog subtitled 'A tribute to René Chartrand' alerted me that something was 'amiss'.

A quick search brought me to a post on the blog of Helion Publishing with the sad news that he had passed away on 28th July.

We have lost another good 'un.

The author biography on Helion's and Osprey's sites (for both of whom he authored books) tell us the René had been "a senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades" and then became "a freelance writer and historical consultant."

I'll cherish the books that I have authored by him that bit more. And they are numerous.

Most especially, "The French Soldier in Colonial America". It is a small, pamphlet-style book published by the Museum Restoration Service of Ontario that is packed with detail and useful information.

I purchased it in Quebec City on a visit to Canada in 1990. Along with "Battlefields of Canada" it commenced my, now long and continued interest in the study of the French and Indian War (Guerre de la Conquête).

It also introduced me to René Chartrand and placed him firmly in my mind as an author of quality work.

In a mere 40 pages (inclusive of the index) he managed to cover a history of the compagnies franches de la marine over the entire period of French colonial America, as well as the (later raised) cannoniers bombardiers and the troupes de terre, plus descriptions of uniforms, arms and equipment. The text is accompanied by numerous reproductions of excellent art-work, by Eugène Lelièpvre and other artists (sadly all black and white, save for the cover) as well as photographs of arms, accoutrements and locations.

A few pages from The French Soldier in Colonial America to illustrate its quality and detail.

In subsequent years, I purchased further books by René about campaigns of the French and Indian War.

Then, as he moved his work to the Napoleonic Wars, I bought many of those. René's books constitute at least half of all of the Ospreys that I have purchased.

Most recently, I purchased the second volume of his "The Armies and Wars of the Sun King 1643-1715". Louis' army not being central to my interests, this was chiefly for information about the French troops present at Szentgottárd in 1664.

Impressed by this volume, I planned to get the others in the series, but as the more economical pdf versions. I am more driven to do so now.

Sadly, this series was to have been René's last.

Here's to you René Chartrand. Thank you.

Books in my personal collection that are authored by René Chartrand

French and Indian War

Chartrand, R (1984) The French Soldier in Colonial America. 18. Historical Arms Series Museum Restoration Service, Bloomfield Ontario, Canada. 40 pp.

Chartrand, R (1999) Quebec 1759. 3. Order of Battle Series Ed. J Moore. Osprey Publishing Limited, Oxford, England. 96 pp.

Chartrand, R (2005) Louisbourg 1758: Wolf's first siege. First Published 2000. Praeger Illustrated Military History Series, Westport, Connecticut. 96 pp.

Chartrand, R and Courcelle, P (2000) Ticonderoga, 1758 Montcalm's Victory Against All Odds Campaign 76. Osprey Publishing Ltd., Botley, Oxford, UK. 96 pp.

Chartrand, R, Dennis, P, Spedaliere, D and Shumate, J (2012) Tomahawk and Musket French and Indian Raids in the Ohio Valley 1758. 27. Raid Osprey Publishing Ltd., Botley, Oxford, UK. 80 pp.

Chartrand, R, Dennis, P and Stacey, M (2014) Montcalm's Crushing Blow French and Indian Raids Along New York's Oswego River, 1756. Raid 46. Osprey Publishing Ltd., Botley, Oxford, UK. 80 pp.

Napoleonic Wars

Chartrand, R and Black, F (1990) Napoleon's Sea Soldiers. 227. Men-At-Arms Ed. M Windrow. Osprey Publishing, Oxford, England. 1st edition. 48 pp.

Chartrand, R and Younghusband, B (1998) Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars (1) 1793–1808. 321. Men-At-Arms Ed. M Windrow. Osprey Publishing, Oxford, England. 1st edition. 48 pp.

Chartrand, R and Younghusband, B (1999) Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars (2) 1808-1812. 332. Men-At-Arms Ed. M Windrow. Osprey Publishing, Oxford, England. 1st edition. 48 pp. Location: Fisher collection, York.

Chartrand, R and Younghusband, B (1999) Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars (3) 1812-15. 334. Men-At-Arms Ed. M Windrow. Osprey Publishing, Oxford, England. 1st edition. 48 pp. Location: Fisher collection, York.

Chartrand, R and Courcelle, P (1999) Émigré and Foreign Troops in British Service (1) 1792-1803. 328. Men at Arms Ed. M Windrow. Osprey Publishing, Oxford, England. 49 pp.

Chartrand, R and Courcelle, P (2000) Émigré and Foreign Troops in British Service (2)1803–15. 335. Men at Arms Ed. M Windrow. Osprey Publishing, Oxford, England. 49 pp.

Chartrand, R and Courcelle, P (2001) Bussaco 1810: Wellington defeats Napoleon's Marshals. 97. Campaign Eds L Johnson and D Chandler. Osprey Publishing, Oxford, England. 1st edition. 96 pp. 

Chartrand, R and Courcelle, P (2002) Fuentes de Oñoro 1811: Wellington’s liberation of Portugal. 99. Campaign Eds L Johnson and D Chandler. Osprey Publishing, Oxford, England. 1st edition. 96 pp.

Chartrand, R and Hook, R (2004) Spanish Guerrillas in the Peninsular War 1808-14 108. Elite Osprey Publishing, Oxford, England. 64 pp.

Wars of Louis XVI

Chartrand, R (2020) The Armies and Wars of the Sun King 1643-1715 Volume 2 The Infantry of Louis XIV. Century of the Soldier 1618-1721 No. 50. Helion & Company, Solihull, England. 278 pp.