The Napoleonic Period
During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon called upon members of
the Corps des Guides-Interprètes to provide information. The
Duke of Wellington had his own Intelligence staff officer, and
in 1809 established an Intelligence organisation based on the
scout or guide. Guide units served under a Captain of Guides,
and were composed of irregular, light horsemen. Guides were
locally recruited, bilingual or multi-lingual, and employed
solely to collect information from their observations, and
conversations with local inhabitants. British guide units also
served in the 1840s during the North-West campaign in India.
|
|