Forlorn hope
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A forlorn hope is a band of soldiers or other combatants chosen to take the vanguard in a military operation, such as a suicidal assault through the breach of a defended position, or the first men to
Colin Campbell leading the British forlorn hope at the siege of San Sebastián
Penal military unit
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A penal military unit, also known as a penal formation, disciplinary unit, or just penal unit, is a military formation consisting of convicts mobilized for military service. Such formations may consis
Forlorn hope
…expended to save a retreating army, where the risk of casualties is high. Such men were volunteers motivated by the promise of reward or promotion, or men under punishment offered pardon for their offenses, if they survived. The term comes from the Dutch verloren hoop, literally "lost heap": the term hoop was used in…
The Battalions of Light Infantry of Africa, a French Army penal military unit, depicted in battle during the French conquest of Algeria in 1833
Caricature 1780 press gang