THE WATERLOO CAMPAIGN OF 1815

IF YOU WANT TO VISIT THE 1815 BATTTLEFIELDS WITH THE AUTHOR OF THIS WEBSITE

18^th JunE 1815

THE BRITISH MONUMENTS

 

Contrary to popular believe, they are not so numerous. The heart of the British line is now unfortunately occupied by the Lion hamlet, this might be the reason.

Beware : we shall treat here only the British on the battlefield of the 18th of June (with the exception of the Hougoumont area, which is treated on a separate page).  Neither shall we speak here about the La Cambre wood stele, the Quatre-Bras monument, those in the Waterloo church or the Evere cemetery memorial. The numbers on the map are clickable.

1) Commemorative plate to Deputy Inspector Gunning and to the British British Army Medical Services (Mont-Saint-Jean farm) 2) Stele to the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot

3) Stele to general Picton   4) Gordon monument

5) So-called Hanoverian monument 6) Plate to the 2nd Light Battalion, King's German Legion and to general von Ompteda (Haie-Sante farm)

7) Plate to the fallen of the 1st and 2nd Light Battalions and to the 5th Line Battalion of the K.G.L..  (Haie-Sante farm) 8) Stele marking the last position of G Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, under command of Captain Mercer.

1) Commemorative plate to Deputy Inspector Gunning and to the British Army Medical Services (Mont-Saint-Jean farm)

IN MEMORY OF DEPUTY INSPECTOR GUNNING PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE 1ST CORPS THE SURGEONS AND OTHERS MEMBERS OF THE FIELD HOSPITAL WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN THIS FARM TO CARE FOR THE WOUNDED OF THE BATTLEFIELD 18TH JUNE 1815 THIS TABLET WAS ERECTED IN 1981 BY THE ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

After having taken part in the Flanders campaign of 1793, John Gunning had been appointed Staff Surgeon on the 1st of September 1803 and Deputy Inspector of Hospitals on 17 September 1812.  During the Peninsular war, he had been present at Vimeiro, Talavera, Bussaco, Fuentes, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vitoria, San Sebastian and Orthez.  He later became Deputy Inspector General and the King's Surgeon. He died in 1863 in Paris and was buried at the Montmartre cemetery (32nd division (avenue Saint-Charles, opposite Thiard in the 15th division) !

Mont-Saint-Jean farm, a former Templar's commander's residence. The building is listed, and that's how it looked like in 1971. This farm is all that remains of the hamlet of Mont-Saint-Jean, more to the North.

And this is how it looked like in 2007, after the collapse of the pigeon house above the entrance. This happened in the early nineties.

We can reasonably hope for a restoration in 2012... http://napoleon-monuments.eu/Napoleon1er/MontStJean_EN.htm

In 2011, the plate has disappeared in the bushes.                                       

March 2012 : works have started

The restauration works to the façade and to the pigeon house above the entrance are advancing. 

 

 

The commemorative plaque to the British Army Medical Services has already been put back in place.

 

2) Stele to the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot

IN MEMORY OF THE HEROIC STAND BY THE 27th (INNISKILLING) REGIMENT OF FOOT AT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO ON 18th JUNE 1815 WHEN, OF THE 747 OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE REGIMENT WHO JOINED BATTLE, 493 WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED. A NOBLE RECORD OF STUBBORN ENDURANCE OF THEM THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON SAID, 'AH THEY SAVED THE CENTER OF MY LINE' ERECTED BY THEIR SUCCESSORS THE ROYAL IRISH RANGERS (27TH (INNISKILLINGS) 83rd, 87th                                   18 JUNE 1990.

Even if the 27th Foot monument is just opposite Picton's, this regiment did not belong to Picton's division, but to Lt-Gen Cole's 6th Division. In absence of Cole (who was on leave for his honeymoon !), the division was commanded by Major-Gen Lambert.  The 1st Battalion of the 27th Foot belonged to Lambert's 10th Brigade, placed under command of Smith, and was commanded by Captain J. Hare, who was wounded in the battle. Lambert's brigade had only arrived at 10h30, on the morning of the 18th, after a forced march from Ghent !  It had the opportunity to rest a while in reserve at Mont-Saint-Jean. About this regiment at Waterloo, you can read an article by J.J. Pattyn "Conduite du 27th Foot «Inniskillings» le 18 juin 1815" in Militaria Belgica, 2001.

The stele was vandalised in 2010, but was quickly restored by the Waterloo Committee.

 

27TH (OR INNISKILLING) REGIMENT OF FOOT. (1st Battalion) CAPTAINS John Hare, wounded George Holmes, wounded John Tucker, wounded LIEUTENANTS George McDonell (sic) wounded William Henderson, wounded Richard Handcock, wounded William Faithful Fortescue, wounded Thomas Craddock, wounded William Talbot E. W. Drewe, wounded Charles Manley, wounded John Millar, wounded John Betty Andrew Gardner

ENSIGNS William Kater, wounded John Ditmas, wounded Thos. Smith, wounded Samuel Ireland, wounded Tobias Handcock, wounded QUARTERMASTER Thomas Taylor ASSISTANT-SURGEON Gerald Fitzgerald Thomas Mostyn

Photo taken in October 2011.

And in November 2011 !
We just had the time to rejoice about the restauration of the Picton monument, only a few days later, the Inniskillings monument was again knocked over.
Since the road was closed and forbidden to the traffic, one can imagine that the company working there is responsible. But will they repair the damage ?
 

- The stele to the 27th Foot was straightened up on March 7, 2012 by Mr Lucien Cécille and his team of the Waterloo Committee.  Great job !

Panorama showing the Allied left wing, along the chemin de la Croix : to the left, the 27th Foot, to the right, the Picton monument. To the left of the track,  the Fichermont monastery, built in violation of the 1914 law of preservation of the battlefield.

3) Stele to general Picton

TO THE GALLANT MEMORY OF LT GENERAL SIR THOMAS PICTON COMMANDER OF THE 5th DIVISION AND THE LEFT WING OF THE ARMY AT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO BORN 1758 DIED NEAR THIS SPOT IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON OF 18TH JUNE 1815 LEADING HIS MAN AGAINST COUNT DROUET D’ERLONS ADVANCE

 

La mort de Sir Thomas Picton.

 

New acts of vandalism on the Waterloo battlefield

Early 2011, the stele was knocked over, but it was quickly restored on 11/10/11 by the Waterloo Committee  under supervision of Mr. Lucien Cecille. Congratulation for this excellent job ! These nets are only here during some temporary, unrelated works.

 

Originally, the stele was more inside the fields, where it was less visible but better protected.

Vue panoramique du nord vers le sud à partir des champs à l'est du monument hanovrien.

4) Gordon Monument

Probably one of the most symbolic and best known monuments on battlefield. It is also one of the oldest monuments on the battlefield, after the suppression of the individual tombs of British officers when the memorial at the Brussels cemetery was built. This column was built in July 1817 by Gordon's family.

LtCol Sir Alexander Gordon was aide de camp to the duke of Wellington and was  mortally wounded at his side, near the square of the 2/30th Foot at the moment of the attack of the Middle Guard. A cannon ball took away his leg. Sergeant-Major Wood of the 30th Foot transported him, probably first to the Mont-Saint-Jean farm, for some first help, and after that, to the Bodenghien inn at Waterloo, Wellington's HQ (now Wellington Museum), where he died at 3h30 in the morning of 19 June, after the amputation of his leg.  Hearing of Gordon's death, Wellington said : "Thank God, I do not know what it is to lose a battle, but certainly nothing can be more painful than to win one with the loss of so many of one’s friends."
Gordon was first buried at the Saint-Gilles cemetery in Brussels, but was transferred to the Evere cemetery on the 28th May 1889, into the crypt of the British monument at the Evere cemetery on the 25th July 1890.*
His name is also mentioned on the plaque to the 2nd battalion 3rd Foot Guards in the Waterloo church and on the Guards Officers Memorial in the Royal Military Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London.

Front view. The Scots Guards stone is a more recent addition.

TRIA JUN-CTA IN UNO
Three reunited in one
(motto of the Order of the Bath)
ICH DIEN
I serve
(Motto of the Prince of Wales and of many British regiments)

TO THE MEMORY OF THE HON. SIR ALEXANDER GORDON, K.C.B. LT.COL SCOTS GUARDS AND AIDE DE CAMP TO THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON AFTER SERVING HIS COUNTRY WITH DISTINCTION HE WAS KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO 18th JUNE 1815

To the right (north side), the English text :

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF LIEUT.-COL. the HON. SIR ALEXANDER GORDON KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH AIDE-DE-CAMP TO FIELD-MARSHAL THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON AND ALSO BROTHER TO GEORGE EARL OF ABERDEEN ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHO IN THE TWENTY-NINTH YEAR OF HIS AGE, TERMINATED HIS SHORT BUT GLORIOUS CAREER ON THE 18th OF JUNE 1815 WHILST EXECUTING THE ORDERS OF HIS GREAT COMMANDER IN THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO DISTINGUISHED FOR GALLANTRY AND GOOD CONDUCT IN THE FIELD HE WAS HONOURED THE REPEATED MARKS OF APPROBATION BY THE ILLUSTRIOUS HERO WITH WHOM HE SHARED THE DANGERS OF EVERY BATTLE IN SPAIN, PORTUGAL AND FRANCE AND RECEIVED THE MOST FLATTERING PROOF OF HIS CONFIDENCE ON MANY TRYING OCCASIONS HIS ZEAL AND ACTIVITY IN THE SERVICE OBTAINED THE REWARD OF TEN MEDALS AND THE HONOURABLE DISTINCTION OF THE ORDER OF THE BATH HE WAS JUSTLY LAMENTED BY THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON IN HIS PUBLIC DESPATCH AS AN OFFICER OF HIGH PROMISE AND A SERIOUS LOSS FOR THE COUNTRY NOT LESS WORTHY OF RECORD FOR HIS VIRTUES IN PRIVATE LIFE HIS UNAFFECTED RESPECT FOR RELIGION HIS HIGH SENSE OF HONOUR HIS SCRUPULOUS INTEGRITY AND THE MOST AMIABLE QUALITIES WHICH SECURED THE ATTACHMENT OF HIS FRIENDS AND THE LOVE OF HIS OWN FAMILY IN TESTIMONY OF FEELINGS WHICH NO LANGUAGE CAN EXPRESS A DISCONsOLATE SISTER AND FIVE SURVIVING BROTHERS HAVE ERECTED THIS SIMPLE MEMORIAL TO THE OBJECT OF THEIR TENDEREST AFFECTION

REPAIRED IN 1863 BY HIS BROTHER ADMIRAL THE HONBLE J. GORDON

REPAIRED IN 1871 AND 1888 BY HIS GRAND NEPHEW JOHN 7TH EARL OF ABERDEEN REPAIRED IN 1837 BY HIS FAMILY.

There is a small plate with the same English text at the foot of the monument.

To the left (south side), the same text in French :

À LA MÉMOIRE DE L’HONORABLE SIR ALEXANDRE GORDON, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL, CHEVALIER COMMANDEUR DU TRÈS HONORABLE ORDRE DU BAIN,  AIDE DE CAMP DU FIELD MARSHAL DUC DE WELLINGTON ET TROISIèME FRèRE DE GEORGE, COMTE D'ABERDEEN -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  IL TERMINA À L’ÂGE DE 29 ANS SA COURTE MAIS GLORIEUSE CARRIÈRE, EN EXÉCUTANT LES ORDRES DE SON ILLUSTRE GÉNÉRAL À LA BATAILLE DE WATERLOO. SA BRAVOURE ET SES TALENTS DISTINGUÉS LUI MÉRITÈRENT L’APPROBATION DU HÉROS DONT IL PARTAGEA LES DANGERS EN ESPAGNE, AU PORTUGAL ET EN FRANCE ET QUI LUI DONNA LES PREUVES LES PLUS FLATTEUSES DE SA CONFIANCE, DANS D’IMPORTANTES OCCASIONS. SON PAYS RECONNAISSANT LUI A DÉCERNÉ, EN RÉCOMPENSE DE SON ZÈLE ET DE SON ACTIVITÉ DANS LE SERVICE, DIX MÉDAILLES ET L’HONORABLE DISTINCTION DE L’ORDRE DU BAIN. LE DUC DE WELLINGTON L'A JUSTEMENT REGRETTé ET L'A cité dans son rapport officiel comme un officier qui donnait de hautes espérances et dont la perte sera vivement sentie par sa Patrie IL N’ÉTAIT PAS MOINS RECOMMANDABLE PAR SES VERTUS PRIVÉES. SON RESPECT SINCÈRE POUR LA RELIGION, L’ÉLÉVATION DE SES PRINCIPES D’HONNEUR, SA PROBITÉ SÉVÈRE, ET LES AIMABLES QUALITÉS QUI LUI AVAIENT ACQUIS L’ATTACHEMENT DE SES AMIS, ET L’AMOUR DE SA FAMILLE. EN TÉMOIGNAGE DE CES SENTIMENTS QU’AUCUN LANGAGE NE SAURAIT EXPRIMER, UNE SŒUR INCONSOLABLE ET CINQ FRÈRES QUI LUI SURVIVENT ONT ÉLEVÉ CE modeste MONUMENT À L’OBJET DE LEURS PLUS CHÈRES AFFECTIONS.

At the back :

Fortuna Sequatur
May Fortune follow.
(Motto of Aberdeen : Gordon was the brother of the earl of Aberdeen)

I might be wrong, but I think the monument has not been restored since... 1888 ! In the 19th Century, it had been done in 1837,1863, 1871 and 1888. (See above) The Belgian "Régie des Bâtiments" (government corporation for public buildings) still owns the monument and is currently restoring it. The restoration of this monument, listed since 16 August 1978,  started in October 2011.

The monument had been repaired in 1863 (1865 or 1868) by his brother, Admiral John Gordon, who also had repaired his tombstone at the Saint-Gilles cemetery. This stone can still be seen near British monument at Evere

- The restoration works are nearing completion (April 2012).

 

5) The so-called "Hanoverian Monument"

Even if they were "Germans", the members of the KGL surely belonged to the British Army, that's why we have included this monument here. It is located just opposite Gordon's monument, where there was probably the sandpit so heroically defended by the 95th Rifles. This monument in the shape of a truncated pyramid and surrounded by an iron fence was erected in 1818 by former KGL officers to the memory of colonel Christian baron von Ompteda, commanding the 5th Line Battalion, Colonel Karl du Plat, commanding the 4th Line Battalion and the 36 other officers of the King's German Legion killed of fatally wounded on the 18th June 1815.

Many sources give this place as the sandpit where so many corpses were buried (some say 4.000). Since this monument was erected in 1818, these corpses were probably not dug up by the companies -among these a Bavarian one- who "visited" most Napoleonic battlefield to dig up the bones of the victims of these battles and crush the to sell them in Great-Britain as fertiliser for the agriculture. This disgusting practice emptied a great deal of the common graves of the battlefields of the period.

The composition of the 2nd Brigade K.G.L.-Col. Baron OMPTEDA, was as follows :
1st Light Battalion, K.G.L.     Lieut.-Col. L. Bussche.
2nd Light Battalion                 Major G. Baring.
5th Line Battalion                   Lieut.·Col. W. B. Linsingen.
8th Line Battalion                   Major Schroeder (Lieut.-Col).

To the west side :

DEM ANDENKEN IHRER WAFFEN GEFÄHRTEN WELCHE IN DER EWIG DENKWÜRDIGEN SCHLACHT VON 18TEN JUNI 1815 DEN HELDEN TOD HIER STARBEN

On the east side, the same text in English :

TO THE MEMORY OF THEIR COMPANIONS IN ARMS WHO GLORIOUSLY FELL IN THE MEMORABLE 18TH DAY OF JUNE 1815. this monument is erected by the officers of the king's german legion

The second sentence is mentioned in German at the end of the list of names, on the south side

North side :

Obrist und Brigadier Cristian von Ompteda Obrist und Brigadier Carl Du Plat          1tes Leichtes Dragoner Regiment Rittmeister Friedrich Peters Lieutenant Friedrich von Levetzow Lieutenant Otto Kuhlmann          2tes Leichtes Dragoner Regiment Rittmeister Friedrich von Bülow Cornet Heinrich Drankmeister           1tes Husaren Regiment Rittmeister und Brigade Major Carl von Bobers            3tes Husaren Regiment Obristlieutenant Ludwig Meyer Rittmeister Agatz von Kerssenbruch Rittmeister Georg Janssen Lieutenant und Adjudant Heinrich Bruggemann Cornet Wilhelm Deichmann             1tes Leichtes Infanterie Bataillon Hauptmann Heinrich von Marschalk Hauptmann Alexander von Goeben Lieutenant Anton Albert              2tes Leichtes Infanterie Bataillon Major Adolph Bösewiel Hauptmann Wilhelm Schaumann Hauptmann und Brigade Major Heinrich Wiegmann Fähndrich Friedrich Robertson

We have exactly kept the spelling on the monument. We have compared these names with the ones of the Waterloo Medal Roll. Here are the results.
Obrist und Brigadier Cristian von Ompteda is mentioned at the 5^tes Linien Bataillon
Obrist und Brigadier Carl Du Plat is mentioned as LtCol at the 4^tes Linien Bataillon

1^es Leichtes Dragoner Regiment
Colonel Dornberg was severely wounded.
Lieutenant Otto Kuhlmann, of Captain Friedrich Uslar's Troop 6.
Lieutenant Friedrich von Levetzow, of Captain Edelhorst's Troop 7
Rittmeister Friedrich Peters, of Captain Leftrew's Troop 10.

2^es Leichtes Dragoner Regiment
Rittmeister Friedrich von Bülow, not mentioned as wounded.
Cornet Heinrich Drankmeister, not mentioned.

1^es Husaren Regiment
Rittmeister und Brigade Major Carl von Bobers, not mentioned.

3^es Husaren Regiment
None mentioned.

1^stes Leichtes Infanterie Bataillon
Hauptmann Philip Hotzermann, not mentioned on the monument
Hauptmann Heinrich von Marschalk, wounded assisting Major Baring in the defence of la Haie-Sainte.

2stes Leichtes Infanterie Bataillon
Major Adolph Bösewiel mentioned as captain, not mentioned as wounded. He was in fact Captain Battalion Major
Hauptmann und Brigade Major Heinrich Wiegmann mentioned as Wigmann

South side :

1tes Linien Bataillon Hauptmann u. Brigade Major August Saffe Hauptmann Carl von Holle Fähndrich Hartwig von Lucken               2tes Linien Bataillon Obristlieutenant Johann von Schröder Hauptmann Georg Thilee               3tes Linien Bataillon Hauptmann Friederich Diedel Lieutenant Friederich von Jeinsen Lieutenant Friederich Leschen               4tes Linien Bataillon Major Georg Chuden Major Georg Leue Hauptmann Friederich Heise Fähndrich Theodoor Cronhelm               5tes Linien Bataillon Hauptmann Christian von Wurmb Lieutenant und Adjudant Ludwig Schuck               8tes Linien Bataillon Hauptmann August von Voigl Hauptmann Fr. von Westenhagen Lieutenant Wilhelm von Marenholz                      Artillerie Lieutenant Carl von Schulzen                        Gewidmet von den Officieren der Königlich Gross-Britannisch                  Deutschen Legion

In the Waterloo Medal Roll:

1^stes Linien Bataillon
Obristlieutenant Johann von Schröder is not mentioned.
Hauptmann Georg Thilee is mentioned as George Tilce .

3^tes Linien Bataillon
Hauptmann Friederich Diedel is mentioned as Pridel.
Lieutenant Friederich von Jeinsen is mentioned as de Teinsen (died of wounds).
Lieutenant Friederich Leschen, died of wounds.

4^tes Linien Bataillon
LtCol du Peat (Bat Col), died of wounds. Probably du Plat.
Major Georg Chuden, died of wounds.
Major Georg Leue is mentioned as Capitaine George Lane (died of wounds).
Hauptmann Friederich Heise, died of wounds.

5^tes Linien Bataillon
Colonel baron Christian von Ompteda mentioned here.
Hauptmann Christian von Wurmb, also baron.

8^tes Linien Bataillon
Hauptmann August von Voigl is mentioned as Augustus Voight.
Hauptmann Fr. von Westenhagen is mentioned as Westernhagen.

Artillery
Lieutenant Carl von Schulzen is not mentioned.

It is hard to know what source to believe. In some cases, there are clear mistakes in the Waterloo Medal Roll, but in other cases, it can be on the monument.

The re-enacted 2nd Lt Batt KGL (Waterloo 2009).

6) Plate to the 2^nd Light Battalion, King's German Legion and to general von Ompteda

TO MAJ. BARING AND THE 2nd LIGHT Btn KGL's HEROIC DEFENCE OF LA HAIE SAINTE 18 JUNE 1815 ALSO TO COL. VON OMPTEDA WHO FELL LEADING A BRAVE COUNTER-ATTACK AFTER THE FALL OF THE FARM DEDICATED BY BEXHILL-ON-SEA ENGLAND A KING'S GERMAN LEGION GARRISON 1804-14 IM GEDENKEN AN DIE HELDENHAFTE VERTEIDIGUNG VON LA HAIE SAINTE AM 18. JUNI 1815 DURCH MAJOR BARING MIT DEM 2. LEICHTEN BATL. DER KGL. DEUTSCHEN LEGION UND AN OBERST von OMPTEDA, DER BEIM TAPFEREN GEGENANGRIFF FIEL NACH DEM VERLUST DER FARM

This plate was affixed in 1998.

7) Plate to the fallen of the 1^st and 2^nd Light Battalions and to the 5^th Line Battalion of the K.G.L.. (Haie-Sainte farm) 

In 1822, the Crown Prince of Hanover and the officers of the unit placed a white marble plate on the wall of the farm. The inscription read as follows :

The Officers of the 2nd Light Battalion
King's German Legion
To the memory of their brother Officers
and friends of their Regiment who fell
in defending this farm on the 18th of June 1815.
Captain B^t Major  Adolphus Bösewiel
Captain William Wiggmann
Captain Win Schaumann
Ensign Ernestus Robertson.

In 1847, this stone was replaced with an iron lozenge-shaped plate. This plate also reminds of the sacrifice of the officers of the 1st Light Battalion and of the 5th Line Battalion.  On the other hand, the Hauptmann und Brigade Major Heinrich Wiegmann (Wigmann) is not mentioned on the new plate.

DIE OFFICIERE DES 2TEN LEICHTEN BATAILLONS, KÖNIGLICH DEUTSCHER LEGION, IHREN IN DER VERTHEIDIGUNG DIESER MEYERAY AM 18TEN JUNI 1815 GEFALLENEN WAFFENBRÜDERN: MAJOR H. BÖSEWIEL CAPITAIN W. SCHAUMANN FÄHNDRICH F. von ROBERTSON UND 46 UNTEROFFICIERE UND JÄGER VOM 2TEN LEICHTEN BATAILLON. WIEDERHERGESTELLT DURCH SEINE KÖNIGLICHE HOHEIT DEN KRONPRINZEN GEORG von HANNOVER AN 18TEN JUNI 1847 UND ZUGLEICH DEWIDMET DEN EBENDASELBST BEI DIESER GELEGENHEID GEFALLENEN: CAPITAIN H. von MARSCHALCK vom 1TEN LEICHTEN BATAILLON, CAPITAIN C. von WURMB vom 5TEN LINIEN BATAILLON IN ANERKENNUNG DES VON IHNEN BEWIESENEN HANNÖVERSCHEN HELDENMUTHS.

"The Officers of the 2^nd Light Battalion, King's German Legion to their brothers in arm, fallen on 18 June 1815 defending this farmstead : Major H. Bösewiel, Captain W. Schaumann, Ensign F. von Robertson and 46 NCO and Rifles of the 2^nd Light Battalion. Restored by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince George of Hanover on 18 June 1847. Also dedicated to Captain H. von Marschalck, of the 1^st  Light Battalion and to Captain C. von Wurmb, of the 5^th Line Battalion, also fallen here. In acknowledgement of the Hanoverian bravery they displayed."

The dead of the King's German Artillery are commemorated in the Saint-Joseph church at Waterloo.

8) Stele marking the last position of G Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, under command of Captain Mercer.

The stele was placed in the nineties, probably by the Waterloo Committee.  The bronze plate was stolen after 2004, but it had already been replaces in 2008. Unfortunately, the new plate is smaller.

The stele with the original plate.

THIS STONE MARKS THE LAST POSITION OF G TROOP ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY COMMANDED BY CAPTAIN A.G. MERCER DURING THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO 18 JUNE 1815 FROM HERE THE TROOP TOOK A CONSPICUOUS PART IN DEFEATING THE ATTACKS OF THE FRENCH CAVALRY

 

The first plate mentioned "A.G. Mercer". However, his first name was "Cavalié" (sic).

 

 

As can be seen here, the new plate is smaller than the first one, whose shape can still be seen. Unfortunately, the R.H.A. badge was not mentioned on the new plate. On the other hand, the initial has now been corrected.

Don't forget to visit the Waterloo church !

 

* Du neuf à propos de la pierre tombale du capitaine John-Lucie Blackman Cet article a paru dans la revue de l'Association belge napoléonienne, n° 125, janvier-février 2009, pages 14 et 15.

 

 

 

Bibliography :

 

- An., The Waterloo Medal Roll, Compiled from the Muster Rolls, The Naval and Military Press, 1992.

- Mark Adkin, The Waterloo Companion, Aurum Press, 2001.
- Barral, Georges, Itinéraire illustré de l'épopée de Waterloo, guide historique et militaire du champ de bataille, avec les diagrammes de l'auteur et 60 dessins originaux d'Adolphe Hamesse. Flammarion, Paris, 1896.
- Alain CHAPPET - Roger MARTIN - Alain PIGEARD, Le Guide Napoléon - 4000 lieux pour revivre l'épopée, Bibliothèque Napoléonienne, Tallandier, 2005.

- Dalton, Charles, The Waterloo Roll Call, with biographical notes and anecdotes, Eyre and Spottiswoode, London, 1904.
- Hecq, Jean, La promenade impériale, itinéraire commenté des plaques et des stèles érigées par l'Association Franco-Européenne de Waterloo avec le concours de la Fondation Napoléon, A.F.E.W., s.d., Louvain-la-Neuve.
- Hofschröer,Peter,  Waterloo 1815 - Wavre, Plancenoit & the race to Paris, Pen & Sword, 2006.    

- Martinien, Aristide, Tableaux par corps et par batailles des Officiers tués et blessés pendant les guerres de l'Empire (1805-1815), Editions militaires européennes, Paris + les Suppléments.

-  G. Speeckaert et I. Baecker, Les 135 vestiges et monuments commémoratifs des combats de 1815 en Belgique, Waterloo, relais de l'histoire, 1990. The is also a new 2006 edition.

- C. Van Hoorebeeck, http://www.freepub.be/waterloo.php
- Van Neck, Léon, Waterloo met afbeeldingen

 

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