Waterloo (18 June 1815)

Discussion in 'Prewar' started by ritsonvaljos, Jun 18, 2014.

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  1. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

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  2. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Never heard of that ceremony before but it does remind me that next year will be the bicentenary of the battle of Waterloo.

    I wonder whether the EU is making plans for commemorations? :rolleyes:
     
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  3. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Next year should be a good one for reprints of good books on Waterloo/Wellington/Napoleon. There must be one or two good books of Napoleonic uniforms that I don't have.

    Mike
     
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  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Am reading this at the moment.
    http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Smell_of_the_Continent.html?id=9VMcn7QUMioC
    Mention is made of batltefield tours in the years after the battle.
    Some of the guides supposedly fought in the battle but a few didnt.
    'Walting' was going on 200 years ago .
    Also the locals liked to sell dubious sounvenirs from the battle including human bones.
    Some things dont change over the years .
     
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  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Waterloo Veteran Photographs.


    From A Soldier's Story, JOE Vandeur;
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    Later in the book he explained how the family history at Waterloo influenced his actions in WW2, during the liberation of Brussels:

    "After lunch, I am afraid I went on an expedition of which I am not proud, and the consequences of which distress me even to this day. A Belgian came to see us and told me that some members of the 'Armee Blanche' were surrounded at Hougemont Farm near Waterloo. Hougemont is twenty-six miles south-west of Brussels. I borrowed three tanks and place ten Guardsmen upon them and sent them to Quatre Bras, where I said I would join them. This little column was accompanied by the Belgian in his own car. I could not find my radio operator, not that he would have been any use on this expedition. Guardsman Lacey and I then climbed into my scout car and drove alone to the rendezvous. The car had twin Brens mounted on its roof, with pan-shaped magazines.

    As we raced through the Bois, a Belgian ran out, warning me that there were Germans in the wood. We had not time to stop, so Lacey drove like thunder, and I swung my guns at the best part of a German company marching in single file through the trees. I let both magazines go, and to the best of my knowledge, the Germans did not even break step. We were travelling at about 60 miles an hour.

    I rejoined the little column at Quatre Bras; John Stanley-Clark, 3rd Battalion was in command of the ten Guardsmen and Bill MacFetridge was in command of the troop of tanks. I told a Guardsman to drive the Belgian's car, and we started off for Hougemont. The Belgian kept on urging us to go a little farther on. I had an uncanny feeling that something unpleasant was about to happen, so I took the Guardsmen off the leading tank, which was immediately ahead of my scout car. As we reached the cross-roads at Hougemont the leading tank was 'brewed-up'. The Driver and Co-Driver leapt out of the tank, each with a leg shot off. The wireless Operator came out of the turret with a wound in his cheek, followed by the tank commander, but the Gunner never got out of the tank. A German tank then charged us and was knocked out by Bill MacFetridge.

    Fortunately, there was a high railway viaduct behind us which protected our right flank. Bill MacFetridge was cut off whilst reconnoitring on his feet, but was able to make a getaway. The Belgian had bolted, leaving his car. We then conducted a rearguard action which was not easy, as Panzer Grenadiers were sweeping the ground with their Spandaus.

    In this expedition we had three men killed and seven wounded. I could not get my car away, as the road was covered by German tanks. Having run into an ambush, we then made our sorry way back to Brussels. I must admit that I joined this expedition in order to have a look at the battlefield of Waterloo. Bill MacFetridge was killed later, north of Nijmegen. I have always been very reluctant to tell this story."





    2ArmdIG War Diary
    3IG War Diary
    There is one record of a more pleasant return for him in 1963:
    IG Association Trip, Belgium, Holland & Germany, 1963
     

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    Last edited: Jun 19, 2018
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  6. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    For those who cannot get to the battlefield of Waterloo there are the two splendid dioramas by Captain Siborne. Made in the 1830s using battlefield survey and hundreds of eye witness accounts they depict the situation at 7pm using tens of thousands of figures. One model is in the National Army Museum, Chelsea, and one at the Royal Armouries, Leeds. I am sure I saw them first some 60 years ago in the United Services Club (not that I was, or am, or ever will be a member). Both have now been made into teaching aids with spotlights illuminating whatever feature the taped narration is explaining. This can be annoying if you wish to focus on a particular spot when the light goes out.

    Mike
     
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  7. Hesmond

    Hesmond Well-Known Member

    The ultimate tour of the battle at Mount St Jean ? Not long after the battle the Duke (a bit of a lad in his day with the ladies!) escorted a young lady of quality she was 18! whose parents were in Brussels ,he spent the whole day showing the young lady the field and explaining thd days events .The lady in question did not leave any account of the Dukes comments on the battle ,but its belived that it was the only time the Duke disscused the battle on or off the field "yes dear shall i show you where i laid my 9pdrs"
    Some good accounts came out over the next 70 years of the field in the weeks following the battle The Lady magazine had a series of articles by Lady De La Ros which is stunning for its graphic account of the road leading to Brussels with the smell of decaying corpses.
    Wellington again visted the scene in the 1840s and was presented with the skull of a French Grenadier! Punch asked how the knew it was French ? the offending object was quitely removed .In my opnion best thing to do for the 200th remove the mound put the field back to how it was and all museums and eaterys at the French end of the pitch?
     
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  8. Bernard85

    Bernard85 WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    good day ritsonvaljos,sm.18th june.2014,07:42.re:waterloo(18th june 1815)i must say he was well rewarded for the battle of waterloo victory.and still the family lives there,at what cost to tax payer,regards bernard85
     
  9. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  10. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  11. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Waterloo is always a victory worth remembering, especially in these days when tyranny is advancing again everywhere.
     
  12. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    and no one seems to be able to stop it.

    This came up in the news yesterday...

    Waterloo red jacket kept in family for 200 years proves ancestor was British hero

    PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News


    And another link on battlefield forensics:

    Dundee forensics experts join `Waterloo Uncovered’ project | Centre for Anatomy & Human Identification
     
  13. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Quite possibly. His father was a composer and he was musical himself, at least until he burnt his violin. He also had a sense of humor, and God knows Abba is highly risible.
     
  14. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

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