Fact Sheet No. C7
Waterloo 1815

In 1814 the 2nd Battalion of 69th Foot had taken part in the assault on Bergen-op-Zoom, in Holland, just before the first abdication of Napoleon. After this the Battalion remained in garrison in Belgium. When Napoleon escaped from Elba it formed part of the Allied force, which was to fight the final round with Napoleon.

In June 1815, Napoleon was ready and his army moved up to the Belgian frontier. Facing him were the British and Belgians under the Duke of Wellington (once an officer in the 41st) and the Prussians under Blucher. On the 16th June Napoleon struck both forces, the former at Quatre Bras and the latter at Liguy. The fight at Quatre Bras went badly for the 69th. When forming square, after a muddle in orders, they were caught by a charge of the famous French Cuirassiers and were very badly mauled. Quatre Bras was a victory, but at Ligny the Prussians were beaten. Old Blucher, the Prussian Commander, however, promised the Duke to march to his aid at the battle which the Duke had decided to fight at Waterloo. This arrangement was to go badly with Napoleon in two days' time as the Duke knew Blucher would keep his promise, whilst Napoleon regarded the Prussians as out of the picture until he had dealt with the Duke.

The June 18th 1815 was the last time the British line faced the attacks in mass of columns under the eye of Napoleon. The battle opened late in the day, owing to heavy rain the day before. When it did it was a succession of attacks by masses of cavalry and infantry against the stolid British squares. Between these attacks the squares reformed into line behind the brow of the slope on which the British line stood to avoid, as far as possible, the artillery bombardments, which took place between these attacks.

As the day wore on attack followed attack and the numbers in the squares became less. But away to the flank came the sound of another attack. The Prussians had kept their promise. As this menace became greater, Napoleon threw more of his splendid troops into the fight with the same result. Then as the summer day was beginning to draw to its close he threw in his last reserve, the Imperial Guard, led into action by Marshal Ney on foot at its head. On it came, this famous corps, but its head was mown down and then as it advanced still further fire was poured into its flank. As it wavered the Duke gave the signal for the final advance and the Guard retreated. The battle was over but the cost had been great.

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