The Waterloo Campaign started when Napoléon crossed the Belgium frontier at Thuin near Carleroi on the 15th of July 1815. Following the crossing, Napoléon sent Marshal Ney to Quatre Bras to face the Anglo-Allied forces, whilst he went onto defeat Blücher at Ligny on the 16th. The following day Wellington retreated to Mont St Jean fighting all the way, whilst Napoleon made his way to join up with Ney, having sent Marshal Grouchy to chase the Prussians back to Liege. On Sunday the 18th of June 1815, Napoléon faced Wellington for the first time in his career at the Battle of Waterloo. After 3 of Blücher’s Prussian Corps came to Wellington’s aid, whilst 1 fought a rear guard action against Grouchy at Wavre, Wellington finally defeated Napoléon. Wellington later described the battle as “a close run thing.”
The British Waterloo monument at Evere cemetery, Brussels, beneath which are interned the remains of 15 officers and one ‘OR’ (other rank) who fell during the Waterloo Campaign. Ironically the ‘OR’ was Sergeant Major Edward Cotton, who fought and survived the battle whilst serving with the 7th Hussars. After retiring from the army, he returned to Waterloo and took up residence at Mont St Jean, where he became a battlefield guide. When he died in June 1849, he was buried in the grounds of Hougoumont before being eventually interned beneath the British Waterloo monument at Evere cemetery.
A replica of the French Imperial Eagle taken from the French 62nd Regiment by the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Salamanca in 1812, made fom wood of a barn door in which the 44th sheltered during the Battle of Quatre Bras on the 16th of June 1815, now resides in the Essex Regiment Museum in the county town of Chelmsford.
The Prussian military decoration known as the Iron Cross was instituted in 1813 by Frederick Wilhelm III for distinguished service in the Prussian War of Liberation. It also adorns the top of the Prussian Monument at Placenoit, for the men who fought at the Battle of Belle Alliance – the name used by the Prussians for the Battle of Waterloo. Use of the decoration was revived by Wilhelm I for the Franco–Prussian War of 1870, recreated in 1914 for the Great War, and last revived by Adolf Hitler on Sept. 1, 1939, the same day that German forces invaded Poland.
Itinerary
Below lists the locations that are visisted. As each tour is bespoke, you will receive confirmation of your personal itinerary with your booking confirmation.
- Carleroi
- Quatre Bras
- Ligny
- Genappe
- Warve
- Waterloo
What they said…
