MEMORIES OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO: THE LAST FIGHT BETWEEN THE FOOT-GUARDS AND THE GRENADIERS OF THE GUARD COMMANDED BY MARSHAL NEY AT THE END OF THE DAY OF JUNE 18, 1815, First Empire. 26830

MEMORIES OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO: THE LAST FIGHT BETWEEN THE FOOT-GUARDS AND THE GRENADIERS OF THE GUARD COMMANDED BY MARSHAL NEY AT THE END OF THE DAY OF JUNE 18, 1815, First Empire. 26830

Set of six French and English military copperware presented on a wooden panel in the shape of a cross. H 34 cm, width 27 cm.
- France: belt buckle of a light cavalry officer in cast brass, round shape, diameter 3.8 cm, decorated with a lion's head; on its left part, ring for the passage of the hook, on its right part trapezoidal ring for the passage of the belt.
- United Kingdom: cast brass hunting horn for infantry pouch, H 3.2 cm, width 5.3 cm.
- France: cast brass eagle for cavalry pouch banner, H 6.5 cm, width 4.5 cm.
- France: cast brass eagle for cavalry pouch banner, H 6.5 cm, width 4.5 cm.
- France: cast brass giberne eagle for the infantry of the old imperial guard, H 9.5 cm, width 9 cm.
- United Kingdom: cast brass Foot Guards cartridge badge, model 1815, H 11 cm, width 6.5 cm; round in shape with monogram topped with the royal crown.

On the back of the wooden sign, a handwritten label "W...OO" (central part of the word illegible).

France and United Kingdom.
First Empire.
Parts in good condition, never cleaned.

PROVENANCE :
Ce panneau provient de la maison seigneuriale de Tushingham Hall au nord-ouest de l'Angleterre, datant de la période des Tudor vers 1500 et remanié en 1814. Cette famille voyageait beaucoup autour du monde et la maison était décorée de nombreux souvenirs rapportés de leurs voyages. Les collections furent dispersées au mois de mai 2023 et nous reproduisons les photos de la maison et de son intérieur où l'on voit le souvenir aujourd'hui présenté.

HISTORY OF THE BRITISH FOOT GUARDS
Waterloo
Napoleon's last hundred days brought about the most famous battle in European history. When he escaped from Elba on 26th February and entered Paris on 20th March, he was able to raise an army of 123,000. Wellington had to work fast to raise enough seasoned troops to stop him but he was disappointed with the men available. There were not enough 1st battalions from the infantry regiments. His final tally of 106,000 was made up of Belgian, Dutch and German allies as well as the British troops. The British infantry that fought at Waterloo numbered 17,000. Of these, 3,836 were Foot Guards.

Quatre Bras, 16th June
It was on the evening of the Duchess of Richmond's ball, 15th June, that Wellington discovered that Napoleon had 'humbugged' him. The army had to be mobilised that night so nobody had much sleep. The Guards were camped at Enghien and received the order at 0130 hrs. They marched out at 0400 and were force-marched all day in hot weather. At 1700hrs, as the 1st Guards arrived at Quatre Bras they were thrown in to the battle and drove the French back out of a thick wood. They suffered heavy casualties. The two 1st Guards battalions lost 3 officers, killed and 43 other ranks. Wounded: 10 officers and 491 other ranks.
17th June
The allies retained control of Quatre Bras but Blucher's Prussians had been hit hard at Ligny and forced to withdraw. The following day was spent withdrawing to Mont St Jean. There was a cavalry battle at Genappe but the Foot Guards were not involved. The heavy rain started at midday and continued through the night. The Light Companies of both Guards Brigades, under Lord Saltoun, were ordered to secure the Chateau of Hougoumont while the rest of the Guards took up positions behind Hougoumont.

The Imperial Guard
The Guards were again in the thick of the battle at the climactic confrontation with the famed Grenadiers of Napoleon's Imperial Guard. Marshal Ney led the assault which began with a French artillery barrage. Wellington ordered his men to lie down on the reverse slope to reduce casualties. Some of the 1st Guards even managed to snatch some sleep as the shot whistled overhead. At 1930hrs the advance began. There were 6,000 Grenadiers, seasoned veterans, moving in two massive columns on a frontage of 70 men shoulder to shoulder.
One column was heading towards the 1st Guards who numbered around 1,000. They lay out of sight but could hear the sound of thousands of marching feet and roars of 'Vive l'Empereur'. When they were 40 paces away, Wellington shouted 'Now Maitland. Now's your time!' When the Guards sprang to their feet they were in four ranks. The front rank opened fire, killing 300 Frenchmen. The other ranks repeated this, combined with a barrage of grapeshot from the artillery, the Imperial Guard wavered and tried to fall back. Then Lord Saltoun led a charge of the 1st Guards which routed their French counterparts. The 'invincible' Imperial Guard was routed. The cry went up throughout the French army that the Guard were retreating. The whole of the British force swept forward and drove the enemy back across the valley and up the opposite slope. Cavalry and infantry, tired as they were pursued them off the field of battle. Even the weary Guards from Hougoumont joined in.
The casualty figures for the 1st Guards Brigade on the 18th June were, 4 officers and 131 other ranks killed, 11 officers and 346 other ranks wounded.