The Waterloo Podcast

A very special episode first published on the anniversary of Waterloo. Special guest Richard Heffer, who starred as Mercer in the 1970 epic Waterloo kindly reprises his role to read the lines of 2nd Captain Alexander Cavalie Mercer, who commanded G-Troop at Waterloo. Despite being the least experienced troop at Waterloo, G-Troop is more famous than all other British artillery troops and batteries...

The famous Rifles, bookending Adam's Brigade at Waterloo, fought in the unfamiliar role of conventional line infantry, forming column, line, and square. This episode includes numerous first hand accounts, some of them previously unpublished, as well as new data, new statistics, and new stories! If you enjoy this podcast, you can support it for just the price of a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/waterloop...

From Blaauwberg in South Africa, to Buenos Aires, and through the hard campaigns of the Peninsula, these were "The Glasgow Heroes", who formed part of Adam's Brigade at Waterloo. This episode traces who these men were and what became of them in the years that followed the Napoleonic Wars. If you enjoy this podcast, you can support it for just the price of a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/waterloopodcast...

Trained at Sir John Moore's Light Infantry camp at Shorncliffe, Kent, the 52nd formed part of the famous Light Division, central to Wellington's successes in the Peninsula War. At Waterloo the Regiment formed part of Adam's 3rd Brigade where it played an important roll on the right flank of the battlefield. This episode looks at the horror of their experience there, surprising insights into discip...

Captain James Webber-Smith's Troop was placed in at least two different positions at Waterloo: to the north west of Hougoumont, firing down the pavé, the Nivelle Road, and then on the main ridge, alongside Bull and Ramsay. Personally, I suspect the lack of comment from Webber-Smith himself and the conflicting accounts (or at least timings) of others point to something unspoken - perhaps, that it w...

An important regiment both in their role at Waterloo as well as during the retreat through Genappe the previous day, these were the unlucky men of Talavera, unfashionable, unloved and often overlooked but full of interesting and capable individuals. If you enjoy this podcast, you can support it for just the price of a coffee buymeacoffee.com/waterloopodcast. All proceeds go to the kind volunteers...

Continuing the story of "The Battle Within The Battle", this episode moves eastwards from Episode 28 on the Coldstream Guards, from the walled garden and into the large apple orchard. This was the battlefield over which the Third Regiment of Foot Guards fought throughout the 18th June 1815 - charging up to line the ditch at the thick head to the south, being beaten back to the sunken lane, where t...

This episode includes a previously unpublished account of D-Troop's experiences in 1815. Accounts of Waterloo from the other ranks in the artillery are extremely rare, so this is an invaluable memoir from an ordinary Gunner providing detail on 16th-19th June. His words provide new insights into the Troop's movements with graphic descriptions of the casualties among his officers and comrades. If yo...

The third and final part of this look at Lambert's 10th Brigade - this time the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Foot. This was yet another incredibly experienced regiment of battle hardened veterans - not only of the entire Peninsula War bit also of earlier campaigns including South America in 1807. This episode looks not only at their valiant past and their experience thick in the fighting at Waterloo,...

The second part in this look at Lambert's Brigade at Waterloo, the story of the 27th (Inniskilling) Foot at Waterloo is well-known as one of carnage, bravery, and devastating losses. If you enjoy this podcast, you can support it for just the price of a coffee buymeacoffee.com/waterloopodcast Many thanks to: Andrew McGrath, Stuart Lyon, Captain Harry Lin, Peter Molloy, Andrew Baillie, Jonathan Durb...

The first part of a look at the 10th Brigade at Waterloo, commanded by Sir John Lambert. This episode looks at the poor old 4th Foot, the King's Own, who never seemed to catch a break! It looks at the hardships they endured not only in the Peninsula but the devastating disaster they suffered just five months prior to Waterloo. We also look at what further hardships lay ahead in the years following...

A look at the first medal to be awarded to all ranks. Issued in April 1816, the Waterloo Medal would be worn with pride by Waterloo Men for the rest of their lives. This episode looks at a colourful range of medal stories including theft, fraud, counterfeiting, and shipwrecks. Many thanks to Alistair White, David Hart, Houdi McCabe, Stuart Lyon, and Andrew Baillie. Special thanks also to Ted Heath...

A festive break from the British Army - this episode, number 42, looks at the first battalion of the 3rd Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard. Sincere thanks to Ian Smith who not only provided most of the interesting documents but also some of the pictures and music! If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast for the price of a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/waterloopodcast All funds...

This episode looks at the eventful lives of five Waterloo Men who went on to seek and find adventure in South America, fighting for Simon Bolivar in his wars of independence against the forces loyal to colonial Spain. Many thanks to Eugenio Pérez Ferreiro, Alistair Smith, and Andrew Baillie. Special thanks also to Professor Matthew Brown - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adventuring-... If you enjoyed th...

The only RHA troop to remain attached to their Brigade, Sir Robert Gardiner's E-Troop were positioned with their old Peninsula friends, the Hussars, under Sir Hussey Vivian. After a frantic dash from Genappe through the torrential rain of the 17th June, harried all the way by the French vanguard, the 18th June at first brought little action, being positioned on the eastern periphery of the battlef...

Many thanks to Francois Menard, Barry Millar, Tim Paton, Bill “Swampy” Moore, Alistair White, Martin Berkeley, David Hart Special thanks also to Anna Lavelle at the National Army Museum Portrait of unknown black soldier courtesy of the National Army Museum. Restored by Lincoln Restoration. Contact: waterloopodcast‪@outlook.ِcom ERRATUM - the slide at 5.40 DOES show the enlistment dates for the 18t...

The Prince Regent's own regiment - Peninsula veterans racked with scandal. The 10th Hussars were, at various times, positioned in three different parts of the Waterloo battlefield, culminating in tragedy as the sun went down. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast for the price of a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/waterloopodcast All funds go towards sending something bottle-s...

Veterans of the Peninsula, Sir Hew Ross's A-Troop, famous as The Chestnut Troop, occupied a central position at Waterloo. This episode examines the curiously few words written by the men of this Troop and what happened to their six guns. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast for the price of a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/waterloopodcast All funds go towards sending someth...

Among the contenders for most experienced unit in any army on the field of Waterloo in 1815, the Gordon Highlanders had, since their formation in 1794, spent most of their years at war - from Holland in 1799, Egypt in 1801, Corunna, all through the Peninsula War, including their hardest fight at Maya in 1813. This episode looks at the key role played by the Gordons both at Quatre Bras, where they...

The story of the Little Fighting Fours, veterans of the Peninsula and Bergen op Zoom, they shared the fate of the Black Watch amidst the tall crops of Quatre Bras. This is the third part of this look at Pack's Brigade in 1815 - watch Ep.34 first! If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast for the price of a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/waterloopodcast All funds go towards sendi...

The Black Watch The second part of this look at Pack's Brigade, this week the veterans of Egypt, Corunna, and all of the Peninsula War. If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast for the price of a cup of coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/waterloopodcast Contact: waterloopodcast@outlook.com Many thanks to Jonathan Durbin, Ronnie Proctor, Graham Leadbitter, John Haldane, Diogo Vascon...

The first part of a look at Pack’s Brigade at Quatre Bras and Waterloo. The 3rd Battalion Royal Scots were battle-hardened veterans of the Peninsula War including the carnage of San Sebastian in 1813, but 16th June 1815 would still be their hardest day’s fighting . Many thanks to Jimmy Springthorpe, Jonathan Durbin, Oli Silverman Houdi McCabe, and Mick Crumplin. For Mick’s superb research into sur...

Next Company from 3rd Battalion R. A. - Roger's Company. Thank you for watching. Many thanks to James Billingham, Jack Humphrey, Stuart Lyon, Chris Chambers, and Mike Robinson. Support the podcast https://buymeacoffee.com/waterloopodcast Contact: waterloopodcast@outlook.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Third part of this look at the Union Brigade - this time the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons. Contact: waterloopodcast@outlook.com A regiment where the oldest man is called Young, and the worst behaved man is called Good. Many thanks to Captain Richard Duggan and Captain Ollie Grell, Graham Ledbitter, Alistair White, Jack Humphry, Lee Foster, Houdi McCabe, Marcus Roche, Jeff Taylor, Robbie Hogan, Bruc...

Part 2 of the Union Brigade mini-series - this week the Scots Greys and what an epic this episode is, with a cast of thousands! [well, 15 or so]. This episode contains three main insights which were new to me before embarking on putting this data together. Many thanks to Jonathan Durbin, Ian Colquoun, Stuart Lyon, Arthur Hayward, Robert Kemp, John Haldane, Graham Nicholson Leadbitter, Marcus Roche...