Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Mission Monitor Board Every 10 Years Forum I'm Off to Belgium

Tomorrow I will be heading off to Waterloo to take part in an anniversary re enactment of the Battle so wont be around until Tuesday. Try not to break anything whilst I’m gone.

I’m really looking forward to this one as it will be the first time I have taken part in a large scale battle with cavalry.

There will be a few remembrance ceremonies and much intermingling of the groups (with beer) and then we will actually demonstrate to the crowds the tactics and weapons of Wellingtons victory over Napoleon on the very same ground that these generals fought over, including a defence of Hougoumont a very important part of the battle which will involve us using the very buildings that stood in 1815.

A link to what’s happening is here Instructions to participants


Pictures to follow. (if I survive)

Enjoy the waffles!!

Have fun and watch those cannonballs, or whatever they shot at each other back then.

No meal breaks listed in the instructions. Since you're on the English side, I guess that means no Chicken Marengo for you.

Have fun!

"what do they speak in Belgium?" "Uh, Belch, I guess." (obscure comic book quote or paraphrase, depending on how accurate my memory is today)

:buuuuuuurp:


"...You had me at 'hello'...!"

Awesome!!! Have fun!

Duck!

They have some really good recipes there.

Oh, such good food.

And there goes the European Union.

(seriously, have fun Darden--and by that, I mean, plenty of beer drinking! )

...and Faraway Lad was never seen again.

Damn those Belgians!

Hopefully it is only a matter of Darden having too good a time.

I foresee a checkered future for Faraway. Warned him to stay away from the waffle irons.

Sorry guys been a busy week and I haven’t had too much time on line to do much other than lurk.

So what can I tell you?

Well the bus got delayed at the Ferry crossing and then lost on the Brussels ring road, so we didn’t make it to Hougomont until around 12.30-1.00 am. Then we had to put the camp up. A fun thing to do when you are tired and have had a couple of bevies and its pitch dark.

I don’t know if any one knows much about the battle but the farm at Hougomont was a vital part of Wellingtons line. A wiki page on Hougomont and it became a battle within a battle as the French struggled to take it and the British were determined to keep them out. It was a sobering moment to realise that we were camping in the grounds where so many British and French had given their lives. Indeed at the head of our tent line were two worn and battered graves. In the walls surrounding us you can still see quite clearly the gun loops knocked into them to offer fields of fire and the bullet holes. A couple of us found actual musket balls still being brought to the surface by moles after all this time.

We had a free day on the Friday so spent the time in the Army museum and getting supplies from the local supermarket.

On the Saturday morning the bugles sounded at 7.00am and that was it, we were in period and re living the days of the Battle.

Ah, you're back. I thought Legion World was going to have to declare war on Belgium (before we take over Greenland, that is).

The first order of business after some drill to clear a few of the hangovers, was a service of remembrance for the dead of both sides. It was held outside a small chapel in the courtyard of the farm itself. I need to explain that as a regiment we regularly “brigade” with three other groups, the 33rd the 95th (green jacketed rifles) and the Coldstream Guards. There is an overarching group for this period of re enactment called the Napoleonic Associate, but my regiment is not a member. However, we were asked by the NA command to take the place of A division and were given the place of honour in front of the chapel. During the battle in 1815, this farm was held by the guards division and the chapel was a place of refuge for the wounded of the battle until it caught fire and many wounded died in the flames. Therefore it was only right and proper that the chapel was flanked by an honour guard from the Guards. A sermon was given and the last post played and wreaths laid, then all regiments marched back to camp saluting the wreaths as they passed.



Then after kit cleaning and musket inspections we moved out, boarded some buses and moved into the village of Plancenoir for an evening battle. This involved street fighting before we pushed the French out of the town.



The allies then pursued them to a field outside the village and there the French turned to fight. We traded volley’s for a while, forming square to fend off attacks from cavalry, and manoeuvring to always keep the French at bay. After a little bit longer the French retreated to another field leaving a cavalry screen to block the way. We were the only division capable of forming a square and marching in square so we have to chase them off.



We then had to deploy in skirmish mode. Running down to a small stream we traded shots with French skirmishers across the water, driving them back. Reforming the line we marched across the bridge in sub sections firing and moving all the time. The light was fading as we came to the end of the battle. The French had formed a last square. As the fog of war merged with the dusk, flashes of orange pierced the dark as muskets fired. The French were given the chance to surrender and refused, so we had to finish them off. Afterwards the women and civilians did as they had done after the real battle. They moved onto the battleground and started to rob the dead. All we could see was the torchlight moving slowly and grimly amongst the “bodies”

The last day started with a surprise and a collective sense of “wow” The day was meant to be a recreation of the attack on Hougomont and we had been told that we were going to defend the gates of the farm itself. This was a huge honour for us, and especially so for the Guards. We marched to take up our positions with a bit of a swagger that morning I can tell you. Once in position we took to the walls which at this point were low enough for the French to scale.



Our officer told us “no blue coated bastard gets in here today or I’ll know the reason why” and we were ready.



From my position on the wall I could hear the fighting going on but only see one part of the battlefield. I started to get an idea of how a solider must have felt, not knowing if the next steps he was going to hear behind him would be allied or French. The gate had been rigged to be breached and we found ourselves firing from the wall, pushing Frenchmen back

then running to reinforce the gate


as they tried to force it. This went on for what seemed like hours, but wasn’t. Eventually the cry went up that the French were in Retreat, Napoleon was leaving the field. We left the gateway and formed up and marched down the hill to deliver the final blows.



Finally it was over.

As we stopped to draw breath I took a moment to reflect on what had happened, it was fun, it was energetic and I hoped entertaining for the crowds but we had a luxury those brave soldiers didn’t, we could get up after our glorious deaths and go for a beer. Over 1200 re enactors were on the field that day, an impressive number, but over 40,000 died the day of Waterloo 1815, that’s a sobering thought.

The final event of the day was a march to the Lion mound memorial. We saluted the various troops and said our formal farewells. Then back to camp and a few drinks around the camp fire. The following day we had a long drive back to England.

Anyone who wants to see photos of the event can look here. There’s a lot of them mind.

Look here in the Gallery section

There’s also quite a few videos up on you tube

You tube search page

Thanks FC. Belgium was nice I think we ought to leave them alone. Greenland on the other hand

Wow. quite a few pictures there.

I am reading a book on the War of 1812 and it seems like taking care of hangovers happened at the real battles too.

Rob,

If you noticed those blue wooden water bottles they hold about three pints. However, given that the water supply could be a bit rancid, they tended to be filled with wine, gin, rum, or any other hard spirit they could get.

Actual official rations for a solider was a pint of wine, a third of a pint of spirits or beer if available per day. And they could buy more if they had the money!

To be honest if I was facing those sort of battles for real I think I would have to be half cut as well.

edited to add some pictures to the main body.

(sorry i am still hyper about this whay can i say)

I was in Brussels once for a few hours and loved it!

Those pics look awesome! I'm jealous cause it looks like alot of fun!