Waterloo 2015 - Part 2 - Around the Battlefield

For the first post in my Waterloo adventures see here: Part 1

After the Camps our group had the rest of the day to explore around the battlefield and its many historical monuments and places of interest. Unfortunately due to time constraints we were not able to go farther afield and visit the likes of Quatra Bras, Ligny and Placentoit.

So on carrying on up the Brussels/Charleroi road we stopped to observe La Haye Sainte. This pivitol building is now a working farm and access is strictly denied to the public by its owners, however access was afforded to the Allied Reenactors who had the privaledge of parading and then marching through this historic site.

All along the road just offset from the path are numerous monuments and statues, dedicated to various Allied and French units.

 

Monument to the Hannoverian Infantry of the Allied Army 

 

Fallen Eagle Monument to the French Elite Garde Imperiale

 

 

Monument to the brave stand 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot

 

 

Monument to the Dutch Belgian Forces of the Allied Army

 

 

Napoleons Statue behind his Headquarters - Le Caillou

 

 

Monument to Captain Mercer and G Troop Royal Horse Artillery who took part in conspicuosly defeating the massed French Cavalry Attack

 

 

Plaque to Maj Baring and the KGL at La Haye Sainte

 

 

Plaque to French Forces of Donzelots Divison who took La Haye Sainte

 

 

Monument to General Gordon, Aide de Camp to Wellington

 

 

Statue to the French 6th Regiment D'artillerie Pied under Colonel Hulot who supported attacks made by the French 1st Corps

 

After taking note of the various Statues and Monuments we had a quick look round La Belle alliance. This building on the Brussels/Charleroi road is reputedly where Wellington and Blucher met, shook hands and agreed upon the Prussians pursuing the defeated French forces back to Paris. La Belle Alliance wasnt open to the public, but the side doors on the road to Placentoit were open and a couple were selling some extreamly gorgeously illustrated books (similar in style and quality of Osprey but hardback) unfortunately they were all written in French.

With everything possibly seen (I think) we made our way back to the Lions Mound and Lions Village where I had arranged to meet up with Stefan Ko. Stefan had driven up from Dussledorf for the day with two of his friends and it was a wonderful experience managing to meet up with and have a very pleasant chat about hobby/history/blogging topics, we had our picture taken under the (non original) Elm Tree at Wellingtons Crossroads. Stefan was a most excellent bloke and hopefully it wont be the last time we get to meet. I didnt envy his drive back to Germany in the early hours of Sunday morning but glad he arrived home safely.

A quick look round the rest of the village souveniers and buildings, bumping into a couple of Napoleons Officers and then some very nice food consumed, whislt we were devouring our rather nice nosh the Garde Imperiale Band paraded outside the Panarama building at the bottom of the Lions Mound and proceeded to play. Most fantastic and soon the crowds were flocking to watch. We decided then to get to our watching area for the battle early to beat the crowds. Yeh us and countless thousands of others!!

Although not complaing as due to our early dash for places to watch the battle, I came across Emperess Josephine and these lovely ladies. Definately a photo opportunity and a few Ladies in waiting got my number as old Boney was going to get beat, so they would be unemployed soon ;-)

Oh whats a poor Englishman to do eh???