Waterloo 1815.

[observer]

Todays the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo; fought just south of Brussels; where 70,000 British, German and Dutch-Belgian troops, commanded by the Duke of Wellington, defended a position against the repeated assaults of 70,000 Frenchmen, led by Napoleon. The battle was won by the arrival of 50,000 Prussians under the command of Prince Blucher. As Wellington later recalled - "it was a close run victory". :confused:

[Mary]

Some thing interesting I found this weekend - If you open up Goggle search engine, type in French military victories and then click "I Feel Lucky"

 

Just do it and you will get write an interesting answer!!!!

 

[ 18.06.2007, 11:33: Message edited by: Mary ]

[Evil Sid]

a very interesting answer indeed :bounce: :bow:

[Steve the Original]

Taken from my ex Units Email recieved today..

 

Read and Enjoy

 

Gentlemen,

 

Lots have been said of the battle itself, so instead this year peruse this work and consider the scene in Brussels the night before as the realisation dawns that Napoleon has got the drop on the allies. All the while that the revelry was going on at the Duchess?s ball, the lads of the Regiment were in the saddle covering the withdrawal of the Anglo-Dutch army from Quatre Bras to the chosen site for the final showdown?Waterloo! The next day was going to be a bad one for most and definitely the last for a good many!!!

 

THE EVE OF WATERLOO

 

by: Lord Byron (1788-1824)

 

HERE was a sound of revelry by night,

 

And Belgium's capital had gathered then

 

Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright

 

The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men.

 

A thousand hearts beat happily; and when

 

Music arose with its voluptuous swell,

 

Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again,

 

And all went merry as a marriage bell;

 

But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell!

 

 

 

Did ye not hear it? -- No; 'twas but the wind,

 

Or the car rattling o'er the stony street;

 

On with the dance! let joy be unconfined;

 

No sleep till morn, when youth and pleasure meet

 

To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.

 

But hark! -- that heavy sound breaks in once more,

 

As if the clouds its echo would repeat;

 

And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before;

 

Arm! arm! it is -- it is -- the cannon's opening roar!

 

 

 

Within a windowed niche of that high hall

 

Sate Brunswick's fated chieftain; he did hear

 

That sound the first amidst the festival,

 

And caught its tone with death's prophetic ear;

 

And when they smiled because he deemed it near,

 

His heart more truly knew that peal too well

 

Which stretched his father on a bloody bier,

 

And roused the vengeance blood alone could quell;

 

He rushed into the field, and, foremost fighting, fell.

 

 

 

Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro,

 

And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress,

 

And cheeks all pale, which, but an hour ago,

 

Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness.

 

And there were sudden partings, such as press

 

The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs

 

Which ne'er might be repeated; who would guess

 

If ever more should meet those mutual eyes,

 

Since upon night so sweet such awful morn could rise!

 

 

 

And there was mounting in hot haste; the steed,

 

The mustering squadron, and the clattering car,

 

Went pouring forward with impetuous speed,

 

And swiftly forming in the ranks of war;

 

And the deep thunder, peal on peal afar;

 

And near, the beat of the alarming drum

 

Roused up the soldier ere the morning star;

 

While thronged the citizens with terror dumb,

 

Or whispering, with white lips -- "The foe! they come! they come!"

 

 

 

 

 

The Toast as Always, ?The Regiment and Absent Friends!?

 

 

 

John Rochester

 

WO1 (RSM) Ret'd

 

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

 

(Carabiniers and Greys)

[Brendam.]

Beautiful, moving verse Steve, thank you for sharing it. By the way, did anybody notice in verse 2, line 2," Or the car rattling o'er the stony street"; I didn't realise there were cars in Lord Byrons lifetime....we learn something new every day!!

 

Bren.

[observer]

Royal Scots "Greys", part of Ponsonby's Heavy Cavalry Brigade, which charged and broke Count D'Erleon's Infantry Corps assault at around 1pm. However, their charge became impetuous and they rode on to the French Guns, where they were decimated by French Cavalry.