WATERLOO 200 & MONS BATTLEFIELD STUDY
W Company cadets travelled to Belgium to mark the bicentenary of the
Battle of Waterloo. This was especially poignant for those badged
Coldstream Guards, as the regiment played a pivotal role at Hougoumont
Farmhouse. They held it against constant attack from the French, who at one
stage broke open the north gate, were repelled and the gate closed. Wellington
later declared the outcome of Waterloo ‘turned on the closing of the gates at
Hougoumont’. The farmhouse fell into disrepair, but to mark the 200th
anniversary, it was repaired at a cost of 3.2million euros, and the north gate
replaced. At the invitation of the Coldstream Guards, the cadets attended the
opening ceremony events to mark the anniversary, which was attended by Prince
Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Nikolaus von Blucher of Prussia,
descended from Field Marshall Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, who led the
Prussian army, Arthur Wellesley, the 8th Duke of Wellington, and French
politician Prince Charles Bonaparte, great, great, grand-nephew of the Emperor.
St.Symphorien Cemetery, Mons (Belgium)
Hougoumont, before the crowds arrived
Also present was Princess Astrid, sister of King Philippe of Belgium, Prince Pieter-Christian of
the Netherlands and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Cadet LCpl Robson and Cadet Miller
were given the honour of guarding the memorial throughout the ceremony. The cadets also
took time to visit the railway bridge in Mons, which marked the spot where the first two
Victoria Crosses of WW1 were won by Lt Dease and Private Godley of the Royal Fusiliers. The
Battle of Mons also marked the first time that the British were involved in armed conflict in
Europe since the Battle of Waterloo almost 100 years earlier. The group took time to visit the
St Symphorien Cemetery in which Lt Dease was buried. This was especially moving for the
cadets as the cemetery also contains the graves of the German soldiers killed in the battle as
well as Private John Pass, the first soldier killed in the war, and Private George Edwin Ellison,
who was the last soldier killed in the war, 90 minutes before the Armistice came into effect on
November 11, 1918. Lt Neil Watson (Alnwick Detachment)
LEEDS ROYAL ARMOURIES VISIT
In May, my sister and other members of Y Company visited the Royal Armouries
Museum in Leeds. The trip had been organised to develop our skills and knowledge
and to learn about the history of warfare. The museum has over 8,500 items on display in five
galleries; war, tournament, oriental, self-defence and hunting. There were many displays
focusing on weapons handling. The Battle of Waterloo was one of the most interesting
exhibitions because of the outstanding mock ups describing tactics, armour and weapons used
in battle. On the top floor there is a small crossbow shooting range where we could have a go
aiming at targets, making the whole experience more realistic, allowing us to handle and use
the weapons. At certain points throughout the day there were live performances
demonstrating skills and tactics and the disadvantages and advantages about the weapons
they were using. There were demonstrations of a western cowboy gunfight and a medieval
sword fight, and at the end of the day a monologue from a solider who had fought at
Waterloo. He explained the feelings of being a solider during that battle with the French.
Overall our favourite parts of the day were the performances, as they brought the whole
experience to life, using sound effects, allowing us to picture what it would have been like.
We also enjoyed learning more about weapons and armour. We all had fun at the same time
and we look forward to the next day out organised by Y Company.
Caitlyn McCune (Gosforth Detachment)
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