WATERLOO 2008 [Joe's pics]

[Joe]

Hi Guys

I attach some pics of last weekend’s battle re-enactment at Waterloo. Included are pics of the Allied encampment inside the orchard at Hougoumont, the Battle of Plancenoit, and the 193rd Anniversary Battle re-enactment of Waterloo. This year it was fought in the wheatfields east of Hougoumont, on the British right flank.

Regarding Hougoumont, the 8th Duke of Wellington has joined with some well-known military historians in a bid to save the farm that was pivotal to the British victory. They are trying to raise €3 million (£2.4m) to save the dilapidated Belgian farmhouse where the 1st Duke of Wellington's men staged the brave defence that swung the battle in favour of the Allies. They want to turn the Hougoumont farmhouse into an education centre that will permanently commemorate the battle which ended the Napoleonic era.

The group launched "Project Hougoumont" on 18th June 2008 - the 193rd anniversary of the battle. They hope to have raised the funds and restored the farmhouse by June 2015, in time for the 200th anniversary. The project has the support of the Belgian authorities who own the farmhouse. Military historian Prof Richard Holmes, chairman of the project, said the objective was to save "a fundamental piece of world history" from falling into total disrepair.

He said: "In my long experience of historical battlefields, few spots have the haunting appeal of the farm complex of Hougoumont on the field of Waterloo.

"In seeking to preserve this iconic spot we do not simply remember the British troops who held it.
We also applaud the courage of the German infantry who fought for the wood in front of it, of the brave Frenchmen who came so close to taking it and turning the fortune of the day, and of the cavalry whose charges swirled up and down the slopes within sight of its ancient walls, now in such acute peril. This is not a question of national pride or regimental commemoration. It is about saving a fundamental piece of world history, and we simply must not fail."

The current Duke of Wellington, who is 94, has given his blessing to the project, as has his son the Marquis of Douro.

Further endorsement has come from Bernard Cornwell, the historical novelist. To kick off the campaign, project organisers have commissioned two paintings by military artist Chris Collingwood, simultaneously depicting a critical moment from the farmhouse from the opposing British and French positions. A number of signed prints from the paintings, each worth about £1,000, will also be sold. Organiser Steve Stanton said they gave "a unique double perspective of both the French assault and British defence of the perimeter wall."

He added: "The final resulting works are truly stunning in their depth and detail, and have surpassed anything I could have imagined."

They plan to produce a series of "double works" of different scenes from the battle, one each year until 2015.

Action at Hougoumont: 18th June 1815
Napoleon wanted to take the chateau to draw in Wellington's troops, but the British leader was desperate to defend it to protect the right flank of his army. He ordered it to be defended to the last man. A force of 6,500 French infantry, led by Napoleon's brother Prince Jerome, mounted the attack, determined to take it from the British Guards. Enraged at being repulsed, he then threw his whole division behind it. But throughout the day, wave after wave was repelled. Finally Wellington was heard to say, almost to himself, "I believe we shall beat them after all!"

http://www.projecthougoumont.com/

Cheers
Joe






























































































































































































































































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"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." (Napoleon Bonaparte)

[Peeler]

Now THAT'S what I call a Wargame!!

Stunning pictures Joe, looks like you had a great time there. Did I see some Vistula Legion there? How many reenactors altogether? Are they doing one next year? Too many questions??

Very nice mate, and quality pictures, really well done, thanks for posting them.

And now, Im going to start at the top again!

[Cacadores]

Loverly stuff - excellent pics.
Who won Joe? Were you re-enacting too? - you look like you were in the midst of it
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[Queen Igerna]

What lovely photos Joe, it's nice to see the uniforms we paint all the time come to life!

[Grumpy Old Man]

Some nice photography there, and the Hougomont Project definitely sounds like a worthy idea and deserving of support.

Its good to see that re-enactors don't let a little thing like historical accuracy get in the way of a good time. For example: some 95th riflemen with muskets and not rifles, or the French officer with his British issue water canteen, or the Foot Guards in bearskins, or the Empress Dragoons charging in their undress caps, (perhaps they couldn't afford the helmets yet) and the Vistula Legion? were they at Waterloo? and don't get me started on the beards of the French, because I always thought that only Pioneers wore beards. Oh what a grumpy I am!!!!

The Chasseurs a Cheval looked nice though.
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Being grumpy is not just a state of mind, its a life style choice.

For evil to triumph, it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.

[Peeler]

Perchance you got up too early GoM!! Having looked again, I see what you mean. Still looks good though.
And as for that Napoleon bloke.....if he ever came riding down my street (which is unlikely I know) looking that smug, I'd just have to unhorse him and give him a good old fashioned English beating. Damned Corsican.

[Richie]

Great stuff Joe.
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http://dlwarspace.blogspot.com/

[ochoin]

I love re-enactment photos. Thanks, Joe.
My favourite has to be of a line of French firing their muskets whilst one soldat looks in the opposite direction.
So some of those wierd poses by plastic figure manufacturers might be right after all.
cheers, donald

[Cacadores]

[peterpumkinhead]

Great pictures there Joe ,those uniforms must cost a pretty penny even if homemade. Excellent photos
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Realists are hampered by their inability to comprehend the true nature of reality

[Col Rob]

Excellent Photo's Joe. Love the variety of uniforms at re-enactments which reminds me of when I was there for the 180th anniversary trying to explain to an American Lady that it was a re-enactment, and the actual battle was much larger!! I gave up in the end. My mate Simon would have been there , he's in the 42nd "Black watch" .javascript:emoticon('8-)')
Cool

[uriahheep2000]

great pics joe and i do hope management asked for permission to use them before they did
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a war gamer who actually war games a holder of 4 world record for war gaming

[uriahheep2000]

they do peter i was going to join a few years ago untill the cost came in not a chance
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a war gamer who actually war games a holder of 4 world record for war gaming

[Cacadores]

You could always use a paper uniform - like they did in the Waterloo film

1500 views - goodness: Joe's only 500 views short of TMFLM's Road to Caen record!

[lancier]

Grumpy

Im surprised and disapointed that a wargamer has misidentified empress dragoons with normal Line because of his bonnet de police, Bad on you, further yes there was a polish btn in 1815 maybe not at waterloo but it was on its way from metz, so histoically could be correct, oh and the beards well in 1815 many of the regualtion were not followed due to time and pressures many old soldiers, rejoined the colours so a beard here and there would not be a miss. the worse thing being that 80% of reenactors are also wargamers including myself. sorry also you yet again missed a basic british uniform the foot guards did not have bearskins at waterloo but the fusiliers did, doh