As some of you already know, I’m ex-Scots Guards.
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Next year is the Bi-Centenary of the Battle of Waterloo.
In the meantime, because I only live a short distance from the town, I’ve become a liaison officer between the Waterloo Comities and my 3 RHQs in London. (Grenadier, Coldstream and Scots Guards)
A short history lesson…
On Wellington’s right flank was the Hougoumont Farm. (about one mile from the Waterloo Lion complex and museums)
I suppose I don’t have to explain the events of the day…, suffice it to say that my Battalion was in the Hougoumont Farm alongside the Coldstream Guards.
The farm never fell…, nonetheless, at one point, probably due to canon fire, the south gate was damaged and about 50-odd Frenchmen penetrated the interior. All but one Drummer Boy perished !
It was the closing of the gates by the Coldstream Guards that has been in the history books, oil paintings and Waterloo tourist info-plaques ever since.
Following the Battle, Wellington remarked that the Coldstream gate incident was one of the most important aspects of the Battle that provided him with a victory.
Little did he know !
On a round 5-hour trip to Antwerp the other day, it provided me with the time to read nearly word for word the ‘Waterloo Roll Call.’
https://archive.org/details/waterloorollcall00daltuoft (a book published in 1904…, a moment in time when some people were still alive who participated in, or witnessed the Battle)
On pages 270 and 271, it’s clearly mentioned that Sergeant Majors Ralph Fraser and Brian McGregor participated in the closing of the gate !
As such, this important aspect of the Battle was a combined effort by BOTH Regiments.
Coldstream Guards AND the Scots Guards !
Haven’t a clue why it’s taken 200 years to uncover this !!
Anyway, as such…, I’ll be ensuring that next year's info-rooms at Hougoumont (following the renovation of the farm) will include the Scots Guards.
(over 2000 events thanks to Bruxelles investing 3million€)
Anyway, as you can see on pages 270 and 271, Sergeant Majors Ralph Fraser and Brian McGregor participated in the closing of the gates.
Can anyone provide any light concerning these two ?
Thanks in advance…, Iain.