Battle of Waterloo Gallery

French Lancer J840005

Engraving of a French Napoleonic soldier produced in Paris. Lancer of the French Imperial Guard. In 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo this unit formed part of General Lefebvre-Desnouettes Guard Light Cavalry Division, which took part in Marshal Ney's massed cavalry attack on the British lines. They had also been engaged at the Battle of Quatre Bras on 16th June as scouts ahead of Marshal Ney's main body

© Historic England

Lawrence - Henry William Paget N070452

APSLEY HOUSE, London. "Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey" (1768-1854) by Sir Thomas LAWRENCE (1769-1830). WM 1474-1948. Despite personal differences with the Duke of Wellington, in 1815 General Paget commanded the Cavalry Corps. He successfully covered the withdrawal of the Allies following the Battle of Quatre Bras. At the Battle of Waterloo he led a spectacular cavalry charge that turned back D'Erlon's Corps from their assault. One of the last cannon shots fired that day hit Paget in the right leg, necessitating its amputation. According to anecdote he was close to Wellington when he was hit, exclaiming, "By God, sir, I've lost my leg!" To which Wellington replied, "By God, sir, so you have!"

© Historic England

An officer of light dragoons taking leave of his wife, 1795

An officer of light dragoons taking leave of his wife, 1795 (c).Oil on canvas, by Henry Singleton (1766-1839), 1795 (c).In this romantic scene, the details of the light dragoons' uniforms, although carefully depicted, do not identify any particular unit. There were two regular regiments of light dragoons with white facings but with silver, not gold, lace. Other, local, light cavalry units of Yeomanry, Provisional Cavalry and Fencibles existed at this time, but they did not serve overseas. As the officer and his wife in evening dress take a last embrace, the scene is reminiscent of the Duchess of Richmond's Ball. This took place in Brussels on 15 June 1815, the eve of the Battle of Quatre Bras and three days before the Battle of Waterloo. The ball was attended by many British officers and, when the Duke of Wellington arrived and confirmed the rumours of a French advance, many hurried away to prepare, while others remained, later leaving directly for the field of battle.Singleton showed artistic promise at an early age and, aged only ten, he exhibited an ink drawing, 'A Soldier returned to his Family', at the Society of Artists. He specialised in portraits, and paintings of literary or contemporary historical subjects, showing over 280 paintings at the Royal Academy. Singleton and his contemporaries Robert Smirke, George Morland and Francis Wheatley produced a number of military genre paintings, usually decorative scenes of smart young soldiers, pretty maids, swooning wives and sobbing children. They were designed for reproduction as prints for the popular market, although no print of this painting has been traced. Date: circa 1795

© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library