Celebrations mark Battle of Waterloo

TWO hundred years ago today the empire Napoléon had spent 15 years creating began to fall apart under British artillery fire and cavalry charges that left 25,000 French dead and the emperor heading back to Paris and his final exile.

The French and British armies lost just short of 50,000 men and the Duke of Wellington said that his victory at Waterloo on June 18, 1815 was “the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life”.

The arrival of Prussian troops under Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher helped the British to resist the Emperor’s attack and ultimately to force him into a retreat.

Commemorations for the battle are taking place from June 18-20 with a show and pyrotechnic spectacular, then two re-enactments of the battle on June 19 and 20 with 5,000 taking part plus 300 horses and a hundred cannons.

The bivouacs encampment is open throughout to show how the soldiers and camp followers lived and trained.

Travel firm GoEuro has produced an interesting graphic comparing travel and communications times between the different armies to today (and much more besides).

Belgium has stepped over French objections to a €2 commemorating the battle, which it said could cause tensions, by minting a special €2.50 coin instead.

The Royal Mint also has no such qualms, releasing a £5 coin priced at £13.

The first Waterloo re-enactment – The French Attack – takes place on June 19 from 20.00.

On June 20 the second event on the Allied Counterattack is concentrated around Hougoumont Farm and starts under the loud roar of artillery fire with a blood bath that killed thousands.

Napoléon fled to Paris – by 21.00 the empire was no more.

The Duke of Wellington and von Blücher celebrated their victory at the Belle Alliance Farm.