Sorry, yet more Waterloo

I am grateful to my e-pal and regular commenter, Ortega, for pointing me to this story in The Mail which somehow I missed.  It concerns a diorama of the battle of Waterloo which was constructed in the early '70s before the age of cgi-effects.  It shows the field at Waterloo and illustrates the five main actions that took place although, of course, in real-life they took place at different times of the day.

This amazing model is on display at the museum of the Green Jackets regiment in Winchester thanks to a truly dedicated couple, Kelvin and Mary Thatcher, who undertook the massive task of cleaning it up and repairing the ravages of time, and now they have finished their painstaking work it's back to its glorious original state.

From these pictures you can gain some idea of the monumental task they set for themselves.  There are 21,500 soldiers and 10,000 horses on the 25m/sq table.

 

The oddity is that despite all the sophistication of modern cgi-effects, this rather quaint, old-fashioned diorama with its tiny model soldiers, horses and guns is actually ten times more compelling to see.  You really do get a 'feel' for the battle.  The Green Jackets museum is in the old barracks at the top of Winchester and should you find yourself in the town I recommend a visit - particularly if you have 'kiddie-winkies' in tow!

Hougoumont - holding out to the end.

 

Apparently this shows two British soldiers trying to sneak off with the Regimental gin ration - surely not!

This shows poor old Gen. Ponsoby meeting his end at the hands, or rather the lances of the famous Polish Lancers.  Sorry, General, but you should have controlled your head-long charge!

A small oasis of calm on the edge of the battlefield.

For anyone travelling to the West Country, Winchester is a super place to break your journey.  Apart from the magnificent cathedral you now have this fascinating diorama to visit.

Thanks, Ortega, for the link.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3030264/Amazing-model-shows-extent-Battle-Waterloo.html

 

 

Comments

[AussieD]

Ponsonby suffered the fate of lack of control and a defined definition of "objective achieved".

Marshall Soult is alleged to have remarked on the Heavies that they were "the noblest cavalry in Europe; and the worst led" Truth or fable the painting of the charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo is magnificent.

[ortega]

Happy to oblige. I still owe you for plenty of links.

[Lawrence Duff]

It wasn't actually Polish lancers that skewered poor old Ponsonby, that was a myth. Rather it was regular French cheveux-leger lanciers. Hence the green uniforms of the lancers in the picture, rather than the blue with red uniforms of Polish lancers.

And don't fall for the Franco-German nonsense about the charge of the Union brigade being a waste. They destroyed d'Erlon's corps, which was Bonaparte's strongest corps at Waterloo outside of the Guard.

I'd trade a Brigade of British heavy cavalry for 4 divisions of grognards on the wargames table any day.

SoD

[David Duff]

Nobody loves a smart arse, SoD! And I've told you before about correcting your distinguished father in public! Honestly, bloody kids these days . . .