THIS VERY RARE example of a shako worn by a soldier of the light company, bearing the regimental plate of the Coldstream Guards and the bugle-horn insignia that denoted the light infantry companies (see also item 33), is a direct relic of the intense fighting during the Battle of Waterloo around the large farmhouse of Château d’Hougoumont.
On the evening of 17 June the light companies of the four Guard battalions present at Waterloo were sent down from the ridge to occupy the farmstead and were ordered to make it ready for defence. The two companies of the 1st Guards under Lieutenant Colonel Alexander, Lord Saltoun, were posted in the orchard, whilst the light companies of the Coldstream and 3rd Guards battalions under Lieutenant Colonel James Macdonell prepared to defend the farmstead, as well as manufacturing firing steps and stockpiling ammunition.
During the early phases of the battle, Macdonell’s companies fought outside the farmstead, whilst only the Nassau battalion under Major Busgen defended the farm complex itself. As the attacks on Hougoumont intensified, these companies retired within the farm and took over the defence of the château and the northern gate. At around 1 p.m. the French attack advanced along the western side of the farm and actually reached the northern gate. Sous Lieutenant Legros suceeded in breaking open the wooden gate using an axe, and around thirty men managed to enter the northern courtyard. Macdonell led a counter-attack which managed to shut the gates again and the French men trapped inside surrendered or were killed.
Date of manufacture:
1815
Location:
Musée de l’Armée, Brussels, Belgium
The south gate and gardener’s house at Hougoumont.
Additional companies of the Guards battalions were added to the defence as the battle progressed, and an ammunition resupply was accomplished by a very brave driver of the Royal Waggon Train named Joseph Brewster (or Brewer), who drove his wagon in under fire; he was later transferred to the 3rd Foot Guards as a corporal. At around 3 p.m. the French tried a new tactic, firing incendiaries to set the farm ablaze. This succeeded in setting fire to the château. As the château burned down, the French managed to break in by a small side door on the west side of the farm and a dozen or more men got into the southern courtyard. These men were met by the Nassau troops, supported by the British Guardsmen escaping from the burning château. All of the Frenchmen who could not retire were apparently killed, except for a single drummer boy. Those who managed to escape took a handful of Nassau prisoners with them. The Frenchmen previously captured in the northern courtyard took this break-in as a signal to attempt to break out and support this breach. They were hunted down and summarily put to death.
Nail from the north gate, roof tile, musket ball and pieces of clay pipe found at Hougoumont.
There is a claim that the southern gate was also broken open by a cannonball, but no French infantry were able to take advantage of this and enter before the gates were closed again and barricaded.
After the battle, the Duke of Wellington wrote: ‘You may depend upon it, no troops could have held Hougoumont but the British, and only the best of them’, which completely ignores the efforts of the Nassau troops and others throughout the day.
When a request was sent to Wellington to name the bravest man at Waterloo by a Reverend John Norcross, rector of Framlingham, Suffolk, who wished to grant an annuity of £10 per year (about £425 in today’s terms) on the nominee, the duke nominated Corporal James Graham of the light company of the Coldstream Guards, for his efforts in the ‘closing of the gates’ incident and the saving of his brother from a fire in the great barn. The annuity was only paid for two years before the reverend was declared bankrupt.
Hougoumont is currently undergoing a major refurbishment paid for jointly by subscriptions and British government finance. The intention is to turn the farm complex into a memorial to the British troops who fought at Waterloo.
