The Waterloo jacket of Thomas Harris
June 20, 2018 - The Chairman in Chairman's Blog, Conversations with the General
An interesting item has come to the fore, and again on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. A jacket worn by Thomas Harris – who was Hussey Vivian’s Brigade Major – was bought at auction by his descendants.
A very good effort by them – they took it to Cranfield University to see if forensics could discover more. And indeed they did. Family fol
klore was verified as he received the one wound to his right arm and it was subsequently amputated. To read more go to: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/16/waterloo-red-jacket-kept-family-200-years-proves-ancestor-british/
Thomas was a vicar’s son and by Waterloo was an experienced soldier, albeit only a Captain. He served with the Prussian Army until the French surrender of Paris in 1814 and he took Blücher’s despatch to London. He retired in 1830 and became Chief Magistrate in Gibraltar. He married three times! No wonder a descendant has claimed it.
