Chairman’s Blog Category
Waterloo Deacon
August 2, 2017 - The Chairman
A couple of months ago a piece in Charles Moore’s column in the Spectator raised the issue of battle names used as christian names. Alma was certainly one and is still in use, Inkerman was used too but apparently Balaclava not so. But Charles Moore mentions the story of Waterloo Deacon. The heavily pregnant Martha Deacon […]
Jane Austen and Waterloo
July 29, 2017 - The Chairman
It is well known that Jane Austen shunned the subject of Waterloo and Napoleon which dominated society during the latter part of her life but a venturesome novelist has decided to write a novel entitled ” Jane and the Waterloo map”. Sounds interesting but it is probably pretty doubtful stuff. However it is quite topical as […]
Wellington Looks On
July 20, 2017 - The Chairman
Passing by Aldershot the other day I espied the famous statue of Wellington, which once upon a time sat on top of the Wellington Arch when it was aligned with Decimus Burton’s famous screen. I am always amused by the cartoon by John Leech which depicts the statue being moved down Edgeware Road on its way […]
Napoleon to Joséphine
July 8, 2017 - The Chairman
In a recent Country Life an article covered the love letters of famous men. One of the letters was a letter from Bonaparte to Joséphine, the future Empress. It reads: “I do not love thee anymore; on the contrary I detest thee. Thou art horrid, very awkward, very stupid, a very Cinderella. Thou dost not […]
An interesting church
May 19, 2017 - The Chairman
Yesterday I attended the Memorial Service to Sir Ronald Hobson who died aged 96. The service was held in the Grosvenor Chapel in South Audley Street. Its a most beautiful church which might have been a Wren church but is not. There are two relevant connections to Waterloo in this event. Foremost Ron Hobson was […]
Wellington’s Legacy
May 11, 2017 - The Chairman
The other day several ex members of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment which was sadly amalgamated in 2006 gathered at the school in Berkshire named after The Great Duke, Wellington College. School and Regiment meet. It is now a leading public school and nurtures the memory of the Duke. We were treated to a drumming […]
A lost Waterloo colour?
May 7, 2017 - The Chairman
Last week another interesting cutting in the Times. This time on a Regimental colour from… allegedly Waterloo. It says the colour was found in bits and when cleverly re assembled, there and behold was a colour of the Coldstream Guards. However on examination of the photo in the paper I spotted a “Sphinx”. This to […]
Marengo’s hooves …again!
May 1, 2017 - The Chairman
There has today been an interesting article about Marengo’s hooves in the Times. I mentioned recently the interesting moment when these two hooves were re-united. I show the article, which you can properly read on The Times website. As you will know we already have both hooves on our website at http://ageofrevolution.org/200-object/horses-hoof-snuff-mill/ and the other at http://ageofrevolution.org/200-object/marengos-hoof-snuffbox/. One can […]
Napoleonic miniatures on show
April 21, 2017 - The Chairman
These two miniatures are part of the Portland Collection, originally at Welbeck Abbey, being exhibited The Harley Gallery on the Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire until 30 September 2017. Miniatures were very fashionable in those days and the likeness of Napoleon matches other miniatures of the time. The miniature of Empress Josephine is interesting and of course […]
Iconic painting of the Iron Duke saved
April 11, 2017 - The Chairman
It is indeed fantastic news that this fine painting of the Duke has been saved for the Nation to enjoy. Thought by many to be the best impression of the great man particularly as it focusses on his face alone. This was because Sir Thomas Lawrence, the artist, died in 1830 before he could finish […]
