Michael Rayner

@Truluck_Wilts It's certainly iconic, but was Hougoumont really that crucial, despite what Wellington said!? Hopefully your US friend was also told about the Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Nassau and Hanoverians who defended, as well as the English. Of course, plenty of the outbuildings survived.

#Waterloo Campaign tour. Grabbing picnic lunch in what little shade was available outside the iconic ruined chapel at Hougoumont - the only part of the original Chateau to survive the relentless French attacks on the farm. As one American observed - “this was England’s Alamo”.

@fugitiveink When relatively minor issues when on their own happen at the same time, they always seem worse in total. If the planning issue is something which is yet to be determined, do drop me a message as I could offer some advice (I worked for CPRE Norfolk as their planning consultant.)

In other news, as I wait for the vet to come look at Biscuit the hen, another of my hens has managed to escape from the walled garden and vanished. On top of bad news about a local planning issue, and other issues, truly, today is shaping up to be quite something.

@AstorJacob1 I always take a deep breath before contradicting the Duke, but I don't think he went as far south as Genappe on the 18th, not least as he ended up back at Waterloo.

@BattlesRayner He did claim to have met him at Genappe on at least one occasion, perhaps wishful thinking on his part, or deliberately misleading

Before or after the friendly fire?

@AstorJacob1 and separate from the friendly fire incident in the Papelotte area between Nassau and Prussian troops. That probably hasn't been the subject of a painting!

@AstorJacob1 mis-captioned - this is actually a somewhat fanciful depiction of Prussian and Dutch units meeting at the Maison du Roi, on the Waterloo - Charleroi main road late in the evening of 18th June. A clue is the signpost pointing away from the scene towards Plancenoit.

@dab_1815 I recognise that shoe!!

A quick stop at my personal favourite Wellington memorial Here at Waterloo Place, the dismounting steps used by the Duke himself Have stood here countless times over the years Literally in his footsteps

@AstorJacob1 @MattTay74784525 sorry to miss having a word with you William - glad you enjoyed the event though!

Great day at Apsley House today listening to the talks, all credit to @MattTay74784525 for organising, and to all of the historians who gave talks. Was very busy, so I'd imagine a big success. Really enjoyed meeting people and getting to listen to it all

Well, this is fun! Presenting as part of Waterloo Day at @Apsley_Welly on the events & terrain of 18th June 1815. A packed programme with all sorts of napoleonic nerdery!

@Stillicho82 @ThatchGer1 @napoleonic_q Acre at a stretch

@ThatchGer1 @napoleonic_q Toulon and Waterloo. Began chase of Moore but lost interest fairly early. Oh and the Royal Horse Art at Leipzig.

I think we might have to call our Q1-1805 episode 'Bonaparte's baffling Brit-bashing blueprint'...

@bennymichielsen I am in awe Benny - magnificent!

From 15 June to 18 June I walked 131 km or some 187,000 steps. It closes a period where almost every spare moment went into preparing this hike. Many of you, already deep in the Napoleonic X bubble, had front-row seats. Thank you for reading, liking, sharing, commenting, encouraging, or posting related threads of your own. Mein lieber Kamerad… quelle affaire.

@Dab1815 looking forward to meeting you tomorrow and talking terrain!

Life allowing, will hope to be back again next year Off to Apsley House tomorrow because there is no such thing as too much Waterloo…

@bennymichielsen @GraemeCallister @mcribbHistory think of it as a horse with wheels!

@BattlesRayner @GraemeCallister @mcribbHistory I was wondering why I was finding it so difficult even though it was the day with the least km. What is this “bus” you speak of?

The sun does strange things.

@GraemeCallister @bennymichielsen @mcribbHistory As a complete wimp I caught the very convenient 365a bus for Waterloo to Quatre Bras - there's even a stop outside Gemioncourt Farm. I must up my game next time!

@bennymichielsen @mcribbHistory Wow, that is excessive! I hope you’re not suffering too much today. Last June just before the reenactment weekend I walked from Waterloo to Quatre Bras and back - it was 15 degrees and raining! Much more civilised (although when I did Wavre to Plancenoit it was also around 30)

@mcribbHistory Artists do love a Highland battalion - even if they weren't stationed where the main French heavy cavalry attacks took place!

Wellington & his staff take shelter inside a Highland Square at Waterloo. (by Louis Dumoulin) This is part of the Waterloo Panorama, a giant work of art, part of the battlefield museum, consisting of 14 canvases combined with dioramas & sound effects. It dates back to 1912.

@bennymichielsen Bottleneck in Wavre, made worse by a fire and the difficulty of moving Bulow's Corps through it

Apart from the rain, what other reasons caused delays for the Prussians?

@AstorJacob1 The 1/95th in the sandpit were forced back during D'Erlon's attack and were nearly caught by cuirassiers - some formed sq and some ran. They then retook the sandpit until forced out again after the fall of La Haye Sainte around 6pm. Elements of 2/95 & 3/95 were in Adams's Brigade

Wonder if anyone can help with a Waterloo question, what was the day like for the rifles? Forced from the sandpit, did they re take this position? Were they still in the centre when La Haye Sainte fell and Wellington's line was crumbling?

@NRWGCharity where they were so important in facing up to D'Erlon's earlier infantry attack. The landscape is surprisingly mountainous as well! Despite this, it provides the drama and spectacle one wants, if not the 100% realisim.

@NRWGCharity This Philippoteaux painting of the battle is one of the best known, yet has a number of issues. While showing the massed French cavalry charges he couldn't resist having Highlanders forming the most visible face of a square, despite them only being to the east of the x-roads,

On this day in 1815 the battle of Waterloo took place. During this engagement Wellington’s anglo-allied army and Blücher’s Prussian forces decisively defeated Napoleon’s Army of The North. Thus, the last great battle of the Napoleonic era ended with a decisive allied victory.

@mcribbHistory A fine day for you and it looks dry underfoot!

In the early evening, Wellington's Anglo-Allied army, made up of not just British, but many nations including what is now Belgian, Dutch, German & others, arrived on Mt St Jean. This ridge he had spotted before, subtle, but even after 200 years we can see why. 📸M Cribb

@Dab1815 How's Gemioncourt Farm looking at the moment?

‘Hot work’ this afternoon at Quatre Bras. Monument to the Back Duke has seen better days….