It Was At Waterloo
We're doing well for commemorations this week. Magna Carta on Monday, today it's Waterloo - the battle in 1815, not the station. Which reminds me, someone was telling another person how their great-great-great grandfather died at Waterloo. "Oh?" Replied the listener. "Which platform?"
The person went on to relate this story to someone else, including the question. "Well," replied this listener, "As if it mattered which platform it was!"
There is quite a good review of things Waterloo here, including the fact that the name 'Waterloo' means "marshy clearing in the forest" and has nothing to do with conveniences. That association came later.
Back ten years ago when we commemorated the Battle of Trafalgar much was made of the fact that the then British Navy comprised many nationalities, including some French sailors (matelots?). Somehow I don't think you can take that sort of view on Waterloo. No mattter how you spin it the French lost. Big time. And for the second time that year - try looking up the One Hundred Days. Still as the next major European war was one hundred years later, 1914 - 18, and then we were on the same side as the French, perhaps it wasn't such a terrible thing after all.
Readers looking for a (fairly) contemporary (fairly accurate) account of the Battle could always try Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thakeray.
Various commemorative events have been/will be held over the next few days. Yesterday Prince Charles unveiled a memorial in Belgium to the British soldiers who fought and died at Waterloo. Unlike later battles Waterloo hasn't had that many memorials, so that's been rectified. Today there is a commemorative service at St Paul's cathedral to be attended by various Royals plus representatives of the UK armed forces and all countries involved in the battle, including descendants of men who fought in it.
Then hundreds, even thousands, of costumed re-enactors are gathering near the original battlefield. I don't know, do the French think if they get it right this time then they might win? Or maybe they're just British re-enactors. Hmmm, how do they decide which side they'll be on? Roll dice? Flip a coin? The uniform they turn up wearing? Just thinking, if it is just British re-enactors we'll win whichever side 'triumphs'.
I merely remind you, Dear Reader, of what the Duke of Wellington said, "The worst thing is to lose a battle. The next worst thing is to win it." That's the thing with battles, people die. Unlike re-enactments, the casualties don't get up at the end and walk off to have a drink together and discuss how it went.
So, enjoy the commemorations, but never forget that battles equal lots of dead people - on both sides.
Y'all have a good day now!
The person went on to relate this story to someone else, including the question. "Well," replied this listener, "As if it mattered which platform it was!"
There is quite a good review of things Waterloo here, including the fact that the name 'Waterloo' means "marshy clearing in the forest" and has nothing to do with conveniences. That association came later.
Back ten years ago when we commemorated the Battle of Trafalgar much was made of the fact that the then British Navy comprised many nationalities, including some French sailors (matelots?). Somehow I don't think you can take that sort of view on Waterloo. No mattter how you spin it the French lost. Big time. And for the second time that year - try looking up the One Hundred Days. Still as the next major European war was one hundred years later, 1914 - 18, and then we were on the same side as the French, perhaps it wasn't such a terrible thing after all.
Readers looking for a (fairly) contemporary (fairly accurate) account of the Battle could always try Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thakeray.
Various commemorative events have been/will be held over the next few days. Yesterday Prince Charles unveiled a memorial in Belgium to the British soldiers who fought and died at Waterloo. Unlike later battles Waterloo hasn't had that many memorials, so that's been rectified. Today there is a commemorative service at St Paul's cathedral to be attended by various Royals plus representatives of the UK armed forces and all countries involved in the battle, including descendants of men who fought in it.
Then hundreds, even thousands, of costumed re-enactors are gathering near the original battlefield. I don't know, do the French think if they get it right this time then they might win? Or maybe they're just British re-enactors. Hmmm, how do they decide which side they'll be on? Roll dice? Flip a coin? The uniform they turn up wearing? Just thinking, if it is just British re-enactors we'll win whichever side 'triumphs'.
I merely remind you, Dear Reader, of what the Duke of Wellington said, "The worst thing is to lose a battle. The next worst thing is to win it." That's the thing with battles, people die. Unlike re-enactments, the casualties don't get up at the end and walk off to have a drink together and discuss how it went.
So, enjoy the commemorations, but never forget that battles equal lots of dead people - on both sides.
Y'all have a good day now!