'Don't tell mother how I died- it would break her heart'
SOLDIERS at war, in their own words:
‘A CUIRASSIER [armoured cavalry] rode up and cut and slashed at my head with his sword. I fell down with my face in the ground. A Frenchman rode by and stabbed me with a lance. Then a soldier did the same with a sword. Soon after, another came up and thrust his bayonet into my side, near my heart. Luckily the point caught a brass hook-and-eye in my coat which stopped it penetrating my body. French soldiers also plundered my watch, money, canteen, haversack and trousers. I lay bleeding from a dozen places — notwithstanding the cannonballs from the British Army that were dropping on all sides as I lay there!’
The luckiest British survivor
‘A SOLDIER beside me lost his legs. They were cut very short and he soon bled to death. “Do not tell my mother how I died,” he said. “If she saw me thus, it would break her heart. Farewell.” He said no more, his lips quivered and he ceased to breathe.’
Soldier of the Highland Light Infantry
‘A SHELL from the enemy cut our deputy Sergeant-Major in two and then took the head off a Grenadier named William Hooper. It exploded not more than a yard from me, burnt my sash completely off and turned the handle of my sword black, but did me little injury, beyond the shaking.’
Sergeant in the Grenadiers
‘IN A lull in the fighting, the Duke of Wellington rode by again and addressed our General with: “How do you get on?” The General replied: “My lord, we are dreadfully cut up. Can you not relieve us for a little while?” “Impossible,” said the Duke. “Very well, my lord,” said the General, “we’ll stand till the last man falls.” ’
Infantry sergeant
‘ABOUT seven in the evening I felt weary and worn out. Our division, which had stood upwards of 5,000 men at the commencement of the battle, had gradually dwindled down to a solitary line of skirmishers. The 27th Regiment were lying literally dead in a square a few yards behind us. The smoke hung so thick about us we could see nothing except the mangled remains of men and horses.’
Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade
‘WE SAW Bonaparte himself immediately in our front. Each regiment as they passed him rent the air with shouts of ‘Vive l’Empereur’. Backed by the thunder of their artillery, the rubidub of drums and tantara of trumpets, it seemed they hoped to scare us off the ground.’
British Lieutenant