Charity event to recreate Battle of Waterloo

FUNDRAISER: Table-top war game will raise cash for veterans and archaeology

The Battle of Waterloo is to be restaged in a massive table-top war game to raise funds for archaeology and veterans’ support.

Organisers are looking for war gamers, schoolchildren, artists, military personnel and veterans to get involved in the event in Glasgow in June 2019.

It will involve more than 20,000 figures, with every battalion, regiment and battery involved in the real 1815 battle represented at the Kelvin Gallery at Glasgow University.

The university is working with charity Waterloo Uncovered, which has been excavating the Waterloo battlefield since 2015 with a team of professional archaeologists working alongside veterans and serving personnel.

Glasgow University archaeologist Professor Tony Pollard has led the Waterloo Uncovered project, and said: “Projects like this help to bring history out of the pages of books and to a wider audience.

“The Battle of Waterloo is one of those iconic battles involving the famous historical figures of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington. Many Scottish regiments fought under Wellington’s command at Waterloo.

“Indeed Wellington has become an iconic and much loved part of Glasgow’s cityscape after a traffic cone was placed on his statue’s head a few years ago in the centre of the city. So it seems fitting to do this event in Glasgow.

“This is for a great cause but we need the public’s help to make this one-off charity event a success. No matter your level of expertise, we need as many people to help with our painting club and you can volunteer on our website www.waterlooreplayed.com.”