Introduction

Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation.

The bulk of this text consists of annotated tables containing names, dates, and ranks achieved of participants in the British Army at the battle of Waterloo. Most entries are accompanied by brief biographical sketches. The notes follow each table, as printed.

The footnotes to the prefatory material, and to the headings of many tables, originally appeared as an asterisk. These have been re-sequenced from A to W and appear after the paragraph where they are referenced.

Time does not diminish the interest of Waterloo, for that combat of giants is indissolubly connected with Napoleon—the greatest master of the art of war the world has ever known.

Since the publication of my ROLL CALL in 1890, I have received much additional information from the relatives of Waterloo officers. This has enabled me to bring out the present revised and enlarged edition. And I wish particularly to mention that many of the obituary notices of Waterloo officers given in the following pages were collected by the late Mr. J.W. O’Brien, of the British Museum Library (formerly in the ranks of the 4th Dragoon Guards), whose annotated copy of the ROLL CALL came into my possession by purchase. Mr. O’Brien’s researches were not made at my instigation or wish, but having been made, and brought to my notice, I thought it advisable to secure and utilise this copy of my book containing the aforesaid MS. entries.

A special feature of the Second Edition is the list of non-commissioned officers and men (given in Part III.) who served at Waterloo, and subsequently received commissions in the British army.