When the NMBS visited Waterloo, it was a treat for one of our members for he is a chosen man ! That means he is a member of the Sharpe Appreciation Society (see Link Below) - Sharpe being Richard Sharpe, the Cult TV series set during the Napoleonic and Raj wars and the books by Bernard Cornwell. The Chosen Man of the NMBS is Gerry O'Meara. Gerry loves Sharpe and getting to Waterloo was one of his lifetimes ambitions. Getting up the Butte du Lion without having a heart attack was mine!
Waterloo was amazing in many ways and a bit of a let down in others. The whole historical setting is fantastic, some of the buildings are still there, monuments are and the views from the Butte du Lion are wonderful. The museum next to the site is very low brow, my only gripe. The Inn next to the battlefield is a godsend for the weary traveller. The Bivouac de l'empereur Inn does fine beers, good coffee, has a hearty warming firem (the owner did say to us that Napoleon himself stood in that fireplace, but the NMBS wasn't too sure!) and the French Onion Soup was "Tres Bon et Merveilleux !" but the fact that we were so cold may have made the soup tatse better ! The Butte du Lion (Hill of the Lion) is the main feature at the battlefield today and is a huge artificial mound that is 43 metres high (141ft) and the 226 that lead to the top are steep. There is a charge of several Euros to get to the top, but as mentioned the views are worth it. The who monument is dedicated to William II of the Netherlands (the Prince of Orange) - and the site that the Butte is located is the site where he fell from his horse having been hit by a musket round. It is ironic that he got such a memorial, as he committed three massive strategic blunders during the Battle of Waterloo (being the Kings son has perks!)
Waterloo is a number of battles and small skirmishes in one. The Battle of Ligny is important, also the fight at Quatre Bras and Wavre are important.
The trip to the site was a quick trip as the light was fading fast, but I am sure that one day the Chosen man and the NMBS will return to Waterloo !
