It'll also be 200 years since the First Foot Guards became the Grenadier Guards http://www.grengds.com/static.php?content_id=1 Though wiki says this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenadier_Guards The Chasseur Guards doesnt quite sound as good does it?
In the "In Memorium" section of the Cape Town Argus newspaper this morning, there was the following: "JAMES McQUEEN - Colour Sergeant 79th Foot, killed in action at Waterloo. Still remembered by the family."
Just found a bio for him on Ancestry James McQueen was born in Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland on 24 June 1773. He served in the Caithness Highlander (militia) from June 1795 until July 1800. He transferred to the 79th Foot Regiment (Cameron Highlanders) on 7 July 1800 at the stated age of 27 years and 13 days, at which stage he was described as being 6 ft ¼ in tall, of long visage with fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His trade was described as "labourer". He was promoted corporal on 1 August 1803 and sergeant on 15 Nov 1805. He obtained a special marriage licence on 31 March 1809 and was married at Weeley, near Colchester, to Ann(e) Maria Smith of the parish of St Botolph Colchester on 3 April 1809. Witnesses were an Archibald Sinclair and a (Hugh ?) Cameron. Hugh Cameron was a witness for the special licence and a sergeant Hugh Cameron served in the 79th foot (and was also killed at Waterloo). A son, Alexander McQueen, was born on 11 March 1812 at Coimbra, Portugal (but not baptised until 14 April 1816). A second son, named James McQueen after his father, was born on 9 July 1815, two weeks after his father's death and baptised on 30 July 1815. Both were baptised in St Giles, Colchester, with the father James' occupation being described as Sergeant in the 79th Foot. James II place of birth is described as "Not Known - Born at Sea" (1851 Census). James McQueen senior was killed at Waterloo on Sunday 18 June 1815. He was promoted Colour Sergeant shortly before his death and as such was paid £0-1-10d per day (payment of which stopped on his death). The family still own his powder-horn, engraved with his name and rank and the regimental coat-of-arms TD
Belgium defeats France with an irregular coin: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/08/belgium-france-coin-battle-waterloo-euro-napoleon And the Royal Mail has stamps. I guess they (French) did not get many shares then: http://shop.royalmail.com/issue-by-issue/the-battle-of-waterloo/icat/thebattleofwaterloo?gclid=CJTPnbLPm8YCFQKWtAodXxIAyw&sort=sequence_thebattleofwaterloo&parentCategoryRef=thebattleofwaterloo&order=asc&q=*&bklist=icat,7,cat110,con,cat111,stampslandingpage,cat158,thebattleofwaterloo&type=presentationpack&type=stampset&bklist=icat,7,cat110,con,cat111,stampslandingpage,cat158,thebattleofwaterloo
I was at St Paul's yesterday for the service - it was splendidly done; the array of colours as you entered was breathtaking; the Bishop of London's address was very well done and in places even funny! The Prime Minister. the Leader of the Opposition, the Defence Secretary, the Ambassadors of Belgium and Germany, the Defence Attaches from Germany, France, Belgium and Australia (?!) were there; the Duke of Wellington (of course) - and media coverage of the event on the day? Squat. Some pictures in The Daily Telegraph but little else. For all the efforts of the Waterloo 200 committee, that is shabby recompense.
Regarding pensions, I don't know about those who were killed, but those who managed to survive did pretty well. According to the only book I have about the battle (a guide by David Buttery), many survivors received prize money, which was usually only reserved for those in the RN who had captured an enemy ship. Privates received 2 pounds 11s 4d, but officers received much more. They were also entitled to an extra 2 years towards their pension and extra pay while they remained in service.
Scots Greys at Waterloo Scots Greys at Waterloo. The turning point? - The Field Scots Greys at Waterloo. The turning point? - The Field