| Joe Dever | 25 Jun 2009 6:28 p.m. PST |
Every year, usually on the weekend in June which falls nearest to the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo (June 18th, 1815), an impressive historical re-enactment takes place on this most famous of all the battlefields of Europe. Visiting Waterloo for the re-enactment battle weekend has become something of an annual pilgrimage for me and my trusty camera, and this year was no exception. For those of you who were unable to attend, I've posted a photographic walkthrough of my visit in three separate threads. The link below covers a tour of the Waterloo visitors center in Mont St.Jean (including views of the battlefield from the top of the Lion Mound, and the 360-degree battlefield panorama), the Allies bivouac in Hougoumont, the farmhouse of La Haye Sainte, & other battlefield landmarks. It culminates with a re-enactment of the Battle of Plancenoit. link My other related postings are a walkthrough of the Wellington Museum in Waterloo: link
And my photos of this year's Battle of Waterloo re-enactment:
link
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Waterloo Visitors Center website: link |
| Angel Barracks | 26 Jun 2009 1:36 a.m. PST |
Very comprehensive.
Thank you. |
| idontbelieveit | 26 Jun 2009 5:48 a.m. PST |
Thanks for posting. Very nice. |
| EagleSixFive | 26 Jun 2009 6:08 a.m. PST |
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| Knockman | 03 Jul 2009 4:23 p.m. PST |
Very impressive – many thanks for sharing. |
| TanSonNhut | 10 Jul 2009 9:51 a.m. PST |
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| firstvarty1979 | 10 Jul 2009 12:40 p.m. PST |
Nice photos. You can tell they put a lot of time and effort into getting the uniforms "right". |
| Captain dEwell | 22 Apr 2010 1:30 p.m. PST |
Damn fine photos, from a damn fine exhibition. Perhaps we should make peace now. |
| French Wargame Holidays | 22 Apr 2010 5:50 p.m. PST |
makes me nearly want toreturn to re-enacting….nearly cheers
matt |
Uesugi Kenshin  | 22 Apr 2010 6:13 p.m. PST |
Outstanding photos! Thanks so much for posting! Gotta say, Ive never seen an unhappier looking group of re-enactors. Except for the one where the guys in the British square are laughing at the French Cavalry man. |
| Smokey Roan | 22 Apr 2010 6:29 p.m. PST |
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| imrael | 22 Apr 2010 11:52 p.m. PST |
Thanks for posting. The efforts of the re-enactors are impressive – especially the cavalry – presumably all the horses need to be trained for the noise and close proximity to others. |
| Lord Hill | 23 Apr 2010 1:56 a.m. PST |
Great pics, many thanks for posting. I love those "regiments" of 6 men – they make our regiments of 24 or 36 look a little less absurd! |
| flicking wargamer | 23 Apr 2010 5:15 a.m. PST |
That can't be the real battlefield. It does not appear to be covered in monuments. |
| woundedknee | 25 Jun 2010 2:06 a.m. PST |
super pics. Thanks for posting. |
| battleeditor | 25 Jun 2010 2:50 a.m. PST |
The shots of the troops 'wading' through the tall crops are quite extraordinary, almost surreal. And then seeing the trampled areas of wheat towards the end of the day gives a good impression of how it must have been in 1815, plus lots more mud! Henry
Battlegames
battlegames.co.uk |
| Oliver Schmidt | 25 Jun 2010 3:19 a.m. PST |
Here a nice video clip of the battle re-enactment: YouTube link |
| Graf Bretlach | 25 Jun 2010 4:18 a.m. PST |
Very good photo's thank you, I thought the French mounted chasseur looked very 'real' and quite imposing, his uniform suitably worn.
I'll be honest, a lot of renactors look awkward in their uniform, the clothes and look is far too clean and a lot are overweight. One day I'll get to Waterloo! |
| 11th ACR | 25 Jun 2010 10:56 a.m. PST |
Great video Oliver. One thing I always hate about videos of reenactments is all of the spectators in the way. I filmed a WW-II reenactments at Fort Knox back in 99, and as much as I tried, I still at spectators in the way. And you can here them over the noise of a M-4 Sherman and a MG-34! But yours is still great. |
| firstvarty1979 | 25 Jun 2010 1:05 p.m. PST |
Are there any Brits that aren't Rifles or Highlanders? :) |
| vojvoda | 25 Jun 2010 1:34 p.m. PST |
A goal of mine is to go back in 2015. I was there in the spring of I think 1980 or so. I would love to make it on the 200th anniversary. VR
James Mattes |
| Myrmidons | 25 Jun 2010 1:41 p.m. PST |
Inspiring! Thanks for sharing!! |
| Volleyfire | 26 Jun 2010 2:19 a.m. PST |
Must have been more laughing than just those British in the square, I mean wading through all that corn in kilts is bound to tickle the nether regions somewhat, I thought the Scots showed true British stiff upper lip as they marched through it trying not to giggle.
I presume the farmer got compensation/recompense from somewhere for the devastation caused to his crops with hundreds of people and horses trampling them into the floor though? Surely if it is such an important site the French Govt would pay him to just grass areas of it or put it into set aside so that re-enactors could use it whenever?
Apart from that wading through waist high crops in all that gear must have been very tiring for all concerned.(I don't recommend trying that bit just to find out though as an irate farmer might use you for a re-enactment only with live ammo.) |
| 11th ACR | 26 Jun 2010 11:30 a.m. PST |
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returns to make another successful wargaming video.