In this chapter, I am looking at one of the most iconic features of the battle, The French ‘Grand Battery’. By the Napoleonic Wars artillery was a tactically important and indispensable arm of any army, though the British and French viewed it differently. Wellington was always short of cannon and had a low opinion of his gunners. Napoleon had the benefit of an artillery system ‘par excellence’, knew how to use it to his advantage and even called his 12pdr cannon his ‘Belle Filles’ ‘Beautiful Daughters’.

Of course, we’re not here for such generalities. we want the detail about it’s use at Waterloo. Well as usual, you pays your money and takes your choice when it comes to who you believe.

THE GRAND BATTERY

As a former artilleryman himself, it is unsurprising that Napoleon would demonstrate his full appreciation of the powerful impact the aggressive use of artillery could have on the battlefield.

His use of massed or ‘Grand’ Batteries, from 84-pieces used in an aggressive advance to break up an Austrian assault at Wagram in 1809 to a 102-gun opening bombardment, and a later 85-piece pre-assault bombardment of the Raevsky Redoubt, both at Borodino in 1812, is fully attested.

That there was a ‘Grand Battery’ at Waterloo does not appear a cause for contention nor, for the majority, is the tactical role it was concentrated to fulfil, which was to soften up the defence prior to a decisive infantry assault, in question.

Rather, the contentions lie with the composition, location, and firing time of the battery.

Having said there was a ‘Grand Battery’, how ‘Grand’ was it?

If authors are prepared to offer a total, numbers swing between 62 to 100 pieces and, as you will see when we consider battery deployment next, much depends on what formations these batteries were drawn from:

 W. 56, though speculates 80 with possible addition of Imperial Guard batteries.

 V. 62, though concedes as high as 86 with possible addition of Guard Batteries.

 D. 72

 A, Q. 74 (Q does state other sources claim as high as 84)

 F. 76

C, I, L, M, N, R, S. X. 80

G, Q. 84

P, O. 88

Y. 100

So, batteries from which corps were ordered to form the ‘Grand Battery’? I mentioned in the introduction that my early exposure to Waterloo was by reading Chandler’s Waterloo. The Hundred Days and from this I came to understand that the 12pdrs of the Imperial Guard artillery were an integral part of the whole and this is oft repeated. Go back to Siborne though and this is not what he considers to be the case:

 ‘These batteries consisted of the three 12-pounder batteries of the 1^st, 2^nd and 6^th corps…..of the four divisional foot-batteries; of the horse-battery belonging to Jaquinot’s light cavalry brigade; and of the two horse-batteries of Milhaud’s corps of cuirassiers.’[1]

Contrast this with Adkin’s The Waterloo Companion. ‘The precise units that formed the ‘Grand Battery’ were decided by Napoleon. In effect, he reinforced 1^st Corps’ foot artillery, including its reserve of 12-pounders, with some of the other corps’ 12-pounders (from 2^nd and 6^th Corps) plus three batteries of Guard foot artillery.’[2]

But then what about this, Barbero’s The Battle, A History of the Battle of Waterloo. ‘Twenty-four 12-pounder guns and thirty 6-pounders, to which were added the horse artillery’s eighteen 6-pounders.’[3]

Though not all my sources declare which corps the batteries were drawn from, the majority view would appear to be that it was a mix of Line and Guard, but then they disagree on how many guns each corps contributed:

 W. 56 Line. With perhaps 24 Guard

 F. 58 Line. 18 Guard

G. 60 Line. 20 Guard

M. 40 Line. 40 Guard

O. 64 Line. 24 GuardV. 62 Line. 24 Guard

The varying opinions on the ordnance that comprised the battery are equally as plain to see and as usual will shall begin with Siborne, who in this case is very vague, understandably, as regards type and Weller follows his lead:

A, N.  Some were 12pdrs

C.  6pdr, 12pdr and Howitzer

D, F, O, W. X.  6pdr & 12pdr

G, H, P.  8pdr & 12pdr

I. Q.  6pdr, 8pdr, 12pdr

M.  8pdr, 12pdr & 6in Howitzer

S.   Cannon and Howitzer

V.  6pdr, 12pdr, 5.5in & 6in Howitzer

To understand these varied assertions, it is perhaps useful to review the complicated history of the French artillery arm from the mid C.18^th, as the developments in ordnance prior to the Revolution and throughout the years of Empire have produced the perfect conditions for uncertainty and perhaps false assumptions.

In the 18^th Century, French artillery underwent reformation and standardisation when, in 1765, the Gribeauval System was adopted, replacing the existing Valliére System. The previous unwieldy Cannon were replaced with new models with lighter carriages and shorter, thinner gun barrels with better aligned bores. Such advances made Gribeauval field artillery more mobile, accurate and powerful and contributed to the success of French arms during the Revolutionary period. Calibres were standardised on the 4, 8 and 12pdr Cannon and 6in Howitzer.

Combat experience demonstrated deficiencies with the 4pdr and 8pdr. The 4pdr lacked hitting power and the 8pdr was considered too heavy when compared to enemy 6pdrs. A committee formed by Napoleon in Dec 1801 conducted research into a new system to improve upon the existing Gribeauval ordnance. The results, delivered in 1803, recommended replacing the 4pdr & 8pdr with a 6pdr. The System An XI, as it was known, reduced calibres to just three – 6pdr, 12pdr and 5.5in Howitzer.

Revealed weaknesses with the 6pdr[4] and the continued use of the 8pdr in Spain[5] meant that An XI never fully replaced Gribeauval, and even led in 1810 to a recommendation for a partial return to the Gribeauval System as An XI had not lived up to expectations.[6] During Napoleon’s exile on Elba the restored Bourbon Monarchy did revert to the Gribeauval System and the 4pdrs and 8pdrs retrieved from storage.[7]

Now we have looked at the subject of the composition of the ‘Grand Battery’, with all its contradictions, there are a couple of things worth pondering.

Would Napoleon have had the time to reform his artillery to full, pre-exile establishment in the weeks following his return from Elba? It has been posited that, ‘for the Cents Jours Campaign, Napoleon used whatever guns he could lay his hands on.’[8]

Is it therefore, logical to assume that the French artillery during 1815 was a mix of the two systems?

To me, that seems extremely likely.

Where positioned

Surprisingly, Siborne’s proposed position for the ‘Grand Battery’ has stood the test of time…mostly.

There are opposing opinions throughout my sources, but it is only recently that the following commonly held belief has faced a strongly asserted claim.

Following Siborne’s lead, a large proportion have the guns drawn up on a low ridge East of the Brussels-Genappe Road 600mtrs forward of La Belle Alliance. From the point where the battery bordered the road, La Haye Sainte is 400mtrs, the crest of the Anglo-Allied ridge some 700mtrs, and the rear of the Allied position 1000mtrs, distant.

The alternative viewpoints come from D, F, O, S and W. These state that they were either formed up on the main French ridge East of La Belle Alliance (S), or initially on this main ridge before being advanced to the forward ridge as 1^st Corps struck Wellington’s line (D, O, W).

An opinion that stands alone from all others, but I can see where it comes from, is F. Corrigan states that the battery was in two lines, the lighter guns on the forward position and the 12pdrs on the main ridge. Interested in where this specific detail comes from? Look at Siborne, p.280-1. I’ve already mentioned how he details the battery being entirely composed of Line units, but he also says ‘(c.4pm) while some of the French light batteries took post in advance, others of the Imperial Guard, comprising 12pdrs, opened fire from the heights in rear of, and above, La Belle Alliance.’

The reasons for the majority belief in a forward placed Grand Battery are grounded in the effective ranges of the French guns and the deployment area.  Although from the main La Belle Alliance ridge all French guns could reach the crest of the Allied ridge, this would have been at the Maximum Effective Range for a 6pdr, 1,300mtrs. Artillery of the period was most frequently operated at the Most Effective Range, in this case 900mtrs for a 12pdr and 700mtrs for a 6pdr.

A relatively recent challenge to long held opinions is V,that has weighed in with what it says ought to lay the argument to rest once and for all.

Gareth Glover in ‘Grand Battery, The Latest Evidence’ from 2018, explains that the La Belle Alliance ridge position is the only possible location for the Grand Battery by quoting testimonies from the French artillery officer placed in command, British Heavy Cavalry troopers and by himself forwarding the contention that as the purpose of the Grand Battery was to reduce Anglo-Allied morale, rather than to inflict casualties, firing at extreme range was not an issue.

When it opened fire

The final discussion point regarding the Grand Battery in this chapter must be, when did it go into action?

The view held by the majority, A, C, F, H, I, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, V, X, is that it fired in support of the assault by 1^st Corps against Wellington’s Left Centre. But even this simple statement is complicated. The time it opened fire varies between 1pm to 1.30pm. The majority class this as a preliminary barrage which ceased whilst I Corps passed through its lines and then recommenced until the French infantry formations entered the danger zone as they ascended the Allied ridge. A dispenses with a prolonged barrage and has the guns open fire only once the 1^st Corps formations had passed through and descended into the valley, thus it was more of what would be termed a Hurricane Bombardment as used in World War One.

There are though those who contend it was in action from the beginning of the battle or soon after. 11.30am (S) or before Noon (Y). A Noon commencement (D, W, G) sits on the fence somewhat, it could be attributing the fire against Wellington’s Right as coming from the Grand Battery or attempting to show the Battery’s relative ineffectiveness by giving it a much longer attempt against Wellington’s Left Centre.

---

[1] Siborne, History of the Waterloo Campaign (1990) p.242

[2] Adkin, The Waterloo Companion (2001) p.296

[3] Barbero. The Battle, A History of the Battle of Waterloo (2006 reprint) p.132

[4] ‘The System An XI Guns’ in ‘The Artillery of System An XI’ www.napoleon-series.org

[5] ‘French Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars’ www.napoleonistyka.atspace.com

[6] ‘Napoleon’s re-action to the Recommendations’ in ‘The Artillery of System An XI’ www.napoleon-series.org  

[7] ‘The System An XI Guns’ in ‘The Artillery of System An XI’ www.napoleon-series.org

[8]  Ibid

In this 2nd part I break down the conflicting accounts relating to the assault on Hougoumont Chateau.

Hougoumont was a large estate that sat in the valley between the opposing armies and thus was of importance to both Commanders for differing reasons. For Wellington it anchored and protected his Right flank. For Napoleon it could create the opportunity to draw Wellington’s attention and troop strength whilst he struck at the weakened Left and Centre.

HOUGOUMONT

We have now reached the point classed as the first phase of the battle, the assault on Hougoumont. In reality this assault lasted all day, thus overlapping and outlasting all the other ‘phases’. It is also the point when problems with the historiography really begin to ramp up.

Because of its length, constant firefights and see-sawing combat, the action at Hougoumont is understandably prone to confusion. But the resulting contradictory and divergent narrative across the sources is bewilderingly staggering to behold.

First, I’m going to use two base line interpretations to compare the others to. As Siborne is the earliest standard work on the battle, we will use him first. There are valid arguments against Siborne’s narrative. Writing so early it was inevitable that later accounts would add details that Siborne had no access to or failed to consider. Afterall, he limited himself to descriptions from British officers present.

What you will notice is that although Siborne offers a detailed narrative, it is light on timings and needs a few reads through to link events which are simultaneous in time but not in the narrative. To his credit he also made the effort to link the events at Hougoumont to those occurring concurrently on other parts of the battlefield.

The 2^nd source I will use is Adkin (C). Without giving this any authority or importance over the other sources, his Waterloo Companion, it should be said, is one of the most comprehensive and all-encompassing volumes on the battle. Being more in the way of a handbook to the battle, it naturally includes minutia lacking in the standard narratives.

I must mention though that there are some significant conflicts between these two sources, which I will highlight before moving onto the other sources.

There is a lot to process with regards to the fight at Hougoumont as laid out by Siborne. He presents a day of assaults and counter assaults. Even reading it can be hard to follow, which is why I have chosen to bullet point together those parts of the action that occurred simultaneously, as the text would suggest.

The Garrison

Light Coy of the British Guards. 2/1^st, 3/1^st, 2/2^nd and 2/3^rd Battalions.

1/2^nd Nassau Battalion, 1 Coy Hanoverian Jaegers, 100 men from Hanoverian Light infantry Luneburg Battalion.

Reinforced throughout the day by: 4 Coy 2/2^nd Guards, 9 Coy 2/3^rd Guards, 2^nd KGL Line Battalion and other KGL Light Coy, Brunswick Avant-Garde.

Initial Dispositions

1^st Guards in Great Orchard. 2/2 & 2/3 Guards in West Lane. Nassauers and Hanoverians in wood.

Sequence of Events

11.30am. Jerome’s right-hand Brigade advances towards woods and sends out Skirmishers.

• Supporting columns are twice checked by Allied Artillery as the lead column and skirmishers begin pushing Nassauers and Hanoverians north through the wood and advance across the Eastern enclosures.
• The Howitzer’s of Major Bull’s Battery, RHA, shell the French advancing across the enclosures and force them to retire. 1/1 Guards occupy the enclosures. 2/2 and 2/3 Guards advance and force French out of the wood.
• Jerome sends in fresh columns against Western part of woods, whilst part of Comte Foy’s 9^th Division (2^nd Corps) attacks frontally. Allied artillery fails to prevent this advance. The Guards are forced to retire to Great Orchard and the lane West of the chateau buildings.
• Jerome’s skirmishers rush out of wood and into the 30-yard-wide killing zone between hedge at edge of wood and the garden wall. They retire to the hedge and a firefight erupts. The supporting infantry in the wood are shelled by Bull’s howitzers. Guards dash forward and regain portion of the wood. Bull redirects his fire to columns in the open.

French in wood rally and, now strengthened, drive Guards back to the flanks of the buildings.

• Jerome’s Light infantry advances against West side of the buildings. 2/2 and 2/3 Guards make a brave stand before being outflanked. Guards run into chateau through North Gate and close it. It is forced open by French. Guards re-close the gate and kill the French that are trapped inside. Some of the French Light infantry move North of the chateau, crossing the lane and rivulet and entering an area of brushwood below the ridge. They begin to harass Lt-Col Webber-Smith’s battery.
• NOON. 4 coy 2/2Guards, under Col Woodford, are sent forward from the ridge to deal with this threat. French supports make a second attempt at the North Gate. A Grenadier attempts to climb over the wall and open the gate from the inside but is shot off the wall by Sgt Graham.

The Skirmishers are driven back on these supports by Woodford and when the whole is attacked, they withdraw. Part of Woodford’s command enters Hougoumont by a door in the West wall of barn. The others occupy the area between chateau and Nivelles Road.

Simultaneously, the French checked at the garden wall, move right, and pass through a gap into the Great Orchard. Lord Saltoun, commanding both Light Coy of the 1^st  Guards throws them back into the wood.

• A large force of French Light infantry advances stealthily along the outside of the Eastern hedge of the enclosures and Great Orchard. Together with attacks through the enclosures they force Saltoun through the orchard to the safety of the Hollow Way.
• 2 coy 2/3 Guards are sent along the Eastern hedge and drive the Light infantry back, enabling Saltoun to clear the orchard after the French had suffered from fire from the Eastern wall of the Gardens.
• At this juncture the Allied security line is the southern hedge of Great Orchard, the Garden Wall, the West Lane, and the avenue leading back to Nivelles Road.
• 1.30 – 1.45pm. A firefight ensues during the time d’Erlon’s 1^st Corps is assaulting Wellington’s Left centre.
• Fresh reinforcements from Jerome’s and Foy’s Divisions opened a furious fire against the garden wall and put pressure on the Great Orchard.
• 2pm. The remainder of 2/3 Guards under Maj. Hepburn are sent down to help out Saltoun, now back in the Hollow Way with a seriously depleted force. Hepburn relieves Saltoun, who returns to the rest of the Maitland’s 1^st Guards brigade up on the ridge.
• 2.30pm. Hepburn rushed forward into Great Orchard driving skirmishers back into wood and re-lines the southern hedge. Around the same time a potential attack on the Eastern flank by Baron Bachelu’s 5^th Division (2^nd Corps) is twice foiled between La Belle Alliance and Hougoumont by the fire of Capt. Cleeve’s battery.
• 3.30pm. Around this time Napoleon orders howitzer fire against the chateau buildings. The Barn and outbuildings in North compound, the Chateau and the Gardener’s House are set alight.
• 4pm. Around the time of the great French Cavalry attacks, skirmishers once again advance down the outside of the Eastern Hedge, outflanking Hepburn’s force who were also attacked frontally from the enclosures, compelling a retirement to the Hollow Way. When the French cavalry retires, so do the skirmishers affording Hepburn the opportunity to clear the Great Orchard once again.
• After the fall of La Haye Sainte, Reille’s forces renew their attacks. They relieve the tired skirmishers already in position and the woods and flanks of the position swarm with skirmishers and resound to the sound of musketry. The Great Orchard is lost again. With reinforcement from 2^nd KGL line Battalion and other KGL light coy, the Orchard is re-claimed, only to be lost again. It is reclaimed and so is the North-east portion of the wood which is now held by 1/2 Nassau and Brunswick Avant-Garde.
• 7pm. A Général fusillade is in progress.
• 7.30pm. As the Imperial Guard attacks the Allied ridge, Reille sends more columns through woods and enclosures.
• 8.15pm. With the retreat of the guard and the Général advance of Wellington’s forces, the French troops still fighting and occupying the woods are driven away.

Material in Siborne’s Waterloo Letters (B) but not used in The History of the Waterloo  Campaign (A)

The source material gathered by Siborne didn’t always make it into his narrative of the battle. Chief amongst these, as regards Hougoumont is the fact that Saltoun mentions the French brought a cannon up during their advance down the Eastern hedge of the Great Orchard. He attempted to capture it; but failed. He also mentioned that at the same time, he re-gained the southern hedge and was never driven from it again.

Also, all of Jerome’s Division is said to have been committed to the Hougoumont fight and that the Barn may have been set alight by hay being pushed through a hole in the barn wall.

There are obvious contraditions too: The Break in at the North Gate is said to have occurred between 1pm and 2pm. Whereas Woodford states he drove the French from the gate not long after Noon.

Now we need to look to at Adkin and his timeline. I have set out in the same fashion as above and what you will notice immediately is the much greater detail as regards times and units involved. The narrative is less detailed and disjointed and the important details are presented mostly in the form of annotated diagrams.

The Garrison

Light Coy of British Guards, 2/2^nd and 2/3^rd Battalions

½ Nassau Battalion, 1^st Coy Hanoverian Jaeger Corps, 50 men each from Hanoverian Light Battalions, Luneberg and Grubenhagen.

Reinforced throughout the day by: Light Coy of British Guards, 1/2^nd and 1/3^rd Battalions.

7 Coy, 2/2^nd Guards. 8 Coy, 2/3^rd Guards. 2^nd KGL Line Battalion. Hanoverian Infantry Battalion, Salzgiter. Brunswick Avant-Garde, Leib Battalion, 1^st Light Battalion.

Initial Dispositions

Light Coy 2/2 & 2/3 Guards in West Lane. Grenadier Coy, Nassau in Buildings. 2 Coy Nassau in Garden. 1 Coy, Nassau in Great Orchard. 2 Coy, Nassau and Hanoverians in wood.

Sequence of Events

• 11.30am. Jerome’s 1^st Brigade, under Baron Bauduin, sends Skirmishers forward.
• 11.35am. 1^st Legere (3 Battalions) advances, supported by 2^nd Legere (3 Battalions).
• Bauduin’s force drives Nassau and Hanoverians back and occupy wood and Great Orchard.

12.15 – 12.30pm. Lord Saltoun arrives back at Hollow Way with 1^st Guards, after leaving when the Nassauers arrived at 10am, and retakes Great Orchard. 2/2 and 2/3 Guards retake part of wood, after Major Bull bombards wood.

• 12.30pm. Jerome’s 2^nd Brigade, under Baron Soye, attacks wood and Great Orchard.

Bauduin’s Brigade, now under Col. Cubieres, attack along western side of buildings. Lieutenant Legros ‘L’enforceur’ of the French 2/1^st Legere forces the North Gate before British Guards can secure it. 12 Guardsmen force it closed and the 30 or so Frenchmen inside are killed, except for a drummer boy.

• 1.15pm. 3 Coy 2/2 Guards advance and drive Legere from the area of the North gate. Soon after Col Woodford brings another 4 Coy down to reinforce garrison. Col. Tissot’s Brigade, of Foy’s Division attacks from Eastern flank through Enclosures and into Great Orchard forcing Saltoun back to safety of the Hollow Way. 
• 2pm. 2 Coy 2/3 Guards are sent to help Saltoun, Saltoun attempts to capture a cannon the French had brought into the Great Orchard near the Southern hedge.
• 2.15pm. Foy’s 2^nd Brigade, under Baron Jamin, attacks Great Orchard through Enclosures
• 2.30pm. Hepburn and 7 Coy 2/3 Guards sent down to Hollow Way.
• 2.45pm. Hepburn relieves Saltoun, who with remainder of 1^st Guards retires to main formation on the ridge. Hepburn charges forward and retakes Great Orchard.
• 3pm. Around this time French howitzers set building alight. Bachelu’s Division advances but is driven away by artillery fire.
• 3 – 4pm. An ammunition cart enters the chateau by North gate.
• 3.30 – 7pm. Back and forth actions occur in the Great Orchard.
• 7 -7.30pm. 2^nd KGL and Hanoverian Salzgitter Battalions, from the East and Brunswick Avant-garde, Leib and 1^st Light Battalions, from the West, help clear Great Orchard and wood of French troops when Imperial Guard is defeated.

We now have two full narratives to compare, an early one and one that has the benefit of two decades of sources to draw from. Remember, and I shall be reinforcing this throughout the book, I am not saying any of these authors is right and others wrong, or that any of them is right or wrong, this is an objective look at their narratives.

I said there are many obvious differences between the two, but let’s just use a few of examples to illustrate them.

French artillery piece brought up in support

Siborne – Cannon brought along outside of Eastern Hedge bordering Enclosures.

Adkin – Howitzer placed in South-West corner of enclosure near gate into wood.

Woodford and 2/2 Guards

Siborne – 4 coy sent as reinforcement.

Adkin – 3 Coy then 4 Coy sent as reinforcement.

Foy’s first assault

Siborne – Happens as French are first assaulting across the ‘killing zone’ against the Garden Wall.

Adkin – Happens after the attack on the North Gate.

Timing of 2/3 Guards and Hepburn’s reinforcement

Siborne – Before 1.30pm, 2 Coy. 2pm, Hepburn and 7 Coy

Adkin – 2pm, 2 Coy. 2.30pm, Hepburn and 7 Coy.

Bull’s Howitzer fire

Siborne – Shells first the French in Enclosures and then the French in wood

Adkin – Only shells the French in the wood.

To give each of the remaining sources the same treatment would be unnecessarily tedious, for me and certainly for you. It is enough to pick out some of the obvious conflicting details from each to illustrate the entirety of those within the story of the fight for Hougoumont.

D. An ammunition cart arrived at North Gate at 1pm.

 1.30pm – 2/2 and 2/3 Guards fed in Coy by Coy to Hollow Way. Light Coy of KGL sent to garrison buildings, Brunswickers send in Light Infantry in one’s and two’s into buildings too. After buildings are set alight, French Grenadiers enter south courtyard by small side door, charged by Guardsmen and driven out.

Bachelu’s attack was stopped by 71^st Battalion of Maj-Gen. Adam’s Brigade, who also sent some troops into Great Orchard.

Reinforcements and ammunition carts arrived all afternoon.

F. French had little difficulty clearing the wood of the Germans.

The initial garrison dispositions were 2/1 and 3/1 Guards in the Great Orchard, 2/2 and 2/3 Guards in the Buildings. Luneberg and Nassau Battalions and a Coy of Hanoverian riflemen in the woods.

Soye attacked to the West of the buildings with the survivors of Bauduin’s Brigade and it was Soye’s men who broke in after 1^st Light regiment failed to.

Buildings were most likely set alight by one of Bull’s shell dropping short or the burning haystack to the South.

All of Reille’s division was committed to the assault on Hougoumont.

G. It took the French one hour to initially clear the wood.

All the Guards and 3 Coy of Nassauers were in the buildings and garden.

Hepburn led 8 Coy of 2/2 Guards down to Hougoumont and took command.

The 3 Nassau Coy driven from wood were sent to La Haye Sainte.

Bachelu’s attack, made by a regiment rather than the whole division, wasn’t directed at Hougoumont but actually intended to pivot right and head towards the Wellington’s main line.

H. Guards were in Buildings, Germans in wood.

French moved through Great Orchard and garden to reach North Gate, where 100 entered the ‘open gate’ and Bauduin was killed here, rather than in the wood.

The barns and sheds were thatched.

I.  Commander of 1/2 Nassau, Bugsen, states French Grenadiers entered by side door.

J. Reille attacked at 11.35am.

It took an hour to clear the wood.

By 3pm, Wellington had sent in 3 Coy to reinforce the defenders.

K. Reille attacked at 11.50am

Nassau and Hanoverian troops outside, Guards inside.

L. The North Gate was open as Wellington had ordered a constant flow of ammunition to be delivered.

Two full battalions of Guards sent in to Hougoumont.

M. Bauduin’s 1^st Brigade was comprised of 1^st Light and 3^rd Line Regiments

North Gate wasn’t closed or secured at time of break in. Woodford led down 7 Coy of 2/2 Guards to drive the French away from North Gate.

Woodford’s troops wound Cubieres.

2pm – 1^st Guards relieved by 2/3 Guards.

The Great Orchard garrison was reinforced by 2^nd KGL Line Battalion and Light Coy, plus Hanoverian Salzgitter Battalion.

N. 11.50am, Reille attacks with his whole division.

There were 300 Hanoverians and some Guards in the wood.

The Nassauers were withdrawn from Hougoument.

4 Coy 2/2 Guards were sent to recapture Orchard and relieve Lord Saltoun.

The French were able to move around the Western flank to attack the North Gate unopposed.

There was a second break in at the North Gate which was defeated and driven away by reinforcements from the 2/2 Guards, who then joined the garrison.

2nd KGL Line Battalion and Brunswick Avant Garde added to the garrison.

All Reille’s 3 Divisions assaulted in late afternoon.

O. Reille attacks at 11.25.

Houogoumont was defended by British Guards

The defenders were reinforced by 2 battalions of Brunswickers.

P. Jerome launched both his brigades into the wood 11.30am.

The French 1st Light regiment belonged to Soye’s Brigade.

The fight for Hougoumont continued even after the Imperial Guard was repulsed, at least until 8pm.

Q. The garrison dispositions were: Light Coy 2/2 Guards in buildings, Light Coy 2/3 Guards in West Lane, Light Coy 2/1 and 3/1 Guards in Great Orchard, Battalion of Nassau, 300 Hanoverian Jaegers and 100 Luneberg Infantry in the wood.

It took 30 minutes for the French to clear the wood.

Bull, Sandham and Cleeve’s batteries shelled the wood.

An attempt at forcing the North Gate by Cubieres (Bauduin’s Brigade) was unsuccessful, but at 12.30 the French force the closed gate and 40 – 50 French enter.

The French trapped inside the North courtyard initially surrendered but picked up their muskets again and were then all killed.

3 then 4 Coy of 2/2 Guards were sent down to drive French away from North Gate. Companies 7 and 8 stayed on the ridge with colours.

The 1pm assault against the Great Orchard were charged from Hollow Way by Hepburn and 2 Coy of the 2/3 Guards sent down from ridge.

After 3pm the French were still swarming around both the North and South gates.

R. Reille attacked at 11am.

S. Hougoumont was defended all day by 2/2 and 2/3 Guards and 2 Coy 1st Guards, 900 Nassau and a Brunswick Battalion.

French Light Infantry entered the ‘farmhouse’.

At the end of the battle Maitland told Lord Saltoun that his defence of the chateau had saved the army.

W. The small door on the western side was built into a small stretch of wall (rather than opening into the Barn).

7 Coy of British 51^st Foot (Mitchell’s Brigade) sent to oppose Cubieres skirmishers along west flank.

12.30pm. Cubieres advanced around the west flank to attack North Gate before the wood was taken and this forced Hanoverians to retire from the wood. 

Cubieres drove 51^st away and attacked North Gate.

4 Coy 2/2 Guards reinforced Saltoun at Hollow Way.

3 Coy 2/2 Guards force French skirmishers away and enter the building complex.

Brunswick Avant-Garde, Leib and Light Battalions sent in to finally drive Cubieres force away.

C.3pm. French artillery is set up to west of Hougoumont, setting fire to buildings and blowing in the western side door. French Grenadiers enter though this door and are thrown back by Guards.

South Gate also blown open, but Guards stop the following infantry assault before they can enter.

6.45pm. Foy’s division makes it’s first attack of the day in conjunction with Bachelu against Great Orchard and Allied ridge. When they are forced to retire, the 1^st Brunswick Light and 2^nd KGL Line Battalions are sent in and cleared the Great Orchard.  

X. The North Gate was reached by the French flanking around the Great Orchard and Garden.

Y. Jerome attacked at 11am.

Hougoumont was held by English Guards.

Wellington personally led down reinforcements when guards seemed to be on point of succumbing.

Some of the latest information, interpretation and assertion has been gathered onV. and in many ways, this is a prime example of the conflict and contradiction between historians (and a source of confusion for the reader) even when their writings are collected on a single website.

Alasdair White in ‘Of Hedges, Myths and Memories’.

The garrison at beginning of the action was as follows: Some Guards, 1^st Coy Field Jaegers (Brunswick), 50 men each of Luneberg and Grubenhagen Battalions. The 1/2 Nassau was disposed as follows: 2 Coy in wood, 1 Coy in Great Orchard, 2 Coy in Garden and Grenadier Coy in Buildings.

The defenders of the wood quickly retired before the advance of the French 1st Light and 3rd Line battalions.

At the North Gate, 30 French followed the Guards through the open gate, which was closed behind them.

To drive the French from the North Gate area, MacKinnon and Acheson led down 3 Coy 2/2 Guards, then Woodford arrived with 4 Coy 2/2 Guards to reinforce garrison.

French broke in through South Gate and were killed and chased out by Nassau defenders.

2PM. Foy’s 2 Brigades attack orchard and bring up a Howitzer, which sets fire to buildings.

The commander of 1/2 Nassau, Bugsen, states 60 French Grenadiers broke in through the western gate door and were driven out by the Guards, 7 captured.

By the time of the French Cavalry attacks the fight at Hougoumont had closed due to exhaustion and lack of French ammunition.

Gareth Glover in ‘The History of Hougoumont’.

The garrison was as follows: 1/2 Nassau, 3 Coy in Great Orchard, 2 Coy along garden wall and Grenadier Coy in Buildings. Part of 2/2 Guards in North courtyard. 2/3 Guards down West lane. 100 Hanoverian Jaegers, 100 Luneberg and 100 Grubenhagen Battalions initially in the Great Orchard then moved to the wood.

Gareth Glover in ‘Defence of Hougoumont’.

1/2 Nassau deployment of its 6 Coy was 3 in Great Orchard, 3 in Buildings.

Hanoverians and Nassau (??) were slowly forced out of the wood, into Great Orchard and then to the Hollow Way. 3 Coy of the Nassau routed and fled the field.

South Gate forced and some French enter, only to be killed by Nassauers.

3 Coy 2/2 Guards under Woodford drive French from North Gate and enter buildings via West door.

North Gate re-opened after Woodford had driven French away.

Pire’s Artillery tries t breach walls from the west.

Just before 1pm, Foy attacks down the eastern hedges.

Ammunition cart gets past French Skirmishers in the Lane to the north.

Hepburn and 3 Coy 2/2 Guards arrive at 2pm.

12 French break in through west door.

At time of French Cavalry attacks Bachelu’s Division and 2 Regiments from Foy’s division attack Great Orchard and are forced to retire.

Plans of Hougoumont

The plans of the chateau complex in the sources are predominately consistent. The most obvious conflict I could find arises over whether there were one or two enclosures south of the Great Orchard. The alternate versions are shown on the not to scale and for illustrative purposes only Plate 1.

PLATE 1

So that’s Hougoumont, the battle within a battle that was fought on a close and confined battlefield over many long hours and almost in total isolation from the rest of the two armies.

As we have seen, the sources are so full of confliction and contradiction that the day’s events here are rendered impossibly confusing and, unless you hang your hat on the words of a particular source, the best you can agree on is the simple acknowledgement that the struggle was a prolonged and ultimately futile effort on the part of the French and a story of stoic defence by British guardsmen and their German allies.

Surely the remaining events of Waterloo are going to be child’s play to explain by comparison.

Well, let’s see, shall we?

Way back in 2019 I wrote a few posts about my visit to the Waterloo Battlefield during the 200th anniversary year. It has always been my favourite battle and I always considered that I knew the battle well. I have since done a few YouTube videos during the Covid Lockdown on certain aspects of the battle for the Discover History channel, that confident was I that I was knowledgeable enough to try and present a good account. But it was only when I began to increase my library during and after those videos that I came to the realisation that not only do I not know the full facts of the battle, but no one else does either. The amount of contradiction across the plethora of books on this decisive one day clash is staggering.

Therefore, I have begun to work on research that will present the glaring contradictions within the historiography of the battle. I would like to see it published but I don’t ever see any publisher willing to take it on. After all, I am saying that we don’t need anymore books about the battle because the whole thing is confusing enough already.

So to this end, I am going to use this format to present my work as and when there are new chapters to add.

I am going to start with my introduction, the list of sources I’ve used (the way I refer to them in the text may be a little confusing because it’s something you may want to keep looking back to, which means skipping back to this first post, if you care that much) and the first obvious contradictions before we reach the serious business of combat.

So here goes:

HAVE WE MET OUR WATERLOO?

The un-resolvable historiography of the Great Battle

INTRODUCTION

The Battle of Waterloo has had more words written about it than probably any other battle of the 19^th Century and, in many respects, such attention is totally justified. It was the defining battle of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Eras, bringing an end to a quarter of a century of almost constant conflict across Europe. Other than clashes between individual Empires, Europe was not to see another such cataclysm until 1914. It is the most extraordinary battle of its age, packed with extraordinary events. If it was historical fiction, it would be considered too implausible to be realistic.

The decisiveness of the battle has even resulted in it entering common parlance. The definition of ‘meet your Waterloo’ is variously ‘to be defeated by someone who is too strong for you or by a problem that is too difficult for you’ or that someone ‘has met an insurmountable problem and suffered irreversible defeat’.

But what has 200 Years of serious penmanship brought us? Well that very much depends on what, or who, one is willing to believe. Since my age reached double figures, and I’m now in my late 50s, Waterloo has been one of my favourite battles and I thought I knew it well. I grew up on the words of Jac Weller and David Chandler and I still find their volumes extremely readable and maybe I could be said to be unduly influenced early on by their interpretations, but then that is the way with many things in life.

It was only once I began to look critically at the battle for a series of YouTube videos as part of a Covid lockdown project in 2020, that I realised I was beginning to become confused with all the opposing perspectives and statements of fact. The more I read, the more I became frustrated in my efforts to form a coherent argument on the details of the battle.

What I found will be immediately obvious to anyone who has read all, some or just a few of the myriad volumes devoted to the battle and that is the fact that there is simply no consensus between authors on many of the events of the battle. Don’t get me wrong that is precisely the role of the historian, to find new evidence and add to or correct errors in the existing historiography. But we have reached a logical end when it comes to Waterloo, nothing that can be now added can do anything but bring more confusion to a body of work already bloated with contradictions, personal opinions and agendas.

When William Siborne published his The Waterloo Campaign 1815 in 1844, using the material gathered for his famous model, little could he have imagined that his Empire-centric account of the battle would prevail for more than a century. It is only in the last 60 years or so that the historiography of the battle has evolved dramatically. From initially being presented as an overwhelmingly British victory, it has since been touted as a German victory and even as neither, but rather a battle ‘lost’ by Napoleon. Archaeological investigators have also weighed in with claims about events never once mentioned in the intervening 200+ years since the first cannon fire opened the battle, reassessing first-hand accounts and offering fresh perspectives and interpretations  

I’m no learned scholar who has spent days, weeks, months, or years poring over primary documents in various countries trying to glean some new snippet of information that will overturn the previously accepted turn of events. I am an interested amateur and I have turned to 26 popular, randomly chosen books and Websites that are easily accessible as my sources to demonstrate the issues with the historiography. Furthermore, it is my sincere contention that we do not need any further volumes from authors claiming to tell the story of the battle as if theirs is a definitive account, because there is no definitive account.

Granted, there are authors who take the time to go over the alternative viewpoints that have been put forward over the decades, but they still end up on one side of the fence or the other.

The best that can be done is to present the various glaring contradictions and confusions without overly foisting conclusions and opinions on the reader. I cannot say who’s wrong or who’s right, as it is impossible to resolve the many contradictions in the historiography. I will though include some points to ponder and try to offer reasons for the varying authorial assertions.

This book may be considered incomplete and will be controversial. It is impossible to please everyone, and many will no doubt disagree with my approach. But I reiterate that no one is going to reveal anything, now or in the future, that will dispel the fog of uncertainty over what is one of the world’s most decisive battles and which has one of the most divisive historiographies.

We truly have encountered an insurmountable problem and ‘Met our Waterloo’

It will concentrate solely on the battle of the 18^th at Mont St Jean and will not look at the events of the 16^th nor those of Napoleon’s Right wing at Wavre. They could form the basis of a further volume.

This is not a full narrative of the battle, but rather it highlights the most glaring inconsistencies, contradictions, and confusions.

It is laid out in the format that most authors follow: Presenting the battle as five or six individual phases. As many events on the battlefield overlapped one another, this convenient literary device does not reflect the reality of any Napoleonic battlefield and Waterloo is no exception.

KEY TO SOURCES

The sources chosen are in no way a comment upon the abilities of the Historians/Authors, nor should any source not included below be considered as any more correct or accurate than those used. As I said, they were chosen using a very simple criteria; what is readily available and affordable in the marketplace. There are other authors that I could have specifically picked out to make my point, but this random selection is no better or worse than any other compilation. Whichever authors were chosen the result would be the same. 

I have tried to avoid undue criticism of any author and instead objectively present their written evidence.

I have found this method helpful in breaking down the varied evidence and use it throughout the text as a quick reference to the sources. I hope it helps you too.

1. History of the Waterloo Campaign. Siborne.
2. Waterloo Letters. Siborne.
3. The Waterloo Companion. Adkin.
4. The Battle, A History of the Battle of Waterloo. Barbero.
5. Waterloo, the battle that brought down Napoleon. Black.
6. Waterloo, a New History of the Battle and its Armies. Corrigan.
7. Waterloo, New Perspectives. The Great Battle Reappraised. Hamilton-Williams.
8. Waterloo, A Near Run Thing. Howarth.
9. 24 Hours at Waterloo. 18 June 1815. Kershaw.
10. Waterloo. Naylor. 
11. One Hundred Days. Napoleon’s Road to Waterloo. Schom. 
12. To War with Wellington. From the Peninsula to Waterloo. Snow.
13. On the Fields of Glory. The Battlefields of the 1815 Campaign. Uffindell & Corum.
14. Wellington at Waterloo. Jac Weller.
15. Osprey Campaign Series 15. Waterloo 1815, the Birth of Modern Britain. Wootten.
16. Waterloo. The Hundred Days. Chandler.
17. ‘A Desperate Business’. Wellington, the British Army and the Waterloo Campaign. Fletcher.
18. The Face of Battle. A Study of Agincourt, Waterloo and the Somme. Keegan.
19. Waterloo. Napoleon’s Last Gamble. Roberts.
20. The Longest Afternoon. The 400 Men who decided the Battle of Waterloo. Simms.
21. The Duke. Guedalla.
22.  Various articleswww.projecthougoumont.com 
23.  Waterloo. Four Days that changed Europe’s Destiny. Clayton.
24.  Waterloo 1815. Fremont-Barnes.
25.  The Campaign of Waterloo 1815. A Political and Military History from the 

French Perspective. Jomini

26. Various articles  www.waterlooassociation.org.uk

SIZE OF THE OPPOSING FORCES

Before discussing the battle, it makes sense to consider what is said about the size of the two main armies who were about to clash across the 4sq.km battlefield and decide the fate of an Empire. (I have not included the size of the Prussian force as it is unnecessary for the point I’m making)

Straight away we encounter widely differing figures. I am aware of the difficulties in obtaining accurate figures for a battle fought over 200 years ago, that nations tabulated figures differently thus leading to discrepancies in calculation or that records may have been lost or inaccurately copied over the intervening centuries. 

The totals I use here are taken from chapters where the authors are presenting their preamble to the battle, discussing the battlefield, the force dispositions, and the opposing strengths. A logical decision, as this way I avoid having to extrapolate or recalculate numbers and thereby misrepresenting any author.

Starting with Siborne as a base to compare against (I’m not offering the opinion his is the accurate source) you will see just how wide the variations of total force strengths are, they are quite astounding.

Siborne: Napoleon 68,900. Wellington 67,661.

Across the range of sources there are variations of almost 10,000 in army strengths

Napoleon from 68,900 to 78,000

Wellington from 63,000 to 74,300

The difference between the opposing forces varies just as equally, from as low as 200 (K, W) to as high as 8,000 (F)

The majority though state an approximate 4,000 difference in favour of Napoleon.

The full list is thus:

Napoleon. 68,900. Wellington. 67,661. (A)

Nap. 69,000. Well. 67,000 (D)

Nap. 70,000. Well. 63,000. (U)

Nap. 71,947. Well. 67,661. (G, P)

Nap. 72,000. Well. 68,000. (E, L, Q)

Nap. 73,000. Well. 67,000. (H)

Nap. 73,000. Well. 68,000. (Z)[1]

Nap. 73,835. Well. 68,000. (N)

Nap. 74,500. Well. 74,300. (K, W)

Nap. 77,000. Well. 73,000. (I)

Nap. 77,300. Well. 73,500. (C)

Nap. 77,500. Well. 73,150. (S)

Nap. 77,500. Well. 73,200. (X)

Nap. 78,000. Well. 70,000. (F)

The most honest opinions are most probably those made by M & R who state that each army numbered about or around 70,000.

The figures could be broken down and compared further, looking at Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery strength but I think the contradictions outlined above are sufficient to get the point across.

THE OPENING SHOTS

There is no disagreement over the fact that there was almost a full morning’s delay before Napoleon opened his attack. You will find amongst the sources the predominant claim that Napoleon’s artillery chief called for the delay to allow the ground to dry after the previous night’s storm and Napoleon acquiesced (in particular P). Throughout the other sources are the more complex reasons. The muddy roads delayed the concentration of the army until mid-morning, which then needed to eat and clean its weapons. The muddy ground certainly hindered the deployment of both Artillery and Cavalry. Weller (N) specifically considers the artillery explanation a poor excuse as ‘an attack by a poorly concentrated, tired, hungry and inadequately armed army would have been worse than a delay’.[2]

The real contradictions come when considering at what time the battle began and who initiated it.

With set piece battles of the era, it was the artillery that fired the opening salvo and Waterloo was no exception. Before we look at who’s, let us first look at the time it is said to have occurred.

The problems of accurate timings for the entire day are not easy to overcome, but it seems the opening salvo provides for some highly specific statements interspersed with arounds and abouts. Afterall, the subsequent unfolding of the battle hinges around this point and, it should be pointed out, that any timings given are highly speculative. Even those who were there have offered some very strange statements of fact. This is of course to be expected given the stresses of the day and the lack of accurate timepieces.    

The closest consensus is that the battle began around 11.30am, give or take 10 minutes. But there are a few outside this bracket:

11am (R, Y)

11.05am (W)

Noon (D)

1pm (F)

Now that we have the various sources’ statements and opinions as to when the battle began, let us next ponder who initiated it. Once again, there is some consensus. It is known, I think it is perfectly safe to say, that the serious business of battle began with an assault by Prince Jerome’s 6^th Division (2^nd Corps, Lt-Gen Count Reille) on the woods bordering Hougoumont and therefore it would be logical to assume it was Reille’s 2^nd Corps artillery that opened fire in support of the assault. I’m not the only one to think so logically. Of my twenty-six sources, fifteen support this notion.

That the French opened fire first is not denied by other authors, but they variously attribute it to the 2^nd Corps ( Lt-Gen Drouet, Count d’Erlon) artillery (O) or the Grand Battery (F, S) opening fire on Wellington’s Left Centre, and even, in two cases, to Jacquinot’s Light Cavalry (1^st Corps) out on the French Right wing, that was skirmishing around Smohain (N, W).

You may find it surprising therefore that Siborne (A), echoed by White (V),[3] states that it was a British Battery that opened fire first, targeting Jerome’s advancing columns.

---

[1] ‘Opposing Forces and Plans’ 18^th June: Battle of Waterloo. www.waterlooassociation.org.uk

[2] Weller, Wellington at Waterloo. 1992, p.194

[3] Alasdair White, ‘Of hedges, myths and memories’ 2016, p.36. www.projecthougoumont.com though he does state this is the consensus. Clearly it isn’t.

I’ve not done a Blog for an absolute age, so as I’m revelling in spotting and photographing the Summer migrants on Ronkswood LNR in Worcester at the moment, what better time to Blog in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day.

It never fails to amaze me how birds manage to travel such long distances to and from their preferred Breeding or winter habitats, the navigation required is also mind blowing. Doing the birdwatching where I do it’s the small songbirds I encounter but Terns, seabirds, Ducks, Waders, Geese and Thrushes all migrate. But it is the songbirds that I cannot but marvel at. Wintering in North Africa, each spring and again in Autumn these tiny birds fly 1000s of kilometres to take advantage of our temperate summers to raise the next generation, who then somehow undertake the same marathon flight for the first time. It boggles belief that they do this and then return the following spring back to the same area.

In my March Birdwatching article for the Worcester News I said how much I was looking forward to the arrival of the of the migrants. I mentioned which I hoped to find and then, judging by the habitat, added a wishlist. So, what has arrived?

In Mid March the first in was the Ciffchaff, always one of the first Warblers to arrive in the country in numbers. Their ‘chiff’ ‘chaff’ song is a guaranteed sign of Spring. When not singing it can be easily confused with a similar later arrivee, but more anon on that.

Immediately following was the Blackcap. A loud, bold, medium sized Warbler with a distinctive look. With the Chiffchaff it’s the most numerous Warbler on my Local Patches. As its name suggests, the Male has a Blackcap. The female though has a Chestnut cap. Its Grey plumage is relatively distinctive too.

One warbler I have only seen twice this year is the Willow Warbler. This is the species that causes confusion as it is almost identical to the Chiffchaff. The sure fire way to separate the 2 is by song. The willow has a descending flutey song quite unlike the ‘Chiffchaff’. By sight, there are subtle plumage differences and the Willow does have longer wings, which seen when folded are obvious. The longer wings show it winters further South than the Chiffchaff and it consequently arrives in the UK during April.

The predominent habitat on 2 of my Patches is not ideal for Willow Warbler, there are no expanses of woodland, and this explains my lack of sightings.

Next on territory was the Warbler with an extremely confident personality. The Common Whitethroat is a real showoff. And when you look like it does, why not show it off. There are 5 territories across Ronkswood and the old Golf course and I can always guarantee a good photo from one male, who is never phased by my near presence. Why is it called a Whitethroat? Look at that throat 😊

Also, bear in mind the Chestnut colouring on the back and wings. It is one of the features that separates it from the last of the migrants that are holding territory on Ronkswood.

This is the Lesser Whitethroat. A greater contrast to the habits and personality of its cousin, the Common Whitethroat, would be harder to find.

First, remember the Chestnut colours on the Common Whitethroat? Notice these are absent on the Lesser which has a plain brown back. The legs are also dark rather than pale. The male has a dark patch behind the eye, which is also darker, giving it the look of the Lone Ranger or Zorro. Although my photos haven’t captured it very well as there’s always a branch in the way! 🙄

Its song is a short rattle, very different to most other songbirds. Its behavior is the total opposite to the Common Whitethroat. It is a real skulker, usually singing from cover and when it is out in the open it doesn’t often linger long before darting back in cover.

If we return to my wishlist for the reserve I have successfully predicted one and been surprised by one it left off as I hadn’t expected it at all.

First, the Wheatear. A bird of open moorland they can of course occur anywhere on migration if the habitat is suitable. The open grass areas and Gorse on Ronkswood and golf course looked perfect to me for one to take a pause on during its flight to its breeding grounds. This was of course all wistful thinking until the 7th May when I was lucky enough to grab a brief view of a female which paused long enough for a few long distance photos before continuing its journey.

The last migrant seen to date is a proper belter and not one I had even thought might show up! The Spotted Flycatcher is a bird I’ve only infrequently seen and that’s been in Oak woodland. At first glance it is a plain looking grey bird, but it actually has fine spotty markings on head and breast. It has the habit of choosing a favourite branch and making short flights from it to catch insects before returning to the same branch. It was this habit that I exploited for the photos when I had calmed down after first spotting it on the morning of the 5th May. This too I believe was passing through as I haven’t been able to relocate it.

So that’s my experiences to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it and keep an eye out for further Blogs.

Thank you all for your support of my Blog and FB pages.

Stay safe and well.

I’ve made the decision to spend as much time as possible over at Ronkswood Local Nature Reserve this year to build up as full as picture of what Bird (and Butterfly) species use the area over the course of 12 months.

I’ve extended the local patch to encompass the adjoining Tolladine Golf course. It closed some years ago and its lines of high Conifers that once separated the fairways and the mature deciduous hedge borders are producing some good sightings and birds of course use both the golf course and Nature Reserve so it makes sense to record both areas as one. Of course the Golf Course probably won’t last forever as housing developments are already going up on its borders but I can record as long it lasts.

It seems particularly good for Woodpeckers as there are plenty of tall, mature trees and I’ve ticked 2 of our 3 native species. At one point both were in the same tree and that is not a harmonious combination!

I have plans to visit the other local woodlands that are within walking distance. Elbury Mount and Gorse Hill at the top of the road I’ve already made a couple of visits to of course. Nunnery Wood, which borders Worcestershire Royal Hospital and is part of Worcester Woods Country Park, I walked around on 30th Dec. Next on the list is Perry Wood, which is a few streets away from the furthest border of Ronkswood and has as much history as Ronkswood does.

So far this winter we’ve had mild days and wet days but no real hard frosts until the last couple of nights and no snow as yet. The mild weather has brought a Springtime atmosphere to the patch with Robin, Great and Blue Tit and Song Thrush singing and very few sightings of Winter Thrushes.

The visits I made this month have revealed all the common species I’ve come to expect. Thats not a bad thing though as it all helps build the data and as I’m now submitting all my visit records to the BTO using Birdtrack I can feel I’m contributing something for conservation research.

I always take the Nikon with me and try to photograph as much as I can. Sometimes I feel the ‘Togging’ is taking over as I strive to improve my photography but I feel I have found a harmony between fully recording what I see and hear and the time I spend attempting photography.

The visit I made on Sunday 19th was one of those days when the smaller, constantly flitting, species played ball for once. I have always struggled with photographing Long Tailed Tit but this day I did manage some half decent shots.

Goldcrest is much the same so imagine my joy when a female came really close while I stood below a conifer. It passed just over my head and fed in the tree for a few minutes. From being low down at first it soon foraged higher and higher, so many shots I got were of its belly!

On every visit I hear and see Bullfinch. There are at least 4 males so I’d guess an equal amount of females. Photographing them is not easy as they are very alert to any approach, even from distance. The tactic I use, now I know which area of bushes they favour is to kneel or sit down close by and wait as long as I can and wait for them to appear. It works sometimes and they will sit, if not in full view at least in view, at other times I can hear them on the opposite side of the bush!!

Together with Magpie, the Woodpigeon is the most obvious resident during the autumn and winter months and now I can add its smaller cousin, the Stock Dove to the patch list.

Of course no visit to a British greenspace would be complete without a Robin and Blackbird.

With a Nuthatch on the 19th bringing the patch total to 32, I’m very much looking forward to seeing what species appear during the Spring and Summer months and how many breeding territories are revealed.

And I’ll have the extra pleasure of the Butterflies to record too.

I’ve been in Worcester 3 weeks now and I am beginning to get to grips with what the area has to offer. I have 2 Local Nature Reserves on my doorstep which I’m enjoying exploring and both have already offered up some nice surprises and I can’t wait to see what winter and next spring and summer reveal. There are a couple of wetlands 1/2hr away with which to get the fix that Adwick used to provide.

Over the road is Ronkswood Meadow LNR with a former municipal golf course behind it. The meadow is extremely interesting as it is covered with Medieval Ridge and Furrow and lots of hillocks, the nests of Yellow Meadow Ant. The area is grazed by cattle keeping the swarth short. If there is any one species that is the most common it is the Magpie but I’ve seen 6 species of Crow during my visits. The most surprising being Raven, though this massive crow seems almost common here.

The size difference between the Carrion Crow and a Raven is amazing, just look at that beak! The deep ‘cronk’ of the Raven is so much deeper than the Crow’s ‘Caw’.

Buzzard too are seen daily soaring over the top of the ridge. They spend alot of time in the conifers on the golf course. I’ve started to spot alot of variation in plumage in the Buzzards. A very Red Tailed individual and light and dark phase birds. Kestrel and Sparrowhawk are usually guaranteed too. Early in July 2 Hobby flew over.

With Autumn in full effect the variety of Song Birds are of course small but Robin, Wren and the common finches are resident. I got to see 4 Male Bullfinch feeding on fruit the other day in one bush, something I haven’t seen often.

Visible migration has been observed by Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Meadow Pipit. Still hoping for a Stonechat as the meadow is perfect for them.

The views from Ronkswood are marvellous. You get a view over the city and over to the Malverns. Its such a beautiful area to live.

Behind home is a high hill, Elbury Mount and Gorse Hill LNR. Fully wooded except on the peak, which has 2 Severn Trent water compounds with underground tanks. It is here where I’ve watched mixed Crow flocks circling, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and of course Raven. Goldcrest have been seen amongst the Tit flocks. The views are even more impressive from up here.

I’ve made 1 dedicated Twitch since moving in. Helen and I went south of the city to Clifton Pits where a pair of Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper had been long stayers on a series of flooded fields. Smashing birds seen at extreme P900 distance and my second county rarity.

The best wetland in the area is Upton Warren, a Worcs Wildlife Trust Reserve at Wychbold on the A38 north of the city. A couple of large pools with Flashes suitable for waders. Here I am able to get my fix of wetland species like I did at Adwick Washlands and Old Moor back in Yorkshire. More akin to Old Moor, with its hides and high bordered paths it is well worth a few hours sessions. I would recommend 2 Hides on the reserve, Avocet at the Flashes and Lapwing on the Moors Pool. Both of these remind me of sitting in Wath Ings and Field Pool East at Old Moor. I’ve had cracking views of Curlew, Dunlin, Common and Green Sandpiper, Avocet, Kingfisher and Stonechat, to name a few.

The city itself hasn’t disappointed. The Cathedral has a pair of resident Peregrines, like most cities these days and it’s always great to see them surveying their territory when in town.

I’ve even seen a Kingfisher on the Severn in the heart of the city.

Urban foxes are very noticable. Usually in the early hours but I have seen 2 during the day so far. 1 on Ronkswood and 1 in Gorse Hill LNR. My Ronkswood photo was published in the Worcester News.

I haven’t spent much time on the Malverns except to twitch the 2 juvenile Chough in July but its somewhere I look forward to rambling over in Spring.

My Worcester list stands at a very modest 56 but I’m really eager to built that as the days, weeks and months progress. It’s started well and can only get better.

I’m now down in Worcester, settling into my new home with my best friends and looking forward to exploring the area and building my Worcestershire bird list. I’ve already made 4 visits to the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s reserve at Upton Warren up the M5 at Wychbold, which is a smaller version of Old Moor back up in South Yorkshire.

And speaking of Old Moor, I made my final birding trip prior to relocating last Thursday and what an afternoon and evening it turned out to be.

An alternative title for this blog could be; Waders, you gotta love them! Because of all the bird species I’m likely to encounter, they are by far my favourite. In the U.S these small to medium sized birds are called ‘Shorebirds’ and this name fits perfectly as, except for a few exceptions, it is along some form of shoreline that one is liable to encounter them.

As a novice birders during my teens I considered all waders, with the exception of Lapwing which I regularly found in the fields during my morning walks around Retford, North Notts, to be coastal birds. It was when I began birding around the Lound gravel pits in the 90s that I discovered this was not the case. I actually build a good wader list at Lound and since getting back into birding this year, Adwick Washlands and Old Moor have afforded me a great deal of pleasure seeing waders relatively close up, not something you often get on the coast (RSPB Frampton Marsh being a notable exception).

One wader I’ve rarely connected with is the Curlew Sandpiper, in fact I cant remember the last time I saw one before visiting Frampton a few months ago and even then it was a distance. So, when one was appearing intermittently at Old Moor during Sept I wanted to see it and the perfect opportunity was when arranging a final birding trip with Steve Gregory. I had been a few days earlier but then only Dunlin were about. It would be an afternoon at Old Moor and an meal with 2 other former English Heritage Colleagues, Leanne and Diane, in the evening across the road.

I got to Old Moor at 1.30 and headed to the farthest point of the reserve, Wath Ings, and the appropriately named Wath Ings hide. Besides the potential Sandpiper I did know from Twitter that 2 Little Stint were also present. Straightway I was advised that Sandpiper and Stints were best viewed from the other hide overlooking Wath Ings, the Field Pool East hide.

Out beyond the hide were a series of exposed islets of mud and grass and feeding actively over them were a number of small waders, Dunlin. But Dunlin are a good comparator species and it didn’t take me long to pick out the target species. In contrast to the Dunlin, Little stint are much smaller with a shorter bill and they are whiter, brighter and cleaner looking, at least in this plumage. The back has a prominent white V

Both Stints were present at first but all the little waders were easily flushed and one vanished to another pool during one of their many flight spells. Luckily the rest of the waders returned to the area of the hide.

From amongst the Dunlin I was able to pick out a larger, long legged, longer billed bird with a prominent eye stripe, the Curlew Sandpiper. Again, in comparison to the Dunlin it looked smarter, more graceful and with cleaner lines. Another ID clincher is its white rump.

I watched for over an hour before heading off to the car for a drink and sat in the family hide while waiting for Steve to arrive at 3. Good views of a Teal back in full plumage after wearing its drab Eclipse plumage following breeding.

It was back to Wath Ings after Steve arrived for the rest of the afternoon before leaving as the reserve closed at 5. A single Ruff showed well as did 3 Greenshank, Snipe and a Little Egret. Wigeon to were quite numerous, a sign that winter is on the way.

But it was the 3 small waders that were the stars. At times they fed together and allowed for fantastic comparisons in size, structure and plumage.

Of course these waders arent going to stay around for good, they are fleeting visitors at this time of year as they migrate from the Artic breeding grounds to wintering grounds in Africa. It’s just one of the things that makes autumn so exciting for birders.

I’ve left Doncaster on a high and I’m hoping to begin my future in Worcester with Pectoral Sandpiper, currently at Clifton Pits.

As I enter my last week living in Doncaster, South Yorkshire and spend time sorting out the flat ready for my move to Worcester, I have found myself reflecting on just how much my life has changed this year. Profession wise 2019 has been a traumatic one and I might write a blog on it sometime in the future, but this trauma has been somewhat mitigated and softened by a resurgence in my interest in Birdwatching. Throughout my life my passion for the hobby has gone through a cycle of roughly 20 years on, 20 years off. The last time I was serious about local patch recording, listing and twitching was in the early to mid 1990s and I built up quite a respectable list of species seen. Relationship changes and a University degree saw me develop a deeper interest in Military History and the Natural world receded to the background.

A couple of years ago I discovered Butterflies and a desire to photograph them. I had previously made some attempt to photograph the birds I saw but I never took it to the lengths I did with the Butterflies. Being out and about locally was very relaxing and it was something I really needed for my mental health. Whilst out in the countryside pursuing Butterflies, Birds were of course unavoidable and I began to find my interest renewed somewhat.

It was only when I discovered a work colleague, Steven Gregory, was also big into photography and Nature that the Bird Watching took off again big time. Early this year we had our first of quite a few birding trips but it was in April that he introduced me to the subject of this Blog, RSPB Adwick Washlands in the Dearne Valley.

Previously an open cast coal mine, today Adwick is an area of ponds and flashes of various depths, hedgerows and coarse grassland grazed by cattle. Being adjacent to the River Dearne it is on a migration route and is just one of a series of reserves along the valley. The variety of species is therefore extensive and in the 6 months I’ve been birdwatching here my species total has reached 93 and from Twitter posts there are few I know I’ve missed and if I was staying in the area I’m sure I would have hit 100 by the end of the year.

Steve, Birding and Adwick have got me into increasing my desire to improve my photography and so my Nikon P900, which I acquired in April, is as important to me as my Binoculars and Telescope. In fact the second outing with the Nikon was my first visit to Adwick and it’s superiority over my old Sony A200 and 300mm lens was immediately apparent. This Whitethroat was almost the first bird seen on that first visit.

So this blog is really a Gallery of the birds I’ve photographed at Adwick. I’m really pleased with some of the results I’ve managed to gain but they are just a small and best sample of the hundreds of shots taken. Birds are in motion most of the time and I’m not that good a photographer, I get lucky. My flight shots are not worth talking about!

What I love about Adwick is the uncommon species that can be seen. Spring and Autumn migration periods have brought in Wheatear, Stonechat and Whinchat as they move through to and from their breeding grounds. These small birds are some of my favourite species and one of my greatest joys was self finding a Female Whinchat on the border fence on the 10th May.

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Waders are another of my favourite groups of Birds. Adwick has a breeding population of Avocet, Oystercatcher and Redshank, but Waders on migration are also common: Snipe, Common, Green and Wood Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit (max of 7 seen by myself, but usually single birds), Ruff (4 found by me earlier this month)

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Birds of Prey too are common with Kestrel and Buzzard seen on every visit and, for all the past few visits, Sparrowhawk. Usually Sparrowhawk are a circling speck in the sky, not on Fri 19th Sept though. This time one flew low over the reserve and landed on a fence post just long enough for a distant photo. The greatest thrill though has to be when a Marsh Harrier appears. I been lucky enough to see a female on 2 separate occasions. as you can see I’m not good on in-flight photography.

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Song Birds provide a wonderful chorus to any birding trip and I’ve spent a good deal of time trying to get good shots of them. Being small and quick to disappear into cover getting a good photo is always pleasing achievement.

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There are lots of species to practice on..

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The rarest Bird I’ve seen at Adwick is the Gull Billed Tern I did the blog about in July. So here’s the photo of it again. What a cracker!

The second rarest is this Black Necked Grebe that stayed briefly and swam so far out and dived so frequently that getting a good photo was very difficult and I didn’t manage much more than a record shot.

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There is much I shall miss after I move South next week. When it comes to my bird watching Adwick will be high on the list, it has been a productive local patch and I’ve spent many fabulous hours walking its paths and viewing the birdlife, whether on my own, with Steve or when meeting the other birders who have recorded its birds for many years.

Growing up as a North Nottinghamshire lad the seaside we always visited as a family was Skegness on the Lincolnshire coast at the Northern tip of The Wash. On the Southern edge of Skeggy is Gibraltar Point, A National Nature Reserve owned by Lincs Wildlife Trust. It is home to one of the earliest Bird Observatories in the country which has been monitoring bird migration through trapping and ringing using its Heliogoland Trap since 1949. Being on the wash it is also an important area for Common Seals.

I’ve spent many happy hours walking the reserve over the years but I haven’t visited for at least 5 years so a return was long overdue. The reserve covers 1.7square miles and comprises Salt Marsh, fresh water Marsh, Sand Dunes and of course a long stretch of beach.

Right now post breeding migration is just kicking into gear and large numbers of Waders and Terns and Sea Ducks are moving south along the coast and Swallows and Martins are also beginning to congregate for their return to Africa.

I wanted to spend a full day visiting all the varied habitats of the reserve so set off from Doncaster at 6am for the 2 hour plus drive. I arrived just after 8am and parked up, seemingly and not surprisingly having the place to myself. The morning was warm but cooler than the heatwave of the last few days with some scattered cloud and a pleasant breeze.

Since my last visit Tennyson and Jackson’s Marsh pools have been developed on the western edge of the reserve to the right of the access road down to the main Car Park. 1 hide overlooks Jackson’s and 3 overlook Tennyson. These were my first port of call to see what was present. the reserves’ blog had noted some interesting species using them over the past week, so hopefully I would get a good start to my day.

Apart from the Mallard, Tufted Duck and Black Headed Gulls I first noticed a group of 100+ Black Tailed Godwit, one of which had coloured rings on its legs ( I have reported this to hopefully the scheme that rung it for their records) Getting the scope on them revealed 3 Dunlin and 2 Spotted Redshank amongst them. I was off to a good start. On an Island further back I spotted a Tern on the deck. Although it was rather distant and I couldn’t get a really sharp photo I’m 99% sure of Artic Tern. Later one another 4 Terns were photographed on the same pool and a couple of these have me wavering between Common and Artic Tern. A couple were definitely Common but there was another potential Artic.

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I’m often saying just how common Little Egret are these days but to find 7 on one pool is quite a sight, I see them more than Grey Heron.

These pools were certainly worth visiting and the long sit in the hides definitely rewarding. In the reedy edges a few Reed Warblers were flitting around and I caught as brief view of a Cetti’s Warbler as it moved through the reed bed in front of the middle hide at Tennyson’s, its strongly rounded tail and chestnut colour was very obvious.

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From here I drove my car to the main car park and took a walk past the visitor centre, following the course of the River Wainfleet to the most southerly tip of the reserve, the Wash Viewpoint. From here in the distance was heard a Curlew and out on the mud a good number of Seals could be seen, though not clearly due to the haze. Along the river, amongst the boats were a few Yellow and Pied Wagtail and good numbers of Swallow and Sand Martin.

After a pause on the bench at the viewpoint for a scan and a drink (it was getting warm by now and I’d been walking a fair bit) I visited the facilities then began a circuit of the reserve I’m most familiar with. From the car park I went over the bridge and crossed the Salt Marsh to the East Dunes. I then followed the path to the right instead of heading straight through the Dunes and crossed over its end at the observatory shed and Heligoland Trap and headed toward the Sanctuary area where Little Tern breed. The path turns back north here and after 100yrds a side path leads over a small dune and onto the beach itself.

I could plainly hear the ‘Kryyk, Kryyk’ of the species I was hoping to see, Sandwich Tern and once i’d hit the beach and overlooked the sea I could see many of them moving right to left in front of me, many with fish in their bills. looking up the beach to the North was a sight to behold. 100s of Sandwich Tern on the beach in the distance. They were of course to far out to approach as the tide was only just beginning to come in but even with my cheap equipment I could pick out what they were. There were a number of the smaller’Commic’ (Common/Artic) Tern amongst them and I was told by a sea watcher with much better equipment that a couple of Black Tern were also there. I may have got a shot of one (I have a very small blck smudge on one of my photos :-).

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This same Birder also said Gannet and artic Skua were visible but I’m not claiming them as I was unable to pick them out definitively. Although the Terns were flushed by a Skua while I was watching and I may have picked it out with my binos, but I’m not sure. What I did identify were a few Sanderling on the waters edge and a flock of oystercatcher and a group of around 20 Whimbrel flying South.

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After a period of sea watching I moved back inland as my stomach told me it was getting towards lunchtime. It’s amazing how one doesn’t notice the time passing when birdwatching. There wasn’t much to be seen on the walk between the East dune and the Car park except for a Sedge Warbler feeding it’s young and absolutely dozens and dozens of Small Skipper Butterflies along the edge of the West Dunes and Salt Marsh.

After lunch of Sausage Rolls I returned to Jackson and Tennyson Marshes. I was still to find new species for the day. On Jackson’s Common Sandpiper was pointed out. Now I struggle with individual Common Sand so here were 4 on the same small island. Also here was a Greenshank, the first of 4 for the day, the other 3 being on Tennyson’s when I returned to the hides there.

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On Tennyson the Godwits had spread out and were feeding and quarrelling noisily in front of the left hand hide and the 40+ Avocet (which I forgot to mention from when I first arrived) were still present. I sat for awhile in each hide again finding the other 3 Greenshank as well as Little Grebe, Teal and a dozen or so Common Redshank.

By now it was 2.45pm so I headed back to do a little more sea watching before planning to head off to Lincoln (where I was staying overnight) at 4pm. The tide had come in somewhat and the Sandwich Tern were closer though still at extreme zoom for the Nikon but I got some good shots of the group as a whole.

At 3.30 the weather changed. Big spots of rain began to fall and the sky in the distance was looking threatening. I managed to stay mostly dry on the walk back to the car and set off. At 4pm, as I was driving out of Skegness, the skies opened and it absolutely threw it down for a good 15 minutes. I was very lucky not to get caught in that.

With 48 Species seen during the day and 3 definite year ticks, Sandwich Tern, Sanderling and Whimbrel, Gibraltar Point is going to be on my visit list much more frequently. I thoroughly enjoyed reacquainting myself with a place that I had cut my teeth birding the coast on.

Late June, early July can be a quiet month when it comes to birdwatching. Breeding is in full swing so there is little movement of birds away their breeding territories and the songbirds on territory are mostly staying quiet except for brief snatches of full or sub song. But things are starting to move, waders especially.

I’ve still been out to my most local reserve of course, RSPB Adwick Washlands, but more for Butterflies than Birds.

This all changed on the Thurs 11th and Fri 12th July.

I had been to Adwick over lunch on the 10th and not seen anything myself out of the ordinary. It was around midnight that night that I made my usual check of Twitter and found that a very rare bird had been found and its ID confirmed at Adwick; a Gull Billed Tern.

I think everyone knows what most terns looks like; a grey and white bird looking like a huge Swallow but with a long pointed bill for catching fish. The Gull Billed Tern is the same as this except for the Bill. It is well named as the bill looks like a Gulls bill, its shorter and thicker. Also when compared with the Common Tern that is most often seen inland and has a red bill the Gull Billed’s is black.

So why is this Tern so Special that it created a massive Twitch at Adwick. With only around 3 or 4 sightings a year it is a very rare bird and one turning up at Adwick is very special to all birders. It is most likely the same bird that had been seen at other sites around the country as the chance of 2 or more being in country at any one time are quite slim. Local and regional birders descended on mass to view it. As it stayed less than 24hrs and was elusive at times as it was nervous and easily flushed as many were lucky as were unlucky. I was one of the lucky ones. I arrived at 10am to find a packed car park and made my way to the Northern boundary path as Twitter posts indicated this is where it was best viewed from. Passing returning birders on their way out, the news was not good. It had flown off!! Luckily this was a pattern it repeated through the day. It was showing when I reached the line of birders and their scopes. I snapped a few shots before an Avocet flushed it at 10.15 and it flew off high to the East.

My birding mate arrived just after it vanished but we decided to hang around on the off chance it would return. Of course other birders were arriving all the time and the mood was subdued. About 3/4hr later I spotted it cruising in calmly at low level and gave out the shout. Well I’ve never seen such a change in mood, heads and binoculars raised up and the silence was suddenly cut by excited language.

We were rewarded with good views, albeit at distance and I was grateful for the zoom capacity of the Nikon P900 even though the images aren’t pin sharp.

I left at 12 noon well satisfied and happy to have seen such a rarity on my doorstep. By the end of the evening it disappeared and to date hasn’t been picked up anywhere else.

After the excitement of Thurs the following day was almost as exceptional. A trip out locally had already been arranged with my mate, Steve Gregory, prior to the Tern turning up. So, as arranged, we met up at 9.30 at RSPB Old Moor, in the Dearne Valley and just a mile or two from Adwick. (Adwick is a satellite reserve of Old Moor).

Now anyone who knows Old Moor knows that to spend a full day birding there is quite a stretch but this is what we ended up doing! Despite the reserves 7 hides there isn’t much visibility over the pools when walking from one to the other and there is quite a lot of walking between hides.

Don’t get me wrong, Old Moor has some special species; including Bittern and Bearded Tit, but it does suffer from being Black-Headed Gull city and I have spent hours here and come away without seeing anything special.

Today was different. We knew there were some good birds around; Yellow Legged Gull, Garganey, Little Egret, Black-Tailed Egret, Common, Green and Wood sandpipers.

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Now I love Waders and as Common Sand was still to appear on my year list so I was over the moon when on Wath Ings we found both the Wood and Green Sands as well as 3 Black Tailed Godwit. On the same pond we got good views of the F/M Garganey feeding. A Common Sandpiper was seen from the Wader Scrape hide.

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We visited and spent a good deal of time in each hide which was actually very rewarding. A Bearded Tit called a couple of times and flashed by the hide. a few Common Tern were fishing close by and Great Crested and Little Grebe were seen well.

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Best of all though was a Peregrine Falcon. Twice during the morning one caused consternation amongst the birdlife by flying over the pools but I hadn’t expected to get the views I did. On the way round to the reedbed screen I noticed a bird sat high up on one of the electricity pylons that cross the edge of the reserve. Through the scope it turned out to be a Peregrine! The reedbed screen was closer to the pylon so we had good views of a very scruffy looking Juvenile moulting into its adult plumage. It sat up there all afternoon, preening, sleeping and surveying the reserve.

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We ended what was a fulfilling day at the bird feeding station at the Tree sparrow farm. Goldfinch and Greenfinch were the most obvious species on the feeders but a Bullfinch did come down, although for photograph purposes he played hide and seek. 2 young Blackcap, with brown caps, were flitting around the bushes close by.

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All in all a fantastic 2 days birding on what I now consider my local patch. The RSPB are doing a fantastic job in developing reserves along the River Dearne, it is proving quite an important migration route and often comes up with some real goodies.