Directly outside General Register House, Edinburgh, sits the equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington. It gives the National Records of Scotland a unique link with the British general and his most famous victory at Waterloo on 18 June 1815.
The battle involved thousands of Scottish troops in the British army’s epic fight, alongside other allied forces, against Napoleon’s superior army. More than 4,000 British soldiers died in or soon after the battle, but the survivors earned the right to wear the Waterloo medal, and enjoyed the status of heroes at home.
The stories of some of the fallen and of the surviving veterans can be traced in documents held inour archives. The examples featured here mainly concern the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameron Highlanders) and the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Scots Greys).
Quatre Bras 16 June 1815
Two days before Waterloo, a very bloody encounter took place at a vital crossroads a few miles south of the more famous battlefield. British and allied units stopped the French advance northwards towards Brussels, but at a terrible price for the Scottish regiments fighting in the 5th Division. This included the 79th (Cameron Highlanders), the 92nd Regiment (Gordon Highlanders) and the 42nd Regiment (Black Watch).
The Cameron Highlanders threw back a French infantry attack at bayonet point, but took heavy casualties from artillery fire and cavalry attacks. The battalion commander, 14 other officers, 12 sergeants and about 250 other ranks were wounded at Quatre Bras. Some 25 rank and file were killed. One of the two officers to die was Captain John Sinclair from Caithness, commanding No. 4 company. A veteran of the Peninsular campaign, Sinclair reported on military preparations in one of his last letters home to his sister Bettsy on 28 May, written in haste as the regiment marched to Brussels.
Letter from Captain John Sinclair, 28 May 1815, National Records of Scotland, GD139/369/28
Transcription of Letter from Captain John Sinclair, 79th Regiment
to Bettsy in Thurso, 28 May 1815. National Records of Scotland, GD139/369/28
Ghent 28 May 1815
My Dear Sister
I have just arrived here
and we march for Brussells in an hour
every thing is hurry and confusion nothing
but soldiers to be seen in this fine coun
try, we are told the army is in motion for
the frontiers of france but of this
you will know more than I do When
you see the newspapers I have not
time to write more but to request you
will let W[ilia]m & all my friends know I
am well. I will write the moment
I have to spare to William
Your affectionate
J Sinclair Capt[ain]
The Gordon Highlanders also suffered badly. Amongst the losses was their commanding officer and an ensign, John Munro McPherson. He died without having made a will. The inventory of his estate, however, reveals that two years later his surviving brother and sister in Edinburgh were anxious to benefit from their portion of the money owed to him for his services in the field, the sum of £2 sterling.
Testament of John Munro McPherson, National Records of Scotland, CC8/8/143
Waterloo 18 June 1815
The 1st Brigade of the British 5th Division was drawn up east of the main Brussels to Charleroi road, with the Cameron Highlanders at the centre of the brigade position. Its experiences during the battle were in some ways typical of the British units. They withstood very heavy bombardment by the French artillery and repeated attacks by infantry and cavalry. Along with the Gordon Highlanders they famously repelled an attack by the numerically superior columns of d'Erlon's corps. Their counter-attack was followed by the charge of the Union Brigade of dragoon regiments, including the Scots Greys, which devastated the French columns. The 79th Highlanders suffered from cannon fire throughout the day, and formed one of the unbreakable squares against numerous attacks by the French cavalry. At the end of the battle, the shattered remnant of the 79th Highlanders was commanded by a Lieutenant, Alexander Cameron, as all senior officers were dead or wounded.
Among British cavalry casualties on 18 June was a young laird, Alexander Hay of Nunraw. He served as an ensign in the 16th Regiment of Light Dragoons that covered the retreat of the Scots Greys. Born 6 September 1796, Hay was just nineteen years old when he was 'killed in the field of Watterloo'. He died intestate, but the inventory of his estate provides a snapshot of the wealth of the proprietor of a small East Lothian estate.
Inventory of Alexander Hay, National Records of Scotland CC15/7/2
Transcription of the inventory of Alexander Hay, 8 August 1816. National Records of Scotland, CC15/7/2 pp.114-116
Inventory of the Personal Estate of Alexander Hay of Nunraw
At Lauder the eight
day of August Eighteen
hundred and Sixteen
years the Inventary after inserted was
Presented by William Cunningham writer
in Dunse and is recorded as follows
being
___________________________________
being wrote on a Seventy five pounds Stamp
Inventory of Personal Estate of Alexander Hay of
Nunraw Ensign in the Sixteenth Regiment of
Light Dragoons Who was killed in the field of
Watterloo upon the eighteenth day of June
Eighteen hundred and fifteen years; given up
by William Hay, Esq[ui]r[e] of Drummelzier his
brother and one of his nearest in Kin
In primis
Balance due by William Hay Esq[ui]r[e] of
Drummelzier to the deceased at Whitsunday
Eighteen hundred and fifteen per stated account 2053 5 53/12
Interest thereof to 18 June 1815 34 days £9 11 1
Less Tax 19 1 8 12
Secundo
Arrears of Rents falling under Executry
Viz
Arrears of Rent by Archibald Knox for Nunraw
house and Parks crop 1814 due at Candlemas
and Lammas 1815 £126 7 71/12
D[itt]o 1st half crop 1815 the deceased
having survived Whitsunday
1815 due Candlemas 1816 105
Peter Brodie 1st half of Garvald
Mains crop 1815 due D[itt]o 130
Philip Hastie 1st half of Castle
Moffat crop 1815 due at Whitsun:
Day 1815 62 10
423 17 76/12
Tertio
Ballance in the hands of Messrs Colyer & Son
Army agents London at the time of the
death of the deceased supposed about 200
£2685 15 9/12
(signed) W[ilia]m Hay W[ilia]m Cunningham Com[missary]
At Dunse Castle the Second day of August Eight:
teen hundred and Sixteen years in presence of William Cunningham
Writer in Dunse Commissioner appointed by David Renton Esq[ui]r[e]
Commissary
__________________________________
Commissary of the Commissariot of Lauder appeard
William Hay Esquire of Drummelzier Brother
German and one of the Executors of the deceased
Alexander Hay of Nunraw Who being Solemnly
Sworn and examined depones that the said
Alexander Hay died intestate on the eighteenth day
of June Eighteen hundred and fifteen. That the
Deponent has entered upon the possession
and management of his personal or moveable
Estate as one of his Executors Qua nearest of Kin
That the Deponent Knows of no Settlement or
other writing left by the deceased relative to
the disposal of his personal Estate or effects
or any part of them: That the foregoing
Inventary which is Signed by the Deponent and
the Said Commissioner as relative thereto is
a full and complete Inventary of the personal
Estate and Effects of the Said deceased where[soever]
Situated in Scotland is of the value of Two
thousand pounds and under the Value of Three
thousand pounds Sterling, All which is
truth as the Deponent Shall answer to God
(signed) W[illia]m Hay W[illia]m Cunningham Com[missary]
Waterloo veterans
Most Scots who left the army after the service in the Napoleonic Wars returned home to where they were born or had lived and worked before they enlisted. Not all found work in the post-war economic slump, but, apart from labouring, a common occupation was weaving, and soldiers also became shoemakers and tailors. Others went into the service of civil authorities, as police officers, sheriff officers and jailers.
The high standing of the Waterloo veterans, and the link they provided to the historic battle, meant that the deaths of respected individual veterans were noticed in local newspapers as the decades passed. Featured here are survivors of Waterloo from the Cameron Highlanders and the Scots Greys.
John Kennedy, Sergeant, 79th Regiment of Foot
He was born in 1786 in Renfrew, joined the army in 1804, and fought at Waterloo as a veteran of the Peninsular War and other European campaigns. After his discharge, Kennedy served for fourteen years as keeper of the county jail at Cupar, Fife. He was also a sheriff officer, and, in 1837, was involved in policing an election riot in Auchtermuchty. Later he became an inn keeper in Cupar. His military training and experience probably helped in all these occupations. He was a staff sergeant of the pensioners corps. On anniversaries of Waterloo he fired 'several discharges of cannon' from the Moathill in Cupar. He died at Cupar on 14 August 1848, in his 62nd year. In 1846 he made a will jointly with his wife, Jean Munro, who remarried in January 1849. The inventory of his estate lists the household furniture and other possessions, amounting to £34, that she inherited.
Inventory of John Kennedy, National Records of Scotland, SC20/50/21
Transcription of inventory of John Kennedy, 20 December 1850. National Records of Scotland, SC20/50/21, pp.836-837
At Cupar the Twentieth day of December
Eighteen hundred and fifty years In presence
of Alexander Earle Monteith Esquire Advocate
Commissary of the Commissariot of Fife
Compeared William Duncan Writer in Cupar
as Procurator for the party after named &
designed and gave in the writs under-
-written and desired the same to be
recorded in the Commissary Court Books
of Fife, conform to Law, which desire
the said Commissary found to be reasonable
and ordained the same to be done accordingly
whereof the tenor follows Viz: Inventory of
the Personal Estate of Umquhile John
Kennedy, Spirit dealer Cupar who died there
Testate, on or about fourteenth August Eighteen
hundred and forty eight given up by Mrs
Jean Monro or Kennedy now Robertson his
relict as his Executive Nominate
1. Cash in the Commercial Bank Cupar
in the names of the deceased &
his said Spouse £95 0 0
2. Value of the deceased’s furniture
and Carry Forw[ar]d £95
___________________________________
Brought Forward £95
and stock conform to Inventory and
valuation by Andrew Welch licensed
appraiser £34 0 6
3. Sums due to the deceased by John
Brunton Mason Cupar, & his Estate
amounting in all to Eighty pounds
or thereby – But in Consequence of
Brunton being Bankrupt and of
other circumstances the claim cannot
be reckoned worth more than 20 0 0
Summa of the foregoing Inv[entor]y is £149 0 6
Cupar 20 December 1850 referred to in the sub:
joined affidavit (signed) Jane Munro Tho[mas] Shaw
At Cupar the Twentieth day of December Eighteen
hundred and fifty years In presence of
Thomas Shaw Esquire Commissary Depute
of Fife Compeared Mrs Jean Munro or Kennedy
relict of John Kennedy, Spirit dealer Cupar
now spouse of William Robertson Vintner Cupar
who being solemnly sworn and examined Depones
That the said John Kennedy the Deponents late
husband died on or about the fourteenth August
Eighteen hundred and forty eight, when she
entered upon the management & possession
of his moveable Estate as his Executrix
Nominated and appointed by a Mutual
Testament, executed between them on Twenty
sixth March Eighteen hundred and forty
six which is now exhibited & subscribed
by the Deponent and Commissary as relative
hereto, That the Deponent knows of no other
deed or writing relative to the disposal of the
___________________________________
deceased’s personal Estate other than said
Testament –. That the foregoing Inventory
(which is signed with reference hereto)
contains a correct statement of the deceaseds
personal means and effects, so far as known
to the deponent, and the same situated
in Scotland is above the value of one
hundred pounds, and under the value
of Two hundred pounds – All which is
truth as the Deponent shall answer to
God (signed) Jane Munro Tho[mas] Shaw
Inventory and valuation of Household Furniture
and other Effects which belonged to the late
Mr John Kennedy Vintner Cupar
Sofa 20/ table & cover 12/ 4 chairs 16/ £2 8
Arm chair 20/ wardrobe 8/, chamberstand 2/ 1 10
Table 1/ fender & irons 2/ Carpet 6/ Pictures 5/ 14
Looking Glass 1/ Mantle piece ornaments 1/6 2 6
Map of Fife 3/ 14 chairs 28/ 2 tables 2/6 1 13 6
Grate fender & irons 4/6 chamberstand 1/ table 1/ 6 6
2 tubs 3/ Dresser 2/, 2 chairs 1/6 pots pans etc 6/ 12 6
Bedstead & bedding in Kitchen 12/ table 1/ crockery 6/, 19 -
China 1/6 crystal 9/ Bottles 5/ 15 6
Knives and forks 3/ silver teaspoons 10/ 13 -
Eightday clock 40/ Bedstead & bedding £4 18s 6 18
Drawers 25/ small drawers 3/6 table 6/6 1 15
Table 1/ 4 chairs 4/ stool /6 Press 2/ 7 6
Pictures 3/ Books 5/ watch £2 2 8
Small drawers & box 4/ Grate fender & irons 10/ 14 -
Spirit measures 8/6 spirits £8 15/ 9 3 6
Porter and ale 25/ Napery 15/ 2 - -
Body clothes 1 0 0
34 0 6
__________________________________
The above Inventory and valuation were made
by me to the best of my skill amounting in
all to Thirty four pounds and sixpence St[erlin]g
(signed) Andrew Welch Licensed Appraiser
Cupar 20 Dec[ember] 1850 This is the Inventory and
valuation referred to in my affidavit of
this date to the verity of the Inventory of the
late John Kennedy’s Personal Estate (signed)
Jane Munro, Tho[mas] Shaw.
We John Kennedy Spirit dealer in Cupar and
Jane Munro or Kennedy Spouses for the love
and affection (which) which we have to and
bear for one another, do hereby leave & bequeath
to ourselves and the longest liver of us the whole
goods, gear, debts, sums of money, household
furniture, and other moveables whatsoever
that may pertain and belong or be resting and
owing to us or either of us, at the time of
our decease, or at the decease of either of us.
with the whole vouchers and instructions
of the said debts, and all that has followed
or may be competent to follow thereon and
we hereby Nominate and Appoint the longest
liver of us to be executor to the first deceasor.
Declaring that these presents are granted
under the burden of the payment our
just and lawful debts, with our deathbed
and funeral expenses – Reserving to us
our liferent of the property hereby bequeathed
and full power and liberty to us during our
lives to alter and revoke this Testament as
we shall think proper. In Witness Whereof
these presents written by David Hay Writer in
_________________________________
Cupar are subscribed by us at Cupar the
Twenty sixth day of March Eighteen hundred
and forty six years before these Witnesses
the said David Hay and William Shepherd
writer and residing in Cupar (signed)
John Kennedy, Jean Kennedy, Dav[id] Hay
Witness W[illia]m Shepherd Witness –
Cupar 20 Dec[embe]r 1850, This is the Testament referred
to in my Deposition of this date to the verity
of the Inventory of the Personal Estate of
John Kennedy within designed (signed)
Jane Munro, Tho[mas] Sha
John Dunn, Private, 79th Regiment of Foot
Dunn was born in the parish of St Quivox near Ayr. He worked as a labourer while serving in the Ayr militia. In 1807 he enlisted in the army at the age of twenty-four. He fought at Quatre Bras, and at Waterloo where, his obituary stated, he acted as bugler to Sir Neil Douglas, commanding officer of the 79th. He was wounded by musket balls. His discharge papers stated he was 'severely wounded in the testicles and right groin'. Dunn recovered and continued to serve in the regiment in France until 1818. During its posting at Limerick in 1821, Dunn was discharged, for 'impaired constitution from irregular living'; the medical officer stated he suffered from rheumatism and asthma.
He became a weaver in Ayrshire and Stirling. He named a daughter Montague Maule Dunn in compliment to one of the regimental officers, Lieutenant Fox Maule and his wife Montagu Abercromby. Maule became an MP, was twice Secretary of State for War and as Earl of Dalhousie offered to support Dunn's claim for increased pension in 1864. Dunn died on 12 April 1872, aged 87. In his obituary he was described as 'a most intelligent and steady old man'. ('Glasgow Herald', 15 April 1872).
James Mason, 79th Regiment of Foot
Mason was also said in an obituary notice to have served as a bugler to Sir Neil Douglas at Waterloo. He is not, however, in the standard lists of the veterans. Born around 1795, at the end of his life he was living in the Lawnmarket, Edinburgh. He died on 15 October 1844, aged 50, from a 'disease of the chest' according to the register of burials. Only the day before he had attended a parade of the veteran corps of pensioners, at which he spoke to his former commanding officer, Major General Sir Neil Douglas (Governor of Edinburgh Castle and Commander-in-Chief of forces in Scotland). For the veteran's funeral on 21 October the corps of pensioners formed up outside his house, with band and firing party. The men then marched with the coffin held shoulder high to the new cemetery at Warriston, where Mason was buried with military honours. Crowds gathered on the streets to watch, attracted by 'the novelty of the spectacle', according to the 'Caledonian Mercury' (21 October 1844).
Several veterans of Waterloo became innkeepers or kept boarding houses, including these two survivors from the Scots Greys.
Archibald Johnston, Sergeant Major, Scots Greys
Born in Lochmaben, Johnston joined the Scots Greys in 1800 at the age of seventeen. At Waterloo he was wounded in the hand, and severely injured when his horse fell under him. Discharged on a daily pension of 1 shilling and 11 pence, he became the landlord of the Waterloo Tavern in Dumfries, and later inn keeper of the Lamb & Flag, Dumfries, where annual Waterloo dinners were held. In his last years he was totally blind. After his death on 11 November 1847, the 'Dumfries and Galloway Standard' described him on 17 November as 'in every respect a fine specimen of a veteran British soldier'.
Thomas Stoddart, Sergeant, Scots Greys
Born in Newbattle around 1784, Stoddart served in Captain Poole's troop at Waterloo. He was keeping a boarding house in Causewayside, Edinburgh, at the time of his death on 8 February 1852. He died worth more than £1,000, and in his will he bequeathed money to his niece, Harriet Taylor, for 'the care and attention she has shown me, and the love and affection I bear to her'.
