I recently did a review of Allied batteries at Waterloo and realised just how much work needs to be done to get them all ready. Fortune favours the bold and I approached my painting team to see who might be willing to take on batteries. A host of volunteers came forward and each has been sent a British, KGL, Hanoverian or Dutch battery.
I now present the first two batteries, one of which is Royal Artillery and the other Royal Horse Artillery. Each battery is shown with five guns and one howitzer and accompanying limbers. The caissons are not yet shown but will follow.
Two controversies have arisen. First, were the caissons forward on the gun line or held to the rear. Specialist advice suggests some were forward and others ran a relay system from the artillery park in the rear. They will be shown thus.
Secondly, the thorny subject of gun colours has come up. These two batteries are largely by Andre and are magnificently executed. The guns are shown in the grey-blue which is widely considered the right colour. However other sources from original guns suggest that a plainer anthracite grey may be more appropriate. Other British, KGL and Hanoverian batteries will be shown in this way.
