Waterloo - D'Erlon's 1 Corp Attack Part 1

Way back in the dim distant past a teenage version of myself laid out a tiny version of Waterloo on a 6x4 piece of painted hardboard. This was either put on the family dining table or on the living room floor (I had very tolerant parents!). My newly constructed Airfix Waterloo Farmhouse aka La Haye Sainte and a smattering of Hinton Hunt and Airfix figures completed the scene. I'm sure that I did not imagine that 50+ years later I would still be as addicted.

I decided to play this game as a stand alone action i.e. not influenced by events on the Western flank or over on the East at Plancenoit. Consequently Durette's action with Best's Nassau contingent at Papelotte is not covered. I did however give a little nod to my Plancenoit game from last year by having the Imperial Guard available (all 6 Battalions in my collection) but only on the specific order of Napoleon (Plancenoit was held by the French in that game).

The Brigades on either side were not entirely accurately represented! For example, for reasons known only to myself (i.e. I made a mistake) I gave Ompteda 5 Battalions rather than 4. Somerset's Household Brigade had 3 rather than 2 regiments (because it looked better rather than substituting with a non household regiment!). The French Line regiments were represented by single battalions rather than 2 (or 3 in the case of 13th Light).  Tune in to "Season 2" when the French get their full complement (almost).

Having largely concentrated my collecting on this section of the Waterloo battlefield  I was able to represent 90% of the regiments involved. There were 900 or so Hinton Hunts available. 

I thought this was the bees knees c1973

The 2026 layout (actually constructed over 10 years ago) utilising standard hexes for the middle ground and scratch built foam slopes. The only change to the Airfix La Haye Sainte is that it is now fixed to a base. 

This 7x5 set up gives me just enough room to get around 3 sides. A scenic board yet to be added to the long side.

The North ridge looking East

LHS and the cross roads. Abatis have yet to be put across the road (garden twigs!) 

Allied infantry and artillery in their starting positions with scenic backdrop now in place.

Abatis now in place - some bushes still to be put along the road

All troops have been placed as near as possible to their historical starting positions. Cavalry are off table. 

Royal Field Artillery battery with Alten's 3rd Div King's German Legion to their rear. The KGL are all represented by British figures.

The KGL Light Infantry in LHS are represented by 60th Rifles (in my excitement I  deployed them to LHS but also as alter egos in reserve). 

95th Rifles in their positions in the sandpit and behind the hedges to the rear

Uxbridge, Wellington and ADC 

Behind the ADC the Austrian and Russian attaches: Baron de Vincent & Lt Gen Count Pozzo di Borgo 

RHA Rocket Troop (Fine Scale Factory figures)

Picton and ADC

 LHS orchard with KGL at the ready

Le Petit Caporal with ADC and Ney to his right

The French troops view when they move towards LHS

 

Quiot 1st Div, Donzelot 2nd Div and Marcognet 3rd Div with Divisional artillery in place (Durette 4th Div does not feature in this game)

French Divisional Artillery waiting for the order to open fire  

Why has the commander only given us single battalions?!

The ground is too soft for the artillery mon Empereur!

The massed Divisions wait patiently for the order to advance

The Brigades of Ompeda, Kempt, Pack and Best on the reverse slope with Perponcher's cannon fodder Dutch/Belgians at the front.  

Quiot's orders are to take LHS and the crossroads

Next post, an order of battle and the start of proceedings.