Waterloo (1970) - A most beautiful scene

'Our officers of cavalry have acquired a trick of galloping at everything. They never consider the situation, never think of manoeuvring before an enemy, and never keep back or provide a reserve.'

—Arthur Wellesley, The Duke of Wellington

The Battle of Waterloo
At a crucial juncture, Uxbridge ordered his two brigades of British heavy cavalry, formed unseen behind the ridge, to charge in support of the hard-pressed infantry. The 1st Brigade, known as the Household Brigade, commanded by Major-General Edward Somerset (Lord Somerset), consisted of 'guards regiments': the 1st and 2nd Life Guards, the Royal Horse Guards (the Blues), and the 1st 'King's' Dragoon Guards. The 2nd Brigade, also known as the Union Brigade, commanded by Major-General Sir William Ponsonby, was so called as it consisted of an English (1st, 'The Royals'), a Scottish (2nd, 'Scots Greys'), and an Irish (6th, 'Inniskilling') regiment of heavy dragoons. According to Wellington, they had little tactical ability or nous (common sense). The two brigades had a combined field strength of about 2,000 (2,651 official strength), and they charged with the 47-year-old Uxbridge leading them and little reserve. The Household Brigade charged down the hill in the centre of the battlefield. The French brigade of cuirassiers guarding d'Erlon's left flank were still dispersed, and so were swept over the deeply sunken main road and then routed.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Waterloo)

Video clip: Waterloo (1970)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Wellington
• Wellesley
• Uxbridge
• Napoleon
• Bonapart
• Battle
• Waterloo
• Hundred
• Years
• War
• Heavy
• Cavalry
• British
• French
• social
• science
• humanities

[ConstantineJoseph]

I personally do not think that Britain was able to match Napoleon's forces one on one in continental Europe, without the support of a coalition of European powers, the dutch, the Prussians etc.....

The French relied on conscripts willing to die for their Emperor, a population of 40 million to levy from. Britain in comparison had 8 million. Britain remained unhurt due to the English Channel and the 1000 ship Royal Navy. On land, Napoleon is the master . No doubt about that.

[arriviste2020]

@Viewer8806

Well, being honest, you have to love the French. Without them America would never have managed to gain their independence. The French cavalry counter-attacked and were destroyed on the British 'squares" Then the Brit cavalry, used a flanking manoeuver and destroyed large sections of the French Cavalry, as did the Royal Artillery, using 'case' shot. Your self - proclaimed hatred for the British is just a reminder of the greatest Empire ever.Ironic that you communicate in English:).

[CortoMaltese091]

If Napoleon had won...Would have been wonderful!

[BigDon62]

@ConstantineJoseph Indeed Napoleon was a brilliant General but I can not agree that The British could not match him on land. That little corporal certainly had some desperate ideas & obsessions regarding his British betters, why the fellow even had a hair brained scheme to build a Channel Tunnel nearly 200 years ahead of his time ! Nothing wrong with a little forward thinking, but that was yet another ridiculous French folly !

[rock2logist]

TA RUPA YO NAGALAS.. KARUPRUPA YO NI DULENG NGA ASIOG

[Onedarkandwindynight]

@ConstantineJoseph Hi Joseph, on land, Napoleon a great tactician (He took daring chances) Victorious in many battles except The only occasion that he fought the British - Waterloo. Recall that the British army in the Spanish Peninsula beat the French enabling the invasion of France. The Royal Navy ships you mentioned were hardly used directly against the French. (Except to blockade) Lord Nelson obliterated the French Navy over several battles using only a twenty or so ships.

[cosmictimes]

@ConstantineJoseph 8 million v's 40 million in 1815?? The polulation of France today is 65 million. The population of Britain today is now 60 million ...........WTH?? Did someone slip something into the tea when no-one was looking to make the British so rampant or did the French loose their 'Va,Va, Voom'??

[PingerGubesss]

whats the music in this scene called?

[MrRagingbovine]

this scene is based on a painting. it actually looks like the painting its amazing

[ienjoypaninis]

@12F220 One's colonialism has had a lasting impact and changed the modern world,. the other hasn't nearly as much.

[12F220]

@ienjoypaninis then it appears to me that the britsh is just as far off as the french are today, both have insignificant little Islands, and both used to be colonial powers