Waterloo Day – preparation.

Following my temporary transfer to the British staff at Waterloo 2014 (see yesterday’s post), I was offered a position on the staff for the “Big One”.

I began my preparations.

Totally unconnected with this I resigned my position as French General in August and reverted to my rôle of a French pensioner from Les Invalides – the French equivalent if the Chelsea Pensioners.

I began to order items of uniform and equipment. I had received a second offer from the appointee to the position of commander of the Allied 2nd Brigade. Having determined that I would be the Assistant Quarternaster General with the rank of Major I began the collection from various uniform manufacturers, metalwork and hat makers, and of course eBay.

My chosen regiment was the Royal Scots. This was my unit from the Marlburian era, so I could claim that it was an ancestral tradition to purchase commissions in that regiment. The regiment was also at the time unrepresented in British Napoleonic reenactment.

With all the kit and caboodle together – I already had the camping gear – I attended a few of the training events held during the run-up to the big event.

I also took responsibility for furnishing the “Officers’ Mess” with an oak trestle table and six folding chairs, together with candelabra, etc.

So, with ferry from Dover booked, I was ready.