Startling New Discovery Made At Battle Of Waterloo Site

For the third year in succession, archaeologists have teamed up with injured military veterans and serving personnel to form the seventy-strong 'Waterloo Uncovered' archaeological team.

They will be making excavations at Waterloo, where Wellington famously defeated Napoleon.

Their focus has been a farm that the British successfully defended throughout the Battle in June 1815 against fierce attacks from Napoleon’s forces.

Until now it’s been thought that the French only briefly broke into the farm but the dig has revealed a different story.

In June 1815, 1500 British soldiers held out all day at Hougoumont Farm against five thousand of Napoleon’s troops.

Traces of a large building discovered at the entrance may explain a failed French incursion there, anda former British soldier Steve Williams helped make the discovery.

'Waterloo Uncovered' involves several military veterans like Steve, as well as serving personnel.

Each has experienced physical or mental health problems and being on a dig is intended to help.

Since he served in Afghanistan, James Thompson has suffered nightmares and considered suicide. He said: 

“It helps me being round other veterans I suppose as well and I’m learning, getting a bit of skill at something I never thought I would do.”

A long held belief is that Napoleon’s soldiers only entered one part of Hougomont, but compelling new evidence being unearthed suggests that a walled garden was also breached.

This year for the first time the British are being joined by a Dutch military contingent.

Moos Raaijmakers, a Dutch Army Warrant Officer, said:   

“I think it’s good to get in touch with your past especially for the Dutch because we had troops here as well. We got many units with Waterloo were in Quatre Bras 1815 on their banners and on their flags. This is the start of our Army two hundred years ago.”

There’s still much to learn about a twelve-hour battle that ended twenty years of war in Europe.

The 'Waterloo Uncovered' archaeologists aim to return next summer and have now been granted permission to continue their work here for at least another five years.