On this day in Scottish history

[jhockin]

On 18 June 1815 the Battle of Waterloo was fought in Belgium.

Many Scottish regiments took part in the battle, which ended Napoleon's "hundred days". Perhaps the most prominent action involving the Scottish contingent was the combined charge of the Gordon Highlanders and the Scots Greys. A French column with over 4,000 men advanced on the Highlanders, while the Gordons, with only about 300 men, were under strict orders not to give way. As the situation reached its most critical moment, suddenly the Scots Greys appeared on the top of the hills. Both Gordons and Scots Greys in common charged the French column, shouting, Scotland Forever, with the Gordons hanging on to the stirrups of the cavalry horses.

On 18 June 1970 the Scottish National Party celebrated their first General Election success, with Donald Stewart winning the Western Isles constituency from Labour. He was to hold on to the seat until his retiral in 1987.

[ThistleDown]

This painting, Jerry: "Gordons and Greys to the front"

[TheOfficialBren]

Respectfully, I had to borrow this picture, Rex, and repost it on Facebook. It's incredibly inspiring.

"Gordons and Greys to the Front," 1898 by Stanley Berkeley

[figheadair]

with the Gordons hanging on to the stirrups of the cavalry horses.

Great painting but the story above is am impossible feat and must surely be a myth.

[ThistleDown]

Both regiments retain the legend as history but eyewitness' accounts disagree. In fact, it is quite likely that many Gordons were trampled to death as the Greys charged through them.

[Pleater]

The painting depicts the taking of the flag of the French 45th regiment of the line - sergeant Ewart who got hold of it was ordered to get it away safely so it could not be retaken, and he was promoted to ensign - I believe he is buried in Edinburgh castle and there is a memorial to him there.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Benning Boy]

We hold myths dear, but often don't take into account that somewhere somehow myths are rooted in some sort of fact.

The best I've come up with, and it certainly isn't definitive, is that the Gordons had taken a licking and were falling back. The Grays were ordered to advance and proceeded at a walk, passing through the disorganized Gordons. The Gordons, heartened by the advance of the Grays, rallied and turned, horsemen and infantry advancing together. As they closed with the French the speed picked up. At some point the Grays began to charge at the gallop, Gordons running behind. A fight with the French ensued. Command and control broke down, the fighting went every which way. Horses and troops rapidly tired, but eventually the Scots prevailed, more or less. But however it went down. Great things were done that day in those few hours by Scottish troops. Perhaps what is remembered is fact, perhaps it's more myth. Either way the brave are honored, and that in my book is a good thing. My favorite portrayal of the event is Lady Elizabeth Butler's "Scotland Forever." One of these days I'll hang a large copy of it here over the computer desk, after I paint the walls.

[Ron Abbott]

I don't know whether it is still there or not, however there used to be a huge picture/painting of Ensign Ewart capturing the French eagle standard, hanging on the back wall of the Ensign Ewart pub (formerly The Eagle Bar) in The Lawnmarket, Edinburgh.