October Speaker Meeting

The Battle of Waterloo

Chris Viner 16th October, 2018

Chris’s enthusiasm for his subject was infectious and kept us all enthralled whist he regaled us with a talk which dipped into his extensive knowledge of the subject.

He started by telling us a little about the terms of Napoleon’s exile to Elba and the broken promises made to him at his abdication. He went on to regale us on the return of the Emperor and the believed logic of his march towards Brussels.

The confusion and chance involved in the Battle of Waterloo were evident in his recounting of numerous mistakes by both sides and petty disputes which could have resulted in the battle honours going either way. Chris had several theories of his own regarding heroes of the battle and said that, although it is usually told of the British and Prussians versus the French, there were many other nations troops involved and crucial in the outcome.

At the end of the evening Bill Smith gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the club for a superb and enlightening evenings entertainment.