-
The Picton Stele
Wounded the day before at Quatre-Bras, General Tomas Picton died at the head of his troops there.
Nicknamed the « Jacketed Warrior », the General, a native of Wales, commanded his units with determination, armed with his umbrella and wearing a top hat. He died on 18 June 1815 at the head of his troops on the battlefield of Waterloo.
The stele marks the spot where he died, serving as a reminder of the key role played by this commander in the fighting that preceded and followed the decisive battle against Napoleon.
-
The Royal Irish Rangers Stele
Located on the Waterloo battlefield, the Royal Irish Rangers Monument pays tribute to the Irish soldiers who fought alongside the British army in the famous battle of 18 June 1815. At the time, many British regiments included troops from Ireland, who fought under the command of the Duke of Wellington against Napoleon’s forces.
This monument commemorates the sacrifice and courage of these men, who came from far and wide to take part in a confrontation that would prove decisive in the history of Europe. Erected by The Royal Irish Rangers regiment, it symbolises the memory of the Irish regiments and perpetuates the link between past and present.
-
The 8th Line Infantry Regiment Stele
The 8th Line Infantry Regiment was one of the French units involved in the most violent assaults of the Battle of Waterloo.
This stele, erected close to the battlefield, pays tribute to this regiment, which distinguished itself by its bravery and tenacity.
During the fighting, the 8th was involved in attacks on Allied positions near La Haye Sainte, a strategic point defended tooth and nail by the British. Despite being battered by enemy rifle and artillery fire, the soldiers of the 8th continued to advance under the orders of their officers, embodying the stubbornness of Napoleon’s army right up to its final moments.
-
The Royal Horse Artillery Marker Stele
The Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) stele marks one of the positions held by this prestigious British unit during the Battle of Waterloo.
Attached to the Duke of Wellington’s army, the RHA was distinguished by its great mobility: its light guns, mounted on wheels, were horse-drawn, allowing rapid redeployment on the battlefield. On 18 June 1815, its artillerymen played a crucial role in the defence of the Allied lines, firing at short range on the French charges.
This simple monument, sometimes overlooked by visitors, is a reminder of the extreme tension of that day, when every piece of artillery could change the course of a confrontation.
Chemin des Vertes Bornes, 1420 Braine-l’Alleud (path between the Lion’s Mound and Hougoumont)
-
The Augustin Demulder Stele
This stele pays tribute to Augustin Demulder, a young Belgian soldier who joined Napoleon’s Great Army.
Born in Lessines in 1797, he joined the ranks of the 2nd Regiment of Imperial Guard infantry Hunters, an elite unit. On 18 June 1815, aged just 18, Augustin was killed in action during the final stages of the Battle of Waterloo. His stele stands on the very spot where he was found, a reminder of the sacrifice of thousands of young men, often anonymous, swept up in the violence of history.
It also symbolises the complex destiny of Belgians in 1815: some fought for Napoleon, while others were the side of the Allies.
Today, this modest stone marks a suspended moment in the past, a tribute to youth lost in the clash of empires.
Chemin des Vertes Bornes, 1420 Braine-l’Alleud (path between the Lion’s Mound and Hougoumont)
-
The 21st Line Infantry Regiment Stele
The commemorative stele dedicated to the 21st Line Infantry Regiment is located approximately 500 metres east of the Lion’s Mound, in the immediate vicinity of the Haie Sainte Farm. It was here, on 18 June 1815, that the 21st French Regiment, part of the Marcognet Division, led a courageous and determined attack against the Anglo-Scottish forces. The Anglo-Scottish forces belonged to the brigade commanded by Major-General Pack, which held its positions firmly.
The 21st Regiment’s assault, although marked by great heroism and remarkable discipline, met with fierce resistance, illustrating the violence and intensity of the fighting that took place that day.
This stele is a reminder of the sacrifice and bravery of the French soldiers involved in this crucial phase of the battle, contributing to the historical memory of this decisive confrontation.
-
The Polish Squadron Stele
The Polish Squadron Stele is located on the grounds of the Wounded Eagle Monument. It commemorates the 109 Polish soldiers of the squadron that formed part of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard. These men took an active part in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, where they showed great loyalty and sustained courage right up to the end of the fighting.
The Polish squadron was one of the foreign units that made up the Grand Army and played an important role in the final stages of the battle.
The stele commemorates these soldiers from Poland, who served the Emperor in a particularly complex European context.
-
Stele to the Young Guard
This stele pays tribute to the soldiers of the Imperial Young Guard who fell during the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815. The Young Guard, composed of young recruits but animated by an elite spirit, was engaged in the last fierce battles of the day, particularly around the village of Plancenoit. This sober and moving monument commemorates the sacrifice of these soldiers who, despite their youth, faced the violence of the Prussian assaults.
-
The Various Plaques 1815
In addition to the great monuments and the well-known steles, the Waterloo battlefield and its surroundings are home to a multitude of commemorative plaques, some of which are well-hidden.
They pay tribute to a regiment, an officer or a specific episode, or simply mark a strategic or symbolic point. Some are the result of national initiatives, while others have been placed by families, enthusiasts or historical associations.
A real treasure hunt for those curious about history.
