Lt-Col Lord Saltoun CB


Lord Saltoun achieved fame as a commander in the defense of Hougoumont at the battle of Waterloo. As a captain he was the senior unwounded officer leading the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Foot Guards who were required to defend the orchard that surrounded the chateau on three side. He showed great courage and is said to have had no less than four horse shot from under him. Towards the end of the day the 1st Foot Guards were lying down at the top of a ridge as the Imperial Guard advanced towards them. Maitland ordered Saltoun to get them up and firing which they did following up with a charge, driving Napoleon's crack troops back. He suffered no serious wound in the battle.

Lord Saltoun wears white summer trousers and the undress coat of an officer of Foot Guards during the 1820s. The full dress coat has much more gold lace. Of special interest is the profusion of bullion on his shoulders. He is wearing epaulettes and wings together. The 1822 Dress Regulations states: 'Field Officers of Fusileer and Light Infantry Corps, and likewise the Captains of Flank Companies, who may have attained the rank of Field Officer, are to wear Wings, as well as Epaulettes.'


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by Stephen Luscombe