It
is 200 years since one of the most famous battles in British
history that was the culmination of two decades of conflict, and
which essentially saw the birth of modern Europe. The
Battle of Waterloo was fought near Waterloo in present-day
Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. A
French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by the
armies of the Seventh Coalition, comprising an Anglo-allied army
under the command of the Duke of Wellington combined with a
Prussian army under the command of Gebhard von Blücher. Upon Napoleon's return to power in March 1815, many states that had opposed him formed the Seventh Coalition and began to mobilize armies. Two large forces under Wellington and Blücher assembled close to the north-eastern border of France. Napoleon chose to attack in the hope of destroying them before they could join in a coordinated invasion of France with other members of the coalition. Waterloo was the decisive engagement of the Waterloo Campaign and Napoleon's last. According to Wellington, the battle was "the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life". The defeat at Waterloo ended Napoleon's rule as Emperor of the French, and marked the end of his Hundred Days return from exile. The Waterloo 200 organisation plans a number of commemorative events in June, including a service of thanksgiving in St Pauls Cathedral as well as re-enactments of the battle which will take lace in Belgium. The UK government has given £1m towards the commemorations including the first ever monument at the battlefield to the British troops who died, which features the defence of Hougeoumont Farm, as well as funds to restore the buildings there. |
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The key events and exchanges of the Battle are marked with the six stamps, in chronological order and using paintings made within a few years of the battle. 1st class: Defence of Hougeoumont Farm; Scots Greys at the charge of the Union Brigade £1.00 Massed ranks of French cavalry (Cuirassiers) charge and repulsed by British infantry squares; La Hay Saint Farm defence by King’s German Legion £1.52 Prussians arrive and capture of Plancenoit; The final attack of the French Imperial Guards |
The miniature sheet commemorates the rank and file soldiers noting the multinational nature of the conflict 1st class Prussian Infantryman; Light Infantry, King’s German Legion £1.33 92nd Gordon Highlanders; French Imperial Guard Grenadier |
Pane 1 - Stamps from the miniature sheet Pane 2 - Stamps 2 - 5 from the set Pane 3 - First and last stamps from the set. Pane 4 - 2 each of Machin definitive stamps - 5p, 10p, 50p, and £1 - security coding should be MPIL M15L Prestige Stamp Book Cover The definitive stamps - microscopic view to show the security codes. Left to right, 5p, 10p, 50p and £1with MPIL M15L coding |
Set of 6 stamps and miniature sheet - Stamp Cards (11) - Presentation Pack - Prestige Stamp Book - coin cover
Special first day of issue postmarks will be shown here. These cannot be obtained the date of issue; more may be added. These images are not always to scale.
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Ref FD1518TH Official Bureau postmark The Nearest Run Thing You Ever Saw In Your Life - Duke of Wellington |
Ref FD1518PL Waterloo, Liverpool official first day postmark |
Ref F1518NP Waterloo, Liverpool non-pictorial official first day of issue postmark |
Ref M13473 The Battle of Waterloo 1815 Wellington Way, Birmingham |
Ref N13491 The 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, Waterloo, Liverpool |
Ref L13466 200 Years The Battle of Waterloo, Blenheim, Oxford | Ref
L13467 Bicentenary the Battle of Waterloo, London W1 |
Ref
L13468 The Battle of Waterloo Walmer Castle, Deal, Kent |
Ref
L13488 The Household Cavalry Museum, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London |
Ref F13492 Waterloo 200 BFPS 3190* |
Ref L13463 200th Anniversary Battle of Waterloo, Cannon St, London EC4 |
Ref L13464 First Day of Issue, Wellington, Somerset |
Ref L13465 No 1 London, 200th Anniversary Battle of Waterloo |
Ref F13493 Defence of Hougoumont Royal Waggon Train BFPS 3191* |
Ref F13494 Charge of the Scots Greys
at Waterloo BFPS 3192* |
* Note: there are special rules for postmarks from British Forces Postal Service - click here for details. | ||||
Ref N13504 Liverpool |
Ref L13496 Deal, Kent |
Ref L13497 London SE1 |
Ref L13498 London W1 |
Ref 13507 Stratfield Saye, Reading ("Dublin" in the printed Bulletin is an error which will be corrected in the next edition. We have this by email from Tallents House.) |
This page updated 17 June 2015.
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Norvic Philatelics, PO Box 119, Dereham, NR20 3YN, GB. UK Phone: 08450 090939 -- Skype:ian.billings-norvic -- email: ian@norphil.co.uk |