The Great Game of Waterloo Replayed

As mentioned in my previous post I ‘popped’ up to Glasgow today to visit the Great Game in progress. Personal circumstances meant I didn’t put in as a player but it was still definitely worth visiting even if only for a couple of hours. The pictures kind of say it all.......... and I suspect there will be a lot more out on the web and magazines in the next few weeks and months. Whilst the visitors ticket didn’t give you access to the gaming floor the view from the balcony was as you can see quite impressive. I had also deliberately booked a lunchtime ticket which was again a great idea as they cleared the floor for about 40 minutes.

The scene on arrival, the nearest table was the original position of the French who have now advanced to assault the British line 

The Allied far left flank Papelotte and Frichermont

La Haye Sainte 

A sense of the scale

Closer look at Frichermont

The Prussians waiting to arrive three full Corps !!

From the French view

Overhead shot of Hougomont

Placenoit as yet uncontested

The lunchtime break which made observation much easier

Massive assault on Hougomount

Allied reserves at the back

La Haye

Centre of the Allied line

An attempt at a wide angle shot full table 80 feet long

At the bottom La Belle with Napoleon, top left just in view wellingtons command position

Plenty of stuff in the way of photos from this angle but looking down the main line of assault

This is the organiser being interviewed during lunch

As I headed for my train the Prussians had started to arrive on the left edge of the two top tables

A final picture of the overall scene....from behind the advancing Prussians.

A couple of final thoughts from me. On the plus side it was incredibly impressive effort from organisers and all involved, I’m glad I went and it was quite inspirational. Challenges which I am sure the organisers have wrangled over......how to make the command structure work, the French had attacked all along the line at once, hindsight being a wonderful thing rushing in but it didn’t look like they would break through ? Discussing it with one of the organisers he explained the command structure was in place but all the individual brigade commanders were just ignoring it and charging forward. The French are massively up against it with the arrival of the Prussians as historically they arrived only in the nick of time when the allies really were just about done in. The allies didn’t look even close when I left so the French are going to be very badly out flanked. Terrain - would have been hard but nice to see a bit more differentiation in terrain especially hills ! As this is such a characteristic feature of the battle but sadly this obviously proved too much to manage. All in all a very enjoyable trip....glad I went.