Series 20 of the popular family history show Who Do You Think You Are? was back on our screens on Thursday, 1 June 2023. Musical theatre master Andrew Lloyd Webber was the first celebrity of the new series to delve into their family tree, discovering a fascinating connection to the Battle of Waterloo.
The family connection
During episode one of the new series, Lloyd Webber explored his maternal lineage and uncovered his four times great uncle Sir Peregrine Maitland (1777-1854). Maitland’s service in the British Army, and his role in the Battle of Waterloo, piqued our interest. Below is a summary of Maitland’s service before and during the Battle of Waterloo, based on the episode, genealogical sources and records found on Forces War Records.
An officer of the British Army
Maitland joined the 1st Regiment of the Foot Guards (later named the Grenadier Guards) as an Ensign in 1792. An Ensign was the most junior officer rank in the infantry until Second Lieutenant later replaced it. Maitland saw service against France during the French Revolutionary Wars and later in the Napoleonic Wars. Soldiers of these wars were entitled to the Military General Service Medal. The medal was issued in 1848 and could be applied for by surviving soldiers (officers and men) of these campaigns. Maitland appears in the collection as a recipient of the award. Forces War Records subscribers can search the Military General Service Medal collection to see if their ancestors also fought in these wars and received the medal.
The Battle of Waterloo
During Lloyd-Webber’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, he discovered that his ancestor Sir Peregrine Maitland served at the Battle of Waterloo. The battle occurred on 18 June 1815, just south of Waterloo in modern-day Belgium. At the time of the battle, Waterloo was part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The French Army, commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte, who had recently escaped from exile, attacked a European coalition, including the United Kingdom and Prussia. The Coalition, formed into two armies, was commanded by Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard von Blücher. Maitland, now a Major General, commanded the 1st Brigade of Guards at the Battle of Waterloo.
A short biography in The Waterloo Roll Call paints a fascinating picture of Maitland’s service at the Battle of Waterloo. Available in our Historical Documents Library, the book contains the following biographical sketch of Maitland:
‘The example he set, both at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, had much to do with the victory then obtained over the French’.
The publication continues:
‘When Napoleon’s “Old Guard” made that gigantic and final effort, on the evening of June 18th, to retrieve the fortunes of the day, it was Maitland’s brigade which checked their advance and drove them headlong down the bloody slope. “Now Maitland, now’s your time!” said Wellington, as the leading column of the French Guards approached the crest of the slope where the British Guards were stationed – the front rank kneeling. How Maitland responded is told in the words of Col. J. H. Stanhope in his letter to the Duke of York: “Were it possible for me to add anything to the reputation of Maitland by stating the gallantry he has shown, cheering on with his hat off, I could dwell long on the subject”.’
Perhaps your ancestor features in The Waterloo Roll Call. The publication largely comprises the names of officers, complete with a small selection of biographical sketches. Start your search of Forces War Records with a name today.
Recognised for their service: the Waterloo Medal
Do Battle of Waterloo medals exist? Soldiers present at the Battle of Waterloo were issued a medal to recognise their service. It was the first campaign medal issued by the British Government to all soldiers, irrespective of their rank. The Waterloo Medal Roll is a great starting point for your research if you believe your ancestor may have fought at the famous battle. A soldier qualified for the Waterloo Medal if they were present at either the Battle of Ligny (16 June 1815), the Battle of Quatre Bras (16 June 1815) or the Battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815).
Maitland was one of around 36,000 recipients of the medal.
Service and pension records
What other Battle of Waterloo records are available to researchers?
Certain military records in our collections could help you establish if your ancestor served at the Battle of Waterloo. They will also tell you more about your ancestor’s military service.
If your ancestor served in the ranks (non-officers), try searching the following collections:
UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records
UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admission and Discharge Records
However, not all soldiers, particularly those in the ranks, were awarded a pension during the era of the Battle of Waterloo.
FWR Tip: Can’t find your ancestor’s service record in the collection? Service records for soldiers discharged without a pension before 1883 were largely destroyed.
There are many collections available on Forces War Records to help you research your ancestors’ military service. You can view all our records via the Browse tab, with options available to narrow the collections by country, theatre of war or service branch.
We’re always here for you if you need help or advice with your research. Why not follow us on Facebook and submit a question to one of our monthly military genealogy Q&As? You can also send a query via the Document Expert section of our website.
Cover Photo: BBC Media Centre
Sources:
The National Army Museum, accessed June 2023.
Dictionary of Canadian Biography, accessed June 2023.
David Breakenridge Read, The Lieutenant-Governors of Upper Canada and Ontario, 1792-1899 (ebook: DigiCat, 2022).