18th June 2025 marks the 210th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

Fought between Imperial French forces commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte and a coalition of British, Prussian, Dutch and German forces under the Duke of Wellington, the battle commenced at around 1130am on 18th June 1815.

Throughout the day the battle ebbed and flowed with the French gaining the upper hand after a cavalry charged forced Wellington to take cover inside an infantry defensive square, where his view of the battle was limited to a few metres. However, the arrival of Prussian forces under Marshal Blucher at around 7pm turned the tide of battle. The French had been expecting 33,000 reinforcements under Marshal Grouchy, but their morale began to waver as Prussian troops arrived in ever-increasing numbers with Grouchy still marching everywhere but to the sound of the guns.

At around 1930 Napoleon ordered his Imperial Guard, his best troops, into the attack to break the British line and separate them from the Prussians so they could be defeated piecemeal. However quick thinking by the Dutch Divisional commander, who ordered a counterattack, and then withering flanking fire from the Oxfordshire Light Infantry and the Guards Brigade finally routed the French. Wellington gave the order for general advance and the French were routed from the field. By dusk the last pockets of resistance were mopped up.

The battle was both a tactical and strategic success as the threat from Napoleon was neutralised, resulting in his eventual abdication and exile. The battle heralded 40 years of peace in Europe and the emergence of France as a crucial ally to Britain. Over 200 French cannon were captured and many generals taken prisoner. The butchers’ bill was immense, however, with around 25,000 killed and wounded on each side.

The battle is commemorated in numerous ways at Sandhurst. Two of the cannon from Napoleon’s Grande Batterie now stand on the edge of Old College Parade Square.

One of the college prestige rooms, the Wellington Room, houses a bust of the duke as well as portraits of some of his commanders.

However, the room is dominated by the enormous painting by Sir William Allan which depicts the turning point of the battle as the Imperial Guard is routed.  

One of the cadet companies is named after the battle and, finally there is a small piece of history in Chapel Square. On the 200th anniversary of the battle members of Waterloo Company, intake 35, held their 50th reunion. During the event they planted a sapling taken from a sweet chestnut tree growing at Hougoumont Farm which, a decade on, is flourishing.

When the battle was fought Sandhurst was only three years old, yet several teenage young officers had completed their training and joined their regiments. With infantry and cavalry subalterns receiving homogenous training for the first time, the skills they acquired Sandhurst was one of the factors that decided the outcome of the battle.

Experience the connection for yourself.

Step onto the historic grounds of Sandhurst, where the legacy of Waterloo lives on. From Napoleon’s captured cannon to the iconic Wellington Room and a living sapling from Hougoumont, the Academy offers a powerful connection to the battle that shaped Europe.

Whether you’re a military history enthusiast, a veteran, or simply curious, come and experience Sandhurst’s enduring connection to the Battle of Waterloo for yourself.

Plan your visit or learn more today RMASTours