42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot - Black Watch

Battle Honours - Egypt 1801, Corunna, Peninsula,Waterloo, Alma, Sevastopol, Lucknow, Ashanti

Motto - Nemo me impune lacessit

The 42nd were posted on a reverse slope in a line above the road. At first sight they were amazed at the advance of the French. As the French passed the 42nd, the older soldiers of the regiment weren't satisfied and immediately opened fire and tried to restrain the French from advancing, they succeeded in causing a cessation of fire, but the Lancers were sitting to the rear of the cavalry and wheeled sharply round and advanced in admirable order directly upon the rear of the 42nd who recognized their advancing position and formed square, but just as the 2 flank companies were running to form rear rank the lancers penetrated the square. Instead of the square being destroyed by the French the lancers were either bayoneted or taken prisoner. All further attempts by the French were repelled.

On a sadder note the Commanding officer of the 42nd ( Lieut. Colonel Sir Robert Macara ) was killed and within the brief space of a few minutes the command of the regiment devolved upon 3 officers in succession, Lieut. Colonel ♥♥♥♥, who was severely wounded, Brevet Major Davidson, who was mortally wounded and Brevet Major Campbell who commanded the regiment during the remainder of the campaign.

The 42nd pinned down Marshal Ney and prevented him from going to Napoleon's aid at Ligny which sealed Napoleon's fate and stopped Marshal Ney's men from wiping out Marshal Blucher's Prussian army at Old Fortwartz, before the Prussian and British armies could merge together.

The 42nd lost 298 men at Quatre-Bras but were recognized in Wellington's dispatch of the battle. On the 18th of June 1815 the 42nd held the left centre of Wellington's position behind La Haye Sainte, against a French force of 13,000 bayonets. The 42nd on the day of Waterloo only lost 5 and had 45 injured. After the battle the wounded returned to their kind hosts in Brussels.

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