WATERLOO MEDAL & EPHEMERA TO CHARLES BURGESS, 2ND OR R.N. BRIT. REG. DRAG. (WOUNDED AT WATERLOO)

Charles Burgess was baptised in Mortlach, Banff, Scotland on 19 May 1782 and enlisted with the Scots Greys on 17 Jan 1808 at Piershill Barracks, Edinburgh, aged 25 years.

At the Battle of Waterloo, Burgess was part of Captain Edward Cheney's 3 Troop. Burgess was severely wounded in the famous Scots Greys charge, as recorded by Stuart Mellor in his publication 'Greys Ghosts'. After spending 28 days in hospital in Brussels, Burgess was discharged from service on 7 Feb 1818 at Newcastle, retiring in Leslie, Fife and marrying Magdalen Thomson in 1823 before dying in Apr 1829.

The charge of the Scots Greys played a pivotal role in Wellington's victory at Waterloo. Attacking Marcognet's Division of D'Erlon's Corps with such ferocity that, assited by the Royals and Inniskilling Dragoons, the Union Brigade routed the French 45th Regiment andf captured their eagle. However, the Scots Greys continued through ranks of French cavalry and lancers, and some onto the artillery positions. Isolated and exhausted, men and horses were cut down. Ponsonby himself was killed, passing his snuff box and wife's miniature portrait to Major of Brigade Thomas Reignolds, who was subsequently killed himself. 105 men of the Scots Greys lost their lives, with a further 93 recorded officially as wounded.