The important Waterloo Medal awarded to Colonel Charles Du Plat, 4th Line Battalion, K.G.L., commanding the 1st Infantry Brigade, King’s German Legion, who was mortally wounded at Waterloo

Waterloo 1815 (Colonel Charles Du Plat, 4th Line Batt. K.G.L.) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspension, polished, otherwise good very fine

An Important Collection of Medals to the King’s German Legion, Dix Noonan Webb, April 2003, when incorrectly catalogued as ‘Du Platt’.

George Charles Augustus du Plat entered the service in November 1803 and became Colonel on 4 June 1813. He served in Hannover in 1805; in the Baltic in 1807; in the Mediterranean, in Sicily, between 1808 and 1812, including the expedition to the Gulf of Naples in 1809; in the Peninsula and Southern France between 1812 and 1814; in the Netherlands 1814; the campaign of 1815, and the battle of Waterloo.

At Waterloo Colonel Du Plat’s brigade, comprising of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Line Battalions K.G.L. and Hugh Halkett’s Hanoverians, was assigned to Clinton’s division and positioned in support of the Guards who held Hougoumont. Sometime between 11.30 am and midday on 18 June, the French began the opening phase with an attack on Wellington's far right at Hougoumont. Prince Jerome, Napoleon's younger brother, was commanding a division to the French left and committed more and more resources to this action throughout the day. This had been planned to be a feint to draw strength away from Wellington's centre. Although the orchard changed hands, a crisis was averted at Hougoumont's north gate and the defenders held fast. A battle within a battle developed around Hougoumont with Du Plat's K.G.L., Hugh Halkett's Hanoverian brigades and Kuhlmann's K.G.L. artillery playing a prominent role in its defence. Du Plat’s brigade became heavily engaged, coming under several attacks from enemy cavalry. At about seven o’clock, the 1st and 3rd Line Battalions, formed in one square, beat off a powerful charge, as did the 4th Battalion, which formed another square. The 2nd Line Battalion pushed on towards Hougoumont, while the remaining battalions advanced in line of four deep on the left of the farm. Casualties in the Hougoumont area were circa 10,000 alone and included Colonel Du Plat who was severely wounded in the final push. He died of his wounds three days later and, together with Colonel Baron Ompteda, was one of the Legion’s two most senior casualties in the battle.