40th Regiment of Foot.
Sergt. Wm. Lawrence.
Born at Bryant’s Piddle, co. Dorset, 1791. Enlisted in the 40th Foot at age of fifteen. Served with the 1st Batt. in the expedition to Monte Video, and throughout the Par. War. Wounded at Badajoz, where he was one of the forlorn hope, and kept six weeks in hospital at Estremos. Soon after made corporal. Earned Lord Wellington’s praise for the gallant manner in which he captured three French cannon, and drove off a score of French artillerymen with only six men of his own regt. Promoted sergt. Narrowly escaped being killed at Waterloo by a French shell, which exploded near Lawrence, “hurling him two yards into the air.” About 4 o’clock P.M. on Waterloo day was ordered to the colours, in defending which an officer and fourteen sergts. had already lost their lives that terrible day. M., when at St. Germains, a Frenchwoman named Marie Louise Claire, who, under Napoleon’s régime, had, in common with all other “Marie Louises,” been obliged to change their Christian names, so that the Empress might be the only one of that name in France! Pensioned on 9d. a day in 1819. D., at Studland, co. Dorset, 1867.
42nd Regiment of Foot.
Private Donald Davidson, W.
The following notice appeared in the Standard, in April or May, 1867:—“There died at the village of Ardisier, Inverness-shire, a few days ago, an old veteran named Donald Davidson, one of the fast diminishing band of Waterloo heroes. Donald, who, it may be mentioned, had six toes on each foot, was born in the parish of Nairn, Nairnshire, in the year 1792, and enlisted in the 42nd Highlanders in June, 1813. He served with his regt. in the Pa., France, and the Netherlands, from February, 1814, to December, 1816. He was wounded at the battle of Toulouse, and slightly on the head at Quatre Bras. Notwithstanding, he stuck to his regt., and was one of the gallant few who repulsed the grand charge of cavalry in the cornfield at Waterloo. He was discharged with 1s. per day of pension, and served for a long time as barrack labourer in Fort George. He d. at the advanced age of 75 years.”
52nd Regiment of Foot.