That degree of courage was not wanting in the British ranks, and paralysed by the fierce determination of his opponents, the attacks of Napoleon’s legions relaxed; the Prussians arrived on the left to co-operate; the Anglo-Belgian army formed line, and with one impetuous charge decided the fortune of the day. The French were driven from the field with the loss of their cannon and equipage, and the hopes of Bonaparte were annihilated.
During the greater part of the battle, the SEVENTY-THIRD, with the second battalion of the thirtieth, were very much exposed to the enemy’s artillery, and constantly engaged in repelling numerous charges of cavalry that appeared determined to break their square, which ultimately was reduced to a very small size, from the casualties occasioned by round and grape shot. Lieutenant Robert Stewart, one of the junior officers of the SEVENTY-THIRD, commanded the battalion at the termination of the battle, and in consequence was some years afterwards promoted to a company without purchase.[17]
The casualties amongst the officers were unusually great. Of twenty-three who marched into action on the 16th of June at Quatre Bras, twenty-two were killed and wounded on that and the two following days.
In the battle on the 18th of June the SEVENTY-THIRD had Captains Alexander Robertson and John Kennedy; Lieutenant Matthew Hollis; and Ensigns William Law Lowe and Charles Page killed.
The officers wounded were Lieut.-Colonel William George Harris (Colonel) commanding the battalion, severely; Major Archibald John Maclean, who died of his wounds; Captains Henry Coane, William Wharton, and John Garland, all severely. Lieutenants John McConnell, Thomas Reynolds, and Donald Browne all severely; Lieutenant Browne afterwards died of his wounds. Ensigns William McBean, Charles Bedford Eastwood, and George Dondridge Bridge (severely), and Ensign and Adjutant Patrick Hay severely.
Three serjeants, one drummer, and forty-three rank and file were killed, and thirteen serjeants, two drummers, and one hundred and sixty rank and file were wounded; twenty-four of the above number died of their wounds; forty-one rank and file were missing.
In acknowledgment of the services which the army performed in the battle of Waterloo, and the actions immediately preceding it, each subaltern officer and soldier present were permitted to count two years additional service, and silver medals were conferred on all ranks, bearing on the one side an impression of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and on the reverse the figure of Victory, holding the palm in the right hand, and the olive branch in the left, with the word “Wellington” over its head, and “Waterloo,” 18th June, 1815, at its feet.
The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were voted to the army with the greatest enthusiasm, “for its distinguished valour at Waterloo;” and the SEVENTY-THIRD and other regiments engaged, were permitted to bear the word “Waterloo” on their colours and appointments, in commemoration of their distinguished services on the 18th of June, 1815.
After the battle of Waterloo, the battalion, which was reduced to a complete skeleton, advanced with the army to Paris, where it arrived in the first week in July, and encamped in the Bois de Boulogne until November, when it was placed in cantonments in the vicinity of that metropolis.