Greetings…
Yesterday a few of us made a little trip out to Thoresby to check out an exhibition of finds from the Waterloo Uncovered project…
https://waterloouncovered.com/
We were under the impression that there would be quite a few examples on show… But when we got there there was a lot less than we had expected .
Although this was initially a bit disappointing we still dove in and had a look…
Which was a good thing…
Each of these fine few objects was accompanied by the person who found it and another member of the Waterloo Uncovered team who had researched the piece…
It was very interesting to hear them talk about the excitement of making their finds…
Here are some pictures I took on the day…
Let’s start with a cannon ball… A six pounder…
I was allowed…After wearing gloves…To handle the thing… It’s quite weighty and would definitely have left an impression…
Various musket balls… The one on the Left is actually two balls compressed together… Possibly because of “ Double Loading “ in the rush of battle…
A piece of a bayonet…
Okay.. At first glance not too exciting… But although looking like the tip…It is actually a piece from somewhere near the middle of the blade…
One has to wonder what happened to cause such damage….
Maybe it was hit by a six pounder cannon ball…
Buttons… French and British.
Apparently… Along with musket balls… These are very common on the Napoleonic battlefield…
Knocked off in combat or by rough contact with other pieces of kit … Such as straps and pouches.
Although not what we expected it was still very interesting…
I do think having some illustrations of soldiers in uniform or maybe even some toy soldiers on show would have been useful to give some context to the position and use of these items on a Napoleonic soldier… Maybe next time 😁
Even without Napoleonic/Waterloo relics Thoresby is a lovely place to visit…
They also have a little Ferret Armoured car…
And….
This beauty…
Let’s not forget the view…
Not quite what I was expecting… But quite good nonetheless…
Hobby wise… I am still sticking together plastic toys… And much to my surprise… Still enjoying it.
All the best. Aly
A fine day out for you and the fellas! That tank is a brute. Was this part of armored brigades in BAOR deployments?
ReplyDeleteThe Conqueror is certainly a brute of a tank…
DeleteIt was indeed part of the BAOR it served from 1955 to 1966 and was developed to tackle the Russian IS-3….
I would happily have it as a garden ornament 🤣
All the best. Aly
The day did bring the ending note some heft. I remember the old roskopf model almost intimidating, and that was in 1:87 scale.
DeleteIt was indeed a hefty piece of metal Joe…
DeleteThose old Roskopf models were lovely…
All the best. Aly
Glad you enjoyed the day out Aly, it did seem a bit underwhelming...I think I would have been less forgiving in your position!
ReplyDeleteI had to zoom right in on the info board to figure out what that tank WAS!
It wasn’t quite what we expected Keith… But still interesting.
DeleteI only realised there was an information board after I got home…🤣
I was too gob smacked by the size of the beast…
All the best. Aly
Interesting post, the Waterloo relics look really interesting and nice to meet the folk that found them.
ReplyDeleteThank you Donnie…
DeleteIt certainly adds a different dimension to things when you can actually talk to the person who found the object…
All the best. Aly
Hi Aly - Thanks for the post and shots of the interesting relics. I have a few bits and bobs myself, but nothing like an entire cannonball! Glad to know you are sticking to the plastics, but have you tried a different glue? It sounds like you may have a problem if you are sticking to them...
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you found the shots interesting David…
DeleteIt was nice to have actually handled something from the field of Waterloo…
It’s better the smaller pieces stick to me rather than the floor/cat/carpet 🤣
All the best. Aly
Thanks for posting Aly - even if you might have been a trifle disappointed. That 6pdr ball reminds me that although we regard it as 'light artillery' it wouldn't have felt that way on the receiving end I'm sure. To be sure, meeting some of the team behind Waterloo Uncovered must have been the real treat in many ways. Not surprisingly, I too follow them keenly on YouTube but the tyranny of distance from Oz makes little trips like yours but a dream for me. So, your posts like this are greatly appreciated. All the best.
ReplyDeleteThank you Greg…
DeleteAs little as there was to see… Each piece told a story…
If someone had said to me “ would you like to dig up musket balls on the Field of Waterloo “
I would be one it in a nanosecond 🤣
And of course it is easy to forget that most hobbyists/ people are not as close to these sites/ opportunities as I am..
All the best. Aly
“ I would have be ‘ ON’ it in a nanosecond 🙄”
DeleteProductive Spooling… go figure 🤣🤣🤣
“ Been”…. 🙄 good grief. 🤣
DeleteEven if the exhibits were a bit disappointing, still sounds like a worthwhile day out.
ReplyDeleteAlthough not what was expected … I certainly think it was a worthwhile day out…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
An interesting visit I'm sure, especially getting to meet the folk and handle the relics. The tank is a monstrosity isn't it?
ReplyDeleteNot what I expected David…But indeed interesting…
DeleteAnd how often do you get to handle relics from Waterloo ?
As ‘Gate Guards’ go… It’s the biggest I’ve ever seen 😁
All the best. Aly
Sounds fun but they could have definitaly benefitted from pictures or models I think? Love the little ferret and a great contrast to the dirty great big Conquerer!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
It was an enjoyable little outing…
DeleteThe Ferret is surprisingly small… especially when compared to the beast that is the Conqueror.
All the best. Aly
It is good to see history and 'feel' it. These Waterloo items help to bring the reality to our games. We enjoy our hobby but the reality of war is just too awful to imagine.
ReplyDeleteHandling things like the 6Pounder ball is a fascinating connection to the past…
DeleteBut also a serious reminder that playing with toy soldiers is better…
All the best. Aly