Waterloo North-West Quadrant

[Captain Sibourne]

Over the last few years, I have researched the least known part of the battlefield, the North-East - the area that anchored Wellington's left. The ground is complex and marked by four locations: first, the farm of Papelotte; a second farm at La Haye; thirdly, the hamlet of Smohain (sometimes called La Marache) and finally the chateau of Frischermont.

These locations run west to south east through complex country and presented a defensive opportunity that was arguably just as formidable as Plancenoit or Hougoumont. Of course, the difference being that while a whole corps was thrown at Hougoumont, only Durutte's division was available to attack these four locations.

While information about the rest of the battlefield is plentiful, our understanding of certain aspects of the North-East is much more tentative, notably in respect of Smohain and Frischermont, nevertheless it is possible to piece together a coherent picture.

This entry provides a summary of what has been learned so far, plus some updates on Smohain.

Smohain village has been numbered as follows:



The first farm is Papelotte:



The second is La Haye:





La Haye will be garrisoned by these Nassauers:




The first house in Smohain is a restaurant called The Three Ducks:





This building is something of an enigma. No map of the period or subsequently shows a church. Is it a chapel or school house?





Building No 9:





Building no 12:





Smohain will be garrisoned by the Orange Nassau Regiment:



Frischermont is now complete. Having been captured by the French it will be shown under attack from Prussians:



Joining all this up will be the next task.

[C M Dodson]

Hello Captain.

Excellent research and modelling on display as usual.

You might like to put a cross on the school as per the picture.

For Aspern I used a pin with a small plastic bead on. Wrap a strand of picture wire around it for the cross and cut to size. Some small balls of greenstuff pressed onto the tees completes the cross for painting.

I need to revisit my houses for some upgrades after seeing your Dad’s work!

Best wishes,

Chris

[Michael Robert]

Hello Captain,
yes, very impressive and interesting as always.
Maybe, what is shown as a chapel was in fact just a bell tower on a farm - a misinterpretation from the epoch. Bigger farms always had bell-towers to ring the beginning of work, lunch time, end of the day, etc. The people didn't wear watches let alone smartphones
Just a thought
Greetings
Michael

[Captain Sibourne]

Thanks Both, the absence of the second cross was already noted and will be changed.
Hello Michael, that's a good thought and one that we had already taken into account, but as a school house, though Chris's cross makes that harder.

Also, I called it the North-West when it is obviously the North-East - got Covid last week and suffering from brain fog!!

[Bessiere]

Haha James. I thought my brain was just terribly confused and points on the map weren't where I once believed. I do find myself doing that more often of late, misremembering things. Very fine work, I think this is great illustration of your approach to building the boards and how the actions will be depicted. Small number of locations and units involved makes it easier to digest. Sections like this would seem to me to have higher numbers of civilians around than areas with heavy action. Might even see farmstock in the area perhaps (if the troops didnt clean out local farms). Hope you're beyond your round of covid and feeling better. Excellent work James.
Cheers,
Bessiere

[Captain Sibourne]

Thanks David, it'll be fun when it comes together.

[Santi Pérez]

Wonderful buildings and figures, Captain Sibourne.

Santi.

[MABO]

Mind blowing as every step in this project.

[Captain Sibourne]

I have some progress to report with my project to produce the North-East part of the Waterloo battlefield:

First, an overview of La Haye Farm:



Farm interior:







Nassau Grenadier company. The bases are not yet disguised.



The track joins need further work to hide them:







The garrison is a Nassau battalion. The French attackers will follow.



Further east from La Haye is the hamlet of Smohain. First what is now the Trois Canards restaurant:



These buildings will have a curved wall and gate entering into a courtyard:



Overall view of the village with the school house (sic?) in the foreground:



These two buildings look today much s they would have in 1815:



There are various smaller buildings in the hamlet including this shed:





Many buildings have been modernised to the point that they are now unrecognisable, and some have been built from scratch. This building is in homage to the Belgian vernacular of 1815 from original photos:



This complex can still be seen today:



All buildings are by my father and the Nassau battalion is expertly painted by David. Many thanks to both!

[Michael Robert]

Hello Mr Cap Sibourne,
and the show goes on and on. Just too great
Michael

[Iceman1964]

Breath-taking
Huge dimensions but details at finest level, the work on the building to be exactly as they were that day is above the top level !!

Captain, you are a mith

[Bessiere]

Your father is a true champion building all these models he has. What a lovely father you have to support your vision and share the burden. I believe there are several Davids creating figures but it wasn't this one who did the Nassauers, just the well and wagon. Kudos for your consistent and tireless efforts. Realizing such a grand vision is no small dream and few could have come anywhere close to being this far.
Cheers,
Bessiere

[C M Dodson]

Excellent work on this gargantuan project.

Your father’s buildings have really improved and are now superb.

I am reviewing my Aspern collection as a result!

Best wishes,

Chris