Waterloo! The Club Refight (2026)

4,500 figures were in play as Alex put on his grand refight of the Battle of Waterloo at the War Room on the weekend of 27-28 June 2026. We used his outstanding 28mm Napoleonic collection, General D’Armee II rules, while Craig assisted Alex with the umpiring.

We had 13 attendees. On the British side were Craig (C-in-C), Alex, Scotty, Paul, and Ian. The French were Brian (C-in-C), Rob, Kamall, Pete, me (all both days), and Greg and Jack as well as Trevor (on day two).  This blog presents the highlights of both days’ play.

Day One: ‘Think of England!’

Apart from the Allied-held ridge, the full-length table in Rob’s War Room was almost entirely flat with no cover, with the farmhouse of La Haye Sainte in the centre, and a road up the middle. Hougoumont was not represented.

The French side discussed their plan. Pete would attack on the right with D’Erlon’s corps, while Mal held the left with Reille’s corps. I would hold the far French left with two cavalry corps (Milhaud and Kellerman). Meanwhile, Rob would concentrate on the centre with a Grand Battery of guns and the Young Guard, aiming to capture the La Haye Sainte farmhouse. This thrust would be the shortest route to getting a unit off the table (breaking through to the road to Brussels) at the British end, thus sealing victory. Brian as Napoleon would assist along the line.

The screen was removed, and at this stage most of the British and Allied forces were holding their right with the British Guards (Scotty), and Paul (Nassauers) and Ian’s forces. Craig held the Allied centre, while Alex held the Allied left.

T1: French Grand Battery Opens Proceedings…

Craig and Ian began moving their troops off the ridge towards La Haye Sainte. Scotty moved up his skirmishers from the British right, aiming to unmask the British artillery.

Rob’s French Grand Battery began its cannonade, aiming at the British guns on the ridge to the British left side, inflicting 2 casualties and another with a bounce through. Paul and Craig fired their artillery at Mal’s infantry from Reille’s corps (3 casualties). Mal responded, killing a 95th rifleman in La Haye Sainte.

T2: Attack on La Haye Sainte Begins!

French initiative resulted in Mal’s and Rob’s skirmishers advancing towards La Haye Sainte. Mal took 2 casualties advancing on La Haye Sainte, and killed another 95th Rifleman in the orchard next to the farmhouse. Sharpe was in the sandpit with his lads…

On the French right, Pete sent his light cavalry of D’Erlon’s corps (Jacquinot’s division) towards the British left – aiming at Alex’s light cavalry brigade (Vandeleur).

On the British right, Scotty moved forwards with the Guards. Was he initiating an advance on Reille’s flank?

Meanwhile, French artillery continued to pummel the ridge. Mal inflicted 2 casualties on a British battery while Rob hit another behind the sandpit twice. Paul caused another casualty to Mal’s infantry of Reille’s corps.

T3: French Build Up Their Forces

I deployed half of Milhaud’s cavalry corps: a unit of dragoons and one of cuirassiers on the French far left.

Rob brought on more Young Guard infantry in the centre, as Pete deployed the rest of D’Erlon’s corps (4 divisions: ‘brigades’) on the French right. Back at La Haye Sainte, Mal’s skirmishers eliminated a skirmisher base of Craig’s infantry, as the orchard was contested.

Meanwhile, on the left, my cuirassiers took 3 casualties from Scotty’s and Paul’s artillery fire. It was going to be a long day for the French under Allied artillery sights. However, I unlimbered my horse artillery and dealt 2 casualties to Scotty’s British Guard infantry.

Rob’s Grand Battery was pummelling Bylandt’s Dutch-Belgian brigade set behind a hedge to the front of the Allied line. The brigade lost 8 casualties. Moreover the British artillery in the centre on the ridge had now been eroded. Would they stand?

T4: Artillery Duels and Tentative Advances

Pete’s light cavalry charged Vandeleur’s light cavalry, but Pete’s lancers were repelled by Alex’s British artillery before they could close.

After some congestion on the table, Rob began to move up a cavalry brigade, and his Young Guard battalions, in the centre. Mal also moved up two fresh French battalions towards the left of La Haye Sainte. Craig recalled the two remaining 95th Rifles skirmisher stands to their parent unit in the farmhouse behind the orchard.

I upped my horse artillery fire on Scotty by using the Artillery Assault special action. Scotty brought on the British heavy cavalry on the far right of the Allied line. Concerned by my French cavalry, Scotty and Paul deployed several battalions into square. I responded by hitting the Guards in square with my horse artillery.

Rob was making good progress in the centre, dealing a further 6 casualties to Bylandt’s brigade, which now had 15 casualties on its four units. The brigade was a sitting duck. Also in the centre, Mal broke one of Craig’s infantry battalions in square with artillery fire.

Scotty however dealt 4 casualties and a discipline test to one of Reille’s infantry units with cannon fire. The French were facing multiple batteries on the British centre-right, with Reille’s corps (Mal) and me taking the brunt of ranged fire that we could do nothing to prevent. We broke for lunch at 1:15pm.

T5: The French Advance as Cavalry clash on the British Left

Brian took over from Pete momentarily on the French right and his hussars clashed with Alex’s hussars of Vandeleur’s brigade. Two melees between Pete’s cavalry and Alex’s led to two French retreats. Their second assault had failed…

Both Mal and Rob advanced on the orchard adjacent to La Haye Sainte. The Grand Battery kept raining shot on the Allied centre, dealing 3 hits to one of Craig’s batteries above the farmhouse.

On the British right, Scotty moved up his British heavy cavalry. It was hurtling toward me and a clash seemed inevitable. I kept up my Artillery Assault on Scotty’s infantry in square, one unit of which took 4 casualties, a discipline test, and became ‘worn’.

Paul started an advance against Reille’s corps on the French left from his ridge with his Nassauers. Ian’s brigade was also edging forwards. Meanwhile, my horse artillery took 3 casualties from Scotty and Paul’s artillery fire.

T6: Action on the Wings and in the Centre

The Allies won the initiative. Scotty’s 1st Dragoon Guards led the heavy cavalry on the Allied far right, approaching my heavy cavalry. I deployed my two remaining cuirassier units of Milhaud’s corps. Scotty’s artillery dealt my cuirassiers 2 hits, while my artillery gave his Guards in square another 2. The coming cavalry clash could be decisive for this flank…

Meanwhile, Mal advanced in column to the left of La Haye Sainte, heading for the ridge. At the same time, Rob’s Young Guard was assaulting the farmhouse to shrieks of ‘En Avant!’

A persistent Pete advanced again with his light cavalry (3 units) against Alex’s 2 units of Vandeleur’s brigade on the British left flank. While unsuccessful so far, the horsemen were masking the advance of much of D’Erlon’s corps.

T7: Charge of the 1st Dragoon Guards!

In the pre-melee charge phase, Scotty’s British heavy cavalry charged my dragoons on the far French left. After a great roll by Scotty and a dismal one by me, my cavalry was pushed back, took 2 casualties, and their supporting cuirassiers also fell back. In fact, both units were forced to exit the table (without fighting a melee). We expected them to be allowed to come back, but they never did!

I chose to move back with two remaining cuirassier units which were unable to move forward owing to nearby British infantry and the threat of the British cavalry to their flank. It was all going Pete Tong for the French here! Mal duly moved up a French infantry brigade on my right to support my beleaguered cavalry.

However, Rob and Mal were making real progress in the centre. Mal’s infantry charged one of Craig’s battalions in square. And Rob’s Young Guard were now threatening the orchard, while Sharpe and a contingent of his 95th Rifles approached them. Hagman had his ‘best brown paper’ ready, though this was no time for stationary…

Both Mal and Rob’s artillery had now forced two Allied batteries out of the line in the Allied centre, lessening the pressure on the advancing foot, though one battery was soon replaced by a reserve…

On the French right, Pete charged one cavalry unit into Alex’s light cavalry again. Pete’s Chasseurs were destroyed by Alex’s cavalry in a melee, however. The third attack had failed. Were the rules ‘too random’ as Pete suggested? For the French, perhaps…

T8: British Heavy Cavalry Charge On!

Scotty quickly capitalised on my retreating cavalry and attacked my left flank. Was he really good at this, or just channeling his days in the Household Cavalry? I still had two cuirassier units and a horse artillery battery on table, and I dealt his Dragoon Guards 3 hits as they approached. However, Scotty mullered my artillery in a melee, though his cavalry was now ‘unformed’.

About this time, sensing a critical moment on our flank, I deployed some Carabiniers and Cuirassiers from my second cavalry corps (Kellerman) to shore up the French left flank. Surely that would be enough?

By now, Quiot’s brigade of D’Erlon’s corps (Pete) was frontally attacking Bylandt’s Dutch-Belgians, who had taken a pasting from Rob’s grand battery. Would the battle be won here?

As Mal pushed up his French infantry near the centre, Rob brought on the Imperial Guard Light Cavalry – Polish Lancers, Mamelukes, Chasseurs and Dutch Lancers. The French were concentrating for a big push. However we had reached the end of play for Day One.

Pete had been steadily advancing with four brigades of D’Erlon’s corps on the French right but had lost two of the three cavalry units on his flank to Alex after trying multiple assaults. While the French had lost at least 4 cavalry regiments and the Allies none, neither side held a marked advantage after the first day’s play.

Day Two: ‘The Farmhouse is Ours!’

The situation at the start of play was that Rob’s attack by the Young Guard on the farmhouse late yesterday had been repelled. Greg and Jack, as well as Trevor, joined the French side, while I focused on the blog and Brian took over the French left. Trevor initially controlled Reille’s corps until Mal arrived.

T9: Strike and Parry!

British initiative this turn allowed Alex’s cavalry on the left to force some of Pete’s infantry, making good progress across the table, into squares. But the cavalry soon retired…

Bylandt’s beleaguered brigade in the centre of the Allied position failed to activate and could not advance. Pete pressed forward his developing attack on Bylandt’s brigade with Quiot’s brigade, and elements of the Dutch-Belgian brigade finally retreated!

However, on the British right, Scotty charged his Dragoon Guards into Milhaud’s cavalry corps, now under Brian’s command, which had become ‘wavering’. As a Cuirassier unit from Milhaud’s battered corps turned to face the onrushing Dragoon Guards, a melee was fought. The French Cuirassier regiment duly fell to the sword, leaving just one left in the benighted corps, which was also wiped out as a result, meaning Milhaud’s entire corps had been destroyed! Merde!

Simultaneously, Hussars of Rob’s French light cavalry brigade in the centre charged a British unit threatening Mal’s infantry near the farmhouse, but the British formed square and the Hussars bounced off again.

As Scotty and Paul advanced off the ridge against the French left, Brian charged his Carabiniers from Kellerman’s corps into the Life Guards cavalry regiment in Scotty’s British heavy cavalry brigade. The French finally won something on this flank, and the Life Guards took 4 casualties and retreated!

Rob now moved up part of the Guard Light Cavalry brigade to support the Young Guard at the farmhouse. Greg and Jack also brought on the French Guard Heavy Cavalry. Rob brought on the Old Guard infantry in the centre at the table edge – 4 units. Could they bludgeon their way to Brussels?

Meanwhile, Alex deployed the Brunswick Cavalry brigade on the Allied left, and some more Brunswick infantry behind Bylandt’s brigade – now hesitating behind the hedge…

The British were definitely winning on the French left. Brian took decisive action and formed a couple of Reille’s brigades into a flank guard, anticipating that the Dragoons Guards, after their recent heroics, would likely roll up the left flank entirely…

As the French left faced rising pressure from Scotty and Paul, Trevor advanced against the ridge to the left of La Haye Sainte. Bylandt’s brigade now lost a battalion to Rob’s artillery.

T10: The French Stabilise and Gain the Momentum…

Allied initiative this turn was the seventh of the game, bemoaned the French… Rob also rolled just one of 5 possible ADCs. However, Brian seemed to have neutralised the successful British Cavalry raid on the French left flank. The repositioned infantry of Reille’s corps sealed the flank, while Kellerman’s cavalry threatened Scotty’s Guard Cavalry. Brian brought on the last units of Kellerman’s cavalry corps. The French left now had 4 heavy cavalry units and an artillery battery facing the checked British horsemen.

Pete was taking the gloves off, and advanced Durutte’s infantry against Alex’s position on the Allied left flank, besides moving up this other 3 brigades of D’Erlon’s Corps.

Brian had brought on more Carabiniers from Kellerman’s corps. However Scotty only knew one tactic and charged the implausibly amazing 1st Dragoon Guards into a French infantry unit which didn’t form square! This battalion was destroyed and the Dragoon Guards took the ground. Two other French units did form square however, and repelled 2 more British cavalry charges. The Dragoon Guards and a supporting unit finally retreated back to British lines, greeted by redcoats raising shakos on bayonets shouting ‘huzzah!’…

Yet with three of the four heavy cavalry units of Kellerman’s corps now on table, Brian sent in 2 units against the Life Guards who were annihilated. It was the first unit lost by Scotty. The carabiniers charged on with their supports past a British square.

Elsewhere, Quiot’s brigade crossed the hedge on the Allied ridge where some of Bylandt’s units still clung on. With the French Guard Light Cavalry approaching La Haye Sainte, and Trevor’s Old Guard now rolling forward, the Allied centre was under real pressure. But could the French left hold?

Paul’s Nassauers continued to advance towards Reille’s corps, with Ian’s British infantry on their left…

Reinforcements were needed. Craig now brought on the British Union Brigade on the ridge near Ian’s infantry. Scotty also deployed the KGL Hussars in a bid to counter Brian’s advancing Carabiniers on the British far right. As Mal arrived in the War Room he reorganised the six battalions of Reille’s corps in the immediate vicinity of the French left, bolstered by 4 battalions of Middle Guard. On Pete’s flank, the Imperial Guard Heavy Cavalry advanced!

The French appeared to be making progress. The left was stabilised. More French were moving up in the centre, where Trevor destroyed a British square. While Pete was adding growing pressure to the British left, as his Swiss regiment of Quiot’s brigade fired on the British infantry beyond the hedge. Although another Young Guard assault by Rob on the farmhouse failed, the Allied centre appeared to be very exposed. Was the path now clear for the Old Guard?

T11: Pell Mell on the Field. Charge of the Polish Lancers!

Could the British hold on? In the centre, British initiative enabled Alex to reinforce Bylandt’s brigade (which had taken 33 casualties so far and lost one battalion) with some Brunswickers. On the Allied right, Scotty charged the KGL hussars into two of Brian’s French heavy cavalry units, which were forced back.

Craig’s Union Brigade (the 1st Dragoons) charged into some of Trevor’s infantry who were unformed. The battalion was duly destroyed.

Durutte’s attacking infantry on Pete’s flank were also charged by 2 of Alex’s cavalry brigades – one battalion formed square, one didn’t. 1 battalion was destroyed, but so was some Brunswick cavalry.

Greg and Jack turned one brigade of Lobau’s corps to face the direction from which the Prussians would likely arrive. Trevor’s light cavalry again charged some British infantry but were forced to retire as they formed square.

Quiot’s infantry kept advancing on the rest of Bylandt’s brigade. They lost one battalion however, despite destroying some Brunswick skirmishers. However, Pete managed to destroy another of Bylandt’s battalions – 2 remained.

Now Rob launched a decisive attack. The Polish Light Horse Lancers of the Imperial Guard, supported by the Mamelukes, charged into a British battalion on the ridge. The British failed to form square and were already unformed, while the Poles went in with ‘Elan’. The Poles destroyed the British unit and took the ground! Napoleon’s bravest cavalry had captured the crossroads for their beloved Emperor!

Meanwhile Rob pushed 3 battalions of Young Guard up the road to Brussels, as the Old Guard under Trevor advanced on the other side of the farmhouse. The French (Pete, Jack and Greg) continued to advance on the right. Jack destroyed one of Alex’s light cavalry with Guard Horse Artillery fire. However, The Old Guard took 8 casualties on their flank from 95th Rifle fire from the farmhouse, and another 5 from British artillery. Sacre bleu!

With the success of the Polish Lancers, the three units of Quiot’s infantry, the Young Guard advancing by road, and the Old Guard attacking in the centre, would the French win? It seemed more than possible. However the Prussians now came on!

T12: Where is Maitland?!

The French right repositioned to face the arriving Prussians on their right flank. Jack knocked out two Brunswick cavalry units with a charge of the Imperial Guard Heavy Cavalry, and charged on to the arriving Prussian cavalry! Tres bien, Monsieur!

In the centre, the Polish Lancers turned to face another infantry unit on the ridge. The Scots were defeated and forced to retreat!

The Imperial Guard got stuck into the British from two directions. One Old Guard battalion charged a British unit behind La Haye Sainte, which retreated. One Young Guard battalion charged another British unit behind the farmhouse – but eventually retired. The farmhouse was being surrounded!

The French were vigorously attacking the Allied centre ‘the fastest with the mostest’. Rob pushed up 2 Young Guard battalions and some skirmishers along the road towards the Allied table edge, already held by the Polish Lancers. Trevor formed one Old Guard battalion into line. Meanwhile, the Imperial Guard Dutch Lancers and Chasseurs arrived at the hedge in support of Quiot’s brigade.

Simultaneously, Pete’s infantry of D’Erlon’s corps was pressing close to the British ridge. Victory was near…

The Old Guard partially formed into square as the Union Brigade threatened. However, the British cavalry charged against another French square and failed, and the entire Union Brigade had to retreat! British infantry nearby looked aghast at the oncoming Old Guard! Where was Maitland?!

The way was open. Rob launched yet another Young Guard assault on the farmhouse against the 95th Rifles. After two rounds, the Young Guard triumphed, expelling the Rifles. The French had taken La Haye Sainte! Vive L’Empereur!

Conclusion

Alex declared a French victory. Overall casualties were later extrapolated as about 10,000 on each side. Nevertheless, the Polish Lancers had secured the crossroads, the Young Guard had taken the farmhouse, D’Erlon’s Corps had a foothold on the ridge and the Prussians had been checked before doing much damage. The retreat of the Union Brigade left the centre wide open for the Old Guard, meanwhile the Polish Lancers made it impossible for more Belgian infantry to deploy on the ridge in their vicinity. Despite valiant play by the British players, and in particular Scotty on the British right (where the best British troops faced Brian, me, and Mal during the game), the French had stuck to their plan and won, reversing history!

Napoleon would destroy the Prussians the next day at the Second Battle of Waterloo in a night attack, as Wellington retreated to the Channel ports pursued by Grouchy, his Dutch-Belgian allies deserting to the French en masse. Austria and Russia, gobsmacked, sued for peace and about faced their armies…

A great game all round, and many thanks to Alex for organising and umpiring, as well as to Craig. Although GDAII rules can seem opaque and scholastic at times, they do have their fans and plus points. Many of us had played them before, and they tend to make attacking difficult but also nail-biting as you have to get your ducks in order with ADCs and special actions as well as timing. On this occasion the Allies had a strong position, more troops for much of the game, and rolled much better than the French. Yet the French still managed to win, despite some odd results and frustrations. The French could redeploy most of their army in this scenario, but the British had to set up historically. Alex says he wants to do Leipzig or Borodino next. After a well deserved rest, I’m sure many of us will be at the War Room to take part! A fantastic weekend. Many thanks to Rob for hospitality.