“MY GOD SIR, I’VE LOST MY LEG!”

Watching the film Waterloo with my dad at the cinema in the early 1970’s many individual incidents sparked an interest that developed into my love of Napoleonic history. Coming towards the end of the battle Wellington sits on his horse alongside his staff with one of the nearest being Lord Uxbridge. They do not get along, but the reasons for this are a totally different story to that which I’m relating, and the contrast between Wellington in his plain blue coat and the abundance of lace and decoration worn on the hussar uniform of Lord Uxbridge is most striking.

A flurry of sound and visual effects clear to have Lord Uxbridge look down and remark to Wellington “My God Sir, I’ve lost my leg!”

Wellington casually looks down and then up at Lord Uxbridge to reply “My God sir, so you have!”

The scene was etched into our memories as we watched the remainder of the film and one of the first moments to be discussed on the walk and bus ride home.

Did Uxbridge really say these words? Could he have been so calm in such circumstances? What if the cannon ball had been fractionally to the side?

In my research since I have found plenty of references to the now famous incident but, perhaps not surprisingly, no conclusive proof of the exact wording. Uxbridge was taken away to his temporary head quarters for his role of cavalry commander, a house owned by a Frenchman, Monsieur Hyacinthe Joseph-Marie Paris. While having the shattered leg amputated without the benefit of anaesthetic Uxbridge is also meant to have remarked “Knives appear somewhat blunt.”

Once the operation was over Uxbridge concluded “Who would not lose a leg for such a victory?”

The house owner had the leg buried, a tombstone created and proceeded to charge tourists to view the spot. When in 1878 Uxbridge’s son came to visit, he found the bones visible after a severe storm had washed the soil away. A political row as to who should own the remains ensued with the result that the bones were removed from display but not returned to the Uxbridge family!

Such small snippets started my interest and eventually my attempt to write a series of stories starting with “A Dangerous Hour for England” which was inspired by a painting.

That will be a topic for a future blog!

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