Scum of the Earth: What Happened to the Real British Heroes of Waterloo?

The Scum of the Earth explores the common soldiers the Duke of Wellington angrily condemned as 'scum for their looting at Vitoria,from their great victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 to their return home to a Regency Britain at war with itself. It follows men like James Graham,the Irishman hailed as the bravest man in the British Army for his heroic action in closing the north gate at Hougoumont,and fresh documentary evidence that he was forced to plead for charity because he was so poor; Francis Styles,who went to his grave claiming that he had captured the eagle that was credited to his superior officer; and John Lees,a spinner from Oldham who joined up at 15,braved shell and shot to deliver ammunition to the guns at Waterloo and was cut down four years later at the Peterloo Massacre by some of the cavalry with whom he served.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2019
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

The Scum of the Earth delves into the ordinary soldiers whom the Duke of Wellington vehemently denounced as 'scum' for their looting at Vitoria, spanning from their monumental victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 to their return to Regency Britain amidst internal strife. It chronicles the lives of individuals such as James Graham, the Irishman revered as the bravest soldier in the British Army for his courageous feat in sealing the north gate at Hougoumont, and compelling documentary evidence revealing his destitution, leading him to plead for charity. Alongside him are Francis Styles, who claimed to have captured the eagle attributed to his superior officer, and John Lees, a young spinner from Oldham who enlisted at the age of 15, enduring shell and gunfire to deliver ammunition to the guns at Waterloo, only to be tragically cut down four years later during the Peterloo Massacre. This narrative unfolds against the backdrop of unprecedented civil unrest in British history. The Regency era, renowned for its elegance, exuberance, the industrial revolution that propelled Britain to become the dominant force in Europe, and the naval prowess that established it as a global superpower, was also characterized by riots and the pervasive fear that the mob would seize control, mirroring events in Paris. Britain teetered on the brink of a bloody revolution, as ordinary men, including those whom Wellington deemed as 'scum of the earth,' took to the streets to demand their voices be heard in Parliament. The riots were suppressed through a series of repressive measures, while Wellington stood as a steadfast bulwark against the historical tide. However, his resistance was ultimately futile, as the Great Reform Act was passed in 1832, marking his defeat. In order to prevent us from reliving this tumultuous period, it is imperative that we undertake a cold, objective examination of the battle and its aftermath, seeking insights that can guide us toward a brighter future.

Weight: 274g
Dimension: 129 x 196 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780750989176
Edition number: 2 New edition