0:00:02 > 0:00:03Sunday, 18th of June, 1815,
0:00:03 > 0:00:07and a battle rages near the small Belgian village of Waterloo
0:00:07 > 0:00:10that would set the course of European history
0:00:10 > 0:00:11for generations to come.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Tonight, a team of archers and a team of aquarium workers,
0:00:17 > 0:00:22watched by our resident experts, attempt to rewrite history.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25They are going to fight each other in a virtual rerun...
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Wait for it, wait for it...
0:00:27 > 0:00:30..of the decisive battle of the Napoleonic era.
0:00:33 > 0:00:34Right, right, right, right, right.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37We're going to push everyone out to the right.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Can the attacking might of Napoleon's Grand Armee
0:00:40 > 0:00:43overwhelm the ultimate defender - the Duke of Wellington?
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Find out on Time Commanders.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Hello and welcome to Time Commanders,
0:00:53 > 0:00:56the show that not only lets you relive history,
0:00:56 > 0:00:58but lets you rewrite it, too.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03We've brought together a team of experts
0:01:03 > 0:01:05familiar with every weapon known to man,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09and a military historian who brings years of experience
0:01:09 > 0:01:12advising governments and armies on strategy.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14And at the heart of it all is the engine
0:01:14 > 0:01:16that brings our battles to life,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19based on detailed historical research
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and factoring in everything from the weather
0:01:22 > 0:01:24to the troops' fighting spirit.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Tonight, we have a team of archers from Oxford.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32That's Nat, Matthew and David.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Never fired an arrow in anger, I hope?
0:01:35 > 0:01:36Er...
0:01:36 > 0:01:39We don't tend to train for warfare in modern competitive archery,
0:01:39 > 0:01:40but, you know, you never know.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42- If you really get us angry. - Right, OK.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46And from Birmingham, a team of aquarium workers -
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Richard, Reece and Maz.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51I take it you don't want to go into battle swinging a fish?
0:01:51 > 0:01:54No, not a fish, but anything else to hand. We'll be ready.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59- Hopefully legions of sea creatures can come to our aid.- Good.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02Both teams, welcome to Time Commanders.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Tonight's battle is one that just about every schoolchild
0:02:06 > 0:02:07in the country knows.
0:02:07 > 0:02:13Teams, you are about to fight the Battle of Waterloo.
0:02:13 > 0:02:14- Cool.- Awesome.
0:02:14 > 0:02:15- How about that?- Yeah.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17One of the most famous conflicts of all time.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Napoleon is on the march once more across Europe.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Can the forces of the Seventh Coalition stop him?
0:02:25 > 0:02:28We've tossed a coin to decide which team will be Imperial France
0:02:28 > 0:02:32and which team will be the Allies, led by Britain.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Teams, I can now reveal that, aquarium workers,
0:02:36 > 0:02:40you are going to be Imperial France.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42- Yay.- OK.- Excited?
0:02:42 > 0:02:45- Yep.- Angry, yet?- Yes! We're ready!
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Like someone's delivered the wrong feed for your fish?!
0:02:48 > 0:02:50You're ready, you look ready!
0:02:50 > 0:02:51That means that, of course, archers,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54you are going to be the forces of the Seventh Coalition,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58that's the British, the Dutch and the Prussians.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00- So, no bow and arrow...- Shame.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03..but a fair amount of muskets, I should imagine.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06So, France, your commander, obviously,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09is one of the greatest figures in history.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13He has a legendary status as a general, a politician and a leader.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17He is, of course, Napoleon Bonaparte.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22Napoleon Bonaparte used the power he gained during the popular uprising
0:03:22 > 0:03:26of the French Revolution to install himself as Emperor of France
0:03:26 > 0:03:28and conquer much of Europe.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Who is going to be your Napoleon?
0:03:31 > 0:03:36I am stepping up. I'll be leading the troops into battle.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39But why is this our Napoleon?
0:03:39 > 0:03:42So if it goes wrong we can pass the buck and blame him!
0:03:42 > 0:03:44The other two, of course, if you're Napoleon,
0:03:44 > 0:03:46you are Napoleon's captains.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49All right? Vitally, vitally important.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54Now, Allies, your general is, of course, the Iron Duke himself,
0:03:54 > 0:03:55Wellington.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01The first Duke of Wellington was an Anglo-Irish soldier
0:04:01 > 0:04:03and politician, who's regarded as
0:04:03 > 0:04:06one of the greatest military commanders of the time.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Which of you is going to be Wellington?
0:04:13 > 0:04:14- That would be me.- You?
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- Yeah, can't you see the resemblance?- Why? Why?
0:04:17 > 0:04:19- Cos she said so.- Exactly, yeah.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22And that kind of is the true qualities of a general, isn't it?
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- To tell you what to do.- Are you the toughest character of the three?
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- Yeah. They're used to me being in charge, aren't you, boys?- Yes, Miss.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Yeah, see?
0:04:30 > 0:04:31Here to help us get to grips
0:04:31 > 0:04:36with this momentous, era-defining battle, our two resident experts -
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Dr Lynette Nusbacher and Mike Loades.
0:04:40 > 0:04:41Hello, Time Commanders.
0:04:41 > 0:04:47So, it is 1815, and Napoleon Bonaparte is out of his box.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50He has escaped where he's been in exile on the Isle of Elba.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54He has returned to France, he has been declared an outlaw by
0:04:54 > 0:05:01the rest of Europe, but he has got 200,000 men rallied to his cause.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02All of the other states in Europe -
0:05:02 > 0:05:06the Russians and the Prussians and the British
0:05:06 > 0:05:08and a bunch of the Germans and the Dutch -
0:05:08 > 0:05:10are all going to go and stop him,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14but, if Napoleon waits until all of those armies can be gathered,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17then he'll be massively outnumbered,
0:05:17 > 0:05:21so Napoleon has got to act very quickly in order to attack
0:05:21 > 0:05:24those armies and defeat them one by one.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28And just outside Brussels, near a town called Waterloo,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32is the Duke of Wellington, at the head of the Anglo-Dutch Army.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36That's Napoleon's first obstacle. He's got two battles to fight.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38He's got to defeat that Anglo-Dutch Army
0:05:38 > 0:05:40and he's got to defeat the clock,
0:05:40 > 0:05:44cos the clock is ticking and the Prussians are on their way,
0:05:44 > 0:05:50and he has to take out Wellington or Napoleon will not stand a chance.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54So that's how we got to the eve of the battle, but before the teams
0:05:54 > 0:05:58start fighting, here's our field team with the lowdown
0:05:58 > 0:06:02on some of the soldiers of the time and the arms that they wielded.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05France, you in particular should take special note of this,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08because you will be fighting first.
0:06:08 > 0:06:09OK. Bring it on.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Reload!
0:06:16 > 0:06:18By the time of the Napoleonic Wars,
0:06:18 > 0:06:20artillery was the dominant force on the battlefield.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Fire!
0:06:22 > 0:06:25To operate artillery efficiently required a well-drilled team,
0:06:25 > 0:06:29a gun crew, each with a different job.
0:06:29 > 0:06:30Reload!
0:06:30 > 0:06:33I'm inserting a pricket to clear the vent
0:06:33 > 0:06:35and covering it to prevent sparks going in.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37This is the worming tool.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40We use this to clear the barrel of any debris or fouling.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42Now, the sponge on the end of the ram.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Push it all the way home, get rid of any embers that might be in there.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48I'm about to put a lot of gunpowder down this barrel.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Next, the charge.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Then we load the charge full of gunpowder.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Ram it all the way home, firmly, and then back out.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Next down the barrel would be the ball.
0:06:58 > 0:06:59However, we're blank-firing.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Then we load the wadding.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Use the ram, and ram it home.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Gun ready. Prepare to give fire!
0:07:08 > 0:07:10This is the linstock. Burning rope. Makes it go bang.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11Fire!
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Artillery must be sited, and it is the skill of the artilleryman
0:07:18 > 0:07:20to calculate the trajectory of the shot.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Elevation is achieved here, but sometimes the entire gun
0:07:23 > 0:07:25has to be shifted around,
0:07:25 > 0:07:27perhaps because of a flanking attack by cavalry.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Battles started with artillery,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34softening up the enemy's ranks by decimating them,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36but however big your guns are,
0:07:36 > 0:07:38artillery won't win battles on their own.
0:07:41 > 0:07:47So no doubting at all the impact of the artillery on the battlefield.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52Time now to see them in action in the first of our skirmishes.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55This is a chance for our teams to get used to working together,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57and handling their troops.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01The outcome won't affect the battle itself, but what they LEARN will.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- Lynette, could you guide us into this one, please?- Absolutely.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07You're going to run a skirmish that looks
0:08:07 > 0:08:13a lot like the Battle of Ligny, an important pre-Waterloo battle
0:08:13 > 0:08:15between the French and the Prussians.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Right there is a village.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21It's got a strategic crossroads in it, so it's very important to you,
0:08:21 > 0:08:25and it's currently held by the Prussians.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27The Prussians need to hold on to this village,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29so they've rammed it with artillery.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33You've got to take the village from them in order to enable your army
0:08:33 > 0:08:37to carry on and fight the Battle of Waterloo.
0:08:37 > 0:08:43You've got infantry here, and those infantry have got to be pretty close
0:08:43 > 0:08:47to anything you're shooting at to put it under effective fire.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50You are going to have to be pretty much next to them.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Cannons, on the other hand, all right, just so you know,
0:08:54 > 0:08:57they are going to be able to shoot on you from about there.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01And your objective is to use your infantry to take the town.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03OK.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05So that's going to be a lot of time under fire.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07You're going to have to hold your nerve,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10and you're the French Army, so you've got elan and verve,
0:09:10 > 0:09:14and you've got to display both of those on the attack.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18You are going to lose people to cannon fire, and musket fire,
0:09:18 > 0:09:22and canister, but that is the bloody business that you are doing here.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- Oh, God!- Are you OK?
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Because you actually look like you're about to march into battle, let me tell you!
0:09:27 > 0:09:29- We're ready. We're going to go. - Got our game faces on.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34So, team, General, you will be here in the command position.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37You are in charge of overall strategy, OK?
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Captains, you'll be in the field with your operator down there.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46He will take your commands and translate them into actions.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49You'll be taking turns to be in position.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51It's time to pick a fight.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Teams, take your positions.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- Time to skirmish.- Let's go!
0:09:58 > 0:10:01First to step forward, Captain Maz.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03- Get the columns going forwards.- Yeah.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06And as soon as we've got an opportunity to cross the river...
0:10:06 > 0:10:08- Yeah.- ..we'll have the front two columns.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10- We've got five, so...- Five.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12..two or three going across the river?
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- We'll take two across the river.- OK.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17And then the other three, we'll keep going.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Get to moving, get to moving now.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23Richard's plan is to split his five units, sending two across
0:10:23 > 0:10:26the river to the left, while the other three units continue
0:10:26 > 0:10:29straight up the road to the village.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32He's dividing his force in the face of the enemy.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34He's putting part of it on one side of the river,
0:10:34 > 0:10:38and part on the other, and that's going to make it really hard
0:10:38 > 0:10:43for the French Army to be mutually supporting on its approach.
0:10:43 > 0:10:44All the units moving forward,
0:10:44 > 0:10:47do you want them in blocks or rectangles?
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- Go for squares? - Blocks, how they are, now.- OK, OK.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53As soon as you get across the river, we'll go as fast as we can,
0:10:53 > 0:10:54try and take their position.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56- If they run they'll get tired.- OK.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Then they'll just get shot at and blown away.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01THEY LAUGH
0:11:01 > 0:11:04You are going to send them into a run as soon as they come under fire.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08Whoa, look at those cannons shooting!
0:11:08 > 0:11:10The French will have to hold their nerve, here.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12They are already under fire.
0:11:12 > 0:11:13Pretty brutal.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22Now they're taking it, now, look, now they're starting to...lose men.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Start running all units forwards, the first two across the side.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28The back three, engage.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32The French troops have divided in two,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35and the front units are now crossing at a shallow part of the river.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40If you look at the French, as they are trying to cross the river,
0:11:40 > 0:11:45they're allowing their formation to be exposed to fire.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Instead of being a narrow front of a column,
0:11:48 > 0:11:52they're exposing a broad length of a column while they're crossing,
0:11:52 > 0:11:56so they're conducting a river crossing under fire
0:11:56 > 0:12:00and that is one of the toughest land operations you can do.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01Whoa!
0:12:01 > 0:12:03And a few casualties, there.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06That first column crossing the river is...
0:12:06 > 0:12:09- is taking a pounding, there, isn't it?- How is it doing for numbers?
0:12:09 > 0:12:10Are there many of them left?
0:12:10 > 0:12:12We're doing OK, so far.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15The Prussians are now also firing at the French
0:12:15 > 0:12:18on the right-hand side of the river.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21That middle column just got struck, look at that!
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Do you want to split any of the three to go across the river?
0:12:23 > 0:12:25ALARM WAILS
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Right, guys, captains, swap!
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Now Reece has his chance.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35They're starting to use fused shot now. You see those explosions?
0:12:35 > 0:12:39A cannonball doesn't explode unless it's got a fuse in it
0:12:39 > 0:12:42and, inside, full of black powder, and then you're getting shrapnel.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44- Bombs bursting in air. - Bombs bursting in air,
0:12:44 > 0:12:48that's causing a lot more damage than a simple cannonball would do.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51- The second column seems to have stopped.- Yes, yeah.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53- Yeah, they're running now, the second behind.- OK.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55And the ones on the right of the river, they need...
0:12:55 > 0:12:57- Are they all running?- Oh, my God.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00The French infantry on the left have crossed the river,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03and those on the right are gradually nearing the town.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06But they're getting pounded by the Prussian cannons.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10We're getting absolutely decimated.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Would it be the best to widen the formation
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- so that it's a longer range to hit? - Yeah, spread them out.- Spread 'em.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17So would they be able to swap it sideways?
0:13:17 > 0:13:19- Good call.- Yeah, good one, Reece.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22- Take 'em from column to line, right? - All right.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Captain Reece is trying to save the troops on the right
0:13:25 > 0:13:29by spreading them out into a line, but it's too little, too late.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32The Prussians are decimating them.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38On the upside, the troops on the left are being left alone,
0:13:38 > 0:13:39and they're gaining ground.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42- Look at the French units here.- Yep.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45The French units on the other side of the river are starting to
0:13:45 > 0:13:49get really close to the village, and they're not taking much fire.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51As soon as the three on the right of the river
0:13:51 > 0:13:53are ready to start firing, get them firing.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55So they can cause a distraction.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57- Those guys are broken. Those guys are running.- OK.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02The mangled troops on the French right have lost morale,
0:14:02 > 0:14:06and they are routing - running away.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Guys, on the left is a river they need to cross.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10There's a bridge to their right.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13They need to cross it and get in to attack on the artillery.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15You've now got two units that have routed.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Reece, are you engaging on the left-hand side
0:14:18 > 0:14:19- with the guys over the river?- Yeah.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Do you want these guys going longways as well,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- like the other guys on the right? - Yeah.- Yeah, get behind them.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26Maz appears to be taking command.
0:14:26 > 0:14:27Your guys are now in the town.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30The troops that crossed the river are entering the village,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33but they're freezing in the face of the Prussian fire.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Reece, your guys that are just crossing the bridge,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41you've got more troops coming to the right,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45so the second column need to come out and cover on the right.
0:14:45 > 0:14:46While the artillery does its worst,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50Prussian infantry are also attacking the French as they come into town.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53- Captain, do you understand this? - Erm, not 100%, no.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55If you don't understand it, tell 'em.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Again, our commanders are having trouble
0:14:58 > 0:15:00keeping two things going in their heads.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03As they pay attention to one unit,
0:15:03 > 0:15:05they lose their attention of the other one.
0:15:05 > 0:15:06This is no time to dither.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10- The troops have just crossed the bridge.- Yes.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12They're attacking from the left.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- Yes.- They're being...
0:15:15 > 0:15:17They're being surrounded. They need to start...
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Are those troops actually shooting at anyone? Right, change captains.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21Change captains.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25'Their challenge is to regroup their units on the right-hand side
0:15:25 > 0:15:27'of the river.'
0:15:27 > 0:15:30You've got lots of troops coming on your right side.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33- OK, can we get them engaged to the right side, right?- Yeah.- OK.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- They're taking fire from their right-hand side.- OK.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40Are we just going to meet them head on or try and curve round?
0:15:40 > 0:15:45The ones that are moving, get the second group into support.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48- What does that mean? - Get them alongside them
0:15:48 > 0:15:49- and get them both firing.- OK.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51So are all units there...
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Is that the best way to attack cannon? To shoot at it?
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- No.- What's the best way to attack the cannon?- Charge in?- Yeah.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02- Go!- All right, charge.- Do it! Captain, do it! Too late, too late.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04You've taken fire, they've routed again.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07- OK, you've still got... - What about the other guys?
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- HE LAUGHS - It's going a bit pear-shaped.
0:16:10 > 0:16:11Get them charging in.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15- Get them in as quick as possible. - They're routing.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17- They're routing. - For God's sake!
0:16:17 > 0:16:20I think we're learning that standing looking at cannon firing at
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- you is not the best way to attack it.- Uh-oh.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24You've lost.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27'A bad day for the French.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30'They've completely failed to get to grips with that Prussian artillery.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33'And that could be a disaster in the main battle.'
0:16:38 > 0:16:41I don't think that went particularly brilliantly.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43I agree with you, not brilliant at all.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45But it started... You were clever to start with.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48I think it was, on our part, a lack of communication.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- We were communicating, but...- Yeah.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52I don't think we were saying the right things.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54But you guys split your force in the face of the enemy.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58You took half of your force and you put it somewhere where it
0:16:58 > 0:17:02couldn't share support with their comrades.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07- Yeah.- And it was a clever idea but when it came to it,
0:17:07 > 0:17:11you could only pay attention to one part of the field at a time.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16- What do you think you learnt from it?- We need to move quicker.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18And, yeah, the problem with dividing the force was just that it
0:17:18 > 0:17:20was just too difficult to keep up with both sides of what's
0:17:20 > 0:17:22going on, so maybe a bit more compact...
0:17:22 > 0:17:26and actually just remember to charge in and attack.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29I think you learn how quickly it gets very confusing in battle...
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Yeah.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33..very, very quickly.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36OK, time for another insight into the warfare
0:17:36 > 0:17:39of the Napoleonic period with our field team.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Listen up, because all of this information will help you in battle,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46but, Allies, it will be particularly helpful to you
0:17:46 > 0:17:48when you take to the battlefield in a minute.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Cavalry during the Napoleonic period was incredibly diverse.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Amongst them were the heavy cavalry of cuirassiers and dragoons,
0:17:59 > 0:18:03and the light cavalry of chasseurs, hussars and lancers.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05SCREAMING
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Heavy cavalry, these are big men on big horses.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Can you imagine a wall of horses, all their knees locked together,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16and that wall of scarlet jackets coming towards you?
0:18:16 > 0:18:19- And here is a huge cutting sword. - And what a sword!
0:18:19 > 0:18:22I mean, this is the 1796 heavy cavalry pattern,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25and it's been described as a butcher's blade
0:18:25 > 0:18:26and you can understand why.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28It's the best description.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31All the weight in that blade, so it naturally comes cleaving down,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34and with that weight it just chops straight through.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Lock up your daughters, it's the light cavalry.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Ambush, raiding, reconnaissance, that's what we do.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47We manoeuvre as well, we're really good at moving around
0:18:47 > 0:18:49the battlefield, changing position,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52and then we use this, a razorblade.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59As the blood spills, the enemy's morale drains.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02The lance is a superior cavalry weapon.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04I've got a really good reach for other men on horseback,
0:19:04 > 0:19:06and for men on the ground.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08I've got the momentum of the horse to drive it home,
0:19:08 > 0:19:12and I just press the horse forwards, and can cherry pick them all off,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14skewering them on the end of the lance.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16But remember, Time Commanders, when commanding cavalry,
0:19:16 > 0:19:20the big challenge is keeping them under control.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Not being able to pull up their horses and disappearing for
0:19:22 > 0:19:25miles led the Duke of Wellington to chastise the cavalry
0:19:25 > 0:19:27for galloping at everything!
0:19:30 > 0:19:33So we've moved over here to the British side,
0:19:33 > 0:19:36and I hope you watched that film carefully.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40There are so many different types of cavalry on the battlefield,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42and with the smoke and the confusion, I know for a fact
0:19:42 > 0:19:44it wasn't unheard of for regiments
0:19:44 > 0:19:46on the same side to attack each other.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Well, you're right, there's a lot of smoke,
0:19:48 > 0:19:49there's a lot of confusion.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51It's one of the reasons why at this period
0:19:51 > 0:19:54everyone's wearing such bright, colourful uniforms,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56and nobody wears such bright, colourful uniforms as the cavalry.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59They've got more flash, dash and panache
0:19:59 > 0:20:00than you can wave a stick at.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01But there's a reason for it.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04It's A, so they can identify each other,
0:20:04 > 0:20:05so they don't shoot each other.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08And it's B, to give that devil-may-care attitude,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12that, "I am dressed for dinner but I'm going for war."
0:20:12 > 0:20:17I like that. What was it? Flash, Dash and Panache?!
0:20:17 > 0:20:22'In the face of cavalry charges, infantry can seem very vulnerable.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25'But it is possible to defend against those mounted forces.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28'It's all about how you organise your troops.'
0:20:28 > 0:20:29Can I get you guys down?
0:20:29 > 0:20:31I need the aquarium workers for this.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34I want you guys to come and stand in a line here.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36You are in line, so if you all have muskets.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39Let's imagine you with muskets. Sort of.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43But you've got a very wide range of fire, OK, a broad fire.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Now, advance on me with your best war face.
0:20:45 > 0:20:46Come on. Advance!
0:20:46 > 0:20:48- THEY SHOUT - Halt!
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Can you see the problem?
0:20:50 > 0:20:53So if there are obstacles, advancing in line is not good.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55There's something else, it's called a square.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58So, Nat, kneel down. Here. There we go.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00- We are the front line, my dear. - I'm ready, I'm ready.
0:21:00 > 0:21:01We're going to hold them off.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03So this is called a hollow square.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Imagine this all the way round, 500 men, you've got a square,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08it's a very, very good defensive position.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Now, advance! Oh, you can't...
0:21:11 > 0:21:12So there is a problem to a square
0:21:12 > 0:21:15because you're not very quick on your knees.
0:21:15 > 0:21:16All right, stand up now, that's it.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19So that's what you've got to consider.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Now, it's your chance to skirmish. Could you guide us into this?
0:21:25 > 0:21:29What you've got is you've got three units of British infantry.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34The threat to them is all these French cavalry over here,
0:21:34 > 0:21:37there's lancers that will kebab them in an instant,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41and there are French cuirassiers - heavy cavalry.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Cuirass is the steel breastplate.
0:21:44 > 0:21:49You have got a potential rescue, which is your cavalry down here.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51FANFARE
0:21:51 > 0:21:54British heavy cavalry but look at the distances.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Can you hold them off until they get there?
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Or do you make a run for the town?
0:21:59 > 0:22:01You have judgments to make.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04'Can the British infantry defend itself against that deadly
0:22:04 > 0:22:09'French cavalry, or can the British cavalry come to the rescue?'
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Allies, are you ready to face a charge
0:22:12 > 0:22:14by the famous French cuirassiers?
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Yeah, bring it on.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19- Ready to skirmish?- Ready.- Yep. - Take your positions.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21BUZZER
0:22:22 > 0:22:26'First captain to take up his post, David.'
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Select all the... We want all the cavalry.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30- Do you know what we're doing? - Right... Go!
0:22:30 > 0:22:31We want to bring them up to here.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Three infantry regiments deployed in square. Stagger to give support.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37I want the village at your rear so they can't bring in from the rear.
0:22:37 > 0:22:38That's a lot of separation...
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Yeah, close them up, they need to be closed up.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42They need to be in range of each other.
0:22:42 > 0:22:43- Do you want the cavalry running? - Good plan!
0:22:43 > 0:22:46I want the cavalry getting there as quickly as they can.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50'Nat's plan is to get her infantry in place as fast as possible
0:22:50 > 0:22:52'to meet the oncoming French cavalry.
0:22:52 > 0:22:57'Meanwhile, her cavalry are on their way as backup.'
0:22:57 > 0:23:01So, it is going to take a long time for that British cavalry
0:23:01 > 0:23:05to get all the way from that rear area up to that village.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08But at least she's got them moving, they're already on the move.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10- First thing she did.- That's right. - Smart.- That's right.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12These two infantry units, they're parallel to each other.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Are they in the right kind of position you want to hold?
0:23:15 > 0:23:18So long as they can cover each other with their arcs of fire. They need to be within arcs of fire.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20So what's your idea, quickly, Wellington?
0:23:20 > 0:23:22I'm forming square to receive the cavalry,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25so I can't be cut to pieces by them, and so that the fire from the
0:23:25 > 0:23:28three squares can take out the cavalry attacking each other.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30- Look at the way the British infantry are coming together.- Yes.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32- They have been mutually supporting...- Yes.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35The front will be able to go between them, but when they do,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38the French can be shot at from all directions.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42- Your cavalry's coming? - My cavalry's coming.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44I'm told my cavalry is coming, aren't they, Captain?
0:23:44 > 0:23:46They're coming.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49'Nat needs to organise her infantry very fast now.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52'The French cavalry are steaming towards her.'
0:23:53 > 0:23:56You've got about 30 seconds to form square.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59This unit, bring it back into this position.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03- Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up.- OK... - OK, good luck.- They're coming!
0:24:03 > 0:24:07One of them's not in square. One of them's not in square!
0:24:07 > 0:24:08Is one of them in square?
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Right side, right side, why am I not in square, right side?
0:24:10 > 0:24:12You're bringing them into position.
0:24:12 > 0:24:13You've not got long, you've not got long.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Form up, form up, form up.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- What's going on...?- Why are they not in square?
0:24:20 > 0:24:22- They're in square, they're in square.- OK, good.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25- Well done.- Prepare to receive the cavalry.- Well done!- That was close!
0:24:25 > 0:24:27You want to see where the infantry is coming...
0:24:27 > 0:24:29You can leave these squares to it, guys.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31I want you to bring up the cavalry.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34This is working. This is working.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36'The French cavalry are being hammered by the overlapping
0:24:36 > 0:24:40'arcs of fire from the squares of British infantry,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43'and now the British heavy cavalry are nearly upon them.'
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- Can you bring the cavalry into line, please?- They're lining up now.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Wait for it, wait for it.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53OK, bring your cavalry in, as quick as you can.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56- Go, go, go! - Tally-ho, chaps!
0:24:56 > 0:24:57The French have gone to pieces.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Look at that, the French lancers are running for it.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Yep, the lancers have turned.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05- Captain...- Straight over there.
0:25:05 > 0:25:06..have you got control of these cavalry?
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Yep, they're moving in now. The cavalry are attacking now.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11You keep control of my cavalry.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13I've got two units left flank who don't seem to be doing anything.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17- Can you form them up, please? - Charge them, charge them.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19Cavalry are attacking.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21- OK, drive them towards my squares, please.- They're going in.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Drive them towards my squares.
0:25:23 > 0:25:24Why do you want them towards the squares?
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Because I want to drive them into the fire from the squares,
0:25:27 > 0:25:28I want to drive them towards the muskets.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31She's created a spider's trap,
0:25:31 > 0:25:33and she's pushing them into that trap
0:25:33 > 0:25:38and she's not chasing them out, she's bringing them in.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40You think the French will follow you?
0:25:40 > 0:25:45I'm going to drive the cavalry with my cavalry towards our own muskets.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49'The British have succeeded in flattening five French units,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52'and are now chasing the two remaining units of
0:25:52 > 0:25:56'French cavalry back towards their infantry squares.'
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Drive them back towards the squares, that will do for them.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Do not pursue...
0:26:00 > 0:26:05Captains, switchover, switchover, switchover. Matt, get in there, son!
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Get in there. Get yourself a saddle.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10You've got a unit of cavalry in reserve back by the village.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13- Yeah, well spotted.- Did you hear that, Matt? To the rear.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16We've got cavalry coming up the road between the infantry squares.
0:26:16 > 0:26:17Yeah, bring them on, bring them on.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19I've got a square that's close to breaking here.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Can we reinforce with cavalry, bring them in?
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Yes, you've got it, all right. Finish them off, Matt.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Finish them off.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28It's game over.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31The French cavalry have just been crushed.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Skirmish is finished.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38'So victory to the Brits, who handled that skirmish brilliantly!
0:26:38 > 0:26:41'Their infantry defence against cavalry was faultless,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44'and that should be a big, big help during the main battle.'
0:26:47 > 0:26:48Masterful.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50But only one master.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53I think Nat was calm and collected throughout.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57I think she maintained control of her subordinates and she kept
0:26:57 > 0:27:00everything on the field happening just as she wanted it to.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03What I loved was the way you brought your squares together,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06everybody was in support of everyone else.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08I think I would just liked to have seen
0:27:08 > 0:27:14a little bit more communication from the front line to the command.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Talk to me, guys. A bit more data, that would be good. Yeah.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19I particularly liked Lord Nat Wellington saying,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22"Why haven't we formed in to square on the right?
0:27:22 > 0:27:24"Why haven't we formed into square on the right?!"
0:27:24 > 0:27:26What did you learn from that, guys?
0:27:26 > 0:27:30That the infantry can defeat cavalry on the defensive.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33So if we hold firm, the cavalry's impotent.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38You've seen each other in action now.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Can I ask you, British under Wellington,
0:27:41 > 0:27:44what you thought of the French under Napoleon?
0:27:44 > 0:27:47It was a brave move to divide the forces
0:27:47 > 0:27:51and cross that river under fire, one side on to the cannon.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55You did well to get troops round the back into the city...
0:27:55 > 0:27:56It nearly worked.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00Yeah, the courage is something to look out for, I think.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03- But could be potentially a bit reckless.- You think?
0:28:03 > 0:28:08- Potentially, yes.- What did you think of their display?- Pretty organised.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10They seem to have that sewn up pretty quickly.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14So I think we're going to have our hands full with what's coming up.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Teams, the battle is imminent. Yes!
0:28:17 > 0:28:20But before that, there's time for one more of our guides
0:28:20 > 0:28:21to the weaponry of the time.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Here's the field team with, I'd say,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28possibly the most important weapon of all at the Battle of Waterloo.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37The flintlock musket was the workhorse
0:28:37 > 0:28:39of the Napoleonic battlefield.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43It was the universal weapon of everyman.
0:28:43 > 0:28:48Simple to use and, in the right hands, deadly.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51- So all flintlocks work the same. - Yes.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53You put black powder in this pan here.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56That powder is ignited by a spark from this flint striking
0:28:56 > 0:28:58this steel plate, known as a frizzen.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02Spark goes through the hole, into the main charge and bang.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09Once you start shooting, your world is just one of your own smoke.
0:29:11 > 0:29:12And the more you shoot,
0:29:12 > 0:29:16the more the sticky black powder clogs up and fouls the barrel.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19After the battle, if you survive,
0:29:19 > 0:29:23you'll put boiling water and sloosh and scour out the barrel.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25But in the middle of a battlefield,
0:29:25 > 0:29:29the only option you might have is to pee down the barrel to clean it.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33So the stopping power was said to be up to 150 metres
0:29:33 > 0:29:35but it wasn't accurate up to that range.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Both sides would wait until they were about 40 metres away
0:29:39 > 0:29:41and they could see the whites of their eyes.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47After the firefight came the grisly business of hand-to-hand combat.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50A musket with a bayonet attached is a highly effective weapon
0:29:50 > 0:29:53for close-quarter fighting.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56It has good reach and plenty of weight behind the thrust.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58And the butt end became a lethal club.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04The musket was as versatile as it was ubiquitous
0:30:04 > 0:30:08and it changed the course of history for over two centuries.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14Teams, we are on the eve of battle.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16Please listen carefully
0:30:16 > 0:30:19as our experts guide you into the main event.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24So, Time Commanders, it comes to Waterloo.
0:30:24 > 0:30:29If you have a look at the map there, you can see that there is a ridge,
0:30:29 > 0:30:31a bit of high ground,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34and on that high ground is the Duke of Wellington
0:30:34 > 0:30:37and the Anglo-Dutch army.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40He needs to hold that ground
0:30:40 > 0:30:45until Blucher and his Prussians can come to his aid.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49Napoleon is coming from France up into Belgium,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52he's heading right for that position on the hill
0:30:52 > 0:30:55where the Duke of Wellington is poised.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59He wants to destroy the Duke of Wellington first
0:30:59 > 0:31:03and then turn and destroy the Prussians afterwards.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06So Wellington is not in a hurry,
0:31:06 > 0:31:10but Napoleon is in one devil of a hurry, because he must do this,
0:31:10 > 0:31:13he must do this before Blucher arrives.
0:31:13 > 0:31:18The other thing to note on that map - do you see those buildings?
0:31:18 > 0:31:22They are farm compounds, a farmhouse with a walled compound.
0:31:22 > 0:31:29Those farm complexes can be powerful protection against French attack.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32All right, teams, time to get the sense of your troops
0:31:32 > 0:31:34and where they've been positioned.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38Napoleon himself supposedly said the battlefield is
0:31:38 > 0:31:41a scene of constant chaos.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44The winner will be the one who can control that chaos,
0:31:44 > 0:31:49so get to know the forces at your command.
0:31:49 > 0:31:50Go.
0:31:50 > 0:31:51All right, guys.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Right, guys, as soon as you're ready, let me know what you've got.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58So I've got two lots of light infantry.
0:31:58 > 0:31:59We've got 12 each, OK.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04So what we have is we have two major armies.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08You've got the Anglo-Dutch army under the Duke of Wellington,
0:32:08 > 0:32:12and you've got the Prussians under Field Marshal Blucher,
0:32:12 > 0:32:14and they are gathered near Brussels.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20Wellington is surprised by how quickly Napoleon
0:32:20 > 0:32:23has moved up from France and into Belgium,
0:32:23 > 0:32:27and that means that Napoleon has stolen a march,
0:32:27 > 0:32:30he's stolen a day from Wellington.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33Everything hinges on Waterloo.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Napoleon has assembled a massive army...
0:32:38 > 0:32:42..but all Wellington has to do is hold out and wait.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46If Gebhard Blucher can join up with the Duke of Wellington,
0:32:46 > 0:32:52and the two of them together direct their combat power against Napoleon,
0:32:52 > 0:32:55Napoleon is finished forever.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59So the attacking French under our Napoleon, Richard,
0:32:59 > 0:33:01have superiority in cavalry.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05They also have bigger guns in their artillery, and more of them.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09However, the Allied forces under our Wellington, Nat,
0:33:09 > 0:33:14have the upper hand in infantry and a strong position to defend from.
0:33:15 > 0:33:16Right, Time Commanders,
0:33:16 > 0:33:21you now have a chance to scout the enemy's position.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25So, off you go, send some horse out there, have a look at your enemy.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Go for the centre.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30Time Commanders, just so you know,
0:33:30 > 0:33:33if you get too close to the enemy, they will fire on you.
0:33:33 > 0:33:34- Hold, hold, hold.- All right?
0:33:34 > 0:33:37You've got troops coming up, straight ahead of you.
0:33:37 > 0:33:42You might want to consider coming round.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45Maz, I think you've got the fort coming up on your right.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49- Is it OK or shall I hold off? - Keep going, keep going.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52- We want to have a good look at it. - OK.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55They've not made it up the ridge yet, they're at the fortified farm.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57- We need to see what they've...- OK. That's the other fort.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02The French are looking to where the nearest farm buildings are.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06- That's what we saw there. - Because they plan on taking them.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10They've latched on, they're going to turn history on its head.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14- That's... - Right, guys, just 30 seconds left.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17- We're going to go for the right and the left fort.- The right and left?
0:34:17 > 0:34:19Yes, so we'll go central first.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21Once we've got that,
0:34:21 > 0:34:23we will send some troops to the right hand as well.
0:34:23 > 0:34:24Can we see...?
0:34:24 > 0:34:28Can Nat repeat her phenomenal success in the skirmish,
0:34:28 > 0:34:32or can Richard come back from his crushing defeat and rewrite history?
0:34:32 > 0:34:37Right, stop, stop the chat, stop the chat.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39Otherwise you'll be up against the firing squad.
0:34:42 > 0:34:48Now time to ramp up the pressure on you, Wellington, and you, Napoleon.
0:34:48 > 0:34:53Now you have to command both your captains at the same time.
0:34:53 > 0:34:59It is getting tougher. Time to earn those stripes. OK?
0:34:59 > 0:35:02Don't forget, each general can call a time-out
0:35:02 > 0:35:04at any time during the battle.
0:35:04 > 0:35:09It's a chance for the generals to get their captains and our experts
0:35:09 > 0:35:12around the table to discuss the battle's progress, but
0:35:12 > 0:35:15you can only use it once.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19OK, so make sure you choose your moment wisely.
0:35:20 > 0:35:26So, it is Sunday the 18th of June, in the year 1815.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30Europe is on a knife-edge and two enormous armies
0:35:30 > 0:35:35face each other across the fields of Belgium to decide its fate.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Will Napoleon march on to dominate the Continent once more?
0:35:39 > 0:35:46Or will Wellington, the ultimate defender, halt him here at Waterloo?
0:35:46 > 0:35:50Let's find out. Let's see if history is about to be rewritten.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Let's fight!
0:35:54 > 0:35:57OK, are you guys ready? Let's go.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01Reece, what we're going to do is get your infantry to the two forts
0:36:01 > 0:36:04as quickly as possible, the central one and the one on the right.
0:36:04 > 0:36:09Richard, our Napoleon, is sending his infantry, commanded by Reece,
0:36:09 > 0:36:11in a dash to take two of the farmhouses
0:36:11 > 0:36:13to use as defensive positions.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17Meanwhile, Maz is looking after the cavalry and artillery.
0:36:19 > 0:36:21I want artillery in the centre, thank you.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24Cavalry as a mobile reserve.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26- Anything changing at your end?- No.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30- OK, thank you. Keep me updated on progress, Matt, please.- Yes.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32Infantry still advancing on the farm,
0:36:32 > 0:36:35the artillery is moving into position as we speak.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Nat, our Wellington, and her British and Allied forces,
0:36:38 > 0:36:41commanded by Matt, have got to the farmhouses first.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44David is commanding the Prussian forces of Blucher,
0:36:44 > 0:36:47so all he can do for the time being is wait.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50The French are moving very rapidly to their front.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53I don't know whether they've figured out that the British have
0:36:53 > 0:36:56already taken those three key farmsteads.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00- RICHARD:- We've got troops at all three now.
0:37:00 > 0:37:01Is there a backup plan?
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Right, they've only got one unit of infantry at each one.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07We are going to have to move everyone up.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09Reece, get your troops out. We won't engage straightaway.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11We're going to go for the right-hand forts
0:37:11 > 0:37:13and we'll work our way across.
0:37:13 > 0:37:14We're going to swamp that farm,
0:37:14 > 0:37:18we're going to take it and then move across to the middle one.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21- Infantry coming right, attacking first?- Yes.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25Which troops have you decided to attack, which farmhouse?
0:37:25 > 0:37:29- Everyone is heading towards the right.- Are they?
0:37:29 > 0:37:31- Are they now?- Yes.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35'Richard's plan is to send his entire army to Papelotte Farmhouse
0:37:35 > 0:37:39'on the right in order to steal it from the British.'
0:37:39 > 0:37:42The French have got the freedom of movement to go charging right
0:37:42 > 0:37:45up the middle like that, because the British haven't yet deployed
0:37:45 > 0:37:47their guns to bring them under effective artillery.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50- Let's see if they've noticed that. - What's your plan, general?
0:37:50 > 0:37:54I am going to batter the French as much as possible as they come
0:37:54 > 0:37:56up between my fortified positions.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58Then I'm going to batter them with the troops in line, lots of...
0:37:58 > 0:38:01Is that what they're doing, coming between your positions?
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Yeah, they're coming in between my position here,
0:38:03 > 0:38:05- my fortified positions. - To, what, attack you on the hill?
0:38:05 > 0:38:07They're going to come to us on the ridge,
0:38:07 > 0:38:09where we will be in line ready to receive.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11- You are sure of that, are you? - We will.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13The commander here is very sure
0:38:13 > 0:38:16that she thinks she knows what the French are doing,
0:38:16 > 0:38:19but I'm not sure she does.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21- Are we in line and ready to receive columns?- The infantry are
0:38:21 > 0:38:24moving up as we speak, they're still behind the ridge.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26You need to be pretty quick because the French are
0:38:26 > 0:38:29coming on pretty quick now. You've not got long.
0:38:29 > 0:38:30OK.
0:38:32 > 0:38:37The French have taken the British by surprise by moving so quickly.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39They're launching a full attack on Papelotte Farmhouse.
0:38:39 > 0:38:40Whoa.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43What's happened there?
0:38:43 > 0:38:46Good luck to the enemy cavalry coming to attack walls.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48OK, have we got our line engaged?
0:38:48 > 0:38:51Yes, our line is engaging on the left flank.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55LAUGHTER
0:38:55 > 0:38:58The British have rallied, and now they're hitting back with
0:38:58 > 0:39:01short-range canister shrapnel fired by cannons.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04The canister has started, so the French are now close enough that
0:39:04 > 0:39:09the British are unleashing that terror of canister shot.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11That's really going to tear into those French.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15On the day, Napoleon delayed his advance for a long time.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18These guys have not delayed a bit in making the French attack.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20And now we have a cavalry action.
0:39:20 > 0:39:25- NAT:- Cavalry, cavalry reserve, left flank, left flank, Matt, now.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29- Now, overrides, everything else. Go, go, go.- What is going on here?
0:39:29 > 0:39:31The French have managed to take the farmhouse
0:39:31 > 0:39:36and now they're pushing up onto the ridge, but time is against them.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38They've committed everything to the left.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40They have committed literally everything to the left.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42- It's a bit messy. - There's a massive cavalry battle
0:39:42 > 0:39:45- going to happen over here in a minute.- We'll bring in our cavalry.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47We'll do what we did before - drive them towards the square.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49Hear that, Matt? Bring the cavalry round the back,
0:39:49 > 0:39:51drive them towards the squares.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54Oh, my word. Oh, my word.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57- You've taken the farmhouse.- Yeah.
0:39:57 > 0:40:02Reece, Maz's troops are taking heavy fire on the right.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04There's another army come into play. Is there any chance...?
0:40:04 > 0:40:07- Whereabouts?- They're coming from the right-hand side.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10That is von Muffling,
0:40:10 > 0:40:14and von Muffling is the liaison officer from Blucher to Wellington.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18He's arrived, which means that the Prussians are on their way.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20The Prussians are coming! The Prussians are coming!
0:40:20 > 0:40:24And that means the pressure is piling on to the French
0:40:24 > 0:40:25to get a quick victory.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29Reece, the cavalry is coming in on the right.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32How are your cannons doing, Maz?
0:40:32 > 0:40:35- They are miles away. They are miles away.- OK.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38The French cavalry were so quick off the mark,
0:40:38 > 0:40:41they've left their artillery far behind.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44OK, what are my cavalry doing now, Rich?
0:40:44 > 0:40:45They've pulled back.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Hold them there for the moment.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51- Are you OK with what's going on here?- Should we call a time-out?
0:40:51 > 0:40:54- Time-out?- Yeah.- You want to call a time-out? Time-out.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02Despite taking one farm, the French assault has come to a standstill.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05Their hesitation to push the infantry forward
0:41:05 > 0:41:08has allowed the British valuable time to regroup.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10Let's have a look at this battlefield.
0:41:10 > 0:41:11What do you want help with?
0:41:11 > 0:41:14Basically I wanted to speak to these guys.
0:41:14 > 0:41:15We're about to lose our front line.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17Should I go all-in with cavalry straight across?
0:41:17 > 0:41:19By the time they come, we'll be screwed.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22- LYNETTE:- You've got to destroy Wellington's army
0:41:22 > 0:41:23in the time you've got,
0:41:23 > 0:41:28before Blucher comes in and puts you into a Frenchman sandwich.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31- RICHARD:- Yes, so we can use cavalry to get round there.
0:41:31 > 0:41:32Our cannons are so far back.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34We moved them forward but they're so slow.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36You've got to make a decision on what to do with your artillery.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40- Experts, any suggestions? - Get it moving.- Engaged.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42- You know what your plan is?- Yes.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Infantry hold, cavalry round the side, artillery engaged
0:41:45 > 0:41:48- in the centre. Is that the plan? - Yes.- Let's go, let's go, let's go.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54So the French need to get their artillery involved in this battle,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57hold the line with their infantry as much as they can and use
0:41:57 > 0:41:59their cavalry around the sides.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02- I want infantry holding the line until...- Yes, pull them back,
0:42:02 > 0:42:05get them into a line. Protect your front and your left.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07- And then get firing.- OK.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10The French artillery has finally got in position,
0:42:10 > 0:42:13giving Napoleon much-needed extra firepower.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17- LYNETTE:- This is really an important time for the English.
0:42:17 > 0:42:22The French have the possibility right now of smashing
0:42:22 > 0:42:26Wellington's left flank and rolling him up off that hill.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30If the English don't judge their moment well and leave their
0:42:30 > 0:42:34positions wisely, the French could destroy the Allies
0:42:34 > 0:42:37before the Prussians come to the fight.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41- NAT:- French cavalry, left wing, left wing, come on.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43Wellington, there was a time-out there.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45How did you use your time there?
0:42:45 > 0:42:47We've done a little bit of planning, as you see.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50We are going to try and swing the door on them,
0:42:50 > 0:42:52because the battle lines have turned.
0:42:52 > 0:42:56- Basically you're turning the whole battlefield on a right angle?- Yes.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01Nat's swinging the entire Allied army across the battlefield,
0:43:01 > 0:43:03crashing into the French.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05But the French are not giving in easily.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08There's a massive cavalry battle going on down here.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11Yeah, and I'm not feeling particularly positive about it.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13Can I have a report on the cavalry left wing, please?
0:43:13 > 0:43:17- They've come in to envelop the French...- OK, under control?
0:43:17 > 0:43:21How is it going on swinging around? I've got a unit that needs rallying.
0:43:21 > 0:43:26They are coming back. The French cavalry are coming back.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29OK, guys, square. Matt, square.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33The French are repeatedly attacking the Allies with their cavalry.
0:43:34 > 0:43:39Wellington is losing cohesion along the left flank of his line.
0:43:39 > 0:43:41This is a very dangerous moment.
0:43:41 > 0:43:44Matt, I've got units to the right...
0:43:44 > 0:43:46British units routing here.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48Those French cavalry attacks are working,
0:43:48 > 0:43:51but the Prussians are on their way to support the British,
0:43:51 > 0:43:54so the French have got to crush the Brits quickly.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57They're coming in with the horses on the right-hand side.
0:43:57 > 0:44:00- Keep firing and kill a few before they get there with horses.- OK.
0:44:00 > 0:44:02Another cavalry skirmish.
0:44:02 > 0:44:03OK.
0:44:03 > 0:44:05We're having to be in square
0:44:05 > 0:44:07at the moment cos we're being menaced by cavalry.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10Do we have any spare cavalry to bring along that right wing?
0:44:10 > 0:44:11I'm bringing my cavalry round
0:44:11 > 0:44:13the rear towards the right flank as we speak.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15OK, thank you.
0:44:15 > 0:44:17We've got the Prussians coming in.
0:44:17 > 0:44:19It's a little bit tricky because we've got French cavalry
0:44:19 > 0:44:21hopping around. Calvary.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25A major assault. Look at that!
0:44:25 > 0:44:26They just tore into you.
0:44:26 > 0:44:29So the French are going in with the cavalry on the right.
0:44:29 > 0:44:33They are seeking to use the arme blanche, a bare blade,
0:44:33 > 0:44:35to achieve a tactical effect.
0:44:37 > 0:44:39- NAT:- Please, cavalry, left flank.
0:44:39 > 0:44:42I've got units threatened by cavalry and it's not looking great.
0:44:42 > 0:44:44Can you get them in, please.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47Don't care what your units are doing because my infantry are running.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50The Prussians have finally arrived on the battlefield,
0:44:50 > 0:44:52but it might be too late.
0:44:52 > 0:44:55The British are being hammered by the French cavalry.
0:44:55 > 0:44:59The French now own that farmhouse, don't they?
0:44:59 > 0:45:00The French do own that farmhouse.
0:45:00 > 0:45:02- My cannons are firing on it. - Thank you.
0:45:02 > 0:45:04My right flank is looking vulnerable now.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06It is, can we bring up support?
0:45:06 > 0:45:08Wow, where is that French cavalry going, where is it going,
0:45:08 > 0:45:10where's it going?
0:45:10 > 0:45:12Are you formed square ready to receive?
0:45:12 > 0:45:14Where is it going? Oh, here it comes!
0:45:14 > 0:45:17I want both of those units in square.
0:45:17 > 0:45:20- Here it comes.- Quickly, quickly, quickly.- Wow! Smash!
0:45:20 > 0:45:24- Now form the square, come on. - GREGG LAUGHS
0:45:26 > 0:45:28Timmons, I need your flank to move quicker.
0:45:28 > 0:45:30I'm getting battered.
0:45:30 > 0:45:32Can we move them back?
0:45:32 > 0:45:37- This is French cavalry smash-and-grab raids.- Absolutely.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40- It's skilful light handling of heavy cavalry.- For crying out loud.
0:45:40 > 0:45:41They are just turning up...
0:45:41 > 0:45:45The French cavalry are turning up anywhere on the British side.
0:45:45 > 0:45:47Absolutely. Taking advantage of their mobility.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49But they're not making any difference.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52The French appear to be making huge strides
0:45:52 > 0:45:56but they're not following up their cavalry charges with their infantry
0:45:56 > 0:46:01and don't seem sure how to use their artillery effectively.
0:46:01 > 0:46:02We need...
0:46:02 > 0:46:06All the reinforcements are coming on the right-hand side.
0:46:06 > 0:46:10What is your artillery now firing at?
0:46:10 > 0:46:12Basically all the cannons firing on this side...
0:46:12 > 0:46:16- So, all of your artillery is hitting the Prussians?- Yes.
0:46:16 > 0:46:20Maz is running the French army.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23Maz appears to have taken charge.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25He's trying to drive the French army up the hill
0:46:25 > 0:46:29but, like the Allies, they're also suffering heavy casualties.
0:46:29 > 0:46:32Are we running out of units? It looks like we've got a lot less.
0:46:32 > 0:46:34We are shrinking. I think...
0:46:34 > 0:46:36I'm going to try and get Reece to pull some of his.
0:46:36 > 0:46:38We need to tighten this up a bit.
0:46:38 > 0:46:43- Maz, how many units have you got left? Four?- One heavy...
0:46:43 > 0:46:45Should we just mount...? Rich, because we've got no units,
0:46:45 > 0:46:49should we just mount an offensive on the left-hand side?
0:46:49 > 0:46:51All of Reece's troops are together at the moment.
0:46:51 > 0:46:53I can get them moved over there.
0:46:53 > 0:46:58- Guys, guys, is this your last throw of the dice?- Yes.- And what is it?
0:46:58 > 0:47:00- Right, we're going to... - Rich, if it's the last
0:47:00 > 0:47:02throw of the dice, should I just get the generals as well?
0:47:02 > 0:47:05- Get everyone together. - I'll just get all those units.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08Maz, we're going to rally them at the farm.
0:47:08 > 0:47:12- Yeah, I'm going to get them to push out.- Right, right.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14We're going to push everyone out to the right.
0:47:14 > 0:47:19Napoleon is going for a last furious assault with his remaining units.
0:47:19 > 0:47:21Can I get all the cannons protecting us from this side
0:47:21 > 0:47:23from them reinforcing?
0:47:23 > 0:47:27Reece, we're going to try and take out everything we can on the left.
0:47:27 > 0:47:31It looks as though Richard has taken up his position as general again.
0:47:31 > 0:47:35And it's working. The Allies are being hammered.
0:47:35 > 0:47:36- NAT:- Not looking great.
0:47:38 > 0:47:39Have things changed for you?
0:47:39 > 0:47:43Things have changed, because my Prussians are beginning to run.
0:47:43 > 0:47:44Run, what do you mean, run?
0:47:44 > 0:47:47They're running, they're running away.
0:47:47 > 0:47:51- Guys, I'm going to call time-out. - Call it.- Call it, time-out, please.
0:47:55 > 0:47:59The British counteroffensive on the French left has been crushed,
0:47:59 > 0:48:02opening a door for Napoleon to advance further.
0:48:02 > 0:48:04But if the Prussians can rally,
0:48:04 > 0:48:08they could still stop the French in their tracks.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11Right, how do you see this, and what sort of help do you want?
0:48:11 > 0:48:14We've been badly pulled out of shape.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17Because we lost a lot of troops on the right wing,
0:48:17 > 0:48:19the French cavalry attacks were quite punishing.
0:48:19 > 0:48:22We need to work out now what we're going to do strategically to bring
0:48:22 > 0:48:25the Prussians in on the left, cos I've really not got much
0:48:25 > 0:48:26strength left on the right.
0:48:26 > 0:48:29You're not using your guns, and you're losing your guns.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32You're allowing the French cavalry freedom of action
0:48:32 > 0:48:34- all over your flanks. - You've got a minute left,
0:48:34 > 0:48:36so make the decision on what you're going to do.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38I've got a unit of infantry here. Going into the guns up here.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41I've got two units engaging in the farmhouse there.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44I've got a unit of artillery there, Bluchers' there, and these two units
0:48:44 > 0:48:47have rallied, both infantry, but they'll be badly battered.
0:48:47 > 0:48:51- Do you want to bring those guns up to support here?- Yes.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54- MIKE:- What about your farmhouses? What about the fort?
0:48:54 > 0:48:57- NAT:- I think we can hold on the right.
0:48:57 > 0:49:00They might not matter if all they are now is
0:49:00 > 0:49:02a place for people to sit and get killed.
0:49:02 > 0:49:06- Join up with your Prussians. - All right, let's go. Let's go.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08Clock back on.
0:49:08 > 0:49:12So Nat is going to try bring her guns up to support her infantry
0:49:12 > 0:49:15and do everything she can to link up with the Prussians
0:49:15 > 0:49:16arriving from her left.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18So, we need to come out, we need to form lines,
0:49:18 > 0:49:21we need to roll these French artillery up, do you understand?
0:49:21 > 0:49:25- What have you got left? Do you know what you've got left?- Yes.
0:49:25 > 0:49:27Medium infantry are trying to take this farmhouse.
0:49:27 > 0:49:29Reckon we can get it.
0:49:29 > 0:49:32Cannons are going to clear out that supporting British unit.
0:49:32 > 0:49:35And then we're just going to try, if we can get that farmhouse,
0:49:35 > 0:49:38to concentrate all our fire on...
0:49:38 > 0:49:41- Where is your fire going to come from?- The cannons.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44The French have got very little combat power left.
0:49:44 > 0:49:47What they've got, they're using to hold a farmhouse that was
0:49:47 > 0:49:52very important once, but right now it's just going to be a graveyard.
0:49:54 > 0:49:59- RICHARD:- It is storming straight toward your cannons.- Oh, smash!
0:49:59 > 0:50:03A unit of Allied cavalry has torn into the French artillery,
0:50:03 > 0:50:05wiping it out.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07That's that cannon gone.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10Maz, do you know our cannons are in big trouble?
0:50:10 > 0:50:13Yes. There's nothing I can do. They can't really run.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15- I know.- It's over.
0:50:15 > 0:50:18Oh, no, the French are giving up before the end.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20I can't believe Maz is saying it's over.
0:50:20 > 0:50:23Right, you have now got your only foot soldiers that could
0:50:23 > 0:50:26support your guns in farmhouses, haven't you?
0:50:26 > 0:50:31- Yes.- Right, and your guns are exposed.- Yes.- Right.
0:50:31 > 0:50:33Generals are losing their nerves,
0:50:33 > 0:50:35they've stopped giving clear instructions.
0:50:35 > 0:50:39They are asking them what to do rather than telling them what to do.
0:50:39 > 0:50:42The French forces are dangerously depleted,
0:50:42 > 0:50:45leaving their legendary commander exposed.
0:50:46 > 0:50:50Reece, if you can pull Napoleon over to one of the farmhouses, do it.
0:50:50 > 0:50:53Can you put him inside a farmhouse?
0:50:53 > 0:50:55Whatever you can do to get safe, try and do it.
0:50:55 > 0:50:59Is Napoleon within or without that fortified position?
0:50:59 > 0:51:01He is right next to it, I think.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04Let's have a bit of a foray, see if we can get him out.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08Napoleon and the rest of the French infantry
0:51:08 > 0:51:10are holed up in a farmhouse.
0:51:10 > 0:51:12The French are in front of you,
0:51:12 > 0:51:14occupying both of these farm buildings?
0:51:14 > 0:51:18What can they do from fortified positions? We can leave them there.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21All we've got to do is hold on. They've got to defeat us.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24Can we have Prussians down from the rear to attack?
0:51:24 > 0:51:25You hear that, Timmins?
0:51:25 > 0:51:28Reece, defeat is imminent unless you attack.
0:51:28 > 0:51:31More units of the heavies to send towards the artillery?
0:51:31 > 0:51:35- That's all we can do, take them over.- One or both?- Take everyone.
0:51:35 > 0:51:38OK, OK. It might be worth one last big charge, look.
0:51:38 > 0:51:43- You've got to the guns. - Come on, Reece.- Go on, Reece.- OK.
0:51:43 > 0:51:47Do you think you might have taken the left-hand side here?
0:51:47 > 0:51:49I think that's all we can take.
0:51:49 > 0:51:53Having pulled all his French forces out of the farmhouses,
0:51:53 > 0:51:56Reece is mounting one last stand.
0:51:56 > 0:51:58He's charged that and destroyed the Allied guns,
0:51:58 > 0:52:03and he's consolidating his remaining troops in a hollow,
0:52:03 > 0:52:06including Napoleon himself.
0:52:06 > 0:52:08Oh, and there is Napoleon Bonaparte,
0:52:08 > 0:52:11fat, middle-aged artillery officer,
0:52:11 > 0:52:15fighting for his life against prime Prussian cavalry sabres.
0:52:15 > 0:52:18I think Napoleon is under attack there.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20Desperate times for the French.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22They cannot afford to lose Napoleon.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27- You've got everyone coming together now.- There you are.
0:52:27 > 0:52:29- Are you...? - GREGG LAUGHS
0:52:29 > 0:52:31Right, Reece...
0:52:33 > 0:52:34Napoleon's gone.
0:52:36 > 0:52:39Napoleon is dead.
0:52:39 > 0:52:40With Napoleon down,
0:52:40 > 0:52:44there's no reason for any of the French to go on fighting.
0:52:44 > 0:52:47But the French on the ground don't seem to realise
0:52:47 > 0:52:52their general has fallen and are fighting with all their might.
0:52:52 > 0:52:55- Reece? Reece.- Yes?
0:52:55 > 0:52:57Your right-hand troops, the ones at the back,
0:52:57 > 0:53:00are they involved with the British behind them?
0:53:00 > 0:53:04- Yes.- That is it, that's it. - You've got another...
0:53:04 > 0:53:08- Wahey!- To your right you've got another lot of infantry coming.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10This is pivotal.
0:53:10 > 0:53:14- Your two most forward units.- Yeah.
0:53:14 > 0:53:17Bring them into support on the other ones.
0:53:17 > 0:53:20- You've got infantry coming in... - Now you sound like a general!
0:53:20 > 0:53:24Now you sound like a general. Go!
0:53:24 > 0:53:25- NAT:- Right, we've got them concentrated.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27Prussians, I want you surrounding now.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29Use the terrain now.
0:53:29 > 0:53:31- Use the terrain. - Use the terrain how?
0:53:31 > 0:53:34The French are in a dip, we've got the high ground surrounding them.
0:53:34 > 0:53:36- Have you?- We're just going to keep battering them.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39- Are you surrounding them in that ditch?- Yes.
0:53:39 > 0:53:41This is actually on a knife-edge, this, isn't it?
0:53:41 > 0:53:43OK, Timmons, your cavalry straight in, please.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45No messing, straight down the middle,
0:53:45 > 0:53:47straight down into the cauldron, take them out.
0:53:47 > 0:53:49- Look at this.- That is excellent.
0:53:49 > 0:53:53That's excellent, well done, good charge.
0:53:53 > 0:53:54Keep control of them.
0:53:54 > 0:53:58Keep control of them. Do not let them out of that pocket now, boys.
0:53:58 > 0:54:00Attack, attack, attack the grenadiers.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02Charge home, charge home.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05This is desperate, absolutely desperate.
0:54:05 > 0:54:07Absolutely desperate.
0:54:07 > 0:54:09Come on, boys, let's finish it off.
0:54:09 > 0:54:13All right, whatever reserve we've got now, boys, bring it round.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16That's Wellington included.
0:54:16 > 0:54:18- Are you confident? - No.- You're not confident?
0:54:18 > 0:54:24- It's on a knife-edge right now. OK.- More Prussian cavalry.
0:54:24 > 0:54:25Wellington, get ready.
0:54:25 > 0:54:28She's calling Wellington into action.
0:54:28 > 0:54:32- OK, Wellington, in, go. - I am putting my cavalry out to you.
0:54:32 > 0:54:34I tell you what, the French are holding their own here.
0:54:34 > 0:54:35The French are holding their own.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38I want everyone regrouped and back in with Wellington. Go.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41Another cavalry charge. Another cavalry charge!
0:54:42 > 0:54:44Do not lose Wellington.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46Pull him out if he looks like he's in danger.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49Oh, my word.
0:54:49 > 0:54:51Is that Wellington? Is that Wellington running away?
0:54:51 > 0:54:53He's not running, he is withdrawing.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56- He's tactically running away.- Yeah.
0:54:56 > 0:55:00Come on, we've got them on the run. Come on, boys. Finish it off.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03- I'm not convinced we have, but... - We've got one unit on the run.
0:55:03 > 0:55:07I can't believe the French are strategically holding on to a pit.
0:55:07 > 0:55:08It's thanks to Captain Reece.
0:55:08 > 0:55:13He's driving the British into a furious hand-to-hand fight
0:55:13 > 0:55:16in the hollow, and the French excel in close quarters.
0:55:16 > 0:55:19The battle could not be closer.
0:55:19 > 0:55:20Come on, Reece.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24- Do you think Reece should have been your general?- Perhaps.
0:55:24 > 0:55:26- Reece...- Whoa! - ..how many are engaged?
0:55:26 > 0:55:28You are just about hanging in there.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30I think we're down to two units.
0:55:30 > 0:55:32What have they got? What have they got?
0:55:32 > 0:55:34- Reece, the two units... - What have they got?
0:55:34 > 0:55:37- One medium, one heavy.- They're charging.- Here they come again!
0:55:37 > 0:55:39That's Wellington!
0:55:39 > 0:55:42- Kill Wellington.- All right.
0:55:42 > 0:55:47- Reece, are any of your troops still engaged?- Are they routing?
0:55:47 > 0:55:48I think they're running.
0:55:50 > 0:55:52Wellington's charge may have proved decisive.
0:55:52 > 0:55:54KLAXON Oh!
0:55:54 > 0:55:57APPLAUSE
0:55:59 > 0:56:03Do you know what? That was closer than the real battle.
0:56:03 > 0:56:05Closer than the real battle, that was.
0:56:12 > 0:56:15Did the French impress you? Because they impressed me.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17They impressed me enormously.
0:56:17 > 0:56:19The French would have been very happy
0:56:19 > 0:56:22to have had your cavalry command on the day.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24You guys destroyed Wellington's army,
0:56:24 > 0:56:27and it was only the timely arrival
0:56:27 > 0:56:29of Gebhard von Blucher and his Prussians
0:56:29 > 0:56:33that enabled the Allies to win at all.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37What really interested me, Nat, was how you changed.
0:56:37 > 0:56:43You have been so confident, so authoritative, so Wellingtonian
0:56:43 > 0:56:47all day and then, with those cavalry attacks, it really threw you.
0:56:47 > 0:56:48The cavalry really did throw me.
0:56:48 > 0:56:52I lost so much strength to those cavalry attacks.
0:56:52 > 0:56:56- I get a feeling it was a closer-run thing than you expected.- Yes.
0:56:56 > 0:56:59It definitely was. I would have liked to have finished
0:56:59 > 0:57:01with more units than just my general.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04I just don't know my place.
0:57:04 > 0:57:07We all know that Wellington and Blucher were the victors on the day
0:57:07 > 0:57:09at Waterloo but, Lynette and Mike,
0:57:09 > 0:57:12our teams didn't exactly fight it out in the same manner.
0:57:12 > 0:57:16Can you show us briefly what really happened
0:57:16 > 0:57:18on that fateful day in 1815?
0:57:18 > 0:57:20Well, they started the same way.
0:57:20 > 0:57:23In other words, there was a race for farmhouses and the British won.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26So the British got Hougoumont, La Haye Sainte and Papelotte.
0:57:26 > 0:57:28They got those farmhouses and garrisoned.
0:57:28 > 0:57:29What happened on the day, though,
0:57:29 > 0:57:33was Napoleon became obsessed with taking Hougoumont.
0:57:33 > 0:57:36That became the scene of fighting for hours and hours and hours,
0:57:36 > 0:57:40vicious fighting, lots of personal heroism and attacks.
0:57:40 > 0:57:43The story of the French at Waterloo
0:57:43 > 0:57:47is that they acted with insufficient verve.
0:57:47 > 0:57:50They didn't take the initiative and hold it,
0:57:50 > 0:57:54they were constantly behind Wellington's running
0:57:54 > 0:58:00and, as a result, they were unable to beat Wellington and therefore
0:58:00 > 0:58:04they were unable to turn and fight the Prussians separately.
0:58:04 > 0:58:07Of course, in real life, Napoleon didn't die at Waterloo.
0:58:07 > 0:58:10Instead, after the battle, he was exiled to the island of
0:58:10 > 0:58:14St Helena, where he lived out the rest of his life.
0:58:14 > 0:58:18Wow, what a fantastic battle. I loved every moment of that.
0:58:18 > 0:58:22Teams, thank you for reliving the Battle of Waterloo with us.
0:58:22 > 0:58:24Join us next time to re-fight
0:58:24 > 0:58:27another of history's most famous battles
0:58:27 > 0:58:29in Time Commanders.