Reminiscences 1808-1815 under Wellington

William Hay had a varied and exciting military career during the later years of the Napoleonic Wars, which took him to the Peninsula, to Waterloo, and, after 1815, to Canada. Graduating from the Royal Military College at Marlow, of which he begins his memoirs with a rare account, he was first commissioned into the crack 52nd Light Infantry and served with that regiment in the campaigns of 1810 and 1811. Promotion then took him into the 12th Light Dragoons and, after a spell at home due to illness, he joined his new regiment in the field just as Wellington’s army began its retreat from Burgos. Thereafter, Hay served with the 12th for the remainder of the Peninsular War and again during the Waterloo campaign. A well-connected young man, he spent some of his time away from the regiment on staff duties, serving as an aide to Lord Dalhousie in the Peninsula and later to the same officer again during his tenure as Governor General of British North America.

This edition of his memoirs is introduced and annotated by historian Andrew Bamford and includes additional information to identify places, people, and events and to add context to the original narrative.

“Highly recommended for collectors of memoirs of the Peninsular War or Waterloo. I would far rather have this edition than a copy of the original!” Miniature Wargames

“ … will be of interest to any readers interested in the role of British cavalry in the Peninsular and its actions at Waterloo. This new editions has been very professionally edited by Andrew Bamford who corrects a number of the author's errors.” The Napoleon Series

"Reminiscences 1808–1815 Under Wellington offers valuable insights for those interested in Wellington’s campaigns, collectors of memoirs, or individuals seeking to understand the  experiences of a Napoleonic officer. This edition benefits from Andrew Bamford’s editorial expertise, with his notes and commentary providing a balanced combination of clarity, historical relevance, and scholarly discretion. This well-crafted memoir stands as an engaging resource, further enhanced by a thoughtful editor, and serves as an accessible supplement to comprehensive works on military history." carryingsonupthedale Blog