Waterloo

THE TOMB OF LORD UXBRIDGE'S LEG

At the moment of the rout, Napoleon perceived some pieces of artillery nearly abandoned by their servants when he cried to General Gourgaud: "Fire the guns!"

Immediately the batteries were raised and general Gourgaud fired the last guns of the battle.

A cannon-ball shot off Lord Uxbridge's left leg which was buried in the garden of a house situated at the entry of the village of Waterloo. (1) (2)

(1) It is more probable that Lord Uxbridge's leg was not shot off but that he received a wound so serious that there was no doubt it would have to be amputated. When he received his wound, while sitting astride his horse near Wellington, he looked down at his leg and said, "My God, sir! I have lost my leg!" to which the duke replied in his usual emotionless manner, "My God, sir, you have!" The fact that Uxbridge was still able to remain on his horse makes it appear unlikely that his leg was actually blown clean off.

(2) According to Mick Reid, who lives in Maransart, which is just down the road from Waterloo, Lord Uxbridge's leg was not shot off but was amputated at 214 Chaussee de Bruxelles, Waterloo. This house has since been demolished. When Lord Uxbridge died in 1854, the "leg" was exhumed, taken back to England, and buried with Lord Uxbridge.