Waterloo-There Were Women Soldiers There, Too!

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the battle of Waterloo and the death of several women soldiers who fought there.   And while the sacrifices of the men are remembered today, let us also honor the women among them who also suffered and perished while performing the same duties as their male counterparts.  These women were disguised and weren't discovered until after they died.

While helping bury the dead, volunteer Charles Smith of the 95th Rifles found the body of a French woman in a location of heavy fighting.

British troops found the bodies of two more Frenchwomen during a lull in the fighting.  Captain Henry Ross-Lewin of the 32nd Regiment of Foot wrote, "I saw one of them.  She was dressed in a nankeen jacket and trousers, and had been killed by a ball which had passed through her head."

There were several women among the casualties on the British side as well.  Mary Dixon was one of them.  Her 16-year service in the military while disguised ended at Waterloo with her death.

From Wikipedia

Sources:

http://www.historynet.com/napoleonic-wars-women-at-waterloo.htm
http://www.regrom.com/2012/01/19/regency-women-of-character-women-at-waterloo/
http://waterloomatchofthecentury.blogspot.com/search/label/women%20in%20war

Until next formation.....rest.

Talk for SCV Camp #265, Rankin Rough and Readies

Okay, the Shelby Stupidisms for this trip? I forgot to put on deodorant before I left. But hey, I remembered the perfume! Thankfully, I had my tennis bag in the car, and I keep some there. Oh, and I forgot my jewelry. I usually don't wear any but do like to wear a necklace of a cross at least when I speak. Mark gave it to me as a gift. Yup...forgot that, too. And no, I didn't have an extra in my tennis bag.

Jennie's House

A couple of weeks ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to visit the home of Jennie Hodgers.  A snow storm back in December put the trip on hiatus, and I'm glad Mark and I waited.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day with bright, warm sunshine when we met Mr. Al Arnolts, the historian for the village of Saunemin, and .Mrs. Cheryl O'Donnell, who has worked tirelessly to have the house restored.   She has also visited Clogerhead, Ireland where Jennie was from and plans to return soon.  During our three-and-a-half-hour visit, we toured the house and the cemetery before enjoying lunch at Mulligan's, which, I think, may have been the only eating establishment in the town of approximately 400.  The hospitality shown by these kind folks rivals our own down here in the South.  We thoroughly enjoyed talking with them and feel that we have made new friends.  Many thanks to Rick Keating for putting us in touch with them.