Waterloo Association - Supporting the Conflict in the Iberian Peninsula

Waterloo Association Study Day Winchester

Supporting the Conflict in the Iberian Peninsula

Date: Saturday 16th May 2026

Time: 10.30 – 4.00pm (the museum opens at 10.00)

Venue: The Kincaid Gallery, The Rifleman’s Museum, Peninsula Barracks, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hants, S023 8TS.

There is car parking on site as well as locally in Winchester. Tea and coffee will be provided on arrival, but delegates must make their own arrangements for lunch. There is a cafeteria next door to the museum.

There will be books by the speakers on sale, plus second-hand books. Additionally, the day will see the launch of Robert Craufurd’s Light Division in Wellington’s Defence of Portugal, 1809-1812 by Susan Law and Dr Stephen Summerfield, published by Ken Trotman Publishing in association with the Shorncliffe Trust.

Speakers:

10.30 Introduction by Paul Chamberlain

10.35 Alistair Nichols - Foreigners in the British Army and the Peninsular War: a curse or blessing?

In 1812 officers and men serving in foreign corps made up between 15% and 20% of the British Army. The number of foreigners serving within British units is harder to ascertain but should not be considered as insignificant. Some British soldiers, in their memoirs of service in the Peninsular War, were dismissive of foreigners, whoever they served, and the outstanding works by British military historians of this war, written at the turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries, reflected this as well as contemporary attitudes. Whilst these need to be challenged, one should be aware of pushing back too rashly. Less attention has been given to where these soldiers came from, how they were recruited and why they joined the British Army. This presentation will seek to provide some answers to these issues as well as opening a more balanced assessment of the contribution of foreign troops in British service during the Peninsular War and, more widely, the Napoleonic Wars.

11.35 Gareth Glover - What did the Commissariat ever do for us?

Read any memoirs of the Peninsular War and the Commissaries are the undoubted villains. Embezzling the Treasury, starving the troops and cheating the poor suppliers; womanising, debauchery and profligacy was almost 'de rigueur'. But on the other hand, Wellington and his troops fought successfully for six years in the peninsula, without losing huge numbers to malnutrition. So where does the truth lie? This talk looks at the role of the Commissary and how the department was professionalised.

12.40 Lunch

1.45 Dr. Martin R Howard - Wellington and the British Army Medical Services in the Peninsular War

The organisation and actions of the British Army medical department in the Peninsula will be discussed. Particularly, a detailed study of Wellington’s Dispatches will be presented. Several hundred medically related references reveal Wellington’s relationship with his army doctors and his influence on the workings of the department on campaign. Key topics will include the impact of doctor shortages on military operations, the failure to form a proper ambulance service, and local resistant to the opening of British general hospitals in Portugal and Spain.

2.45 Sue Law - The Light Division: Wellington’s Advanced Guard in the Peninsula

In 1809 Wellington returned to the Peninsula, he was beset by difficulties and wished to avoid having to abandon the cause like Sir John Moore had, earlier in the year. Joined by Robert Craufurd and the Light Brigade after Talavera, who were then raised to the Light Division in 1810, they were a central part of his plan to remain in the Peninsula. In early 1810 Wellington could only run a defensive campaign, and the role of the Light Division enabled him, not only to remain in the Peninsula but to then mount an offensive campaign, that would eventually see the French being forced back into France.

3.45 Closing remarks

4.00 Museum closes

Booking is via Eventbrite on the Association website. Places are limited to 50. The cost is £10 for members and £15 for non-members. This includes tea and coffee on arrival but not lunch.

Any queries please contact Paul Chamberlain at [email protected]

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