Person    | Male  Born 14/9/1785  Died 15/4/1825

Major Henry Percy

Categories: Armed Forces

Of the 14th Light Dragoons. Brought the 'Waterloo Dispatch', news of the victory at the Battle of Waterloo, to London. Like many others he had gone, 15 June 1815, straight from the Duchess of Richmond's ball in Brussels to join battle with Napoleon. It is said that when he arrived in London he was still wearing his scarlet dress uniform in which he had attended the ball. But there were 3 days before the Battle of Waterloo and we would have thought that during that time the officers' personal needs, such as changes of clothes, were probably catered for. Strange as it seems to us now, scarlet jackets were standard battle apparel, just look at battle paintings from that time.

Our picture comes from "Waterloo Messenger: The Life of Henry Percy, Peninsular Soldier and French Prisoner of War" by William Mahon.

Died at his father (Algernon Percy, Baron Lovaine)’s house in Portman Square.

Number One London is a good source.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Major Henry Percy

Commemorated ati

The Waterloo Way - Grosvenor Square

This is a small plaque, rather cheap-looking, in contrast to the substantial ...

Read More

The Waterloo Way - St James's

{The roundel at the top reads:} The New Waterloo Dispatch, 1815 - 2015 The ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Lord Douglas Haig

Lord Douglas Haig

1st Lord Haig. Born Edinburgh into the whisky family. Senior commander during WW1. Initially nicknamed "butcher of the Somme", but then popular before his death. He has since been criticised for mi...

Person, Armed Forces, Scotland

3 memorials
Martin Higgins

Martin Higgins

Resident of the West Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Private George John Harvey

Private George John Harvey

George John Harvey was born on 31 March 1885 at 106 Spencer Road, South Hornsey, Middlesex (now Greater London), one of the ten children of George John Harvey (1853-1930) and Caroline Harvey née Fl...

Person, Armed Forces, Belgium

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
S. F. Wright

S. F. Wright

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
J. Hampshire

J. Hampshire

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial