An Evening With Waterloo Uncovered took place at The Royal Hospital Chelsea, on 6th November 2018, when over 350 guests joined us to learn more about our work and raise funds for the future.

The evening raised over £35,000 that will help us support more serving personnel and veterans through archaeology on the Waterloo battlefield.

The evening began at 18:30, when drinks and canapés were served, before Waterloo Uncovered’s Patron, The Duke of Wellington, gave a short introduction, followed by some entertainment and a live auction.

The entertainment, a cameo covering war and veteran care from 1815 to 2018, was narrated by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Carter, KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen, and included readings by veterans who have taken part in the project; sharing with our guests stories from 1815 to today, in the most appropriate of venues.

The evening ended at 20:30,  before which guests also had the opportunity to meet project staff and beneficiaries, to hear about their time with Waterloo Uncovered, and to view some of the finds for themselves.

Waterloo Uncovered is a registered charity that began its work in 2015 — the bicentenary year of the battle of Waterloo. The brainchild of two Army Officers who had studied archaeology together at university, before joining the British Army and seeing the effects of battle first‐hand (in Iraq, Afghanistan, and back home after), Waterloo Uncovered uses archaeology to support those who have been affected by war.

Using discovery to aid recovery, and turning conflict into collaboration, over 60 serving personnel and veterans have just returned from the charity’s fourth summer excavation, in July 2018. Their largest and most ambitious excavation yet, you can read more about the finds that were made, and the people helped if you click on the button at the bottom of this page: A Brief Look at the WU 2018 Excavation.

An Evening With Waterloo Uncovered was a celebration of this success, as well as a chance to help launch us into next year.

Waterloo Uncovered would like to offer our utmost thanks to everyone who has made this evening possible. In particular, we would like to thank Caledonia Investment, who have been so generous in helping this event happen, As well as producer Annie Tatham, Director Peter Penny, and Mike Harper (Firehouse Productions) and Charles Beddows (Powerhouse) for their production and technical support. Not to mention Alice Berkeley, Pen Milburn, and Siobhan Clifford who have given so much time to the cause.

We have Rupert Barclay and James Cameron to thank for the video. Anthony Martin at the Mont Saint Jean Brewery and their beer; Mounir El Khouri for finding the wine, and Achor Vans for helping us get it over from Belgium. Helen Chester for her excellent portrait work that covers a number of excavations. General Sir Nicholas Carter for agreeing to narrate the cameo and the performers, many of them veterans, for bringing the story of veteran recovery to life.

We would also like to thank, the Duke of Wellington, who has supported our work from the outset and has now become our patron. As well as Robert Brookes, Chairman of Bonhams, for his support from their 2018 sponsorship. The project has also been funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds, which has made much of our last four years possible.

To everyone who has supported Waterloo Uncovered the years, we thank you.

If you would like to read more about the work of Waterloo Uncovered you can explore this website, or download the WU Project Review. Or click the button at the bottom of this page to read about the WU 2018 excavation.