South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail have partnered with veteran wellbeing and archaeological charity Waterloo Uncovered and the Household Cavalry Museum to celebrate Waterloo Day at London Waterloo station today.
The Battle of Waterloo, fought in 1815, saw the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte by British and allied forces led by the Duke of Wellington.
The victory brought an end to decades of war in Europe and gave its name first to Waterloo Bridge — and then, in 1848, to Waterloo Bridge station, the terminus now known as London Waterloo and Britain’s biggest railway station.
The celebration began this morning with a bugle call by Trooper Davis – a trumpeter for the Life Guards regiment in the Household Cavalry. He was joined by fellow Life Guard, Trooper Barlow, and Chelsea Pensioners donning their iconic scarlet coats.
Throughout the day, customers were transported back to the Napoleonic Wars by live reenactors, dressing-up opportunities, mock excavations and the story of a remarkable young cavalryman.
Waterloo Uncovered, whose patron is the 9th Duke of Wellington — the descendant of the victor at Waterloo, brings recovering veterans and serving personnel together to explore the history and impact of the battle through archaeology.
The charity presented an interactive archaeological experience, inviting customers to dig beneath foam ‘soil’ with tools and metal detectors to uncover a horse skeleton replica — echoing their real excavations of the historic battlefield.
Meanwhile, the Household Cavalry Museum showcased the moving story of John Edwards, a 16-year-old Life Guard who sounded the charge at Waterloo, and invited customers to try on authentic Household Cavalry uniforms and helmets.
SWR has also created a new Waterloo Walk guide — a self-led tour from the station to Hyde Park Corner highlighting London’s Napoleonic landmarks, including monuments, museums, and historic pubs along the two-mile route in central London.
Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director at South Western Railway commented:
“SWR has a longstanding and close relationship with the Armed Forces. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, and veterans make a huge contribution to our railway, including many SWR colleagues in our Armed Forces Network.
“As Britain’s busiest station, it’s fitting that we begin our Railway 200 celebrations at London Waterloo station by marking the anniversary of its historic namesake, the Battle of Waterloo.
“As we work towards achieving the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, this partnership with Waterloo Uncovered and the Household Cavalry Museum is another example of our ongoing collaboration with military organisations.”
Abigail Boyle, Chief Executive at Waterloo Uncovered, commented:
“Waterloo Uncovered is delighted to be able to bring the impact of our charity to Waterloo station, as we mark 210 years since the Battle of Waterloo alongside Railway 200. Our veteran wellbeing support today links conflicts past to conflicts present, as we uncover physical evidence from that epic battle and demonstrate the impact of war.”
Nicola Ayrton-Guest, Director of the Household Cavalry Museum, said:
“It’s incredibly moving to see stories from our collection reflected in the archaeological discoveries made by Waterloo Uncovered. The bravery and resilience shown by young men like John Edwards at the Battle of Waterloo are brought into sharper focus through these finds.
“His tiny tunic, on display in our museum, reminds us of the personal sacrifices made in service—and it’s an honour to help bring that history to life for new audiences.”
Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said:
“I’m delighted we’re working with Waterloo Uncovered and the Household Cavalry Museum alongside our partners SWR to mark 210 years since the Battle of Waterloo.
“The name and history of London Waterloo, one of the country’s busiest stations, is synonymous with the Battle of Waterloo so it’s fitting we are celebrating this significant historical milestone.
“The station has been brisling with a wide range of interactive activities that will be both informative and entertaining for any passengers or visitors to the station who wish to get involved and learn more about how the Duke of Wellington’s troops triumphed over Napoleon Bonaparte.”
SWR and Network Rail are both proud signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant, with active Armed Forces Networks of colleagues who have served their country.
SWR holds a Silver Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and is working towards achieving Gold, following in the footsteps of Network Rail and other leading employers.
