WATERLOO MEDAL TO WILLIAM CHAPMAN, 1ST REG. DRAGOON GUARDS (WOUNDED AT WATERLOO)

William Chaplain (recorded as 'Chapman', 'Chaplin' and 'Caplain') was born in Wyken, Leicestershire in 1796, enlisting with the King's Dragoon Guards on 8 May 1812.

At the Battle of Waterloo, Chaplain was part of 3 Troop, commanded by Lieutenant Robert Wallace. Out of 70 men of the Troop, 10 were killed and 27 wounded. Chaplain himself received severe sabre wounds to the head, back and hand. He was also shot in the thigh, presumably as he made his way back to British lines, passing through French infantrymen that the Troop had just charged through in pursuit of the 1st Regiment de Cuirassiers.

Captain Wallace noted 'many of our men having severe sabre wounds, particularly about the face.' Chaplain spent a total of 59 days in hospital in Brussels due to the severity of his wounds, receiving this Waterloo Medal on 30 Apr 1816 in Frevent, France. Chaplain spent a further 9 months in York Hospital, Chelsea from 25 Sep 1816 to June 1817, discharged on 29 July 1817 as unfit for further service.

Chaplain died of 'chronic bronchitis and senile decay on 18 Nov 1872, aged 77'.