The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815 near the village of Waterloo in what is now Belgium, is a symbol of human resilience and sacrifice. This clash of powers changed the course of history. This battle was so influential that scholars continue to unlock its secrets even today. Thanks to their work and in particular their analyzes of the diary of Thomas Ker, a Scottish trader of the time, they offer us new light on the horrors of this battle. Explanations.
Raw emotion and striking details
The diary of Thomas Ker has been largely hidden for centuries. Finally revealed, it gives us a picture of the consequences of the bataille de Waterloo and offers us a unique insight into the disturbing realities faced by those who lived through it. The pages of his story are filled with raw emotion and vivid details that remind us that he was one of the first civilians to go to the battlefield after the June 18, 1815.
A collection of letters and a handwritten book from the period that belonged to him were donated to the University of Glasgow in 2018. The researchers analysed these accounts against the writings of other contemporary visitors to the ancient battlefield. They shared their findings in the Journal of Conflict Archaeology.
In his writings you can notably read about the fields of Mount St John, located just south of the village of Waterloo. He describes a scene of terrible horror: a tapestry of dead and wounded. He explains that he hears cries of some people begging to be saved, cared for and given water. The Scottish merchant also produced a map of the battlefield and the wider area of the military campaign around Waterloo.
A New Perspective on the Battle of Waterloo
In total, Thomas Ker went 18 times in Waterloo. This possibly reveals the intensity of his trauma. This repeated confrontation with his trauma is called ” exposure therapy ” by modern psychologists. Perhaps this was a source of healing for him.
The Scottish merchant never published his work on his own. Fortunately, his work survived two centuries and specialists were able to publish it. With its publication, we have new visibility on the Battle of Waterloo. His words, as poignant as they are tragic, allow us to feel the intensity of this disastrous battle. A way also to honor the memory of the victims who tragically lost their lives.
Furthermore, skeletons of soldiers were discovered at Waterloo 200 years after the end of the battle.
