Waterloo 1815
John Hutchieson, 42nd or R.H. Reg. Infantry.
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John Hutchieson/Hutchison was borne in the Parish of Cloyne, near Dornoch, Sutherland, and enlisted into the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment at Thurso on 27 July 1806, age 21. He served 20 years 5 months and was discharged at Paisley on 25 November 1826, ‘being worn out in the service’ and having been ‘wounded in the right hand by a shell at Toulouse, and in the left side at Waterloo and in the right thigh. (Service papers refer)
At Quatres Bras on the 16th, the French Lancers were sitting to the rear of the cavalry and wheeled sharply round fell upon the rear of the 42nd who recognised their advancing position and formed square, but just as the two flank companies were running to form rear rank the lancers penetrated the square. Instead of the square being destroyed by the French the lancers were either bayoneted or taken prisoner. All further attempts by the French were repelled.
The Commanding officer of the 42nd, Lieut. Colonel Sir Robert Macara was killed and within the brief space of a few minutes the command of the regiment devolved upon 3 officers in succession, Lieut. Colonel Dick, who was severely wounded, Brevet Major Davidson, who was mortally wounded and Brevet Major Campbell who commanded the regiment during the remainder of the campaign.
The 42nd pinned down Marshal Ney and prevented him from going to Napoleon’s aid at Ligny which sealed Napoleon’s fate and stopped Marshal Ney’s men from wiping out Marshal Blucher’s Prussian army at Old Fortwartz, before the Prussian and British armies could merge together.
The 42nd lost 298 men at Quatre-Bras but were recognised in Wellington’s dispatch of the battle. On the 18th of June 1815 the 42nd held the left centre of Wellington’s position behind La Haye Sainte, against a French force of 13,000 bayonets. At Waterloo the 42nd lost an additional 50 in killed and wounded
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