A Waterloo Hero

By all accounts, Friedrich Lindau was a remarkable soldier of the King’s German Legion. He served with distinction under Wellington from Lisbon to as far as Bayonne, and was involved in all major engagements, including Albuera, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria and San Sebastian.

Most notably, he fought and was captured at La Haie Sainte but was the only ranking soldier mentioned by name in Major Baring’s account of the battle. For his actions he was awarded the Guelphic Medal for Bravery. That said, he had a reputation as a notorious forager, looter and was said to have killed a civilian while on leave in 1814.

More than 150 years after it was first written, A Waterloo Hero is the first ever translation of his diary. Lindau’s account is unique: no other private soldiers took part in so many engagements and recorded their experiences.

Born in 1788 Freidrich Lindau served with the King’s German Legion for six years and was awarded the Waterloo Medal. He married twice and had nine children. He wrote or dictated his memoir in 1846, perhaps to afford him some financial relief. This edition includes a Foreword by Lindau’s Pastor, an Introduction by Rev James Bogle and has been edited by Andrew Uffindel, author of The Eagle’s Last Triumph.