On Saturday, 26 August, at 1500hrs on the Waterloo Field at the Bispham Hall Scout Estate in Wigan, soldiers from B (Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry) Squadron Queens Own Yeomanry took part in the celebration of the completion of the restoration of the Waterloo Monument. The Monument was erected within a year of the battle in 1815 on land now owned by the Scout Association. After 200 years the monument was in need of restoration.
Approximately two years ago fundraising efforts commenced with support from various national and local bodies, which included the War Memorials Trust, the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund, the Brighter Borough Fund, Billinge, Aspull, Haigh and Wigan local history societies. Once the target had been reached, it was taken down stone by stone and its iron fittings were replaced with steel ones. The weathered stones were replaced with new ones and it was completely rebuilt to its former glory. The immediate vicinity surrounding the monument was also landscaped as it had become overgrown and difficult for visitors to get close up to it to read the inscriptions, inscriptions in English and Latin to cornice and base of plinth and to oval panels to sides, including lists of victorious generals.
That to front reads:
“TO THE/MOST NOBLE AND ILLUSTRIOUS/ARTHUR/DUKE OF WELLINGTON/AND THE BRAVE HEROES OF BRITAIN AND THE CONTINENT/WHO UNDER HIS AUSPICIOUS GENIUS AND COMMAND/SO GLORIOUSLY ACCOMPLISHED THE DOWNFALL OF/TYRANNY AND THE RESTORATION OF LIBERTY TO EUROPE/ON THE PLAIN OF WATERLOO/JUNE 18th AD 1815”
The fundraising campaign was organised by the Waterloo Monument Group (Chairman, Alderman John O’Neill).
