The Royal Green Jackets Associa on
Sir John Colborne Later Field Marshal, 1st Baron Seaton, GCB, GCMG, GCH (1778-1863)
Colonel Sir John Colborne, 1821, by Jan Willem Pieneman (1779-1853). © Apsley House, The Wellington Collec on.
Colborne was born at Lyndhurst in Hampshire and was a pupil at Winchester College from 1789-94. On leaving school at the age of 16, he joined the Army, transferring to the 52nd Light Infantry in 1811. He commanded the Regiment in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo. On 18th June 1815, when the last column of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard advanced on the right flank of Wellington’s army at around 7:30 p.m., Colbome, on his own initiative, wheeled his battalion into a position to attack the Imperial Guard in their left flank. The effect was immediate. The French were routed, with Colbome, urged on by Wellington, leading his battalion in pursuit Victory at Waterloo soon followed. Colbome was knighted in January 1815 and created Baron Seaton in 1839. He was promoted field marshal in 1860. He died at Torquay in Devon in 1863.
BICENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO GARLANDING OF SIR JOHN COLBORNE
The garlanding of the statue of John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton, outside The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, Peninsula Barracks, Winchester, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 3rd June 2015, in the presence of the Headmaster and members of Winchester College Combined Cadet Force, recognises the pivotal part played by Colbome and the 52nd Light Infantry in the rout of the French Imperial Guard at the Battle of Waterloo on 18th June 1815. In conducting this ceremony, we honour an exemplary soldier; a man who was an inspiration and example to those with whom he served; a man in whom his subordinates had the greatest confidence and who was much loved and respected by them; and a man in whom those at Winchester College and The Rifles today may very properly take great pride. 24 | Volume 7 Issue 1
E-Zine 2015
