The letters provide a highly detailed description of the Waterloo campaign and the struggle for the farm complex of Hougoumont, as well as of the losses the three regiments of Foot Guards sustained. In his letter of the 27th June 1815, George Standen explained to his mother: ‘About one o’clock the place was in flames from their shells, at two the smoke became so thick that it was almost suffocating and I was sent for orders to Gen. Byng. I ran the gauntlet through the most horrible fire of every description you can form any idea, balls and men falling around me in every direction. Yet I returned with the glorious news that every thing was going right, and if possible we must keep the place. At 6 I was again sent for ammunition and Byng told me to wait with him.’ In addition to the letters the file contains extensive genealogical information and the full details of George Standen’s military service. It should be noted that the entire contents of this file are also available in the on-line archive.

Please note that the file does not contain images of the original documents, as the copyright and ownership of these items is retained by the source.