Association of Friends of the Waterloo Committee

The Waterloo Committee was founded by His Grace, the Eighth Duke of Wellington in 1973. A Committee, sharing the same aims and objectives, was established shortly afterwards in Belgium.

The Association of Friends of The Waterloo Committee was subsequently formed to support and, wherever
possible, action the aims and objectives of the main Committee and those of the Committee in Belgium.

In 1996 The Waterloo Committee and The Association of Friends were combined to form a single organisation for the purpose of supporting the activities of The Waterloo Committee in Belgium.

OBJECTIVES

I. To promote public education and appreciation of the history of the wars between Great Britain, her allies and France known as the Napoleonic Wars.

2. To preserve and safeguard the site of the battle.

3. To encourage a better understanding of events which preceded the Battle of Waterloo and the course of military operations in the campaign of 1815 and its consequences.

4. To encourage research on all matters pertaining to the campaign and to assist in the publication of such research.

To these ends, the Association conducts historical research and, in association with the Waterloo Committee in Belgium, continues to help improve and preserve the battlefield.

In recent years the Association was actively involved in promoting the erection of a monument to the British Army at Quatre Bras, which now takes its rightful place alongside the other national memorials.

The Association is also monitoring the deteriorating condition of Hougoumont Farm and in conjunction with other interested parties, looking to see what can be done to restore and preserve the site.