- OCWGG

Reserve Corps
Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington

The 5th British Infantry Division
Lt-Gen. Sir Thomas Picton (k)

This division was a mixed British / Hanoverian formation, the British brigades of which had been heavily engaged at Quatre-Bras.
It formed part of Wellington's Reserve Corps. It marched from Brussels to Quatre-Bras on the 16th where it lost the equivalent of two battalions.
Picton was wounded at Quatre -Bras and killed at Waterloo. Kempt assumed command.
Deployed on the left and centre of the Allied line and suffered heavily from the fire of the French 'Grand Battery'. They faced d'Erlon's attack at 2.00 p.m.
Picton was shot dead after ordering a bayonet charge.
The division was spread thinly over nearly a mile of front along and behind the ridge.
Initially Picton had Best's brigade of Hanoverians attached as the other brigade of 6th Division was late arriving.

The division lost 2,943 (43%) at Waterloo.