AN HISTORIC regiment which played a key role in defeating Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo - has helped mark the 200th anniversary of the battle.

Waterloo brought down an empire and altered the course of European history. Before the battle it was believed that Napoleon Bonparte – the Emperor of France – was undefeatable. For 20 years he dominated European politics and was victorious in the vast majority of his 60 major battles, seizing control of most of continental Europe.

But on Sunday, June 18, 1815, in what was then the United Kingdom of the Netherlands – present-day Belgium – he was defeated by an anglo-allied army led by the Duke of Wellington.

Today the Royal Regiment of Artillery, which played a significant role in the landmark battle, marked the anniversary by laying wreaths on the graves of soldiers who died on the battlefield in 1815.

The regiment, known as the Yorkshire Gunners and based at Marne Barracks in Catterick Garrison, laid wreaths on graves in Ripon, Bedale and Whitby belonging to members of the Royal Artillery.

In West Tanfield, near Ripon, they marked the grave of General Sir William Bell at St Nicholas Church. In Bedale they gathered around the grave of Second Captain John Hincks at St Gregory’s Church, while at St Hilda’s Church in Sneaton, Whitby the grave of Colonel Samuel Rudyard was honoured.

Before the wreath-laying, members of Sphinx Battery visited Bedale High School in Fitzalan Road, Bedale, on Tuesday (June 16) to give a presentation to 125 Year Nine pupils to highlight the significance of the Battle of Waterloo.

Battery Commander, Captain Scott Mather, who has been leading the project in North Yorkshire, said: “This battery has connections that go back 200 years to the Battle of Waterloo. It is a part of our history.

“The wreath-laying ceremony will enable us to pay our respects to members of the Royal Artillery who fought and died on that battlefield in 1815.”

Capt Mather added: “The wreaths are identical to the ones laid on graves around Britain 100 years ago and are not the same as those used on Remembrance Day.”

The Seventh Coalition that defeated Napoleon comprised an Anglo-allied army under the command of the Duke of Wellington and a Prussian army under the command of Gebhard von Blucher.

Napoleon had at his command 69,000 French, who were the veterans of at least one major campaign, whereas Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, had 67,000 inexperienced British troops.

Wellington later claimed his force was an “infamous army, very weak and ill-equipped, and a very inexperienced staff" and, after the battle, he was quoted as saying: “It was the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life.”