Ensign Charles Ewart was a Scottish soldier of the Royal North British Dragoons and is most famous for capturing the regimental eagle of the 45th Regiment of the Line flag at the Battle of Waterloo.
The French Imperial Eagle was gilded bronze and fixed to the top of a staff carrying the standard of the French 45th Infantry Regiment. The imperial eagle is one of the most iconic objects from the Napoleonic period and was a symbol of pride and loyalty among French troops who would form the backbone of Napoleon’s newly-formed regime.
On June 10th 1815, the 45eme de la Ligne received its new eagle which was carried into the Battle of Waterloo by Pierre Guillot, where it would, after a bloody and brutal battle, be famously captured by Ewart.
This symbolic victory made Ewart a hero and this captured eagle is now kept in Edinburgh Castle as one of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards most prized honours.
So famous was this victory, in fact, that the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards changed the design of their cap badge to show the eagle above a Waterloo banner on crossed rifles.
Wyedean was recently commissioned by a customer, who owned a replica 45th Infantry Regiment flag and eagle which had faded over the years, to recreate the flag and bring the staff, eagle and standard back to its former glory.
Supplied with the core components, Wyedean’s tailoring department recreated the flag using printed materials instead of the original hand embroidered materials and stitched the detailing to stop the flag ballooning and ensured the drape was correct.
Wyedean are specialists in the manufacture of flags and standards and our tailoring department have the skills and expertise to take on bespoke commissions as well as restoration projects.
