Documents relating to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Frederick Ponsonby and his experiences at Waterloo, 1815

Ponsonby commanded the 12th Light Dragoons at Waterloo but was wounded in both arms, knocked off his horse and finally stabbed in the back by a lancer and lay wounded in the field. After being robbed while laying helpless on the ground he was assisted by Major de Laussat of the Imperial Guard Dragoons, who found him and treated him kindly, giving him some brandy and promising to send help.

Later, another French soldier took shelter from the battle behind Ponsonby's body, resting his musket on him as he fired. Ponsonby lay on the battlefield for the rest of the day and all night, narrowly escaping death when Prussian cavalry charged over him. Eventually, a British soldier found him and assisted him off the field.