Busby, worn by Captain William Verner, 7th (Queen's Own) Light Dragoons, 1815 (c)

Captain (later Colonel Sir) William Verner began his military career in the Churchill Yeomanry (Churchill was the name of his family's estate in Ireland). He later joined the 7th Queen's Own Hussars as a staff officer. During the Peninsular War (1808-1814) Verner fought at the Battle of Corunna. He was also present at the Battles of Orthes, Toulouse and the Pyrenees.

Verner was reputedly wearing this busby at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, when he was struck on the head by a musket ball. The hole on the side of the busby may well be where the musket ball hit. Although his injury was not severe, infection set in and it took him several months to recover.