Other benefits granted after Waterloo
In addition to promotion and to changes in seniority, in the case of Waterloo specific benefits were granted to some officers and to all other ranks who took part in the battle. The Prince Regent approved on 12 July propositions made by Lord Palmerston (the Secretary at War, in charge of the administrative business of the War Office, a different post from that of Secretary of State for War) [see Document 2]. These gave additional rights to officers who had been wounded; and advanced lieutenants who had taken part in the battle or the preceding actions two years’ service towards the increment of pay they were due after seven years. All other ranks who had served at Waterloo and the actions immediately preceding were to be known as ‘Waterloo men’, and were also allowed two years’ additional service in the reckoning of pay or pension.
