George Walton 1796-1874

In 1813 George Walton joined the Rifle Brigade at a recruiting party outside St Philip's Church in Birmingham and subsequently kept a journal of his daily life throughout the years of his army service until 1839 when he retired. George's narrative gives us a fascinating ism insight into the life of an ordinary soldier of that time as he served on the front line before becoming a schoolmaster sergeant, travelling all over the UK and Ireland. What is particularly remarkable is George's eyewitness description of the Battle of Waterloo from the perspective of a soldier involved in the fighting who lived to tell the tale! Later chapters explain what became of George after his military service, including the astonishing matrimonial scandal in which he was the injured party. With British armed forces, including George's beloved Rifles, still putting their lives at risk on active service, George's family feel that he would be happy that this record of his experiences could in a small way help today's servicemen and women. Therefore royalties from this, publication will be donated to charities and organisations which support our armed forces.