John Waters (British Army officer, born 1774) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir John Waters
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portrait, oil on canvas, of Sir John Waters
by William Salter |
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| Born | 1774 Cefn Cribwr, Glamorgan, Great Britain |
| Died | 21 November 1842 (aged 68) London, United Kingdom |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1797–1815 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | Napoleonic Wars |
| Awards | Order of the Bath Order of St. Anna |
Sir John William Waters (born 1774, died 1842) was a brave Welsh officer in the British Army. He played an important role during the Napoleonic Wars. These wars were a series of big conflicts in Europe from 1803 to 1815.
Waters joined the army in 1797. He quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a captain in 1805. In 1808, he became a special assistant (called an aide-de-camp) to Brigadier Charles William Stewart and went with him to Portugal.
In 1809, Waters worked with the Portuguese army. He fought in many important battles like Talavera, Busaco, and Salamanca. His bravery was noticed by the famous General Wellington. For his courage, he received a special gold cross and was honored with the title 'C.B.' in 1815. Waters was also at the famous Battle of Waterloo in 1815, where he was injured. He continued to serve, becoming a colonel in 1821 and a lieutenant-general in 1841.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
John Waters was born in 1774 at Ty Fry, near Welsh St. Donats, in a part of Wales called Glamorganshire. His family had some important members, like his grandfather, Edward Waters, who was a sheriff. John's father passed away when John was young, leaving a big family.
A powerful person, the Marquis of Bute, helped John get his first job in the army. He joined the 1st (Royal Scots) Foot regiment on August 2, 1797. He served with his battalion in Portugal, and later in the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland in 1799. He also went on an important trip to Egypt in 1801. He became a lieutenant in 1799. For his good behavior during a small uprising in Gibraltar in 1802, he was given a captain's job in the York Rangers. However, he stayed with the Royal Scots and went with them to the West Indies. In 1805, he became a captain in that regiment and soon returned to England.
Working with General Wellington
In 1808, John Waters became a special assistant to Brigadier Charles William Stewart. He went with him to Portugal and served in General Moore's campaign, which ended at the Battle of Corunna. Waters was very good at gathering information. In December, he bought a secret French message from some Spaniards. This message gave General Moore very important details about the French army, which made him change his plans right away.
Waters was promoted to major in 1809. He worked closely with the Portuguese army, often gathering secret information. General Wellington wrote about him, saying he was "extremely useful" because he knew the languages of Spain and Portugal, and was very smart and active. Wellington often sent him to find out where the enemy was, and Waters always did a great job.
A Daring River Crossing
One of Waters' most famous acts of bravery happened on May 12, 1809, during the crossing of the Douro River. The French army had destroyed the bridge and taken all the boats, and they had many soldiers on the other side. But Colonel Waters, who was quick and daring, found a barber who had a small boat. The barber, Waters, and a local priest bravely crossed the river without being seen. They returned in just half an hour with three large boats. These boats allowed the first British soldiers to cross the river and surprise the French.
Escape from Capture
On April 3, 1811, before the Battle of Sabugal, Waters was captured by the enemy. He had gone alone to scout the enemy's position, which he often did, and was surrounded by soldiers. General Wellington was very sad to lose him, saying Waters had provided "very important services."
Waters refused to give his word not to escape. He was sent to Salamanca with four guards. He was riding a faster horse than his guards. When he saw his chance, he galloped away! He was on a wide, open plain, with French soldiers all around him. Some soldiers cheered him on, while others shot at him. He rode between two groups of their soldiers and managed to reach a wooded area, where he lost his pursuers. Two days later, he arrived back at the British headquarters. General Wellington, knowing Waters' brave and clever nature, had already had his luggage brought there, saying he wouldn't be gone for long.
Because of his bravery, Wellington made him an assistant adjutant-general. He was also promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel.
Later Battles and Honors
Waters continued to serve throughout the Peninsular War. He was at many major battles, including Talavera, Bussaco, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, and Vittoria. During the Battle of the Pyrenees, he was wounded while talking to General Wellington. He also fought at Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, and Toulouse. For his amazing service, he received a special gold cross and was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (C.B.) in 1815.
Waters was also at the famous Battle of Waterloo in 1815. After another officer was wounded, Waters took over as adjutant-general and signed the battle reports, even though he was wounded himself. He received the Russian Order of St. Anna.
After the wars, he continued his military career. He became a captain and lieutenant-colonel in the Coldstream Guards in 1817. He was promoted to colonel in 1821 and major-general in 1830. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) in 1832, which is a very high honor. In 1840, he became the colonel of the 81st Foot regiment. His final promotion was to lieutenant-general in 1841.
Sir John Waters passed away in London on November 21, 1842, at the age of 68. He was buried at Kensal Green.
Images for kids
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portrait, oil on canvas, of Sir John Waters by William Salter
