On the lead-up to Waterloo, Lieutenant Dugald Macfarlane was attached to the 1^st Battalion 95^th Rifle Corps as commander of Captain Glass's Company. However, for the battle itself, he commanded Captain Fullerton's company of the third Battalion (95th), and was thus attached to the 3rd Light Brigade, Sir Harry Clinton's 2nd Division, Lord Hill's 2nd Corps, commanded by Sir Frederick Adam. During the battle, Lieutenant Macfarlane found himself in the thick of the action with an account in his own words subsequently published in the Army and Navy Gazette:

"...was the right centre of the British army, on a sloping bank between Hougoumont and La Haye Sante, in squares of battalions, exposed for over six hours to the enemy's round shot, shell, and grape, and having to repel a dozen charges of his Cuirassiers and Lancers. About half-past 7 in the evening Lord Wellington galloped up to Sir Frederick Adam, and after a moment's interview we were ordered to form a line in crescent, with our flanks well in advance. Soon after we got into position, Marshal Ney, the most renowned soldier in France, came direct upon us at the head of seven battalions of the Old Imperial Guard, that had not fired a shot until then reserved evidently to break through in our centre and open out in our rear—Napoleon's favorite mode of securing a victory. They fought three deep in their companies, and in close columns in rear of their Grenadiers, with a frontage of only thirty men. Our flank battalions were formed two deep, and the 52nd in our centre was obliged to form four deep for want of room.

"Our strength at this time was about 2400 men, thus occupying a frontage of about 300 yards, while Ney's seven battalions had only 100 yards' frontage, with wide intervals between each phalanx. They charged, drums beating, and cheering 'Vive l'Empereur!' and when within 150 yards we were ordered to commence a steady fire by volleys of companies, and after seven or eight rounds of those well-directed volleys the whole of the enemy were in utter confusion. Ney's horse was shot under him. He lost his cap and on foot, sword in hand, he endeavored to rally his men. This was impossible, they were treading each other down. We were ordered by Sir Frederick Adam to charge with the bayonet, and in a moment about 3000 of the enemy threw down their arms and rushed in the greatest confusion to the rear. At this moment we were over 100 yards in front of the British line, pursuing this routed multitude with Napoleon's favorite Marshal in their midst, and perfect masters of everything in our front.

"The left of the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade had now reached the high road a little below La Belle Alliance, and shooting the horses of the enemy's artillery flying to the rear, blocked up the road, and thus secured about eighty guns of Count Reille and Count d'Erlon s corps. About 2000 of the enemy, under General Cambroune, were posted in front of La Belle Alliance to cover the retreat. They got panic-struck, and, adding disaster to confusion, fled with the Old Guard. Cambroune was taken prisoner by Lieutentant-Colonel Hugh Halkett, and we drove this routed mass a short distance beyond La Belle Alliance, when the Prussians took up the pursuit. It was now getting dark. We were halted, and ordered to take ground to our right, and slept upon the field, where Count d'Erlon's men had bivouacked the night before."

After Waterloo, Lieutenant Dugald Macfarlane retired from the army, married and settled in Neuchâtel (near Rouen) with his first wife, Jane Drummond; sadly she subsequently died giving birth to his fourth child who also did not survive. Stricken by grief he returned to Great Britain, firstly running his sister's farm in Scotland and with his three children being baptised in Edinburgh in 1823, before settling in London and becoming a wine merchant. Six years later he married his second wife, Mary Shaw, and with her, the family grew to a total of four sons and four daughters. In 1850, Dugald Macfarlane (with his children now mostly adults) moved across the globe to settle in Cambridge, New Zealand (North Island). He went on to settle just up the Waimakariri on a holding he named Ledard. However, in 1860, he sold-up to his neighbour and relocated to Canterbury, where he built a brick house on the corner or Armagh Street and Cranmer Square. He went on to work as a wine merchant, as well as enjoying the lifestyle of a colonial retiree, but by the time of his death in 1881, he was essentially bankrupt.

During his life Lieutenant Dugald Macfarlane maintained friendships with many eminent personalities, including the Duke of Northumberland and Sir Walter Scott. Indeed, Sir Walter sought advice from Lt. Macfarlane about the Battle of Waterloo whilst writing his work 'Life of Napoleon'. Apparently, amongst Dugald Macfarlane's anecdotes, was an account of him mislaying a boot on the day of the battle and having to complete the action with him wearing a dancing shoe on one foot!

When the present watch was sold at Christies in 2003, there was also a handwritten memorandum included with the watch with anecdotal notes relating to the life of Dugald Macfarlane as well as relating to the watch itself. Sadly, these notes are no longer with the watch, however it does present as a particularly interesting item and of possible historical importance. Indeed, further research to ascertain whether the identity of Joseph Petty of the 3rd Battalion of Carabiniers (a Dutch detachment) could be verified would be a very good starting point.

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Tuesday 9 September 2025, 10.30am BST
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