In December 2025, we held our first-ever UK exhibition of the Waterloo archaeological collection at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Designed by Waterloo Uncovered veterans in collaboration with Chelsea Pensioners, the exhibition narrated the story of a British soldier, using objects to follow their journey from fighting in the Battle of Waterloo to their experience as a veteran residing at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The “Life of a Waterloo Soldier” exhibition showcased previously unexplored objects from our collection, including cannonballs and love tokens, which provide fascinating insights into the realities faced by soldiers during this historic conflict. The story was brought to life by our very own digital AI Waterloo soldier, “Private Samuel Forsyth,” who greeted visitors and answered their questions as they entered the exhibition space. Special thanks to the team at PerformitLive for supplying the technology.
The ‘Life of a Waterloo Soldier” exhibition was made even more engaging by our veteran beneficiaries, who guided visitors through the display. They used their lived military experiences and knowledge to connect conflicts past to conflicts present. Over the course of three days, the exhibition attracted more than 200 members of the general public, VIPs, and friends of Waterloo Uncovered!
Photos from the Exhibition
