East Midlands MEP commemorates Waterloo

East Midlands MEP Emma McClarkin has this week attended an event commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, at which a new €2.50 coin was presented.

At the event, which showed a screening of the Waterloo film, Miss McClarkin was presented with a special €2.50 coin. As the French had previously vetoed a €2 coin, the Belgians created a special commemorative €2.50 coin instead.

The Conservative MEP was among many who attended the event, including Major General Sir Evelyn John Webb-Carter KCVO OBE DL, who was the last ‘Colonel of the Regiment’ of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) (1999–2006), before their amalgamation into the Yorkshire Regiment, 3rd Battalion (Duke of Wellington’s).

The battle took place near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, about 9 miles south of Brussels, on Sunday 18 June 1815, and saw approx. 50,000 soldiers – on both sides – either killed or wounded. Defeat in the battle ended Napoleon’s rule as French Emperor.

Miss McClarkin said:

“I said back in March that, in blocking a commemorative €2 coin, I thought the French were being far too sensitive about something that happened nearly 200 years ago. So hats off to the Belgians for finding a different way to commemorate this important battle in history.

“It was great to be a part of the commemorations here in the European Parliament, and to remember the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers for the cause of peace in Europe.”