The following numbers are based primarilty on the appendices of Siborne's History of the Waterloo Campaign (third edition). The author provided additional details on Quatre Bras (nothing for 7th Dutch Militia) and the 5th Dutch Militia took particularly heavy casualties: 44% killed and wounded.
Bijlandt's Brigade had already lost 39% of its starting strength by the time it took its place at Waterloo (16% killed and wounded). At Quatre Bras, Kempt's Brigade had lost 26% and Pack's Brigade an incredible 44% of starting strength. At Waterloo, Bijlandt suffered another 351 killed and wounded, nearly as many as Pack's Brigade standing next to them. Unfortunately, the Dutch-Belgians broke and ran. However, many of them rallied and returned to battle, but they are remembered for fleeing, not fighting, in most English-language histories. It should be noted that there was little reason for British to desert, being in a foreign country, while the Dutch and Belgians didn;t need a ship to get home.
Although Bijlandt suffered 44% "missing," 24% were killed and wounded--the same as the KGL. Lower losses for other Dutch-Belgian units (19%) were because they were posted on the far right and not engaged. The British endured 33% losses in the 1815 campaign, vs. 23% at Talavera (which Wellington called the battle the "bitterest he ever fought"). Interestingly, the Dutch and Belgians fought the British at Talavera, losing 20% before routing (Talavera numbers from Oman, History of the Peninsula War Vol. II).
More Cowards at Waterloo?
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Introduction
The United Kingdom of the Netherlands Is Created
15 June: The French Advance
16 June: First Experience of Battle
17-18 June: Retreat to Waterloo and Infamy
Response to British Allegations by Renard
Combat Losses: Bijlandt and Allied (slow: 316K)
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