As the last major conflict before the invention of photography, the Battle of Waterloo has become a misunderstood event in history. Often defined by its opposing figureheads - the Duke of Wellington and Napoléon Bonaparte - rather than the 50,000 that died on the field, a new book and exhibition of photographic portraits by Sam Faulkner intends 'to reclaim Waterloo for the forgotten soldiers that fought and died.' Next month, for the battle's 200th anniversary, 5000 re-enactors, 300 horses and 100 cannons will descend on the Waterloo site in Belgium to immaculately stage two key phases of the battle - the French attack and the Allied counter-attack - in front of 120,000 spectators and a television audience. Guy Kelly met some of the cast: • Waterloo 2015: through the eyes of a war photographer Justin Griffiths, private, 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot ‘I love stepping back 200 years and living in the past,’ Griffiths, 43, a postroom administrator for an insurance company in London, says. ‘It gives you a real sense of what a red-coated infantry soldier of the time would have experienced. And besides, you fire a musket.’ He has been re-enacting for a decade and takes part in events all over Europe almost every weekend between spring and autumn. His partner doesn’t join him. ‘She allows me the time to play, but doesn’t get involved,’ he says. ‘She can’t stand the smell of my powder-stained coat in the house.’ Unseen Waterloo: The Conflict Revisited is at Somerset House, London WC2, June 12-August 31 (unseenwaterloo.co.uk). The accompanying book (Impress, £60) will be published on June 15 Picture: Sam Faulkner

Credit : Sam Faulkner