
Military enthusiasts and more than 100 gamers have taken part in the biggest ever historical table top war game - with more than 20,000 miniature soldiers.

The team at the University of Glasgow have replayed the Battle of Waterloo using a gigantic historical map measuring 2,066 square feet.

The 28mm figures, representing every battalion, regiment and battery which took part in the real Battle of Waterloo, were painted over the last year by wargaming enthusiasts, veterans' groups, students, and members of the public.

The Great Game: Waterloo Replayed is a one-off charity event which recreated the Belgium battlefield of 1815 in aid of Waterloo Uncovered - a charity for military veterans. They have been investigating the archaeology of the Waterloo battlefield since 2015.

The charity used a team of professional archaeologists including Professor Tony Pollard from the University of Glasgow.

The battle map includes model villages, walls and trees all made in intricate detail.

This is alongside veterans and serving military personnel, many of whom suffer from a range of physical and mental injuries because of their service, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Professor Pollard, Glasgow University's Professor of conflict history and archaeology, said: 'This has been a massive undertaking, but we have received support from people around the world to make this happen.

'The Battle of Waterloo is one of those iconic and epic battles involving two of the most famous historical figures - Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington - and given my long involvement with the battlefield as an archaeologist there was never any doubt about which battle would feature in this event.

'We know that British-led allied forces beat Napoleon Bonaparte, but there is a possibility that we will see the game re-writing history, and it will be interesting to ponder what Britain would be like today of Napoleon had won on that fateful day.

'The story of Waterloo has been immortalised in song, books and films, but this project is pretty unique, and will help to bring history to life, out of the classroom so to speak, and to a wider audience.

'We look forward to welcoming wargamers and spectators from all over the world to Glasgow this weekend.'

Mark Evans of Waterloo Uncovered said: 'Many of our veterans have experienced battle at first hand, getting them involved in both the dig and in the Great Game we believe lends a whole new dimension to the event.

'We are delighted to be involved in such a fantastic event.'

Competitors taking part came from places as far as Australia, Singapore and the Netherlands.

Corstiaan de Hann, 58, who travelled from the Netherlands, said: "I was invited by the Waterloo Uncovered team.

"We've always taken part in activities since 2016 and I heard about the game and came over. I think it's great, everyone has been very welcoming. My team has been assigned the higher roles such as commander.

"But although you have fun in your role, it is the scale of the game that is difficult. You are playing with so many players and there are so many figures too, it's just amazing. I've gone to war game conventions before but nothing like this.

"It's nice playing with a lot of people, it gives you a feel of the enormity of the battle that happened."

Dad-of-one Robbie Roddis, who travelled 170 miles from Durham, England, said his trip to Scotland has been "fantastic".

He said: "This has been great, absolutely fantastic. "The scots, as well as everyone, have been so nice and welcoming.

"As soon as I saw this being advertised, I thought I really want to be part of it. But I didn't have any figures to take part so I just had to paint some.

"I knew it would be a great experience but it's turned out to be even better than I thought. It does require some thinking but if you make a mistake so what?

"It is a war game. It's a game that you play with people that have the same interest."

Re-enactor Phil Timms is pictured in period-style uniform with Fraser Bennet, 9, at Glasgow University for the battle. The Great Game: Waterloo Replayed is a one-off charity event which recreated the Belgium battlefield of 1815 in aid of Waterloo Uncovered - a charity for military veterans

The international team at the University of Glasgow have replayed the Battle of Waterloo using a gigantic historical map measuring 2,066 square feet. Members of the public and volunteers are pictured above moving the battalions of soldiers to recreate the historic battle

Military enthusiasts and more than 100 gamers took part in the biggest ever historical table top war game - with more than 20,000 miniature soldiers. Volunteers are pictured above with the French battalions on the battlefield below, led by Napoléon Bonaparte

One unit is pictured above looking at maps while a soldier is pictured adjusting his telescope to look for oncoming enemy troops. A British led-Army alongside Dutch, German and Prussian forces came together to beat French Napoleon and his forces in the real life battle more than 200 years ago

The 28mm intricate figures, representing every battalion, regiment and battery which took place in the real Battle of Waterloo, were painted over the last year by wargaming enthusiasts, veterans' groups, students, and members of the public

The team at the University of Glasgow have replayed the Battle of Waterloo using a gigantic historical map measuring 2,066 square feet. Members of the public and volunteers are pictured taking a look at the map, which includes model villages, walls and trees in intricate detail

The French Army is pictured clashing with the British-led Coalition forces. In the real battle more than 200 years ago, the French had more than 70,000 infantry while the Coalition of Dutch, German and Prussian Armies had more than 118,000 infantry

Participants are pictured moving the soldiers as they replay the historic battle. The Great Game: Waterloo Replayed is a one-off charity event which recreated the Belgium battlefield of 1815 in aid of Waterloo Uncovered - a charity for military veterans. They have been investigating the archaeology of the Waterloo battlefield since 2015

The British units (officially called the Coalition between Britain, the Netherlands, and various German states including Prussia) are pictured above in intricate detail. One soldier is even pictured playing the bagpipes as they head into battle with their iconic red coats