William Leeke William Leeke ( 1797 – 1879 ) was a British Army officer and clergyman , known for his published reminiscences of the Waterloo Campaign , which form a primary source for many modern histories of the campaign . Early life . Leeke was born in 1797 on the Isle of Wight to a naval family , who owned an estate in Hampshire . He was brother to Sir Henry John Leeke , who rose to the rank of admiral in the Royal Navy . Their father was Samuel Leeke , a deputy lieutenant of Hampshire , and their mother was Sophia , daughter of Capt . Richard Bargus , R . N . Leeke ' s eldest brother Samuel had also served in the navy , but died off Cadiz in 1810 , while serving as a lieutenant . His sister , Urania , married Admiral Sir Edward Tucker . Military experience . William Leeke obtained his commission as an ensign in the 52nd ( Oxfordshire ) Regiment of Foot through the influence of Sir John Colborne ( later Lord Seaton ) , the regiment ' s colonel , who was a relative : Leeke ' s mother ' s brother , Thomas Bargus , had married Colborne ' s mother . ( Colborne ' s father had died in 1785 , when he was seven ) . Originally joining the 52nd as a Gentleman Volunteer in May 1815 , he was gazetted ensign almost immediately , the promotion dated 4 May . He was only 17 , which made him the youngest ensign at Waterloo . He carried the 52nd ' s Regimental colours during the Battle of Waterloo , which gave him a good understanding of the 52nd ' s actions during the battle . Leeke purchased his promotion to lieutenant on 20 November 1823 , and remained in the 52nd until 2 September 1824 when he exchanged into the 42nd Regiment of Foot , on half - pay . Despite the fact that he was by then studying at Cambridge , he returned to full - pay as a lieutenant in the Ceylon Regiment on 28 May 1828 , by exchange . He sold out on 28 August 1828 . University studies and work for the Church of England . After leaving the army , Leeke attended Queens ' College , Cambridge , gaining a BA in 1829 and an MA in 1832 . In 1829 Leeke was ordained deacon in the Church of England , serving as curate at Westham , Sussex . He was ordained priest in 1830 , by the Bishop of Chichester , and in 1831 became stipendary curate at Brailsford with Osmaston , Derbyshire . Then , in 1840 , was appointed Perpetual curate of Michael ' s Church at Holbrook in Derbyshire , living in Holbrooke Hall , with Thomas William Evans as a patron . Leeke was also Rural Dean of Duffield , from 1849 . While at Cambridge , in 1827 Leeke instituted the Jesus Lane Sunday School in an attempt to improve conditions in the local slums . His work eventually resulted in the establishment of an elementary school , which has now evolved into Parkside Community College . His four sons also volunteered at the Sunday School during their respective times in Cambridge while students at Trinity . He wrote a number of works on church matters , including an address on the abolition of pluralities . Family . In 1828 , Leeke married Mary Ann Cox , daughter of John Cox , of Derby . Her sister Maria married George Gawler , a fellow officer of Leeke ' s from the 52nd Foot . They had four sons – Edward Tucker , Henry , John Cox and Samuel – and four daughters . Two of Leeke ' s sons entered the church . Edward Tucker became sub - dean of Lincoln Cathedral , and John Cox was made Bishop of Woolwich in 1905 . Henry was a notable athlete , competing in the throwing events for Cambridge University , and English Amateur champion for the hammer throw . His son , Henry Alan Leeke , represented Great Britain in the throwing events at the 1908 Summer Olympics . Samuel was a barrister at Lincoln ' s Inn . He was called to the bar in 1873 , and worked up until his death at 77 in 1925 . He was known for his skill as a conveyancer and equity draftsman , and also worked successfully as an advocate , with a reputation for not losing cases . His obituary in " The Times " commended his " charming manner and old - world courtesy " , and described him as " a fine old English gentlemen " who excited respect and affection from those who met him . In 1863 , Leeke ' s eldest daughter Sophia married Thomas Horsfall , MP for Liverpool ; she was his third wife , and died in 1867 . His daughter Jane married Edward Latham ( " d " . 1883 ) , housemaster of Repton School then vicar of Matlock Bath . Edward and Jane had ten children , including Jane Leeke Latham , an educationalist and missionary . Leeke died in 1879 . There is a stained glass memorial to him and his wife in St Michael ' s Church , Holbrooke . A street in Cambridge was named after Leeke , but has now been demolished . " The History of Lord Seaton ' s Regiment " . " The history of Lord Seaton ' s regiment , ( the 52nd light infantry ) at the battle of Waterloo ; together with various incidents connected with that regiment , not only at Waterloo but also at Paris , in the north of France , and for several years afterwards : to which are added many of the author ' s reminiscences of his military and clerical careers during a period of more than fifty years " was published in two volumes in 1866 . Leeke ' s account of the Battle of Waterloo caused some controversy , since he claimed that official records erred in ascribing the defeat of Napoleon ' s Imperial Guard to the British 1st Foot Guards . Leeke claimed that the 52nd Foot alone , under the command of Sir John Colborne ( later Lord Seaton ) , was responsible for turning the flank of the Imperial Guard in the last stages of the battle , ensuring the victory , stating on the title page of both volumes that : The author claims for Lord Seaton and the 52nd the honour of having defeated , single - handed , without the assistance of the 1st British Guards or any other troops , that portion of the Imperial Guard of France , about 10 , 000 in number , which advanced to make the last attack on the British position . Leeke also lamented that Wellington ' s despatches had unfairly made no mention of Colborne ' s vital command , and the 52nd ' s " daring feat " . His memoirs were partly inspired by what he felt to be a " very great injustice [ that ] has been done to Lord Seaton and the 52nd Light Infantry , which regiment he commanded at Waterloo , by those who have attempted , in subsequent years , to write the history of that great battle " , and that he considered " the truth , with regard to what we knew the 52nd had achieved at Waterloo , ought to see the light " .