This biography tells the story of a brilliant officer of the British army who spent several years in France as a prisoner of war.

Gloire and Empire, no.74

Although a slim volume this book packs a punch as an intriguing tale related to Waterloo and the author can be congratulated for his thorough research and turning it in to a very coherent and interesting story.

Society of Friends of the National Army Museum

Although the author states that this is not a true biography of Henry Percy due to little surviving contemporary sources, "Waterloo Messenger" is nonetheless an excellent account of the life and times of this officer who served as an aide-de-camp to Sir John Moore, as a part of the Duke of Wellington's military family and the man who carries the "Waterloo Dispatch" back to London. The research is thorough and detailed, bringing to light the events surrounding the death in action of Moore in Spain, the various goings-on at both the French and British higher headquarters and Percy's time as a prisoner of war in the hands of the French. This is an informative and welcome addition to the vast amount of literature on the Napoleonic Era.

The Past in Review

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Wiltshire Star

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Gazette and Herald (Devizes)

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Swindon Star

A book more for the general reader than the specialist. Having said that the are some interesting insights into staff work. Also the description of how some prisoners of the French were treated is an eye opener. The book is not a biography but uses the life of Henry Percy as the thread running through some of Moore's and Wellington's campaigns in the Peninsula. That having been said I suspect, largely on the grounds of the author's extensive researches, that there is little more evidence available on Henry Percy's life. All in all a good read which doesn't quite give all the title promises.

Clash of Steel

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Devizes Gazette & Herald

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Wiltshire Times

Colonel Mahon has written a witty,thoroughly researched book which is easy to read and full of fascinating anecdotes [the 22 pages of Notes are full of surprises and coincidences ].
The story of Sir John Moore's sword and Henry Percy's captivity,love affair whilst on parole and subsequent children are just two of many nuggets unearthed.
That Wellington entrusted the Waterloo Despatch to Percy comes as no surprise and one is left with an impression of a remarkable and eventful man who deserved more recognition.He now has got it.

Major Tim Young

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Thoroughly recommended as a study of the life of officer in Wellington’s army, plus the additional details of his time as a prisoner of war.

Stuart Asquith, Author