Thomas Barlow: Soldier, Preacher and Melbourne Pioneer!

Thomas Barlow: Soldier, Preacher, Teacher, and Melbourne Pioneer

Thomas Barlow, a soldier, preacher, teacher, and pioneering settler in Melbourne, Australia, was one of the celebrated heroes of the Battle of Waterloo. As the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st (or King's) Dragoon Guards (KDG), he was reputed to have defeated one of the most skilled mounted swordsmen in the French army on that day. This remarkable action was just one of Barlow's many contributions during the battle.

Before the conflict, on 17th June—the night before the battle—the KDG took part in a cavalry screen to engage the French near the village of Genappe. In this action, Barlow rescued a division of KDG troops, as he described in a letter to his wife:

"The Blues lost a few men during the retreat. Captain Sweny was ordered out with a division to skirmish with the enemy but, owing to a misunderstanding of his orders, took his men into a position where they were at risk of being captured. I was dispatched to fetch them, and although we were much exposed to enemy fire, I brought every man back safely. We then retired to a strong position near Waterloo and bivouacked for the night."

Despite the harsh weather that night, Barlow prepared the 540 officers and men for what became the famous charge of the British Heavy Cavalry the next day. The KDG, the largest of the seven regiments, formed the main part of the Household Brigade, alongside the 1st and 2nd Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards.

At around 2:30 pm, the entire British cavalry charged south to crush General d’Erlon’s I Corps, which was threatening the Allied defensive line on the Mont St Jean plateau. In Barlow’s words:

"The charge was made in the most gallant style. The enemy cavalry fled, and we pursued them for about half a mile, thinking the day was ours. But alas, a dreadful fate awaited many of our brave comrades. A body of French cavalry and lancers surrounded us. We took a flank movement to the left and cut our way through, but with immense loss."

The KDG was decimated. According to Barlow, of the 540 men who had charged, only 13 to 15 remained standing by the end of the day. Barlow was one of them. He is said to have invited the few surviving officers to share a rudimentary dinner—the first proper meal they had had in days. The meal likely consisted of meat and fat, probably from one of the many dead horses, cooked on a French cuirass over a fire made from broken weapons and wheel spokes. This meal, shared by officers and men, was unusual given the social divide of the time. However, it led to a tradition: around 18th June, the officers of the regiment were invited to dine in the Sergeants' Mess of the KDG. This custom continues in the regiment's descendant, the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards.

Life After Waterloo

After the Battle of Waterloo, Barlow served for another 15 years in the British Army before retiring to become a Methodist minister around 1833. Always seeking new challenges, he decided to emigrate to Australia. In 1849, Barlow and his second wife, Sarah (his first wife, Betsy, had died), sailed from Liverpool to Australia.

The Barlows arrived in Port Phillip on 11th September 1849 and became pioneers of Melbourne. Barlow, an active citizen in the new colony, was described in early writings as a Congregational minister and head of a Wesleyan Association school in Nicholson Street, Collingwood, Melbourne. His employer was the British Commissioner for Emigration, while Sarah worked as a matron. Barlow remained a teacher in Collingwood until his death.

Community Contributions

Barlow was not only a prominent figure in the non-conformist churches but also contributed to the improvement of infrastructure in Collingwood. In 1855, he led a meeting to propose the construction of a bridge across the Yarra River at Johnston Street, which would connect Collingwood to Kew. Thanks to his efforts, a wooden bridge was completed in 1858, which was later replaced by an iron bridge in 1879. The modern concrete Johnston Street Bridge, built between 1954 and 1956, still stands today.

Legacy

Thomas Barlow died on 10th May 1858 at his home in Collingwood, Victoria, and was buried on 13th May in Melbourne General Cemetery. Sarah passed away ten years later and was buried beside him. Although their grave is currently unmarked, the Heritage Trust of the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards is leading a campaign to provide a fitting memorial for this remarkable soldier and early Melbourne pioneer by 2025, the 210th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

For more information about this outstanding soldier and early Melbourne pioneer, please follow this link to a dedicated wiki page: Captain Thomas Barlow

A book about the Officers and Men of the 1st or King’s Dragoon Guards, who took part in the Battle of Waterloo and in the two days leading up to the 18th June 1815 can be found at the regimental museum by following this link: Waterloo Records