RESEARCHERS at Cranfield University in Shrivenham have validated the authenticity of a jacket worn by a British Army officer at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The red military jacket, which is more than 200 years old and carries several bullet holes, was worn by Sir Thomas Noel Harris, a British Brigade-Major who was shot and had his arm amputated in the battle.

Harris’ family asked the Cranfield Forensic Institute (CFI) if it could complete a forensic examination of the jacket to prove whether it was the original uniform worn by their descendant at Waterloo.

Prof Andrew Shortland, director of CFI, said: “This was a very unusual item for us, but particularly interesting, being involved as it was in a key moment in national and international history. We were able to safely confirm the authenticity of the jacket and place it on the Waterloo battlefield. In so doing, we also gained further insight into the grievous wounds suffered by Harris during the battle, which themselves reflect the experience of those who fought, and died, on that day.”

CFI was able to establish the provenance of the jacket by bringing together the results of a forensic examination and the known history of the jacket and its wearer. A diary kept by Harris, together with other military history and research, was also used to gain an insight into what happened to the officer. The institute says Harris might have been shot only once, with the musket ball passing through both his arm and side. As there is no exit hole on the jacket, experts suggest that the ball shattering Harris’ arm saved his life – if it had penetrated his torso directly it may have proved fatal.