The Autobiography of Sergeant William Lawrence A Hero of the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns

"The Autobiography of Sergeant William Lawrence" by William Lawrence is a late 19th-century memoir recounting the life of a British soldier during the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo. Through the eyes of Sergeant Lawrence, readers get a ground-level view of historical military events, appealing to those keen on military history. The narrative begins with Lawrence’s early life in Dorset, England, where dissatisfaction with his apprenticeship pushes him to join the army. His story captures a transformation that is filled with both humor and grit, showing the rough life and close bonds of soldiers in the British army during times of war.