Cadet Cornelis "Kees" Micheal BredaCadet Cornelis "Kees" Micheal Breda,, born 6 October 1798, joined the Regiment Huzaren van Boreel, a Dutch hussar regiment, on the 17th of January 1814. Kees Breda was native of Leeuwarden, in the north of the Netherlands. He was at the time of joining 15 years and 3 months old. It is certain he came from a well-off family - Parents could pay a certain sum of money to let their sons aged between 12 and 18 become 'Cadets' in regiments of infantry and cavalry. Cadets would first serve as private soldiers, then promoted to Corporal, then sergeant, and then they would be commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, either in the regiment they had served in or another regiment.
We do not know where Breda served in 1814 - It is possible he served at the siege of Breda (where no cavalry fights occurred, as far as we know), or he might have stayed until the peace in May in the depot. What we do know, are these things:
Cadet Breda was placed in the 2nd company, 1st squadron. He was 172 cms tall, slightly above average for his regiment. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and a round face and chin. It is very likely he looked more then a boy then a man - And being just 15 years old, he really was. Being a cadet, he had the regular uniform of a trooper, possibly made of better fabric then the soldiers.
And then the Waterloo campaign started. The Regiment Huzaren van Boreel, now numbered Nr. 6 was mobilized and placed in the 2nd NL cavarly brigade under Van Merlen. The regiment was under the command of the inexperienced Luitenant-Kolonel Jonkheer Boreel; Kees Breda was promoted to Corporaal (Titulair) on the 11th of May, 1815. He was now 16 years and 7 months old.
The Regiment, and Breda, saw their first action at Quatre-bras, the 16th of June, where the regiment charged ill-prepared and barely formed up. They were then counter charged by French Lancers of the Line, which resulted at least sixty death, missing and wounded - A hard ordeal, considering the regiment had been only in action for minutes. Their charge had only one positive effect - Several men of the Dutch 27th Jagers had been surrounded by the French cavalry and used the confusion to escape. Breda came out of the battle seemingly unharmed. We do not know what he did during the battle, as reports are scare and Breda looked like just another ranker in his uniform. The Regiment itself ran to safety behind the allied lines, a few of the men even routing completely away from the field. Breda stayed, like most of the regiment, and would fight again on the 18th.
Two days later, at Waterloo, the Regiment was this time in full action for the entire day, losing at least 1/3 of their strenght. They rode after the British Heavy cavalry and protected their retreat, counter charged French cavalry during the great charges and finally against the retreating French infantry after the Old Guard had been defeated.
It is very likely Breda was not with the regiment at that last glorious moment, though. Somewhere during the battle, presumably during the counter charges of the Grand French cavarly charges, Corporal Titulair Kees Breda was stabbed with a lance, trough the belly.
We do not know under what circumstances this happened - He is, however, the only one that suffered a lance-wound at Waterloo of his entire regiment.
The next day, on the 19th of June 1815, Breda died. He became 16 years, 8 months and 13 days old.
The line under the name reads:
"Those, who for the Fatherland, died in armour, have by their heroic feat won immortal honour"