The 7de was formed from the 2nd Infantry Regiment of Flanders (Belgian Legion) shortly after the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was granted its sovereignty in 1813. The battalion was made up of men from Belgium and even one man from Philadelphia, America! It was stationed in Ghent and therefore most of its men were Flemish however that does not mean there were no Walloons in the 7de. Much of the 7de was made up of former veterans of the French army, Commander Francois-Chretien Vandensande served in the famous French 112th Line Infantry Regiment, and was awarded with Légion d’Honneur for personally bravery at the Battle of Raab. Captain L’Olivier served in the French 7th Line Infantry Regiment as commander of grenadier company. Captain Nieuport served in the French 13th Tirailleur Regiment of Young Guard. Lieutenant Nieulandt served in the 1st Regiment of Honor Guard. Lieutenant Scheltens served in the famous Grenadiers of Old Guard. Even the American, Martinus Fox, had fought in the Portugese army in every campaign during the Peninsular War.
Many men from the 7de earned battle honors for their bravery, many of them even received the Military Order Of William, the equivalent of the French Legion d'Honneur. And during the Battle of Quatre Bras, several members of the 7de saved the Prince of Orange from being captured by French chasseurs a cheval. Grateful to these men, the Prince tore a jewelled insignia from his coat and tossed it to them shouting "There my brave fellows! You have all deserved it!" With a cheer they fixed the insignia to their colors and carried on the fight.
During the Battle of Waterloo, the 7de fought as part of the Bijlandt Brigade which was positioned at the center of the allied lines, near La Haye Sainte. The Bijlandt Brigade was the first to endure the French infantry attack of d'Erlon's Corps as they were the furthest deployed allied brigade. The Bijlandt Brigade - which was the smallest of the Allied Brigades in the center - was subjected to the largest column of French infantry which was the column of Donzelot's Division. Lieutenant Hope of the British 92nd Gordon Highlanders wrote "The Belgians were assailed with a terrible fury and returned the fire of the enemy for quite some time with great spirit." And Colonel Van Zuylen Van Nyevelt wrote "Having approach us to within 50 paces not a shot had been fired, but now the impatience of the soldiers could do no longer be restrained, and they greeted the enemy with a double row." The 7de and the rest of the Bijlandt Brigade fearlessly fought the French at a terrifyingly close distance of 25 meters apart. They were led personally by the Prince of Orange in several assaults and bayonet charges that actually pushed the French infantry back before the famous charge of the British heavy cavalry. And during the battle, the Bijlandt Brigade actually advanced forward and drove the French infantry back, pursuing them all the way to the bottom of the slope until they ran out of ammunition. This event happened before Wellington's "General Advance" order. After the battle, the 7de was heavily under strength, it's victory had come at a cost. But they continued on the march to Paris, victors of Waterloo and brave men all.
