From information received from a relative (Nathan Rusden):

Henry Rusden was born on 17th December 1780 in Falmouth Cornwall. The 32nd Regiment of Foot was in Falmouth in 1807 and for what ever reason Henry the Carpenter took the Kings Shilling on the 7th September. He went over and fought through the Peninsula Wars and in 1815 found himself the oldest Private in Captain Crowe’s Company at Quatre Bras.

He was situated with his Company in the furthest East Square, 300yards Right as you face Waterloo. His Company moved forward into the field late in the day to take up final position on the Namur road. French Lancers and Cuirassiers then attacked and sometime during this he was wounded, hit in both legs, losing his right leg completely and injuring his left thigh. He was moved off the field to receive medical treatment then off on a cart to Brussels.

He survived this and was pensioned out of the Army in 1816 from Fort George, Guernsey.

Henry made it back to Falmouth and married Clarinda Chegwin in 1825. Sadly, Henry died on the 1st May 1829 and is buried in King Charles the Martyr Church, Falmouth.

Nathan was also kind enough to provide us with copies of Henry’s Attestation and Medical Discharge papers which we have uploaded here.