Camp kettle (tin)

This kettle was used by an unknown British soldier on the stormy night before the Battle of Waterloo. This was almost certainly an officer’s item, in which he or his servant could have boiled water. Officers paid for their own equipment and could afford to take luxurious items on campaign in order to make their lives easier in often difficult conditions. An important innovation during the Peninsular War (1808-1814) was the introduction of tin kettles rather than iron ones. This eased the burden of carrying them and reduced the amount of time it took to boil and cook the food.