The sheer number of casualties at the Battle of Waterloo meant that it was impossible to give individual burials to all of the dead soldiers. Instead, mass graves were dug, and often the bodies were simply thrown in without any ceremony or identification.
Common Graves
In some cases, where possible, soldiers who belonged to the same unit or nationality were buried together. This allowed for some degree of recognition and remembrance for the dead.
Unmarked Graves
Many of the mass graves at Waterloo were never properly marked or identified. This means that the exact location of many of the fallen soldiers remains unknown to this day.
Remains Scattered
In addition to the mass graves, many soldiers were left unburied on the battlefield. Their remains were often scattered by scavengers, animals, and the elements, making it impossible to identify them later.
Symbolic Graves
In the absence of proper burials or identification, many memorials and monuments were erected at Waterloo to honor the fallen soldiers. These memorials serve as symbolic graves for the soldiers who could not be given individual burials.