Sir Walter Scott's 'priceless batle flags' are tourist tat, expert says

Jun 20 2008 By Iain Pope REGIMENTAL standards thought to have been found after the Battle of Waterloo by Sir Walter Scott have been dismissed as "tourist tat". The four flags - described as three French and one Scottish - were heralded as an important discovery when they were found recently in a cupboard at Abbotsford House, the author's home near Melrose, Roxburghshire. They were thought to be price less souvenirs taken from Waterloo by Scott in the days immediately after the 1815 battle in what is now Belgium. But even before they take centre stage in a £10million campaign to boost falling visitor numbers at Abbotsford, critics have pointed out that one standard apparently from a French regiment has English writing on it. Another appears to be Russian - even though the Russians were not involved at Waterloo. Amateur... [read full story]