Each soldier was also credited with two years extra service and pay, to count for seniority and pension purposes,[5] and were to be known as "Waterloo Men".

[5] At the time the medal was granted, when such things were not at all the norm, it was very popular with its recipients, though veterans of the Peninsular War may have felt aggrieved that those present only at Waterloo – many of them raw recruits – should receive such a public acknowledgement of their achievements.

There was no doubt some truth in this discontent on the part of the old soldiers; at the same time British military pride had hitherto rebelled against the practice common in Continental armies, of conferring medals and distinctions on every man, or every regiment, who had simply done their duty in their respective services.

[2] About 6,000 were issued to cavalry; 4,000 to Foot Guards; 16,000 to infantry line regiments; 5,000 to artillery and 6,500 to the King's German Legion.

Originally the medals were to be awarded in bronze, but the decision was made at a late stage to produce them in fine silver.

The machine for impressing the names was designed and made by two Royal Mint workmen, Thomas Jerome and Charles Harrison.

[10] It impressed, somewhat heavily, large serifed capitals into the rim with the space at each end filled by a series of star shaped stamps.