author
William Hyde Kelly
b. 1882
A careful military historian of the early 20th century, he is best remembered for a focused study of the Waterloo campaign that looks beyond the famous main battle. His work zeroes in on the fighting at Wavre and Grouchy’s retreat, exploring a part of the campaign many writers passed over.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Published in 1905, The Battle of Wavre and Grouchy’s Retreat presents a detailed study of the Waterloo campaign’s less-discussed eastern fighting. The book credits him as W. Hyde Kelly, R.E., suggesting a military background, and its preface explains his interest in bringing attention to a part of the campaign often overshadowed by Waterloo itself.
Reliable biographical detail appears to be very limited. Catalog and library-style sources identify him as William Hyde Kelly, born in 1882, but I could not confirm more about his life from the sources I found.
What does come through clearly is his style as a writer: precise, analytical, and drawn to overlooked corners of military history. For listeners interested in strategy, troop movements, and the wider shape of the 1815 campaign, his work offers a close, thoughtful perspective.