That assumes that the Veterans could make it as far as the battlefield though, doesn't it? My impression is that Veteran battalions were composed of old soldiers too broken down by years of campaigning (or trips to the local pub) to stand the rigours of campaigning, but still capable of fighting if the enemy were obliging enough to pay a home visit. In the 1820s they were used to replace troops in garrisons in Britain or Ireland, freeing those troops to be sent overseas. P'raps a bit closer to Dad's Army than the Old Guard.

Rory