Augustus to Aurelian & Dux Britanniarum - Game Markers & Cards

New markers from Warbases and Big Red Bat Shop

Progress continues with preparation for a shift of focus onto the Dacian Wars collection with some new markers for Augustus to Aurelian (A to A) rules.

To key states of a units order need to be indicated, namely when they become disordered and shaken and I wanted my markers to be clear and impactful so I can use them to help tell the story of the game with the pictures I use.

The 'Disorder' marker is from Simon Miller's useful range of markers he has produced for his 'Too the Strongest' rule-set and works well alongside the 'Shaken' marker from Warbases with a similar jagged edged border to help emphasise the impact.

https://bigredbatshop.co.uk

One other key aspect with A to A is to indicate when a legionary unit has used its pilum in combat and I have been looking around for a suitable marker and Simon came up trumps yet again with his shock markers using a pilum motif that was easily adapted for my own planned use.

My completed activation chits for A to A

I have now completed a set of Roman and Barbarian red on blue chits available from Sally 4th and was really pleased with how they came out once coloured up. I just have to finish off a duplicate set, colours reversed for Roman v Roman and Barbarian v Barbarian match ups.

And finally I have been looking around for suitable rules to cover some of the smaller raid type games to use with my Roman/Dacian collection and so I put together some suitably adjusted Dux Britanniarum cards to try them out at some stage.

With Victrix announcing pre-orders for their first Legionary box set this week, I am really looking forward to getting this collection motoring.

Battle of Barrosa - Devon Wargames Group

The toys were out in force yesterday at the monthly meeting of the Devon Wargames Group with a second rendition of the Battle of Barrosa fought in 1811.

This was also a second full play through using 'Over the Hills' rules since we ran the play-test and review here on JJ's back in October last year.

I am really enjoying playing these rules and yesterday's game produced a real corker of a close run thing with the ascendancy always swinging from one side to the other right to the end.

If you want to read the game report, follow the link to the DWG blog
http://devonwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/battle-of-barrosa-1811-over-hills.html

Talavera 208 - Bassecourts Spanish 5th Division, 3rd Battalion, Africa Regiment

5th Division: Major-General Bassecourt - Source Oman (Battalions)
1st Real Marina (Royal Marines), 1st Battalion
1st Real Marina (Royal Marines), 2nd Battalion
Africa Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
Murcia Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion
Murcia Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
Reyna Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
Provincial de Siguenza (Militia)

The Africa Regiment was raised in 1559 appears as sixth in the listing of Spanish regular line regiments that were the core of the Spanish Bourbon army at the start of the Peninsular War.

The Spanish army had been in a prolonged period of decline since the end of the War of Spanish Succession, with only two Cazadore, three line and four foreign regiments raised in the time leading up to the French Revolution.

Manpower for the Spanish army had originally relied on volunteers and when this proved insufficient, foreign battalions were added to the lists, but by 1770 even this provision could not meet the demands for more men and the first drafts of 12,000 men were raised from the Provisional Militia to fill the ranks, later extending to the general population with limited exceptions.

Africa Regiment No.6

Eventually even conscription proved unworkable as young men fled to the mountains to avoid service and the state reverted to the 'Leva' where marriages of young men within 15 days of conscription were annulled and magistrates were empowered to sweep the streets of beggars, criminals and the unemployed for instant enrolment into the army, with the balance required relied on from popular enlistment.

Needless to say this incoherent and haphazard system left many Spanish infantry regiments understrength and populated with an indifferent kind of soldier that characterised the regular army at the start of the Napoleonic wars.

The regulations for the organisation of infantry regiments from 1802 to 1808 laid down that each regiment should have three battalions, with the first battalion composed of two grenadier and two fusilier companies whilst the second and third battalions were to have four companies of fusiliers.

Each Company was supposed to have 191 men all ranks  and each battalion a theoretical strength of just over 760 men.

The first record I have for the Africa Regiment is this listing of the standing army in May 1808 right at the start of hostilities with France showing a very weak three battalions of average strength 320 men.

Effective Forces Standing Spanish Army and Provincial Militias May 1808
Number of Battalions/Strength (officers/troops/horses)
Africa 3/70/898/0

Source - Seccion de Historia Militar, Estados de la Organizacion y Fuerza de los Ejércitos Españoles Beligerantes en la Peninsula, durante la Guerre de España contra Bonaparte, 1822, Barcelona.

Trying to get a handle of Spanish troop movements and strengths at any particular time is always challenging, but this second source of a similar date seems to corroborate how weak the Africa were at the start of the war.

Spanish Army of Andalusia 20 May l808
Gibraltar Camp:
3/Guardias Wallonas (30/800)
Valencia Infantry Regiment (l/2)(7/3l8)
Corona Infantry Regiment (39/675)
l/,3/Africa Infantry Regiment (36/455)
Barbastro Light Infantry Regiment (l/2)(6/246)
Campo Mayor Infantry Regiment 33/l034
3/Murcia Infantry Regiment (l0/l2l)
l/,2/Jaen Infantry Regiment (34/795)
Grenadieros provinciales de Andalucia (2)(50/l,400)
Provinciales de Cuenca (l2/487)
Provinciales de Jaen (l4/496)
Provinciales de Lorca (l2/434)
Provinciales de Guadix (l3/503)
Provinciales de Siguenza (l4/543)
Provinciales de Chinchilla (l3/408)
Provinciales de Malaga (l2/3l3)
Artillery (20/575)
Sappers (9 l3l)
Santiago Cavalry Regiment (2)(l6/l30)
Alcantara Cavalry Regiment (2)(l5/ll6)
Source - Clerc, Capitulation de Baylen, Causes et Consequences, Paris, l903

The Africa were involved right from the start with their second battalion listed as part of the reserve division at Baylen on the 19th July 1808 with a strength of 525 men.

A ragged veteran from Ucles on the field of Talavera - Dionisio Alvarez Cueto

The success of Baylen and repatriation of French troops from Portugal found the rejuvenated Spanish army moved up to the River Ebro prior to its rapid re-education as the Emperor led the French Imperial forces back into Spain. The Africa are recorded showing two battalions attached to Castanos' Army of the Centre in La Pena's 4th Division.

The Africa would be with the Army of the Centre under its various commanders until being ordered to join General Cuesta's Army of Estremadura in the spring of 1809.

Army of the Centre, Commanding General: General Castanos, October-November l808
Source Oman
4th Division: General La Pena (7,500)
Africa Infantry Regiment (2)
Burgos Infantry Regiment (2)
Saragosa Infantry Regiment (l)
Murica Infantry Regiment (2)
Provincial Grenadiers of Andalusia (2) (militia)
Signenza Militia Infantry Regiment (l)
Navas de Tolosa Infantry Regiment (l)(new levee)
Baylen Infantry Regiment (l)(new levee)
5th de Sevilla (l) (new levee)

With the fast moving invasion led by Napoleon, Spanish troops reeled back as the French spearhead headed for Madrid whilst secondary forces moved along the south and north coastal areas, forcing Spanish troops to rapidly garrison their fortified cities in an attempt to slow the advance into the interior of the country.  A detachment of the Africa Regiment are recorded in December 1808 at the second siege of Saragossa.

With French troops forcing their way through the Somosierra Pass into Madrid the Spanish forces were given some respite as Napoleon's attention was drawn towards Sir John Moore's rapidly retreating British Expeditionary Force, now falling back to the Galician mountains.

The remains of the Army of the Centre now hovered to the south east and close to Madrid at Cuenca, threatening the French garrison under Marshal Victor.

Spanish Army of Cuenca 11 January l809
lst Division:
Reyna Infantry Regiment (3/l3/27/8/459)
l/,3/Africa Infantry Regiment (5/38/24/ll/736)
l/,3/Burgos Infantry Regiment (5/l2/34/l4/47l)
l/Sevilla Infantry Regiment (l/l4/25/-/l67)
3/Sevilla Infantry Regiment (l/8/8/4/94)
Provincial de granada (0/7/l2/l/l63)
Provincial de Bujalance (l/3/5/4/92)
Provincial de Cuenca (-/l2/l6/8/602)
Provincial de Diudad Real (2/3/8/2/258)
Provincial de Plasencia (l/3/5/2/l73)
Volontarios de Valancia (lt inf)(2/l7/l5/9/303)
Cazadores de las Navas de Tolosa (3/3l/4l/9/492)
Tiradores de Cadiz (l/l6/27/4/787)

* Figures are Chiefs, Officiers, Sergeants, Drummers & Soldiers
Numbers are men present, not effective strength.
Source - Gomez de Arteche y Du Casse, Guerra de la Independencia

In January 1809, Marshal Victor determined to stamp out the threat posed by the Spanish at Cuenca now commanded by the Duke of Infantado, who now appreciating the Emperor's departure to the north was becoming more emboldened to action.

The French Marshal managed to catch the Vanguard of Infantado's army at Ucles and demonstrating the French abilities to manoeuvre pinned the Spanish to their front whilst turning and enveloping their flanks.

The resulting rout was a disaster for the Spanish resulting in 6,800 casualties and losses from a force of nearly 12,000 men, with the French barely losing 200 men in return.

With the threat to Madrid neutralised Napoleon's brother, King Joseph, entered his capital on the 22nd January for the second time.

Spanish Army of the Centre, Battle of Ucles, l3 January l809
Commanding Officer: D. Francisco Javier Venegas
Left:
Cantabria Infantry Regiment (20/3l5)
Africa Infantry Regiment (43/77l)
Ordenes militaires Infantry Regiment (42/848)(500 in battle)
Barbastro Light Infantry Regiment (ll/22l)
4th Seville Infantry Regiment (20/224)
Cuenca Infantry Regiment (l2/626)
Source - Gomez de Arteche Y Moro, La Guerra de la Independencia, Madrid, l883

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Uclés_(1809)

Between the 21st March and the 4th of April the Africa Regiment was ordered to join the Army of Estremadura forming under General Cuesta in and around Badajoz, and this source shows a good strength battalion, recorded as the first, despite the disaster of Ucles only two months previously.

The Africa under Mariscal de Campo de Echevarri are accompanied by several of the units that would line up alongside them in the 5th Division at Talavera.

It would seem that this move meant that they at least missed being involved in another disastrous Spanish battle as Marshal Victor dealt a lesson in battle to General Cuesta at the Battle of Medellin on the 28th March 1809. The Africa and their comrades from the Army of the Centre are notable absentees.

Forces Passed to the Army of Estramadura from the Army of the Centre by order of the Supreme Central Junta between 21st March and 4th April 1809.
Division: Mariscal de campo de Echevarri
l/Reyna Infantry Regiment (l)(795)
l/Africa Infantry Regiment (l)(838)
lst Real Marina Infantry Regiment (2)(6l5)
l/,2/Murcia Infantry Regiment (2)(l,229)
2/Cazadores de Barbastro (l)(85l)
Cazadores Voluntarios de Valencia y Albuquerque (l)(83l)
Provincial de Siguenza (l)(l,08l)

My 3rd Africa are composed of figures from the AB range supplied by Fighting 15's with their Sencilla supplied by GMB Flags.

Sources referred to in this post:

http://www.eborense.es/batalla_talavera1809_ejercito_espanol.html

The Armies of Spain and Portugal 1808-14 - G.F.Nafziger & M Gilbert

Spanish Army of the Napoleonic Wars (1) 1793-1808 - Rene Chartrand & Bill Younghusband

Next up the first battalion, Reyna (Reina) Regiment.

Realism vs Playability in Wargaming on 'The Veteran Wargamer'

http://theveteranwargamer.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/episode-11-get-real.html

I listened with much interest to a new podcast to my listening library, namely Jay Arnold's "The Veteran Wargamer", a category of Wargamer I probably tick all the boxes for. 

I had started following the podcast after the dual presentation between Jay and the chaps on the Meeples show and I'm really enjoying the very thoughtful and considered presenting style together with some really interesting topics. In fact I am starting to think of this podcast very much as the thinking wargamers listen.

The latest episode, see the link above, featured an interview with Henry Hyde who always has interesting contributions to make and also brings a veteran's perspective on the hobby, discussing realism and playability in wargaming.

If you like engaging with these kind of academic discussions that underpin a lot of what the hobby is all about then I would simply point you in the direction of this show.

I found myself nodding in agreement with much of what was discussed, principally around the ideas of rule-sets getting clarity around the command level they seek to portray or the level they are putting the player in.

As an example, the Battleground series of rules were mentioned, a rule set I have played and reviewed here.

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Battlegroup%20Overlord

The rules position the player at the company/battalion commander level and yet seek to include detail such as ammunition count and appropriate rounds loaded, issues that are mission critical but probably to the individual weapons commander rather than the player's level.

Perhaps we wargamers only confuse the rule writers paradigm by insisting on the level of detail that allows the player to flit between these little bits of chrome whilst playing our higher level battles. That made me think about my Napoleonic playing and the level of game I am trying to model.

Vimeiro - Over the Hills style at January's DWG club meet "battalions, squadrons and batteries"

With Carnage & Glory and more recently Over the Hills I am playing games with brigades, divisions and corps, with the lowest level of commanded unit being the battalion, squadron or half battery. The games are modelled to allow players to command at Marshal or General commanding levels down to a Brigadier General with three or four battalions. The players are able to set up their combat formations as they desire, certainly at the start of the game, with the computer having a slight advantage in adding the extra granularity if you choose of including the lower level considerations of ammunition supply, without burdening the player with any record keeping.

On consideration, I thought, yes I do like that granularity, but not if it interferes with the key decisions I would be making as a general officer commanding a brigade, division, corps or army, which both rule sets do very well.

Another good point that got me thinking was Jay's interesting conclusions about the dread 'R' word 'realism' and the point that no matter how good a simulation our game offers, we cannot hope to capture the impacts that affected real life commanders often operating with the effects of lack of sleep, food and with the threat of impending death for them and those they command. In fact the clue is in the description of what we do 'game'.  I don't want to experience real war, nobody in their right mind would, and what we are about is having fun playing with our toys, simulating aspects of command and trying to model there likely consequences. 

I like to think that wargaming is all about asset management, with a limited supply of assets and trying to get the best return with what we have, working within the rules set by the game we play. The best games for me are where I get to test my skill at decision making and the results generated from those decisions in the face of things going wrong or not as I expected.

I liked the proposition that actually 'realism' is a poor word to describe what we are trying to achieve especially when throwing in the aspects of ground, figure and time scaling that very often require huge compromises, particularly when the depth of any given formation of troops is considered; that perhaps 'plausibility' would be a better gauge word to assess our rule sets by, namely do the decisions players are posed with making and the results generated look plausible, with all the subjectivity that description implies.

Great aesthetics, great fun and a plausible simulation - Dux Brit at the DWG Xmas game

At the end of the day one man's plausible is another man's incredulity based on our own reading, experiences and personal bias, and that is why one set of rules will never rule them all - a bit Tolkien, but you get my drift. 

The other key aspect, for me that came up in discussion was the theme of our time, namely 'friction' and the way that various rules have sort to impede the players will during play to simulate the effects of Clausewitzien theory about how the simplest of activities become hugely complex and difficult during combat and very difficult to predict as to how and when any given activity will be completed.

I find it amazing that some of my fellow hobbyist still baulk at this idea and insist on being able to do what they want when they want in the traditional 'igougo' way we played back in the day. I found myself in agreement with the proposition that if it doesn't have friction, then it's a game, not a wargame.

Of course the measure of friction and how it is built into a given set of rules is what the art of rule writing is all about. As the term implies, too much friction and all activity stops in a grinding slog or halt. Conversely, with cards being the common device of choice, the need to make sure that the balance is maintained to allow players to have some possibility to impact the game with their command choices and not simply rely on them getting the right hand for any given game.

Other rule sets unable to surrender the Games Workshop methodology of 'igougo, everything gets a go' have turned to ideas of blunders and continual activations with great die rolls, leaving a frustrated opponent unable to move or react in response and simply suck it up as they are forced to watch their command get dissected. My eldest son was put off a set of rules when this happened vowing never to go near them again.

Thus with most things about our curious hobby we come back to subjectivity, compromise and balance in just about everything we rely on to generate the games we do.

I still fall back on my fun/simulation measure to assess the rules I like to play with that balance of getting both aspects in equal measure, but I have also added another consideration, namely the aesthetics, or how does the game look that these rules generate.

I want my Napoleonic infantry in two ranks minimum with battalions, squadrons and batteries that give an impression of those aquatint pictures from the early 19th century shrouded in smoke and with generals, sword in hand leading from the front as they charge into the maelstrom.

I want my small Roman two rank cohorts in triplex/duplex acies, chequerboard style in front of big scary hoards of yelling charging barbarians with groups of cavalry hovering about on the flanks of the battle line.

I don't want to take my toys off the table in a daft attempt to model casualties, being much happier spreading a few dead and dying models to capture the areas of heavy combat.

The Provincial de Badajoz, heroes of the hour, step up and turn the game in our unforgettable play through of the 'Attack on the Pajar Vergara' scenario - "a story from history" 

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/talavera-attack-on-pajar-de-vergara.html

Most of all, is I want my rules to be able to allow me to get the important part of 'history', the 'story' of the game with those moments when a plan came off or when disaster struck or the heroes of the day performing the deeds recorded in the greatest of battle histories and the tales that live long in the memory when you are sat in the pub reminiscing with other veteran wargamers who can barely tell you what day it is, that alone who is the prime-minister. 

If you haven't yet checked out Jay Arnold's 'The Veteran Wargamer' then I would recommend doing so. A two hour drive to Bristol simply flew by whilst listening to the discussion - recommended. 

iTunes Link - The Veteran Wargamer

Battle of Cropredy Bridge 1644

"Morale is to the physical as three to one", Napoleon Bonaparte

After a very pleasant tour around Edgehill it was a short drive down the Banbury Road to get to Cropredy Bridge.

By the time of the Battle of Cropredy Bridge in the summer of 1644, the war was into its second year and was still finely balanced with the King still occupying Oxford like a dagger at the throat of the city that mattered most to both parties, London.

The war was dragging in all the home nations with a Scottish army operating over the border against the Marquis of Newcastle's Royalist forces in the north and with troops expected from Ireland to reinforce them.

In the south Sir William Waller had finally got the better of his friend Sir Ralph Hopton at the Battle of Cheriton on the 29th March 1644, effectively throwing King Charles on to the defensive, leaving the forces of Essex and Waller able, should they choose, to concentrate against the King and his capital of Oxford.

Battle of Cheriton

The King merged the remnants of Hopton's army with his Oxford forces in April. Over the summer, Essex decided to head off to the West Country, like many of us do at that time of the year, and would later suffer ignominious defeat at Lostwithiel in Cornwall, leaving Waller to joust with the King around Oxford and surrendering the opportunity to defeat the King with their combined force.

Battle of Lostwithiel

Battle of Cropredy Bridge - John Fawkes
http://www.britishbattles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/img999.jpg

With Parliamentary fortunes in the ascendancy and the King on the defensive, Charles was very keen to draw the enemy away from his capital in Oxford and so with just Waller to contend with a summer game of 'Chase Me' developed as the two forces ended up marching in parallel across Oxfordshire with the River Cherwell between them, but with Charles content to draw the enemy away to the north.

Waller was probably not naive to this strategy and would have been eagerly looking for ground on which he could achieve a tactical advantage to bring the King to battle and hopefully neutralise his forces.

Since the heady days of Cheriton, Waller had to contend with the usual, London Trained Bands doing their normal routine of, 'we've done our bit so we're off home' leaving his army the task of incorporating new and probably inexperienced replacements.

Ancient boundary stone rediscovered in 2001

Having been drawn away from a particularly strong position at Banbury on the 28th June, Waller was positioned on Bourton Hill on the 29th observing the King's army heading towards Daventry when he thought he spotted an opportunity to seriously embarrass them.

This description so reminded me of my own specialist subject, the Peninsular War, and a similar game of cat and mouse between to similarly matched forces, The iconic moment in the high summer of 1812 when the Duke of Wellington observed Marshal Marmont's Army of Portugal get similarly strung out on the order of march and spied an opportunity to attack and destroy it in detail before its parts could come to the aid of one another.

Both plans tick the box for audacity, taking advantage of the enemy's mistake and Waller was in an excellent position.

It is very obvious why this battle makes such an interesting wargaming scenario, but I think illustrates well the frustration for any commander trying to pull off such an audacious attack with forces either incapable or unsuitable for such an action.

Officer of Royalist Horse, Trooper, King's Lifeguard 1642 - Jeffrey Burn

The two armies were well matched in size and composition with both forces numbering around 5,000 horse and 4,000 foot and thus the ability to mass one force against a smaller part of the other should have been a major force multiplier.

The ground was relatively open so facilitated rapid deployment with just some small hamlets providing minimal cover for the foot troops.

The fields to the left of Cropredy Bridge, where Wemyss set up the Parliamentary gun line looking towards Hay's Bridge

As it was Waller's men were unable to take advantage against the King's rearguard under Northampton and Cleveland and soon found themselves fighting hard to stem the Royalist advance at Cropredy Bridge and Slats Mill as the King brought the head of his army back over Hay's Bridge with his Lifeguards clearing the way and with Waller desperately forming a new defensive position atop Bourton Hill, should the Royal army press him by crossing the Cherwell.

The River Cherwell still presents a significant obstacle, but was probably wider at the time. A Victorian bridge has replaced the earlier version.

Compare and contrast the outcome at Salamanca in 1812 where the separated French formations were rapidly overcome and the other formations attempting to come to their aid found themselves assaulted from multiple directions and finally forced to surrender the field.

The view looking down river towards Slat Mill, with modern development and enclosures occupying the open ground present during the battle.

There are many issues that would have impacted on the results of both battles but I think the significant factor that weighs upon both is that of morale as mentioned by the Emperor in his insightful statement.

To quote Henry Ford "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right" and I think that captures the impact of how the French under Marmont felt about going up against Wellington and his army in 1812 given all that had gone before in previous encounters between the two sides.

Waller's army, no doubt had very experienced men within its ranks at Cropredy Bridge, but the loss of the advantage that the marching away of Essex's men had caused coupled with the infusion of new recruits into its ranks lacking the confidence of previous victories could not have helped when ferocity and total commitment in the attack was what was required to carry the day.

The road from the bridge up to Williamscot

As if to emphasise their morale failure, Waller's army practically fell apart after the battle which having lost the eleven guns under Wemyss in the retreat over Cropredy Bridge and an estimated 700 casualties, prisoners and deserters during the battle, now found the London Trained Bands leaving for home and mutinous responses from other units, leaving the army with 2,000 fewer men.

Waller set off for London, leaving the remains of his army in Abingdon when the King did not pursue. Reporting in person to Parliament, he recommended that 'a new dedicated army must be formed, free of the idiosyncrasies of the Trained Bands', recommendations that would lead to the creation of the New Model Army the following year.

On the 12th July 1644 King Charles received a dispatch from Prince Rupert reporting his overwhelming defeat at Marston Moor near to York, at once undoing the gains from the victories at Cropredy and later Lostwithiel, with the north of England lost to the Royalist cause and his southern command separated from his Scottish supporters under Montrose over the border.

There is nothing quite like seeing the terrain a battle was fought over and I came away from Cropredy with lots of ideas and inspiration. I think on a return visit, hopefully with more time to explore I would like to check out the other key areas, but in the summer when the battle was fought to get a better impression.

We followed the road through Williamscot, still a small hamlet, on our way south to Dorchester with the evening drawing in and the thought of a good dinner to finish off a very fun day.

http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/resource-centre/civil-war/battleview.asp?BattleFieldId=2

http://www.britishbattles.com/english-civil-war/battle-of-cropredy-bridge/

Battle of Edgehill 1642

Last weekend Carolyn and I packed up work on Thursday and set off for a long weekend in Oxford, well Dorchester on Thames to be precise. Of course as well as enjoying being a couple again I was able to build in some trips to the itinerary that allowed me to cross off some 'must visit at some time' places that inform my hobby and passion and with camera in hand was ready to share my impressions here on JJ's.

The map below illustrates our trip up to Oxfordshire which, skirting around the top of the picturesque Cotswolds, incorporated the battlefields of Edgehill and Cropredy Bridge, before making our way south to Dorchester which would be our base for touring around Oxford and the local area.

Route JJ - Up from Exmouth via the M5, Edgehill, Cropredy Bridge to Dorchester on Thames

The Battle of Edgehill was fought on Sunday 23rd of October 1642 in my home county of Warwickshire and as well as being notable for being the first major battle of the English Civil War (1642 - 1651) is also one of those landmark battles in history, certainly from a British perspective, but I might also argue from a global one given the impact it would lead on to the political settlements seen in the west today.

It is interesting that this period of British warfare is referred to as the English Civil War but was a war that would engulf all of the home nations, but of course the United Kingdom of Great Britain would not be a political entity for another sixty-five years

The battle was the first major action fought between King Charles I and his Parliament's army under the command of the Earl of Essex, this following the declaration of hostilities with the King raising his standard in Nottingham on the 22nd August 1642.

I think it is true to say that the people who inhabit the British Isles have always been a rebellious lot as evidenced by the problems the Romans encountered occupying Britannia. It is no surprise that at least three legions plus supporting auxiliary troops were required to maintain Pax Romana in these troublesome islands.

The propensity for the 'Brits' to challenge authority has continued throughout the centuries with examples such as the Peasants Revolt, the Barons rising against King John and later Henry III, which in time established the idea of a legislative assembly that advised the ruling monarch and became responsible for writing the law and raising the taxes that paid for the King to do what king's liked to do, namely trying to grab territory and wealth from neighbouring kings.

This tendency to rebel against authority, it could be argued, carries on to this day and most Brits dislike the rule they are under even when they have had a chance to vote for said rulers; perhaps the latest, less violent expression of that desire to control the limits of those who govern us, was most demonstrably expressed in last years 'Brexit' result, but in the interests of staying apolitical on this blog, let's not go there.

Even the revolution brought on by our American cousins with their declaration of 'no taxation without representation' and with President Lincoln's profound words, 'government of the people, for the people and by the people' has its roots in the folk that founded the thirteen colonies and the heritage they brought with them of sticking two fingers up at unreasonable authority.

A no finer example of 'unreasonable authority' could be put forward than King Charles the first, a firm believer in the divine right of Kings, to rule without hindrance from lesser mortals such as subjects, and if it meant that a lot of those subjects had to be smited to reinforce that principal, then so be it.

The Castle at Edgehill offers a superb vista of the battlefield

I find it interesting to compare the English Civil War with the later American War of Independence with multiple similarities in the course of the two conflicts and the swing of fortune away from the more dominant power at the start, namely the Royalists in the first instance and the British in the second to Parliament and the Rebel Americans.

The civil war aspects were common to both (Both Loyalist Americans and Rebel Americans considered themselves as Englishmen, the parlance of the day for anyone coming from the British home nations) conflicts and the abilities and size of the armies were very similar given the one hundred and thirty plus year separation and minor improvements in weaponry and tactics.

One might also argue that the resulting state apparatus that was devised following the defeat of the previous regime had very similar issues to overcome with both the Lord Protector Cromwell and General Washington both offered the prospect of becoming de-facto King of the new state that emerged.

Perhaps George Washington and the US Congress at least had the benefit of history to look back on to avoid some of the pitfalls that Cromwell encountered on the road to Charles II being invited back and the religious struggles that followed culminating in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the struggle for a final settlement that came about on the bloody field of Culloden Moor in 1746.

Since then both the UK and US have trodden similar paths to establishing universal emancipation under the rule of law with a free press, that has been a model of government that has influenced political development in the west and beyond.

It took about three hours to drive from home to Edgehill and it was lunchtime when we arrived in Stow on the Wold so we grabbed a bite before crossing the county border into Royal Warwickshire, the centre of England, Shakespeare's county and home to the finest county cricket team; you can take the boy out of Warwickshire.........

Given that we were on the road to our final destination at Dorchester and I had just the afternoon and daylight to squeeze in Edgehill and Cropredy Bridge, time was of the essence and so I did a bit of pre-reading and internet searching before setting out.

One really useful guide for the day was the Battlefield Trust Edgcote to Edgehill Trail Guide (see the link below to get the PDF), which describes the three battlefields (Edgehill, Cropredy Bridge and Edgcote) and the route that links them, all being in close proximity. Unfortunately time didn't permit the inclusion of Edgecote from the Wars of the Roses, so that remains for a more leisurely return visit at some time.

http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/resource-centre/civil-war/battlepageview.asp?pageid=507

The guide pointed towards the Castle Hotel as a perfect place to view the battlefield, from its position high above on Edgehill itself, and my photo below from the viewing platform together with some added graphics help illustrate what might have been seen back in 1642.

The view from "The Castle" on Edgehill with some graphics to help illustrate the battle lines 

The battlefield has been corrupted over the intervening centuries with defence installations and railways cut into the archaeology and two MOD (Ministry of Defence) facilities occupy much of the ground today limiting access to significant parts, so given the time constraints I focused my attention on key areas of interest before moving on.

One place to visit, particularly if time is limited, is St Peter's Church in Radway that was at the heart of the Royalist lines as they descended into the valley to meet Essex's army.

http://www.battleofedgehillexhibitionradway.org.uk

The church houses an excellent display of artefacts that bring the battlefield to life and reminded me of a similar exhibition at St Mary's Church in Westonzoyland when we visited the Battle of Sedgemoor back in 2014.

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/a-day-out-in-sunny-somerset-battle-of.html

If you go, do make sure you help support free to enter venues such as these by making a good contribution to the collection box and you might also be able to pick up some great second hand books along the way, like I did, and add to the church coffers.

Wars and Shadows spotted by Carolyn in the second hand books on sale in
St Peter's Church, Radway

A typical Pikeman wearing a semi-cabasset helmet with ear-flaps and
corselet, backed up with a buff leather coat.

The manikins are a great way to help oil the imagination for those of us who know something about the battle, but particularly for those who don't.

A recreation of Royalist Captain Henry Kingsmill, killed in action and
seemingly dressed as Gerard's Bluecoats.

I really like to see items that relate to the individual soldiers that participated in these great moments of history. The stories about their often sad fates speak across the centuries about the tragedy of war and the misery it inflicts, but also inspires me to try and capture the essence of the period they represent when I play my tabletop games.

Ensign and Pikeman of Charles Gerard's Royalist Bluecoats, ten companies strong
recruited from Lancashire, Cheshire, Flint and Montgomery - Jeffrey Burn

I have visited many Commonwealth war cemeteries in my travels and expeditions, and the most moving parts of these visits are to read the simple loving messages on soldiers grave stones from close family.

Nothing has changed over the centuries of human conflict and the grief suffered by Lady Bridgett Kingsmill, a widow and now losing her son Henry at Edgehill, was all too plain in the headstone she had erected over his tomb.

The tomb of Captain Henry Kingsmill

Tombstone memorial to Captain of Foot Henry Kingsmill who serving under his Majesty Charles the First
was, 'slaine by a cannon bullet' at the Battle of Edgehill in 1642. The memorial was erected by his
widowed mother, Lady Bridgett Kingsmill

It is easy to forget the civilians caught up in war and even more so when that war is a civil affair where no one is allowed to be neutral.

The Civil Wars were incredibly destructive to human life with an estimated loss of 84,830 men killed in fighting in England and 27,895 in Scotland and an unknown number in Ireland between 1642-1660.

Overall, including deaths from hunger and disease, it is estimated that England suffered a population loss of 3.7% and Scotland 6% during this time compared to 0.6% of the population of Britain as a whole in the Second World War.

Sunday best as worn in Radway in 1642

The items that really bring the battle to life are the pieces of battlefield detritus left to indicate what happened in this place three hundred and seventy five years ago when approximately 24,000 men threw shot and ball at each other amid the sword and pike play.

There is nothing standard about English Civil War weaponry and the archaeology reveals a myriad of different calibre shot from the smallest to the largest and with some composed of stone rather than lead.

With all the different types and calibre of roundshot on display you really get a good idea of the nightmare for any quartermaster trying to make sure enough of any particular ammunition was available at any given time.

These musketeers illustrate the priming flask spouts and apostle covers seen in the photo above

As with many old battle sites long gone from living memory and from a period when these kind of affairs were not very well or accurately recorded there has over the following centuries been much debate as to precisely where the battle occurred.

http://www.battleofedgehill.org/alternative-interpretations/index.html

I took with me my trusty 1990 copy of "Travellers Guide to Battlefields of the English Civil War" by Martyn Bunnett, whose map of Edgehill has Radway almost centre of the Royalist line in front of the village rather like Walford's map below from 1904.

This interpretation is quite different from the Battlefield Trust map illustrated on their information board seen at the top of the post with the Royalist left flank anchored on the village after the advance from Edgehill which rather follows the new map by Dr Glenn Foard based on the metal detector finds carried out in 2004 and 2006 by the Battlefields Trust.

Recent battlefield archaeology has revealed the likely position of the two lines based on the distribution of shot and bullets

Before heading off to Cropredy Bridge I wanted to see one of the two memorials to the battle, this one being a copy of the original now beyond public access due to the MOD controlling the land.

The later monument was erected in 1949 and there is a great period photo in the link below. It can be found on Kineton - Banbury Road and is about 400 metres behind the left flank of the Parliamentary line where Ramsey's cavalry were routed by Prince Rupert's cavaliers.

http://www.kinetonhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Unveiling-Battle-Monument.jpg

http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/resource-centre/civil-war/battlepageview.asp?pageid=554&parentid=546

http://www.battleofedgehill.org/edgehill-battlefield/index.html
http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/resource-centre/civil-war/battleview.asp?BattleFieldId=3

So with Edgehill seen and logged as a must play game it was off to another important English Civil War battlefield, Cropredy Bridge where the defeat suffered by Parliament, and the exasperation it generated, would finally spur them on to create the first English professional army.