Monday 30 September 2019

Soor 1745

Prussian victory today in 1745. Wiki

Monday 23 September 2019

Powick Bridge - 'where England's sorrows began'

This cavalry engagement occurred today in 1642. wiki

Saturday 21 September 2019

Prestonpans 1745

Today's anniversary. Wiki
Here's one of my drawings of highlanders.

Thursday 19 September 2019

Carolean interpretations 1700-21

This is a Pinterest page by artist Johan Gardin. Very good on the army of Charles XII. He's very honest about his sources and explains his conclusions.

Friday 13 September 2019

Catherine the Great (2019) trailer 2

I don't really watch TV but I might give this a go. Not everybody is loving it though - Russians don't seem to like it but we will see.

Wednesday 11 September 2019

Malplaquet 11 September 1709

 One of the bloodiest of modern times.
Wikipedia

Tuesday 10 September 2019

1588 in 1988


When we were in the ECWS in 88 we did a few Armada themed things. We did a week at Basing which I have posted about before but we also did a beacon celebration on Westbury White Horse. My wife got rather good at doing ruffs. 

Monday 9 September 2019

The English Civil War Recreated in Colour Photographs by Honeywell and Spear.

This came out in 1993 and is a little different being in colour. I picked my copy cheaply from Bridgwater museum. See here for some pics

The English Civil War - a living history - Paul Lewis Isemonger

Bought this book off Ebay for a few quid. It was first published in 1994 which was after my time but I do know quite a few depicted. It is all in black and white but it's very well done with brooding skies and brooding reenactors. Done in an informative manner under such subjects as surgeon, chaplain, ensign and so on. It captures the early 90s fashion in the Civil War scene well.

Sunday 8 September 2019

Dumbarton's Sealed Knot 1985 pic by Kathryn Bailey


Blog piece on Charles XII

Mike Glasses is currently writing a military biography of Charles XII. On the Helion Blog. In it he discusses the issue surrounding such a task.

ECWS siege at Farleigh Hungerford castle.c1987

Photo by Sue Mitchard
The castle is in Wiltshire and is my local castle. Wiki entry

Saturday 7 September 2019

The battle of Leckerbeetje by Sebastiaen Vrancx

From the Vrancx wiki
'One of the subjects to which he returned regularly was that of the Battle between Lekkerbeetje and de Bréauté on the Heath of Vught. The subject took its inspiration from an event that occurred on 5 February 1600 when an overly-confident young French commander by the name of Pierre de Bréauté was challenged to a duel by Spanish Cavalry Lieutenant Gerard van Houwelingen, known by his knickname Lekkerbeetje, after he supposedly claimed his own horsemen better than the Spaniard’s. The battle was fought on the Heath of Vught, a small wooded area near the town of Vught, between the town gallows and the mill. Each side had 21 horsemen armed with swords and pistols. Lekkerbeetje was killed at the start of the engagement with a single pistol shot. During the skirmish the French suffered a total of 19 fatalities. Pierre de Bréauté was caught and then killed by his opponents. The subject of this battle became so popular at the time because it celebrated the by then essentially defunct chivalric practice of duelling.[10] '

Thursday 5 September 2019

Spanish Imperial Infantry 28mm

The Assault Group are about to launch figures for the late 16th century Tercios. See more here

Wednesday 4 September 2019

Event in Germany


Glastonbury ECWS 1985 by Mark Godwin

This is a really useful photo for me. First time I have seen a photo. It is of my first ever event as a participant. In 1985 at Glastonbury during the 300th of the Monmouth Rebellion in 1985. Devereux's and friends of the ECWS as Trelawney's regiment. I am one of the pikemen. That's Glastonbury Tor in the background.

Sunday 1 September 2019

Reenactment nostalgia


This picture is by Tony Spence from 1988 when I was a pikeman in Devereux's regiment. I am second from the right. There is a new Facebook group started by Howard Giles called Blasts from the past - reenactment nostalgia.