Random thoughts and photos of my journey through life…
Juggling with a camera and umbrella at the same time can sometimes lead to missing certain blemishes in the photograph. Although they are rather obvious when you transfer them to the computer.
For more of this weeks PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.
22 Comments CherryPie on Oct 30th 2009
A brief Guide to the BattleGuest post by Armchair General
The Scots launched their first attack against the English when troops under the command of Home and Huntley attacked the relatively weak English right which was commanded by Edmund Howard. The English were heavily pressed by this attack and held their line only when cavalry under command of Lord Dacre joined the melee and halted the Scots.
At this point, the Scots centre, commanded by Errol, Crawford and Montrose, advanced in an attempt to reassert pressure on the English and to regain the initiative. These forces were not armed with the Scots’ traditional weapons of swords and polearms but, having recently been trained in modern French tactics, carried (30-foot) long pikes instead. Tactically, pikes require a densely packed close order formation so that the points of the pikes are impenetrable to the enemy whilst keeping opponents at bay so that the pikemen are out of reach of the enemy’s weapons whilst still being able to inflict casualties. Unfortunately, the battlefield was both muddy and slippery. Therefore, under deadly fire from English longbowmen and not fully accustomed to the maintaining the kind of tight formation needed to use pikes effectively, the Scottish pike formations lost cohesion as men struggled to keep their footing. The Earl of Sussex, commanding the English, saw his opportunity and unleashed his soldiers against the now disorganised and vulnerable Scots.
Unable to capitalise on the longer reach of their pikes, the Scots were soon in difficulty at which point King James IV committed his troops in a desperate last effort to defeat the English and secure victory. The English overcame this new threat and somewhere in the melee King James was cut down. Circumstances meant that the Scottish pikemen were unable to withstand the English attacks and a great many were slaughtered in the mud alongside their King.
11 Comments CherryPie on Oct 29th 2009
The outflanking tactic of the English army forced the Scottish army to move from their strong position on Flodden Ridge. They moved to a new position at Branxton where the English army had chosen to position themselves.
View from where the Scottish army was positioned at Branxton:
The view from the English position can be seen on a previous post.
7 Comments CherryPie on Oct 28th 2009
Whilst the Scottish army was taking up a very strong position on Flodden Edge, the English army was also on the march.
The English army originally mustered at Newcastle, but this location was found to be unsuitable so they moved to Bolton. From there they started their march towards the Flodden battlefield. The English commanders realised that the Scots were in a very strong position and decided to outflank it. They split the army in two and giving the Scottish army a wide berth, one half crossed the river Till at Heaton Ford whilst the other half carried on to cross the river by Twizel bridge. The English formed their own battle lines on Piper Hill, putting themselves between the Scottish army and their homeland.
Coincidentally JHL has posted wonderful picture of this bridge today.
13 Comments CherryPie on Oct 27th 2009
Following their departure from Etal the next port of call for the Scottish army was Ford Castle where the army stayed encamped for 5 days before departing for Flodden Ridge. On James’ departure he torched the castle.
These days the castle mainly operates as a residential field study outdoor centre for young people and is not normally open to the general public. Although I did notice it has rooms available as holiday lets.
13 Comments CherryPie on Oct 26th 2009
If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.
Winnie The Pooh
18 Comments CherryPie on Oct 25th 2009
It has just dawned on me that it is two years today since I started blogging. Where does all the time go?
25 Comments CherryPie on Oct 25th 2009
