Perfect time of year for sharing this masterpiece again.
https://youtu.be/o2WfCn0tCJw?si=klRGwT6gK84TCFm9
https://youtu.be/o2WfCn0tCJw?si=klRGwT6gK84TCFm9
YouTube
Good St. George & The Bold Hector | Staffordshire Mumming Play
The Tale of 'Good St. George & The Bold Hector' is a mumming play which at one time was popular throughout the entirety of Great Britain. Mumming plays were short dramatic, and often comedic performances, usually done at special holidays and festivals. The…
I visited the grave of Piper Daniel Laidlaw, winner of the Victoria Cross in WW1. It was at the Battle of Loos in 1915 that Laidlaw would make a name for himself.
In his own words:
“I at once got the pipes going and the laddies gave a cheer as they started off for the enemy's lines. As soon as they showed themselves over the trench top they began to fall fast, but they never wavered, but dashed straight on as I played the old air they all knew "Blue Bonnets over the Border. "I ran forward with them piping for all I knew, and just as we were getting near the German lines I was wounded by shrapnel in the left ankle and leg. I was too excited to feel the pain just then, but scrambled along as best I could. I changed my tune to ‘The Standard on the Braes o'Mar’, a grand tune for charging on. I kept on piping and piping and hobbling after the laddies until I could go no further, and then seeing that the boys had won the position I began to get back as best I could to our own trenches."
In his own words:
“I at once got the pipes going and the laddies gave a cheer as they started off for the enemy's lines. As soon as they showed themselves over the trench top they began to fall fast, but they never wavered, but dashed straight on as I played the old air they all knew "Blue Bonnets over the Border. "I ran forward with them piping for all I knew, and just as we were getting near the German lines I was wounded by shrapnel in the left ankle and leg. I was too excited to feel the pain just then, but scrambled along as best I could. I changed my tune to ‘The Standard on the Braes o'Mar’, a grand tune for charging on. I kept on piping and piping and hobbling after the laddies until I could go no further, and then seeing that the boys had won the position I began to get back as best I could to our own trenches."
I took myself on a little battlefield tour the other day. I’m standing atop Flodden Hill, where James IV and his army of 40,000 men set up encampment after burning North Northumberland and sacking a number of English Castles. Defending the hill with artillery from Edinburgh Castle, this position was impossible for the English to take.
Further, the Earl of Surrey, the English commander, was in an impossible position:
1) He could attack the heavily defended hill with significantly less men than the Scots had in the field, thus face a disastrous defeat.
2) He could withdraw back to Newcastle and let James continue to burn the north, and have to face Henry VIII afterwards.
To make matters worse, he had to act now. English Border Reivers had taken all his supply wagons so he didn’t have time to sit and wait for the Scots to make the first move.
1/5
Further, the Earl of Surrey, the English commander, was in an impossible position:
1) He could attack the heavily defended hill with significantly less men than the Scots had in the field, thus face a disastrous defeat.
2) He could withdraw back to Newcastle and let James continue to burn the north, and have to face Henry VIII afterwards.
To make matters worse, he had to act now. English Border Reivers had taken all his supply wagons so he didn’t have time to sit and wait for the Scots to make the first move.
1/5
As luck would have it, a seasoned English Borderer named ‘The Bastard’ Heron reached the English camp. He was no stranger to fighting the Scots. He told Surrey of a bridge that had been built over the River Till two years previous. By marching north and crossing the Till, the English could take up position on Branxton Hill opposite Flodden Hill. This move would position the English army between James and his path back north.
On the morning of the 9th September 1513, the English vanguard of 10,000 men crossed Twizel Bridge, while the rest of the men crossed at nearby fords.
James saw the English marching north and thought they must be going to Berwick to resupply. Then it hit him. The English were headed for Branxton Hill. It became a race to see who could take Branxton Hill first.
2/5
On the morning of the 9th September 1513, the English vanguard of 10,000 men crossed Twizel Bridge, while the rest of the men crossed at nearby fords.
James saw the English marching north and thought they must be going to Berwick to resupply. Then it hit him. The English were headed for Branxton Hill. It became a race to see who could take Branxton Hill first.
2/5
I’m now standing on Branxton Hill. The Scots got there first, giving them the slightly higher ground. The English arrived soon after and positioned themselves on Piper’s Hill, in line with that village you can see.
James’ army was nearly double that of the English. He’d brought warriors from across Scotland, from seasoned Reivers to clansmen from the Highlands & Islands. The bulk of the English army was with King Henry fighting the French, so the English could only muster about 26,000 men, mostly from Lancashire, Cheshire, and the North East.
Battle begins.
The Scots don’t have time to set up their huge cannon, and their gunners are inexperienced. The smaller English cannon then blow their cannon to pieces, and start to fire on the Scottish ranks. James can’t sit here and be fired on, he has to commit his men to engage the English. His army begins to march down Branxton Hill…
3/5
James’ army was nearly double that of the English. He’d brought warriors from across Scotland, from seasoned Reivers to clansmen from the Highlands & Islands. The bulk of the English army was with King Henry fighting the French, so the English could only muster about 26,000 men, mostly from Lancashire, Cheshire, and the North East.
Battle begins.
The Scots don’t have time to set up their huge cannon, and their gunners are inexperienced. The smaller English cannon then blow their cannon to pieces, and start to fire on the Scottish ranks. James can’t sit here and be fired on, he has to commit his men to engage the English. His army begins to march down Branxton Hill…
3/5
I’m now standing in ‘The Killing Field’.
James’ Reivers and Border Levies engage the English on their right flank. They route the English here and Surrey must commit his cavalry to save his flank. But despite winning the first engagement, the Borderers don’t press on the English centre.
The Scottish centre, alongside King James, descend the hill. The Scots wield huge pikes provided by the French, yet totally lose formation as they enter the bog at the foot of the hill. It’s chaos. The Scots begin to ditch the pikes and use swords instead, but now they are at the mercy of the English billhooks. They simply can’t get close to the English ranks. The Highlanders join the battle at the Scottish right flank but simply box in the Scots already committed instead of hitting the English lines. Panic starts to set in, and it becomes more chaotic as volley after volley of the English longbows rain down on them.
4/5
James’ Reivers and Border Levies engage the English on their right flank. They route the English here and Surrey must commit his cavalry to save his flank. But despite winning the first engagement, the Borderers don’t press on the English centre.
The Scottish centre, alongside King James, descend the hill. The Scots wield huge pikes provided by the French, yet totally lose formation as they enter the bog at the foot of the hill. It’s chaos. The Scots begin to ditch the pikes and use swords instead, but now they are at the mercy of the English billhooks. They simply can’t get close to the English ranks. The Highlanders join the battle at the Scottish right flank but simply box in the Scots already committed instead of hitting the English lines. Panic starts to set in, and it becomes more chaotic as volley after volley of the English longbows rain down on them.
4/5
Known as the Battle of Flodden, this was Scotland’s worst defeat. They’d invaded a weakened England with a numerically superior force, taken the high ground, and suffered dreadful casualties.
King James IV was killed, making him the last British monarch to die in battle.
Scotland lost so much of its nobility at Flodden too, Bishops, Archbishops, Lords, Earls and Chieftains. They’d all been at the front and had been cut down by the English billhooks and arrows.
The Scots lost so many of their officers too, meaning nobody could coordinate a retreat.
In total between 10,000-14,000 Scots died on this field, but only about 1500 English.
The loss of their King, their nobility, and so many men would cause huge problems for Scotland. The English had won a great victory and defended their northern border while their main army was in France.
This monument was erected in 1910 to commemorate the dead and promote friendship and unity across the border.
5/5
King James IV was killed, making him the last British monarch to die in battle.
Scotland lost so much of its nobility at Flodden too, Bishops, Archbishops, Lords, Earls and Chieftains. They’d all been at the front and had been cut down by the English billhooks and arrows.
The Scots lost so many of their officers too, meaning nobody could coordinate a retreat.
In total between 10,000-14,000 Scots died on this field, but only about 1500 English.
The loss of their King, their nobility, and so many men would cause huge problems for Scotland. The English had won a great victory and defended their northern border while their main army was in France.
This monument was erected in 1910 to commemorate the dead and promote friendship and unity across the border.
5/5