Wednesday 27 May 2015

GNW Compendium

Coming out soon is this collection of articles.Details here

Friday 22 May 2015

Jacobite era prints




Some images of the '45 which I haven't seen before. Zoomable versions here

book on the '15

Anyone read this? I just ordered it on Amazon - it's pretty old - 70s I think but I must admit the cover got me - but I am hoping to get more clued up on the '15 as it's the tercentennial and I have followed the 300th anniversaries since 1985.

Monday 18 May 2015

Sheriffmuir 1715

Following on from below posts (Scots Greys were at Sheriffmuir) I thought we should look at this battle enjoying its tercentenary this year. Wiki. Anyone got plans to celebrate it? 15 Rising

Private, 2nd Royal North British Dragoons, 1751 David Morier

from here
SYW history here
We know this regiment for its famous Waterloo connection but this regiment carved out a name for itself during the SYW|.

Sunday 17 May 2015

The Maligned Militia: The West Country Militia of the Monmouth Rebellion, 1685

 By Christopher L. Scott
 Despite its failure to unseat King James II, the Monmouth Rebellion had a profound influence upon English politics. In particular, it reignited the debate about whether the country should rely on a professional army under direct royal control or local country militias made up of part-time soldiers. King James favoured the former, and used criticism of the militia’s performance during the rebellion to support his argument. Contemporary commentators and historians alike all certainly seemed to agree that the king’s victory was won in spite of - not because of - the militia. But is this a fair judgement? Drawing upon a wealth of information gathered from personal accounts, private papers, letters, financial records, diaries and memoirs, this book revisits the events of 1685 to assess the militia’s performance in helping to defeat the so-called ‘pitchfork rebellion’. Through an extensive investigation into the militia itself, its social composition, role, training, armament and leadership the study sets a benchmark for what could have been realistically expected of these part-time soldiers, and then sets this against the actual tasks that were asked of it in 1685. The results that emerge from this exercise paint a very different picture of the militia’s role in the rebellion than has hitherto been accepted by historians. Judged by these criteria, a convincing case is made that the militia was in fact an efficient military organisation according to contemporary expectations and demands made of it. Criticisms of it, it is argued, stem more from political expediency than impartial judgment. As well as being of interest to military and social historians, this book demonstrates the dangers to all historians of taking at face value contemporary comments. It shows how subtle and interlocking forces, that may at first glance appear unrelated, can work together to colour opinions of events and organisations.
here for a preview

The Queen's Regiment - events for 2015

 The Queen's Regiment firing by three firings at Hampton Court Palace. Photograph by John Beardsworth
 Events for 2015
18th/ 19th July Hoghton Towers: commemoration of the battle of Preston

15th/ 16th August Cannock Chase visitors centre ( small LH multi period event, Lace wars Skirmish) 

14th/ 15th November Memorial & church service for anniversary of the battle of Preston  

Wednesday 13 May 2015

Monmouth Rebellion booklet

Finally got round to getting this to the printers - should be ready in a week or two - it's a day to day guide to the Rebellion from when he landed on June 11th up to the executions and beyond. About 48pp. I will post details of how to get it when it's ready. Colour art by Sean O'Brogain.
When it's ready in a couple of weeks it will be available from here 
or from ebay

Monday 11 May 2015

Fontenoy 1745

Today is the anniversary of this epic battle. Wiki

Sunday 10 May 2015

English Civil War - Syr John Owens Regiment of Foote

FB page here
Sir John Owen's regiment- recruiting now
A group that are really making an effort to reenact the ECW well recreating the Oxford Army Royalist forces. 

Wednesday 6 May 2015