Monday 29 February 2016

Winter warfare - Great Northern War Style


On 21 March 1710, the corps f.m. apraksina came out from the island of Kotlin island and the ice has moved to the north shore of the gulf of Finland, cutting off Vyborg from Finland. This was the beginning of the siege of Vyborg 1710 years, ending of this town.
This weekend we've been in the area of the withdrawal of Russian troops on the shore, and then held a lecture in Vyborgskom castle.






Inspection of a Cavalry Regiment, perhaps by William of Hesse-Homburg 1742

Dutch ships off the coast of Texel, 1671

Ludolf Backhuysen

Sunday 28 February 2016

15mm GNW

A company that doess Danish troops for the GNW is cp models

March of the Danish Grenadier

From the 1715 manuscript of Gustaf Blidström, a Swedish soldier and oboist taken to Tobolsk as a prisoner of war during the Great Northern War.
If you need some more background music to painting figures for the GNW go here

Danish Army in the 18thc

Here for some useful pics of the Danes of the period.

Helsingborg 1710

Today's battle anniversary is the Battle of Helsingborg in 1710.

Friday 26 February 2016

Anthony Payne - The Cornish Giant

From here
Anthony Payne the Cornish giant (7ft 4in) was born in the Manor House (Tree Inn) Stratton and served Sir Beville Grenville and later his son Sir Richard at the Plymouth garrison where his portrait was painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller. For all his size and bulk, the witty Payne showed no signs of clumsiness, but awed everyone with his dexterity and very quick reflexes. They also say he had the brains to match the brawn that had thrust him into the role of a mighty man. When he retired he returned to Stratton to live in the Tree Inn. He died in 1691 and his coffin had to be lowered through the ceiling as it was too large to move any other way. He was buried in Stratton church.

Bevil Grenville

wiki here
One of my favourite Royalists - leader of the Cornish foot that was killed at the Battle of Lansdown 1643. Bradford-on- Avon's ECW battle is part of this famous West Country campaign.

Monday 22 February 2016

30th – 31st July – Bradford on Avon, ECWS Major Muster

More info here 
On Saturday July 30th and Sunday July 31st, Bradford on Avon will play host to the English Civil War Society as it re-enacts the occupation of the town by a Royalist Army in 1643. On July 2nd, Royalist Cavalry from Sir Ralph Hopton’s Army seized the vital bridge across the river Avon and occupied the town. On the following day, as Hopton’s Army marched north towards Bath it was ambushed by Roundhead forces led by Sir William Waller. The ambush failed and the Roundheads were driven off, allowing Hopton’s army to fight further battles at Lansdown Hill and Roundway Down before joining Prince Rupert and storming Bristol, the second city in the Kingdom. Most of the West Country became Royalist territory following Hopton’s campaign.
At this Free event, Spectators will be able to see the famous Bradford on Avon Bridge seized by Royalist Cavalry as they drive off Roundhead sentries. Visitors will be able to see a large Living History village around the Great Tithe Barn populated by Townsfolk, Traders, and Craftsmen of the time. There will be displays of drill by Regiments of Foote and by Artillery through the day. And there will be a Major Battle each afternoon as Sir William Waller launches an ambush to defeat his great rival. You will see hundreds of Cavalry, Artillery, Musketeers, and Pikemen fighting on Poulton Fields in a dramatic climax to the day.

Royal Sussex Society - 35th Regiment of Foot

ALways interested in hearing about new groups for the Marlburian era - this one is new to me but looks well done. Read about their impression of the early 1700s here

Friday 19 February 2016

The Witch

Already had the trailer on this blog but this is now nearly out so a revisit is in order. 
In 1630 New England, panic and despair envelops a farmer (Ralph Ineson), his wife (Kate Dickie) and four of their children when youngest son Samuel suddenly vanishes. The family blames Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), the oldest daughter who was watching the boy at the time of his disappearance. With suspicion and paranoia mounting, twin siblings Mercy (Ellie Grainger) and Jonas (Lucas Dawson) suspect Thomasin of witchcraft, testing the clan's faith, loyalty and love to one another.

Great Northern War Compendium

Cardboard Cavalier (March 29, 1949)

Released on March 29, 1949: Cromwell is trying to prevent King Charles II from returning to his throne and he must stop a fool and a barmaid from delivering a secret letter to the King's friends.

While we are in the Civil War how about watching this classic British comedy
Wiki

BATTLE FOR BRITAIN. WARGAME THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS 1642-1651

Coming out in April is this interesting book. Preorder here

Monday 15 February 2016

Sunday 14 February 2016

Me and Marlborough (July 23, 1935)

Released on July 23, 1935: A feisty British barmaid pretends to be a man so she can join the Duke of Marlborough to fight the French in Flanders. Free to watch here

  Ideal if you like old British movies.

Tuesday 9 February 2016

Siege of Barcelona 1714


Battle of Chiari 1701

Wiki on the battle here

Miliciano de la Coronela de Barcelona

Miliciano de la Coronela de Barcelona, perteneciente a la compañía de los Plateros. Gaspar Ferrán, 1707. Biblioteca de Cataluña (Wikimedia Commons) - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.es/historia-eventos-importantes/el-mito-la-diada-la-guerra-sucesi%C3%B3n-espa%C3%B1ola-el-11-septiembre-1714-002907?nopaging=1#sthash.QVoTkzig.dpuf
, perteneciente a la compañía de los Plateros. Gaspar Ferrán, 1707. Biblioteca de Cataluña (Wikimedia Commons) - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.es/…/el-mito-la-diada-la-guerra-…
Miliciano de la Coronela de Barcelona, perteneciente a la compañía de los Plateros. Gaspar Ferrán, 1707. Biblioteca de Cataluña (Wikimedia Commons) - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.es/historia-eventos-importantes/el-mito-la-diada-la-guerra-sucesi%C3%B3n-espa%C3%B1ola-el-11-septiembre-1714-002907?nopaging=1#sthash.QVoTkzig.dpuf