Howard’s End

At last I've finally finished and based the complete Norfolk and Howard’s units, with the modest archer conversions, as flagged in an earlier post. They are a mix of Perry and Essexs with some head swaps and scratch-built wrapped bows and arrow bags.  I’m happy with the result, I think the figures gel and look like a coherent unit.

And here is the complete ward, a mix of Howard and Norfolk. All marching, to represent the sense that Howard//Norfolk, arrived late on the day. And as noted before, with Howard as commander, given the records are unsure as to whether the elderly Norfolk made it to the battle.

Next up an Audley unit to augment York, and some WIP on some Scottish mercenaries which Queen Margaret raised and brought south. Planning to kitbash these, and have already bought all the bits but now see the Perry's have added C15th Irish  to their WoR's range, including Gallowglasses, which would be suitable. But I fancy the challenge and can't justify more purchases.

Battle Report – Blood and Rose board game

I managed to fight two and half battles in one evening with Uncle Napoleon a few weeks ago. Two rounds of the First Battle of St Albans and Tewkesbury, from the Blood and Roses WoRs set. 

We both won a St Albans a piece, in each case victory came to the defending Lancastrians, though narrowly in my case having just staved off a flanking move by Uncle Napoleon’s Yorkist forces via Cock Lane, before I launched a headlong charge into the Middle Ward of Richard, Earl of Warwick.

St Alban's - commencing battle

 When I fielded the Yorkists, I tried a more headlong, brutal onslaught on the town, which backfired with Richard of York’s death.

Tewkesbury - Fighting through the thicket

Our battle of Tewkesbury was halted near midnight with my Lancastrians in ascendancy .Unlike the historical events, Somerset’s assault on Gloucester’s ward was successful, ultimately killing Gloucester. Elsewhere across the battlefield, the two sides were more evenly balanced, and seriously hindered by the wooded lanes much noted in the chronicles of the actual battle, and misfiring artillery.

The games were fast paced, well for board games at least, and had a realistic feel. The heraldry is evident, the wards act as independent fighting units, the landscape really matters – whether St Albans’ narrow streets and orchards or Tewkesbury’s thick hedges, and the battles turn quickly on effective archery barrages and the loss or betrayal of a commander. Highly recommended.

Tewkesbury Festival and Religious Iconography in the WoRs

A few comments and images from another excellent, hot day at the festival, with many of the reenactors suffering from the heat during the and after the fight. As ever, I found the living history at the camps the real jewel, with plenty of generous and welcoming re-enactors.

There was a real international feel this year with French, German and Belgium groups, as well as the Italian flag throwers.

I was particularly struck by the flag below, the five wounds of Christ, carried by a member of the Paston Household. It is good to see some religious as well as heraldic imagery in use.  More on this is latter posts.

Woodcut from an English blockbook, ca. 1495