This is a record of some of the events that Lord Robartes Regiment and its members has taken part in this year, starting with the most recent.
Edgehill (22-23 October)
There can be no more fitting end to the year than to stand on the site and on the anniversary date of when the first major engagement of the Civil Wars took place. The poignant memorial service a reminder that the now tranquil countryside was once a scene of carnage as our forefathers took up arms against each other in defence of ideals, the fusion of which have shaped the privileges of the society we enjoy today.
Stow on the Wold (17-18 September)
A fitting commemoration of the surrender of the last Royalist field army in 1646 and the end of the first Civil War. The good townsfolk of Stow turned out in their droves to cheer the armies as they marched through the town before taking the field for a hotly contested fight. Triumph for Lord Robartes; triumph for the men of the West; triumph for the Parliament!
Worcester (3-4 September)
360 years to the day since the final battle of the war of the three kingdoms the original battlefield at Worcester was veiled in powder smoke, reverberated with the cries of battle and the clash of arms. The good townsfolk of Worcester were also treated to a march through the city and in the poignant setting of the Cathedral a service to remember the fallen of both sides and a thunderous recreation of Hugh Peters, Cromwell’s Chaplain’s thanksgiving sermon after the Parliamentary victory.
Loseley Park (27-29 August)
The beating of the drums, the pounding of the guns, the thunder of the horse. Over three days the two armies slugged it out. Though outnumbered by the massed army of the King and ultimately ousted the men of Robartes and their brethren from the Western Association Regiments fought valiantly and outsmarted the best the enemy could throw at them.
Hampton Court House (30-31 July)
The war comes to the idyllic countryside of Herefordshire and the beautiful setting of this country house whose better known namesake is in London. The woods reverberated with the sounds of artillery and musket as the marauding force of Royalists sought to disturb the Parliamentary camp that had set up outside the house, itself a bustling ‘village’ scene of 17th century military and civilian life. Twas hot work but we held the line and sent the Royalist packing - peace once more restored to this quiet corner of england.
Woodford Halse (16-17 July)
Another show of strength for the Regiment as it threw itself into the melee in defence of the good townspeople of Woodford Halse at their village fair.
Cheriton (2-3 July)
As ever when the colour are unfurled and drums beat out it is the fine men of Lord Robartes Regiment to step forward and answer the call for this re-enactment on location of a pivotal battle in the Civil War.
Siege of Canelli, Italy (18-19 June)
Once again some of our ‘mercenary’ troops marched to the sound of foreign drums, this time serving under the colours of the Duke of Mantua, laying siege to the quintessentially Italian hill-top town of Canelli. Truly a test of the hardiest souls, fighting a gruelling night battle surrounded by the flash of the guns and the cries of enemy as they came out of the dark. The the following day being repulsed by the enemy’s troops and townsfolk; leaving our casualties strewn across the hillside under the blazing Italian sun.
Willey Village Street Fayre (4 June)
No mention in dispatches is as strong as that of the organisers who described “the wonderful displays and your interactions with all the visitors......what an impressive site you made as you marched through the village” and ‘the camp so full of interesting crafts.....the interaction with the young people and helping them to be involved with the pike drills etc. was wonderful..... what you added will, without any doubt, be remembered and talked about for a long time to come”. Words that are very much appreciated by each of us. See the local press piece too - http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/community/army_marches_on_willey_for_village_s_annual_fair_ 1_2756271
Newbury (29-31 May)
The annals of these Civil Wars that ravage our land have rarely recorded such heroic deeds as were seen on the field of Newbury. The proud soldiers of the Western Association were like a rock against which the storm of the Royalist horde’s broke time and again. The pamphlets that circulate the cities and towns and popular alehouse songs shall liken this display of arms to stand along the greatest of antiquity, of Thermopylae, Gaugamela and Zama. Hurrah for God, the Parliament and the brave ‘boys’ of Lord Robartes.
Bourtange, Netherlands (7-8 May)
The handful of ‘mercenaries' in our Regiment were doing service again in the wars in Europe laying siege to Europe’s finest example of a period Star Fort, re-creating the period of the Dutch Eighty Years War or War of Independence from Spain. Experience gained in the wars in Europe that preceded the Civil Wars in England provided a valuable stream of experience, especially with officers in both armies; imported specialist expertise, such as in artillery and siege engineering; and on both sides foreign professional soldiers as mercenaries.
Elvaston Castle (1-2 May)
Literally hot work under the scorching sun as the two armies clashed in the first major engagement of the year. Wherever it was hottest you would find the massed pike and musket of Lord Robartes.
Littecote House (16-17 April)
The Regiment’s ‘signature’ event of the year. Extensive living history camp showing both civilian and military life; our drill display, including children’s pike drill; guest talk on the civil war period and the setting of the House prior to the battle of Newbury in 1643; and our all action cameo, including the spectacle of a cavalry attack by our comrades in Sir William Waller’s Regiment of Horse. Hardly surprising that after four years at Littlecote we’ve already been booked for 2012.
Nantwich (22 January)
The traditional start to the year with the traditional re-enactment of the Battle of Nantwich on Holly Holiday 1643. The fine burghers and townspeople of Nantwich are so proud of their heritage of support for Parliament which they show with their tremendous support for the march through the town and ensuing clash of arms as just as 368 years ago Parliament defend the town against the misguided followers of the Royalist cause. Victory for the Parliament!
Campaign Diary 2011