Newsletter Number 78
March 2003
From the Sergeant Major
Dear
All
Welcome
to the latest issue of our newsletter.
The Whitehall weekend saw the resurrection of our Saturday night
"banquet", and thanks must go to Dodge for getting this event going.
All had a great time, and some observant people may even have seen me joining in
the dancing (a very rare event!). It was good to see friends from other
Regiments joining us, and it is hoped to make this a true Oxford Company annual
event. We have to appreciate that the economics of such evenings do require a
good turnout for us to cover the costs!
The evening also saw the first awards of the silver King's medal to deserving
members of our regiment. Please give your congratulations to Pete Hillman, Emma
and Chris Oakley. They have all worked very hard for us over the last year
(remember those events in Devon?)
The Whitehall parade saw a decent turnout by Hopton's, and we managed to supply nearly half of the Oxford Company for the march. Grant Burridge and Lynne Oakley were deservedly awarded Silver Griffins for their years of hard work for the regiment. Congratulations to them, too!
Forthcoming events are now
starting to fill up our calendar for this year. Cheriton, as ever arranged by
Pip is at the end of this month, followed by the 400th anniversary
event at Berwick. I know that it's a long way, but it is a great honour to be
chosen by the town for their celebrations, and experience tells me the pubs are
many, varied and very good! Please do your best to support this event and keep
up the society's good name. Having made some enquiries, there IS accommodation
for the Sunday night after the event, and hard - standing IS available for
caravans etc. Looking further ahead, Chip has secured an event at Romford
in the middle of June (along the lines of Tilford), and I know that others are
under discussion. (This event not yet in the diary, but keep a note of
the month! Ed.)
I look forward to seeing you
all at Cheriton (and at Berwick!).
Yours
in Loyalty
Editorial
First on the agenda then is another big thank you to Dodger
for an excellent evening prior to the banquet in January, I think everyone
really got into the dancing after they were hauled up (see above!), the music
was just right (good spot George!) the beer flowed flawlessly and there was
plenty of space for sleeping in both parts of the building. Everyone was of the
same opinion that it was a great success and hopefully one that can be built on
next year and thereafter. Onwards and upwards as they say in Nepal!
You probably noticed that this was a fairly hefty package
that dented your floorboards this morning, and it contains lot’s of
information regarding the next few events, plus the thing you will need to be
able to attend the next few events; a subscription form! Please do the
honourable thing and send your cheques off to Christina as soon as possible, it
does make her life a little easier at musters if she doesn’t have to run
around after people who insist on not paying until September. Just because you
were a member last year, or the previous year for that matter, it doesn’t give
you automatic right to change the Kings Army ruling on when membership should be
paid, and you can find out when it is due by getting your grubby little mitts on
the little green form that fell out of the envelope that you intended to ignore!
The thorny issue of the musters (or lack of) situation continues to raise it’s
head, at the time of writing only the musters listed below have been made
available to me, but I have been assured by our Chiefs of Staff (plus others)
that things will happen this year as in other years, and that we are to be
patient and willing to help when the time comes. At the end of the day,
remember, it’s up to all of us to look out for the potential muster sponsor
and/or site. There must be somebody out there with a germ of an idea about a
future muster!
Another thing to remember is that all the musters you have attended to both
large and small over the years are the results of individual members getting of
their behinds and looking for the potential site/sponsor/both, so even if you do
only have an inkling of an idea, one that is still in the departure lounge of
your brain, let one of the usual muster organisers in on the secret (though they
won’t thank you for it!), they in turn can then help you in anyway possible!
Dates For Your Diaries
(Warning Order Enclosed)
Union
of the Crowns - Berwick upon Tweed, Nr Scotland.
(Warning Order Enclosed)
Regimental
Invited Event - Misterdown, Gainsborough, Lincs, Nr Scotland
9th – 10th
August UNCONFIRMED
(Looking decidedly dodgy actually)
Now
then! Lets not have any more northern nonsense about lack of northern musters!
Letters and Articles
Message from the Membership Secretary
Yes, it’s
that time of year again, enclosed in this newsletter you will find this years
application forms, please send me your dosh no later than the end of April (£20:00
single, £30:00 family). Dodge and I will be around at Cheriton to collect your
monies to save you the expense and effort of posting to me.
A word of warning; anybody who
hasn’t paid the regiment for this years membership by the end of April will be
taken off the distribution list. There will be no exceptions. Hopton’s
Regiment and the Society can only continue with all our support, so please cough
up your £20:00.
A desperate search has been taking place since the
Whitehall parade for one wooden walking stick, 54 inches long and finished off
with a beautifully sculptured bone handle. Last seen sitting on top of a silver
Skoda© in the Pall Mall area of London after the parade, but before
much alcohol had been consumed. If found please make arrangements to return said
item to young Victor in Portsmouth who is constantly falling over even before he
gets to the pub!
Pip on behalf of (Pompey)Vic
Winter Quarters
All do seem a bit on the quiet side at the moment, coz of the weather. Made it home in time for Alloween tho to be told by ‘er indoors she war havin trouble getting her broomstick to start. Her sez they thur elves wur a bunch of robbers as they war suppost to ave dun lots of work, cost er ten mangles er said, but she wur stillnot able to start it. T’were a site for sore eyes to see er trying to bump start, running up and down the track, cloak flapping an er jumpin on and off that thur broomstick. Er sez ater wearin erself out, you ave a go. Well I tried and tried till I were wore out, but t’were ton no avail. That thur Fireblade© of er’s just ouldn’t start. I sez you’ll hav to share with one of your sisters so you can go about your witchin tonite. Er weren’t so happy about that as er sisters aint to special at flying cos they don’t do it enuff, but er had to so’s they culd do their business whatever that wer.
Christmas and New Year came and went quitely, tho I nearly got cauwt getting a couple of pheasants. Had a few 6X’s© with me brothers and sisters-in-law an we got slightly sozled. Er indoors weren’t to ‘appy. Mind you she wur pretty well gone as well, but we weren’t so bad as Yoko© who fell in a bush ‘n ‘ad to be pulled out, but peraps that wur an earlier occashun, can’t quite r’call.
Made
our way to Lundun last Saturday in January, had some victuals then into hostelry
for sum ale. Guess wot, no 6X©! Nigel Pike wur kind enuff to collect
us an take to his village, some place called Dartford. Went in his local an ad a
few ales with Shaz© then off to another hostelry where the ale cost
£1:00 a pint. Mind you I think that wur to encourage people to go thur as it
wur a bit brite on the old eyes as the walls were painted pink! I dunt no why us
left thur, but I think twere cos they sold out of the cheap ale. It cost I £1:80
a pint second time round. Anyway us then went to another establishment an met a
few of the Regiment whur us all had a few more beers accompanied with dancing
and refreshments. All seemed to have a jolly good time an us all quietly drifted
off to sleep (I think). In the mornin’ aff to Whitehall for the march to the
Banquetin House and presentashuns of awards to various people for their efforts
over the years. Guess wot, after twere all over, off to hostelry for more ale.
Again no 6X© but plenty of ale. Just made the coach in time to get
home! Great weekend looking forward to next year.
Agricola
The
Battle of Edgehill
23 October 1642
Upon Saturday the 23rd of October, 1642, his Majesty had given Order for the Summoning of Banbury, and in Case of Refusal, the Besieging of it with 4000 Foot and four Pieces of Cannon; but that Evening Intelligence was brought that the Rebels had a Resolution to Relieve it; but it was not so certain, as to make any Change of the former Orders; yet upon Sunday at Three in the Morning, there came certain Intelligence, that the whole Army of the Rebels were Marching with all Expedition thither, and were quartered at Keynton 3 Miles from Edgehill; whereupon the King gave present Order for all his Army, both Horse and Foot, to March with all Expedition to Edgehill, being 4 Miles distant from his nearest Quarter. To which Rendezvous the King's Horse came between 10 and 11 a Clock in the Morning, and the Van of Foot came within an hour after, but the Rear (which happened at that time to be the Lord-Lieutenant-General's Regiment) with the Artillery, came not within 2 hours after. As soon as we came to the Top of Edgehill, which looks upon Keynton, we saw the Rebels Army drawing out, and setting themselves in Battalia; whereupon the King's Horse went down the Hill, and set themselves in order; the Foot likewise having Command to come down the Hill, and do the like; but before that was done, and the King's Artillery came, it was past 2 in the Afternoon.
It being perceived that the Rebels had placed some Musqueteers under a Hedge that crost the Field, where the Encounter was to be made, that flanked upon their left Wing, there were some of the King's Dragooners sent to beat them off, which they very well performed; whereupon our whole Army advanced in very good Order, the Ordnance of both sides playing very fast, but that of the Rebels began first. The Charge began between the 2 Wings of Horse; those of the Rebels not standing our Charge a quarter of an hour before they fled, our Men having the Execution of them for 3 Miles together, the Horse of both our Wings routing their Foot as well as their Horse; and 2 whole Regiments of their Foot were absolutely cut off, by those of their left Wing, besides those put into disorder by our Right. Whilst this was doing, the Bodies of the Foot met the King's Regiment of Guard, and the Earl of Lindsey's giving the first Charge, which was very well disputed a long time, until the Reserve of the Rebel's Horse (which had never been Charged) Charged our Foot upon the Flank, which our Foot resisted a good while, but at length not being seconded by our Reserve of Horse, which, contrary to our Order, thinking the Day was surely won, had followed the Execution of the Rebels so far, that they could not come in time to relieve them, they were put into some Disorder, in which the King's Standard (the Standard-Bearer being slain) and the Lord Willoughby, seeking to relieve his Father, who fell, being shot in the Leg, was, together with his Father, made Prisoner; but the Standard was soon relieved by the Lieutenant of the Lord John Steward's Troop (Capt. Smith) being newly returned from the Execution of the Rebels, the Left-side of our Foot being put into Disorder, all the rest gave way; yet those of the Right hand were never put into Disorder: But seeing some of the Cannon in danger to be lost, advanced again, and made the Place good; the Left hand of Rebels Foot coming on apace to Charge them. By this time the Right Wing of our Horse was returned from Chasing the Rebels, and were in some Confusion, because they came from the Execution; but seeing our Foot and Cannon in some danger to be lost, by reason that the Rebels Horse and Foot (those Horse which had never been Charged) advanced in good Order to Charge; ours made a stand and soon rallied together, having some Dragoons with them, and so advancing, made the Dragooners give them a Volley or two of Shot, which made the Rebels instantly retire. By this time it was grown so dark, that our Chief Commanders durst not Charge for fear of mistaking Friends for Foes (though it was certainly concluded by them all, that if we had had light enough, but to have given one Charge more, we had totally routed all their Army); whereupon both Armies retreated, ours in such Order, that we not only brought off our own Cannon, but 4 of the Rebels, we retiring to the Top of the Hill from whence we came; because of the advantage of the Place, and theirs to the Village where they had been quartere'd the Night before.
The King with the whole Body of the Horse, and those of the Foot which were not broken, quartered upon and on one side of the Hill, all that Night; and in the Morning, as soon as it was Day, drew half the Body of the Horse into Battalia, at the Foot of the Hill, and the rest of the Horse and the Foot on the Top of the Hill, where the Standard was placed; and having notice that 3 of the Rebels Cannon were left half way between us and their Quarter, sent out a Body of Horse, and drew them off, they not so much as offering to relieve them: So both Armies, facing one another all day, retired at Night to their former Quarters.
The Rebels in this Battel lost above 70 Colours of Cornets and Ensigns; we 16 Ensigns, but not one Cornet; but our Horse relieved not only the Standard, but divers of our Ensigns.
For the slain on both sides, the Number is uncertain; yet it is most certain that we killed five for one. It is true, that their Chief Officers having fleeter Horses than ours, not so many of their Foot, as ours, were slain and taken Prisoners, to our knowledge as yet; but we lost no Officer of Horse, excepting the Lord Aubigny.
The next Day after the Battel, the Earl of Essex finding his Army extreamly weakned and disheartned by the great Blow they had received by his Majesties Forces, withdrew himself to Warwick Castle; and the same Night the remainder of his Forces went also privately thither much distracted, whereof Prince Rupert having Notice, the next Morning pursued them, but they were all got into Warwick, or dispersed before he could overtake them; but his Highness took 25 Wagons and Carriages of the Rebels, laden with Ammunition, Medicaments, and other Baggage, whereof he brought away part, and fired the rest.
This sudden returning back of the Rebels to Warwick, is not only a sure Argument of the weakness of their Army, but hath exceedingly disheartned all the Country which adhered to them, and were before (upon a false Rumor that the King's Forces were defeated) ready to have risen and fall'n upon his Majesty'f Forces.
The 26th his Majesty by Clarenceux King of Arms, sent a Summons to Banbury, which being not thereupon yielded, his Majesty the next Day drew out part of his Army, with some Ordnance, against the said Town; upon the approach of which the Rebels Forces (being the Earl of Peterborough's Regiment which were in the Town, to the number of 600) came out, laid down their Arms, and asked his Majesty Pardon; and immediately the Town was rendred up. Upon which his Majesty sent out some of his Principal Officers to discover, and bring away, all such Arms and Ammunition as were found in the Town, and to take up, upon Tickets, all Woollen Cloth, Stockens, Shoes and Victuals, for the Accommodation of his Soldiers, forbidding all manner of Plundering, and permitting only one Regiment to entre and remain in the Town that Night
A Relation of the Battel fought between Keynton and Edgehill, by His
Majesty's Army and that of the Rebels. Printed by his Majesty's Command at Oxford by Leonard Lichfield, Printer
to the University, 1642.
The Web Site
Is sort of
getting there. I know I said it would be by Christmas, but I just didn’t get
round to it (look no comments about I didn’t find the time or any of that
crap, just that I didn’t get round to it, couldn’t be bothered if you like!)
Anyhow it is now firmly starting to look better and should be complete by the
end of April!
Pip
The Well Dressed Hopton
Well how did you look
at Whitehall? That question is normally dependent on how well you packed away
your stuff from the last encounter at Corfe Castle in the late Summer of the
previous year. As one wearily drives up through the Purbeck penisular back into
relative normality we all look forward with absolute joy to the time when we can
unpack that filthy smelling piece of cloth we laughingly call kit, which is
soaked with various bodily fluids from all orifices and chuck it into the wash
for the final time of the year, much to the dismay of washing machine!
Or do we?
It’s patently obvious from the Whitehall gathering that not all of us pay as
much attention as we should to our general appearance, and for once I speak with
a great deal of experience. You can always tell, can’t you? The ones who as
soon as they get in the driveway, the car is unpacked, swept out and ready for
chauffer driving duties within half an hour, the kit is washed, ironed, put in
little suit sacks and placed in an appropriate place in the wardrobe that is
never disturbed until the following year. Personally I classify these types as
category A. In the
category A class must
come the usual suspects of George, Pete (huh! only coz there’s not a higher
class), probably the Martins, Nursey, Dodger, the Davies’s (Chip and Erica
naturally) and the Scrabsters! There is little chance in these cases that things
will be lost the following season. They also claim the following scorecard:-
Chances
of losing something important for the following muster 10%
Stress
factor involved in finding ‘lost’ items
10%
Appearance
level the following year
85%
Then you get
the category B mob. They
are full of good intentions on the way home, being that it’s the last muster
of the year, but halfway home the old mobile goes and an invite to the pub is
hastily excepted. This means that they don’t spend too much time endeavouring
to make sure that all the right things are put in the right places before
wandering off to placate the screaming of the liver with a few sherbets prior to
bedtime. The next day seems as good a time as any to finish off unpacking and
ensuring that everything is nicely pressed and placed where it should be ready
for it’s next outing the following year. The sort of soldiers who try to
attain premier status but never quite seem to make it are the, Nigels, Jenny,
Fluff and Angie and maybe Blue and Bob. There
is a considerable chance here of something going amiss, and is therefore given
the following ratings:-
Chances
of losing something important for the following muster 24%
Stress
factor involved in finding ‘lost’ items
24%
Appearance
level the following year
60%
I reckon
there’s a lot of you out there that fall into the next category; that of the
category C returnee.
This is the re-enactor that has very little intention of making sure his kit is
out of the bag until at least a month has gone by even then it will be done
piecemeal and only after another month or two will the kit bag be finally rid of
it’s last tent peg or tie up. This soldier should really take more care! Not
only is his kit starting to smell but he personally is beginning the dodgy
decent into category D.
The Trowbridge Trio instantly spring to mind along with Mr. Mayhew of York and
various Devonites whose membership is to early (and one of them far to long) to
give an unequivocal rating to, however
Category D is
looming larger than life for these particular soldiers who rate as follows.
Chances
of losing something important for the following muster 85%
Stress
factor involved in finding ‘lost’ items
75%
Appearance
level the following year
33%
The final
category is that of the moron! The Category D
Soldier has never had any intention of even opening his bags once his wife has
ejected them from the boot of the car some three months later. They subsequently
lay untouched in the corner of the garage festering away the autumnal and early
winter months until Whitehall finally arrives. When the unpacked bag is heaved
back into the boot of the car for the new season, this soldier can claim the
following attributes:-
Chances
of losing something important for the following muster 0%
Stress
factor involved in finding ‘lost’ items
0%
Authenticity
level the following year
100%
Therefore my
suggestion to you is………………………………..!!
Pip