Bosworth is one of the crown jewels of the reenactment calendar in the UK, and a massive amount of reenactors from all over the UK, and Europe put in a hell of a lot of effort to put on an incredible event.
Knights in Battle as whole, pulls out all the stops for this event, with some of the best displays, and soft kit around. We had a stellar turnout from our membership and gave it our all.
The start of a yearly adventure
Friday's for me are usually my favourite day of the working week, like many, I enjoy that it's the prelude to the weekend, but I also use it as a day to reflect on the week just gone. However, the 18th of August wasn't a normal Friday, it was the Friday before The Bosworth Medieval Festival. For those who don't know, this year was a return to the norm for Bosworth, as the past couple of years had seen Bosworth play host to a smaller event, just as incredible, but lacking the usual numbers of reenactors and usual medieval hustle and bustle of camps at war.
Half past 4 rolled around, slower than molasses in winter, and it was time to leave work and head out on the yearly adventure to Bosworth. Before I could get down there, I had to pick up my faithful travelling companion Paul. now, for those who know him, will know him to be a cracking passenger, and the 76 miles, 1 hour 36 minute journey past in no time at all due to conversations of such incredibly geeky subjects, that I shan't bore you by writing of them here. Safe to say, the journey was a laugh and felt quick.
After a pit stop at some hellish service station, we arrived at Bosworth around 19:30. If there are any reenactors reading this, you'll know that the first hour after arriving at an event, is reasonably manic, with a quick greeting to your friends, and then trying your hardest to get the tent up and car unpacked before the light fades and night sets in. However, the feeling that you get when you're finally, completely, set up is sublime, especially on the hallowed ground of Bosworth.
Battle of Barnet, 1471
Lord Hastings in white as part of King Edward IV Retinue.
The next morning, was a simple case of get up, get breakfast, and get ready for the first battle at 11:00. There's something special about the site of people getting ready for a scrap, the rattle of maille, the clink of plate armour pieces being strapped, or pointed into place, the odd sense of relaxation and focus, and the random conversations that take place between comrades, and friends. For this battle we would be fighting under the Hastings banner. I finished strapping on my helmet and gauntlets and took up my trusty bill and headed to the muster point. As is the usual case, we hurried to get ready for a particular time only to be told to stand around for 20 minutes in the rising heat. I can tell you now, it get's very warm when you're wearing 15Kg of brigandine, padded jack, padded coif, helmet, bevor, and gauntlets. What felt like an hour went by, and then the call to carry arms, and knee bend was heard, and that was it, we were marching on to our point on the battlefield.
Lord Hastings leads his force onto the battlefield.
Forces of Hastings mounting a fine defence.
Hastings looks in trouble, but it's his attackers who are in trouble.
The battle its self as they always do, started off orderly. We formed our blocks and lines, watched as the archers loosed volley after volley of arrows at the opposing force, and then it was our turn. All we had to do was repulse an attacking force led by John de Vere, 13th of Oxford, fighting on the Lancastrian side. However, as the famous saying goes, "no plan survives first contact with the enemy." Our enemy started to push our left flank, and we had to turn a good portion of our force to deal with them. Unfortunately we got beaten back, and though it was an overall Yorkist victory, our particular unit, mounted a fighting retreat and left the field.
I think he won because he has the biggest hat.
After the first battle
Once the battle was done, it was time to put civilian kit on, and see what the festival had on offer, and I can honestly say that the event organisers really do put on a weekend packed with things to see and do. Including Medieval fashion shows, falconry, knight's school, historical lectures, two battles in the day, and so much more.
He we see one of our members getting help, removing the 30Kg of armour that he's been wearing for the battle.
Lady Howard making sure her two sons are in good order after the fight.
A fine place to take your loyal hound for a walk.
The household barber surgeon relaxing in the afternoon.
Battle of Bosworth, 1485
At 16:00 the Battle of Bosworth reenactment took place. Much like the first, we got ready and gathered in our units, ready for the fight. Knights In Battle represents the household and fighting men of Sir John Howard, KG, 1st Duke of Norkolk. It was in this very battle over 500 years ago (539 to be precise) that he met his fate, so as you can imagine, this is somewhat of a 'big' event for us. We lined up in our blocks of billmen, the bill being the fighting weapon that was widely used by standard infantry back then. A single cannon shot marked the start of a minutes silence to remember then men that fought and died that day and to reflect on how it shaped the nation. Once the silence was done, the fight began. We repulsed the enemy force 3 times, and the fighting was hard, however, just as they did back then, they got the better of Sir John Howard, and he was 'slain', and with that they defeated us. Though I'm unsure how, as the fighters of Knights in Battle accounted for at least 1000 of the enemy casualties, and I myself was 'slain' a top a mountain of dispatched enemies. On a serious note, though we comport ourselves well, and fight hard on the battlefield, we're all friends off of it, and that's one of the greatest aspects of reenactment.
The brave men of the Howard Household gathering for final battle.
Waiting..................always waiting.
Getting ready to step off.
It's time for a scrap.
Lord John Howard, with his son Thomas Howard, and standard bearer.
A contingent of archers take a knee to commemorate those who lost their lives on that fateful day in 1485.
If it wasn't for the drummer, how would we know where to go?
Lord Howard and his guard of knights getting stuck in.
Afterword
Knights in Battle would like to give a massive thanks to Leicestershire council, the staff at the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, and the War of the Roses Federation, for organising such an incredible event. We'd also like the thank the Oxfords for a cracking fight as always.
Just like the battle, the day was done, and it was time to wind down. Tea was calling, as was a pint at the beer tent, and that was essentially the first day of Bosworth, I shan't go on about the Sunday, as that follows the same structure.
As a final note, we'd like to offer our condolences to family of David Hewitt, an absolute giant of the scene, one of the founders of Knights in Battle, and one of the greatest armourers of recent years. A true master of his craft.
Thanks for reading the write up on the Battle of Bosworth, and we hope to see you soon.
Thanks
Knights in Battle
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