Welcome

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Welcome to 'Keep Your Powder Dry'. 

This blog is my way of storing a load of information that I have found whilst researching my British Civil War 15mm wargames armies. 

It is no way exhaustive, nor do I claim that it will be completely definitive. I expect to make errors, if you spot one please tell me. 

This blog is mainly a lesson in self-indulgence: it is mine, and it is primarily for me. But I do of course welcome visitors, and if it helps you out then I consider that a bonus.


Why is it called 'Keep Your Powder Dry'? There is a maxim often attributed to Oliver Cromwell ("put your trust in God and keep your powder dry") in a whole host of situations. The first time he was alleged to have said it to his soldiers was at Edgehill, only he arrived too late for the battle, indeed if he arrived at all.

The words first make their way in to print in 1834; the poem 'Oliver's Advice' appeared in the Dublin University Magazine, and was penned by Fitz Stewart. 'Fitz Stewart' was just one of many pseudonyms used by Irishman Lieutenant Colonel William Blacker.

Sadly no actual, real evidence that Cromwell ever said it exists. But Richard Harris did, in the film. Which is good enough for me.


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Thanks.

Comments

  1. nundanket11 February 2018 at 20:23

    Hi, just came across your blog and have rattled back in time to this opening post. I enjoy the mix of figure painting/prep pieces, museum visits, film reviews. Nice bite-sized chunks - who says it's kids who have shorter attention spans?!

    A newbie to ECW gaming, though it's been bubbling away for 40+ years (thanks to the War Game and the Airfix Guide). I jumped in with Pendraken though owing to space and budget considerations.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Radar11 February 2018 at 20:42

    Glad you like it, and thanks for your kind comments. The Pendraken figures are lovely, unfortunate my vanity stops me getting varifocals so they are just too small for me to paint.

    ReplyDelete

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