Keep Your Powder Dry

Another straight out of the packet Royalist Regiment of Horse. Sir John Boys's Troop was an independent Troop of Horse that was raised to garrison Donnington Castle (the Newbury Donnington, not the East Midlands Donnington, home of the airport, racetrack and venue of the late Derby Worlds). Sir John Boys (or Boyes) Raised in 1644, they lasted until the fall of Donnington Castle in 1646; so as you can imagine their battle honours pretty much consists of 'besieged at Donnington Castle', the only variation being Second Newbury. Sir John was the governor of Castle Donnington, and was also Lieutenant Colonel of Earl Rivers's Regiment of Foot. He survived the wars and three marriages before dying at home in 1664. He is buried at Holy Cross in Goodnestone-next-Wingham in Kent. If you enjoyed reading this, or any of the other posts, please consider  supporting  the blog.  Thanks .

The modern sprawl that is Greater London now encompasses three(!) Civil War battlefield sites. The ECW Travelogue investigates... Battle of Brentford, 12th November 1642. Charles believed he could strengthen his negotiating power in the peace negotiations if he parked an army on the outskirts of London - his 'I've got a big stick' approach to negotiations led to his advance down the Thames Valley. Detail from Moses Glover's 1635 map of Brentford Charles ordered Rupert to take Brentford, which protected his preferred route into London along the Great West Road; the town was guarded by two Parliamentarian Regiments of Foot (Denzil Holles's and Lord Brooke's), and a number of cavalry squadrons. Early on the morning of the 12th Rupert attacked with a force of cavalry and dragoons. On hearing the attack the Parliamentarian cavalry duly ran away. The initial attack at Sir Richard Wynn's House was repulsed; wit...

After all those new Parliamentarian units, in the interests of balance here's the first in a long queue of Royalist regiments. A Newark garrison Regiment of Horse they fought at Newark (quelle surprise!), Grantham, Winceby. It will come as no surprise, whatsoever, to learn that the Regiment  are often referred to as 'the Newark Horse' in contemporaneous reports. Sir Gervase died, defending Newark Castle in May 1644, and command of the Regiment passed to his half-brother Colonel Antony Eyre. Antony led the Regiment at  Marston Moor, Tuxford, Beckingham Bridge, Leicester and Naseby, before being besieged (again) at Newark. Sir Gervase is buried at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark. Just over the road from the National  Civil War Centre . No headswaps or anything remotely exciting about this regiment, just a straightforward out of the packet unit. I must say that I much prefer painting two part cavalry figures, as I can get in and paint detail on ...

A Regiment of Horse that had many different names and fought with many different Parliamentarian armies. Originally raised in London by Colonel Richard Turner in 1643 they occupied Newport Pagnell (obviously attracted by the strategic motorway services), fought a skirmish at Alderton, the battle of Olney and stormed Grafton House. They were part of Skippon's army. In 1644 command passed to Colonel George Thompson, and they transferred to Waller's Southern Association. Thompson led four troops of the regiment at Cheriton where he lost a leg. Command then passed to Thorpe after Cheriton, and they fought at Cropredy Bridge, Second Newbury and Trowbridge. In 1645 they transferred to the Western Association and command passed to Colonel Edward Popham (brother of Alexander Popham of Littlecote House, home of the famous Littlecote armoury now held by the Royal Armouries in Leeds), before quickly passing on to Colonel George Starr. The regiment was disbanded in 1646...

In a change from our regular Monday Regiment of Horse viewing here's a Regiment of Foot. Holborne's (sometimes Holbourn) were raised near London in 1643; they fought as part of Essex's army in the First Civil War. Present at the Turnham Green standoff, Reading, Gloucester, First Newbury, Lostwithiel and Second Newbury. In 1645 they were 'reduced' into the New Model Army. Holborne later took over command of Sir Arthur Hesilrigge’s Regiment of Foot, and command of Holborne's passed to Colonel William Davies sometime around May 1644; Holborne left Hesilrigge's  Regiment in 1645 to become a Major General in Sir William Waller's army. A smattering of headswaps in this regiment, and Piggie aficionados might be wondering about the officer with pistol - he's  from the Mill02 Gamette pack (he does look quite similar to the dragoon officer from 'dragoon command on foot' pack 72 too). They were issued coats when they were...

Nathaniel Fienne (or Fine) was the second son of Lord Saye and Sele. He had been a captain in Sir William Balfour's Regiment of Horse fighting at Edgehill and Powick Bridge before being commissioned as a colonel of horse in 1643. The regiment is believed to have put down risings at Sherborne, Portland and Corfe before garrisoning Bristol. One troop took part at Highnam and possibly Tewkesbury. The full regiment was active in the west country at Frome, Lansdown, the Siege of Devizes and Roundway Down. Finally being besieged at Bristol where they surrendered. Nathaniel was disgraced by his surrender at Bristol and was stripped of command. Remnants of the regiment continued under the command of his younger brother John, whilst other troops were assimilated into the New Model Army (notably Behre's and Sheffield's regiments). A 'straight out of the bags' unit here, no headswaps; you may notice that one of their number is a mounted casualty (for a little vari...