Flodden in 15mm

A comment from Ray of Don’t Throw a 1 made me realise my Flodden pics had been disappeared by the wretched photobook.  Still, it’s an ill wind as they say and I still have most of the photos. So, let’s take the opportunity to have a look at the armies again. Nearly all of the figures are from QRF.

The English

These Demi Lancers are Essex and if anyone knows the code please let me know.

LKM Borderers.

More QRF.

The large banner is from Stuart at Army Royal.

The Scots

Some Minifigs, Essex, 15mm Co and Roundway in the Highland mix.

You may be thinking, as I do, that those lovely flags work a treat.  If so, you can down load them free from Ray at http://onelover-ray.blogspot.co.uk/ which is grand altogether.  

100 Years War Progress

I recently spent a pleasant afternoon painting my 100 Years War collection, radio play in the back ground, you know the sort of thing.

Most pleasing of all I’ve managed to get my hands on some Steve Shaw medieval Scots courtesy of eBay.  I’m a big fan of Steve’s work and his figures are not easy to come by these days.  

What I wanted in this case was a Scottish contingent for my French and that’s just what I got-plus a couple of excellent Highlands and Isles command figures.

Here they are, rather heavy in Douglas’s, (dubh glás = blue black) and Otterburn oriented but they will do the trick nicely.  As you can see they are equipped with long spears to front up a Schiltron as a unit of seargents led by knights.

I’ve nearly finished the English archers too and some Donnington New Era foot knights including the Ear of Oxford.

The big painting challenge is going to be the mounted knights.

Some Thoughts on the Highland Way of War

Every now and then there is a discussion on the Highland Charge.  Ethnic tropes and bad history are given an airing, quotes are used without context and people pick their side and dig in for the duration.  Much heat and little light is generated.

I’ve been thinking about the Highland Charge and Highlanders at war in general. Let’s start by considering this view from a military man who saw the real thing in the ‘45. 

“(people) that knows the Highlanders…whose way of fighting is to go directly sword in hand at the enemy…any man who has served with the Highlanders knows that they fire but one shot and abandon their firelocks thereafter.  If there be any obstacle that hinders them going on the enemy all is lost.”

O’Sullivan here is talking about the Highland charge. Should the Highlander make contact he crouched behind his targe, brought his sword edge into play and pruned his opponent by lopping off extremities. The heavy basket hilts and a circling motion brought additional weight and velocity to the blows.  The impact was of course horrific for those on the receiving end.  

The charge was delivered in formation, three ranks deep with the leading men covering the followers, and at speed.  The spacing was important both to reduce casualties from incoming fire and to allow each man enough space to fight effectively once the charge went home.  As Jim comments below care was taken to maximise the advantage of ground.

The charge failed at Culloden not least because of the unsuitable ground and resulting overcrowding of the clansmen.

So we can see that the Highlanders actually needed good ground to deliver their particular brand of martial magic to good effect.  Significantly a generation later and a world away Highland charges in the Mohawk Valley always failed.

Little attention is given to missilery despite it being an integral part of the Highland military doctrine.  The hunting Highland gentry tended to be be good shots with lots of practice behind them.   When facing formed regular troops they liked to try and provoke an early volley from their opponents by potting a few. If they succeeded they could charge in relative safety.  What they could not do was match the rate of fire of regulars and wherever possible they tried to avoid such contests.


Why men so famed for their close fighting should emphasise missilery is interesting to consider.  I take the view that it stems from the Viking influence on the Isles and adjoining mainland Scotland and that it was an integral part of the Highland military tradition. 

Troops from the Highlands and Isles on the evidence of records of their battle performance in the Nine Years War in Ireland were bow and sword armed high quality assault troops. Like the Irish they quickly took up firearms which pretty much takes us to the popular image of the Highlander.

I'm minded to model the foregoing by giving the Highlanders a high fire effectiveness but a low rate of fire and once a charge has taken place no firepower at all. 

The King of Scots and his Army

About twenty years ago at a show in the North East I bought these figures from Steve Shaw.  I painted up a couple of units and well…lost interest.  Steve sold his ranges to QRF who subsequently sold them to Bloody Day in the USA. 

Then I came across the ‘Don’t Throw a 1’ blog you’ll find a link opposite.  Ray the proprietor had a couple or so of Flodden posts with some lovely looking flags for both sides.  Very kindly he makes them available as a free download.  That was the spur I needed to finish the King of Scots and his Army.  So better late than never and I hope you enjoy the results. 

The Battle of the King of Scots seconded by the men of Edinburgh.

The whole army.

Nobles and more nobles.

For games with these lads I use Hell Broke Loose.