SEAXES, HUNTING & WAR BOWS

SEAXES, HUNTING & WARBOWS 

-On a December day I found myself in the middle of a college green demonstrating to a large number of students the medieval English Warbow. 

The morning  had been organised by Mike Everest of ‘Portals to the Past’, comprising of  three 50 minute  talks to students on ‘Saxon/Norman hunting archery’ and the ‘English Warbow’ in the 100 years war.

Dressed in full gear as an 15th century Azincourt archer on one of the coldest days of the year with considerable chill factor, I was thinking more about the students - many without coats - that came to witness “the man that makes holes in a steel sheet with arrows”. 

It did not go badly, on the contrary, it was a successful  demonstration thanks to Mike’s moral support  and the students cheering me with every arrow finding it’s target as if it was the national English football team scoring a goal. 

To my great satisfaction after the demonstration and looking at the target where the arrows had penetrated the metal sheet I noticed something for the first time.

Now I would like to make it clear that what I am about to say  is not anything new, but I am writing for the benefit of the students who may like to know what I think happens when the arrow strikes armour, but also this is the very first time that I have visual and physical evidence of this action.

The bow I used was a  100 lbs at 32” but I am sure that I shot the arrow much shorter - closer to 30” i.e. around 90 lbs. The wood was stiff to pull due to the cold and fingers  a little painful. The metal sheet was 1.2mm thick and to my luck painted red. It was part of a warehouse door. 

From the 9 arrows I shot, 6 found the target at 20m distance, and somehow saved my reputation on the day. All the arrows were 29.5” to 30.5” long, 1/2” to 3/8” taper, 7.5” x 3 goose feathers, some ash, some poplar shafts and weights between 950 - 1100 grains (15.43 grains = 1 gram). All had hand forged bodkins around 3.5” long. I have found that short bodkins and variations of the  No 10 type arrowheads are the most successful in demonstrations of this kind.

Now 1.2 mm steel plate is not the thickness of  breast plate armour, but there are many areas in armour where the metal is thinner and very vulnerable to war arrows, especially at 20 - 40 m distances.  For educational purposes and to show the difference between target archery and the use of the  warbow the above specs are adequate.

I have shot arrows at metal sheets before  but this is the very first time that I shot at a bright painted red metal sheet and what I noticed looking carefully at the holes on the steel were 1/3  circular scratching marks around the hole. (Photo 1 )

Photo 1

When I positioned  the arrow back in the hole I also noticed that some red paint marks on the bodkin  were quite a distance from the actual metal sheet.  ( Photo 2 ) 

                                                                             

                                                                    Photo 2

I know theoretically from ballistics studies that as the arrow strikes it has a fast spin and the penetration in the metal works like a hammer drill i.e. the arrow spins and pushes  whilst at the same time the metal sheet is trying to push it back. The arrow wins the battle until all it’s kinetic energy is exhausted and finally the metal pushes it back a short distance from it’s original point of penetration.  

In Photo 1 you see evidence of the spinning left on the red surface as the metal caved in and in Photo 2 we see how much the arrow has been forced back by the metal’s resistance when it bounced back. I have to make quite clear that the arrow went in straight and totally vertical to the target.

I have made 2 illustrations to explain as much as possible what the evidence tells me. To have a painted metal surface was an accidental choice that proved to be very informative. (Illustations 1 and 2 )

Illustration 1 & 2

                                                             Illustrations 1 & 2

In the first illustration ( 1 ) we see the impact of the arrow as it spins. It forces with hammer drill action (Force A) the metal sheet until it locks and stops leaving its diamond shape mark on the metal. In the second illustration( 2 ) the metal bounces back  ( B ) and forces the arrow out of the hole and in this case to around 3/8” .  The red marks left on the bodkin are at the same level as the scratch marks are where the arrow finally rested. 

PS. The bodkin that made the hole is of a diamond shape (Photo 3) and has been used for at least three years. The tip is a bit damaged from an older strike.

Photo 3

© GREX LUPORUM

THE ANGELS OF MONS

THE ANGELS OF MONS

by

10th Essex Regiment Great War Living History Group & Grex Luporum.

Photograph by : © Mike South

A fun photoshoot Yiorgos, Mike, Ed and I did recently to recreate the legend of The Angels of Mons, sometimes called The Bowmen of Mons. There are various different versions of the story around but the gist of it is that in 1914 while the British Army were retreating from Mons, an army of spectral bowmen from the battle of Agincourt appeared, killed a bunch of German soldiers with a volley of arrows and then disappeared having saved some British troops. In some versions they're angels, in others they're lead by St George himself. Hopefully we'll be able to get more of both groups together for a larger shoot some time.

Shot with a Kodak No 2 Folding Brownie Model A (1905), using Ilford FP4 film. Thanks to Yiorgos for developing the film.

Yiorgos and Ed are with GREX LUPORUM, Mike and I are with the 10th Essex Regiment Great War Living History Group.

With a Kodak No 2 Folding Brownie Model A (1905), using Ilford FP4 film

Digital file.

Digital file.

ANGELS OF MONS - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_of_Mons

ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM - OXFORD

ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM - OXFORD 

Some artefacts from the small medieval collection.

Arrow heads, iron. 1200 -1400 CE

13. Buckles. copper alloy. 1275-1425 CE

14. Buckle plate, copper alloy. 1250-1400 CE

15. Brooch, copper alloy. 1250-1400 CE

16. Buckle, copper alloy. 1250-1400 CE

17. Brooch, copper alloy. 1250-1350 CE

Brooch, copper alloy and card replicas of both sides. 1300-1400 CE

Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire. On the obverse are heraldic images including lions passant and fliers-de-lis. These represent a number of families, including the Dispensers and Plantagenets, and the royal arms of England and France. On the pin and the frame's reverse is a religious Latin inscription of the Hail Mary prayer and the names of Magi - Jaspar, Melchior and Baslthazar.

31. Cross pendant, copper alloy. 1350-1450 CE, England.

32-37. Brooches, copper alloy and glass, copper alloy, silver, silver gilt. 1250-1400 CE, London, Scarborough.

Sword, iron. 1350-1450 CE. Baydon, Wiltshire.

60-61. Daggers, iron. 1500-1700 CE, Oddington Grange and Bicester, Oxfordshire.

Horseman's gauntlet, leather. 1500-1600 CE, unprovenanced.

Floor tiles, ceramic. 1300-1400 CE, Godstow, Oxfordshire. Reconstruction.

Tile, clay. 1250-1500 CE, Eynsham Addey, Oxfordshire.

10. Rounded drinking cup, Rhenish stoneware. 1480-1610 CE. Three Cups Inn site, Queen Street, Oxford.

11. Jug, Brill/Boarstall ware, 1350-1450 CE. Three Cups Inn site, Queen Street, Oxford.

Funeral pall, cloth -of-gold, velvet and metal thread 1504 or 1505 CE, England and Italy. This funeral pall, or hearse cloth, was used at memorial services for King Henry VII held at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford. The Tudor rose represents the unification of the Houses of Lancaster and York, while the portcullis symbolises the Beaufont family, through which Henry claimed his right to the throne.

© GREX LUPORUM

All rights reserved. No part of the text and photographs within the text may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by electronic means or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

MUSEE DE CRECY / FRANCE

MUSEE DE CRECY / FRANCE

A small museum at Crecy that commemorates the battle of 1346 and other periods of history.

Here is a collection of artefacts exhibited at the museum.

The battlefield.

The position of the old mill.

Model of the battle with different theories of how the battle conducted.

The latest theory of the battle - 2004

Scabbled stonework.

The beginning of the natural ditch at the battlefield.

© GREX LUPORUM

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CILGERRAN CASTLE - CEREDIGION / WALES 2017

CILGERRAN CASTLE - CEREDIGION / WALES 2017

A slate stone build castle. An earth and timber castle was probably established soon after 1100, but the present castle dates mainly from the 13th and 14th CE. In 1223 Gilgerran was captured by William Marshal the younger, earl of Pembroke; he and his successors set about rebuilding the castle in its present form. It consists of two enclosures: the outer ward, containing auxiliary buildings, was entered by a small gatehouse; the main inner ward was separated from it by wide rock-cut ditch.

© GREX LUPORUM

All rights reserved. No part of the text and photographs within the text may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by electronic means or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.