As some of you may be aware, I've been banging on about the League of Augsberg's set of skirmish rules, "Donnybrook" for a while now??
As I already own a very under used (ask the Rejects) Reconquista Moor army, I thought I could use them with a few additions for the later Moroccan Moors. I also planned (obviously?) on collecting the English and refighting the battles and skirmishes in and around Tangiers from 1662-1680.
Now, I'm one of those gamers who likes to do a little (ok?? a lot) of research before and during the painting and collected of new armies. The English were easy, as I've already done that when collecting my 15mm BLB2 armies. So onto the Moors........and that's were I came to a rather sudden halt!
I couldn't find anything above the basic information, that was until I found this book.
"Tangier 1662-80 The First Battle Honour" by Various Authors
The book starts with listing the English and Scots regiments that were in 1910 given the battle honour Tangier, then later gives their full regimental history's for each. Also is a History of the British Standing Army, written by Clifford Walton in 1894. These 38 pages, give a detailed account of the Rise of the Standing Army from 1660-65, then move onto the Defence of Tangiers.
But for me the most interesting part of the book is the Diary of Sir James Halkett a Major in Dumbarton's regt of Foot, also known as The Royal regt of Foot, which he wrote in 1680. The diary gives loads of info on skirmishes with unit info, names and numbers for both sides.
Here's a small sample
"the Moores upon all hands drew together about James Fort, advanced with about five or six hundred where they entered into skirmish with Hoges, (Robert Hodges Captain in Dumbarton's Foot) he finding it too hote for him, being no equality of number, was forced to retire somewhat precipitantly to our advanced post again, with the loss of three men of his company and several wounded"
(Spellings as are in the book)
What amazes me is how this little slice of British history seems to have been forgotten by the masses?
So if you're interested in this strangely unknown period of British history, either historically or for gaming, my advise is buy the book, it won't cost you a fortune I paid £15 for it on Amazon, link
Some examples of Moorish dress
Mohammed bin Hadou, Mulay Ismail's Moroccan
ambassador to England in 1682
Ambassador Ben Hadou, riding in Hyde Park, 1682.
Ismail ibn Sharif
King of Morocco 1672-1727
Ambassador Admiral Abdelkader Perez was sent by
Ismail ibn Sharif to England in 1723.
Ismail ibn Sharif receiving ambassador Francois Pidou de Saint Olon from Louis XIV of France. by Pierre-Denis Martin (1693)
Good grief, you spent money and didn't borrow it from someone?
ReplyDeleteIf you had owned it, i'd have it in my collection now!
DeleteTosser, you still have my DVD and some PlayStation games!
DeleteAnd?
DeleteBoys, boys, boys. I LOVE reading your comments to each other.
DeleteHe's bad isn't he?
DeleteGood thing you found the book. Not everything is online.
ReplyDeleteIf you need more Tangiers history, I have a blogger buddy who knows a lot.
That'd be great Alex, thanks!
DeleteVery nice tip for some different pike and shot gaming.
ReplyDeleteCheers Michael!
DeleteAn intriguing yet little known of bit of British History as you say; here's looking forward to some of your brief history lessons as this project progresses.
ReplyDeleteThat's the plan Joe, just gotta paint some damn figures!
DeleteThat is very interesting, Ray. I have to confess, I'd never heard of the conflict before, but I can see potential for some cool scenarios, not to mention troops.
ReplyDeleteYeh, its just a little bit different from the normal fighting during the period.
DeleteI am going to have to look into this conflict now
ReplyDeleteI hope you do, its very interesting.
DeleteGreat review Ray, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNo probs Jason!
DeleteYou've definitely made me curious Ray!
ReplyDeleteCurious is good!
DeleteBritain has so much military history (some good some a lot less than good) that it is hard to know it all. I most certainly don't. And as all true learning starts with the phrase (usually in your own head) "I don not know!" It is good to see a little nugget of history like this. I look forward to more book reviews.
ReplyDeleteCheers Clint!!
DeleteWell I have to confess that tis little slice of history had certainly passed me by, thanks for the review Ray.
ReplyDeleteGlad I could be of assistance Sir!
DeletePffft.... them Brits always invading something..... if they weren't Brits they would be called aggressors and terrorists
ReplyDeleteRule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!
DeleteBritons never, never, never shall be slaves................
I saw a game of this at one of the shows, at the time the Copplestone Glory of the Sun figures came out. The biggest issue though, is what does a seventeenth century Moorish soldier look like and where can you get figures?
ReplyDeleteNow that is the million dollar question Legatus! I've struggled to find much info on the subject. In the book it does mention turban wearing Moors and I've added a few pics to give you some idea of how they would have worn. As for figures I'll be using a mixture of Gripping Beasts El Cid range, North Star's Moroccans and Turags, Perry minis Islam figures and possibly Unfeasible Miniatures Turags???? I think???
DeleteTry this book, "The Tangier Campaign, the Birth of the British Army " by AJ Smithers, published by National Army Museum in 2003, ISBN 075242582 X
ReplyDeletealso see an article in Miniature Wargames No 84 " to Pierce the clouds and echo into the sky" by Bob Black, and i think another article in Military Modelling way back called Teviot's Last Stand,
cheers Old John
Thanks for the info John, I'll try and find the book and the mags, I must have them up in the loft!
Deletemy pleasure, Teviot's Last Stand article is in Military Modelling Jan 1986, if you can't find the articles i can do PDFs for you , no prob
Deletecheers Old John
That'd save me routing through millions of mags in a hot sweating loft John, thanks!!
Deleteslight problem, where do i find your email address to send PDFs, scanned and ready
Deletecheers Old John
Excellent!! my email is rousell68 AT gmail.com
DeleteThanks John
Just emailed the 2 PDFs, let me know if came over ok also bought the above book too !!!
DeleteYep got them, thanks. And they're very interesting indeed. Cheers John.
DeleteInteresting!!!
ReplyDeleteYep!
Deletethis is stuff for evocative games indeed!
ReplyDeleteIndeed!!!
DeleteFertile ground Ray....
ReplyDeleteVery fertile indeed!
DeleteGreat bit of history here Ray. This will certainly add some spice to your Donnybrook games.
ReplyDeleteThat's the plan Curt, if I can get my butt in gear that is?
Delete