Battle of Bosworth - 28mm Wargame - part 1

 

The Battle of Bosworth

The Battle of Bosworth is seen by many as the official end of the Wars of the Roses. This significant event saw the advent of the Tudor dynasty supplanting the old platagenet line and as such it trepresents for those that have gamed in the Shed over the last eighteen months a culmination of our attemopt to refight all of the major engagements of this English civil war. I’ll post up a summary of our games in a later post but for now this address focusses on the final battle – the Battle of Bosworth.

Bosworth Field - Richard on Right, Henry Tudor on Left, Stanleys Left Front, Northumberland Right front

The battle was fought on the 22^nd August 1485 between King Richard III and the forces of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Richard had siezed the throne from his nephews when his brother Edward IV passed away a couple of years earlier. A defeat of Henry Tudor, the last real heir on the Lancastrian faction (albeit tenuous) would almost certainly secure Richard’s lineage.

Henry Tudor, who had spent much of his life exiled in France and Brittany, was finally persuaded to have a tilt at the throne when he was financially backed by the King of France with money and troops. Henry landed his forces in south west Wales and along with his uncle , Jasper Tudor, the Earl of Pembroke marched through the principality gathering forces. Upon hearing of his landing Richard marched into the midlands and raised his banners. Many Lords failed to materialise but by the time Richard set out to meet the enemy his army numbered between 9,000-12,000 men.

Henry meanwhile had raised his banners drawing some 6000 men to his cause. By the time the two sides approached Bosworth the Kings army was considerably larger and Richard expected success.

As the forces drew near the two hosts were joined by a third. A sizeable army lead by Lord Hastings. Hastings was perhaps one of the most powerful nobles in the north west and although he had informed Richard he would support the King’s cause his allegiance could not be taken for granted. To ensure obedience Richard took Hasting’s son hostage.

The dilemma for Hastings was simple, his son was in chains but his step son Henry Tudor could become King, thereby promote significant advancement for the Hastings family. Apparently Henry and Hastings met the night before the battle and Hastings swore allegiance to the pretender. Would he turn?

As the battle lines were drawn Richard seized the high ground of Ambion Hill and ordered his second Norfolk to crush the arrayed Lancastrian forces ahead. His left flank were guarded by forces loyal to Percy, Duke of Northumberland. Percy was no real fan of the Yorkist cause – afterall his line had been decimated in earlier battles by Warwick and Edward, and real advancement of titles , land and monies in their traditional northern heartlands was diminishing fast as Richard showered these on his nephew, Edward de la Pole. Northumberland might also benefit from a change but with Richard having such a commanding majority in the coming battle Northumberland probably felt less inclined to turncoat. Perhaps watching might be the best option.

As the battle raged Norfolk made hard going against the Lancastrian forces and it was only when Richard saw Henry separate from his army he launched a charge down the hill with his personal retinue. This charge was the last time a King of England personally lead his troops from the front. Reaching Henry’s bodyguard a furious melee ensued and Richard came within feet of killing his foe. The tide had turned as the charge faltered when Stanley rode to the aid of Henry. Richard was unhorsed and cut down. With the King dead the Yorkist forces fled the field. Richard’s crown was recovered from a hawthorn bush and Henry was crowned King.

 

Henry's smaller army face the Yorkists

Recreating Bosworth

There has been much debate as to the real location of the actual site and the forces disposition. In the end I have adopted the most common themes.

Richards forces are aligned along the slopes of Ambion hill in three battles, Henry forces face them with Stanley to the right of Tudor’s army.

The marshy ground sits on the right flank of Henry’s army and the field is bisected by the old roman road known as Fenn lane.

Full orders of battle and special rules are listed below…

 

Richard III atop Ambion Hill

Winning the game

Either side will win if they can kill their opposite number. Both Henry Tudor and Richard III MUST remain on the table throughout the game. To begin with they are attached to their personal bodyguard of knights. They MUST always be attached to a unit and may move from one unit to another.

Killing Lords (and Kings) – played in addition to standard rules

In combat if a unit is destroyed all excess unsaved casualties are transferred to any leader attached. For example unit A has six remaining bill men and after saves suffers 8 casualties in the fight. The two excess casualties are then allocated to any attached Lords. Most Lords have two wounds so in this case the Lord will die.

 

Henry looks across at his nemesis

The Stanley’s and Northumberland

Lord Stanley was Henry Tudor’s stepfather and given they had met only the night before the battle it is reasonable to argue that Stanley was far more likely to join Tudor’s forces than support Richard. In our recreation Stanley will NOT join Richard although there is the remote possibility he may not support Tudor.

As far as Northumberland is concerned he may well have been tasked to shadow Stanley and only protect Richard’s flank were Stanley to attack. Equally there was no love lost between the Percy’s and the Yorkist cause so it is just possible Northumberland was going to sit on the side and do nothing. There is no evidence to suggest Northumberland was going to support Tudor in the battle. 

How will these forces intereract in the game will potentially be a deciding factor in the fight for the English crown.

Shuffle the Turn cards for Northumberland and the two leading Stanleys into the playing deck. When they are drawn roll 2d6 and adjust with the following modifiers. Then consult the table below

Modified Roll	Outcome
2* unmodified	Subtract 1 from next die roll
3	Subtract 1 from next die roll
4	Do Nothing
5	Do Nothing
6	Do Nothing
7	Do Nothing
8	Do Nothing
9	Add +1 to Die Roll next turn
10	Join Richard/Henry Tudor
11	Join Richard/Henry Tudor
12+	Join Richard/Henry Tudor

 

Modifiers

First turn	-1
If Richard/Henry are within 12” of Stanley/Northumberland	+1
For each pair of Yorkist tokens taken (cumulative) – Stanley’s only	+1
For each pair of Lancastrian tokens (cumulative) – Northumberland only	+1
Stanley/Northumberland is under attack	+5
If a Stanley has already committed (Stanley only)	+2
Richard/Henry involved in melee	+3

 

The Bonus card that allows rerolls may be used

Northumberland's forces on left wing

The Battlefield

Richards forces edge the field along Ambion Hill, at the bottom of the hill lay the Roman road (Fenn Lane) and an area of swampy ground. As far as the game is concerned the swamp will cause disarray when traversed. The streams shown on the board do not hinder movement.

Marshy ground in the foreground

Based on internet searches I have set the armies at Bosworth at the following level

Richard – 8000 men

Henry Tudor – 5000 men

Northumberland – 1500 men*

Stanley – 4000 men (split into f2 orces commanded by Lord Stanley & Sir William Stanley)

I am treating Northumberland as a separate army for the purposes of the game. In the actual battle Northumberland’s contingent watched, did nothing and then retired.

 

Stanleys forces arrive - still waiting on some figures

The Orders of Battle

Army size estimates taken from figure counts in Poleaxed books

Lancastrian – est 5000 – 8000 men – assume 5000

Leader	Units	#units	#figures
Sir Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond (BC)	1 x Knights	1		P1
Sir Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke (BC)	1 x Knights	1
Sir John Savage of Clifton	1 x Light Cavalry	1
Sir Gilbert Talbot of Stodesden	1 x Light Cavalry	1
Sir John de Vere, Earl of Oxford (BC)	1 x Men at Arms 1 x Bill 1 x Bow	3		P2
Sir Rhys ap Thomas	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir John Welles, Viscount Welles	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Edward Poynings of Southwark	3 x Pike 1 x Crossbows	4
Sir Richard Guildford of Halden	3 x Pike 1 x Crossbows	4
Artillery/Skirmishers	2 x Artillery 2 x Handgunners	4		any
Total		27	5000
Ratio			185

 

 

 

Yorkist – est 8000-12000 men – Assume 8000

Leader	Units	#units	#figures
Richard III (BC)	1 x Knights (large) 1 x Knights	2.5		Y1
Sir Robert Percy of Scotton	1 x Knights	1
Sir John Howard, Duke of Norfolk (BC)	2 x Men at Arms 2 x Bow	4
Sir George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir John de la Zouch, Lord Zouche	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Robert Brackenbury of Denton (BC)	1 x Men at Arms 1 x Bill 2 x Bow	4		Y2
Sir John Scrope, Lord Scrope	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Ralph Greystoke, Lord Greystoke	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Walter Devereux, Baron Ferrers	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Artillery/Skirmishers	3 x Artillery 3 x Handgunners 2 x Sk Bow	8		any
Total		43.5	8047
Ratio			185
NORTHUMBERLAND				N1
Sir Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland (BC)	1 x Knights	1
Sir John Middleton	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir John Widdrington of Chipchase	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Robert Manners of Ethal	1 x Light Horse	1
Sir John Pudsey of Barford	1 x Light Horse	1
Artillery/Skirmishers	2 sk bow	2
Total		9
Ratio		185	1665 men

 

 

 

Estimate 4000- 6000

Leader	Units	#units	#figures
Thomas Stanley, Lord Stanley (BC)	1 x Knights	1		S1
Sir Hugh Peshall	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Everard Digbie	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir William Stanley of Holt (BC)	1 x Men at Arms 1 x Bow	2		S2
Humphrey Stanley of Pipe	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir Peter Legh of Lyme and Haydock	2 x Bill 2 x Bow	4
Sir George Holford	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Artillery Skirmishers	2 sk bow	2
Total		23	4255 men

 

So the battlelines are set - the full battle report next....

Battle Report can be found HERE

Battle of Tewkesbury - a 28mm Wargame - part 2

 Good Morning Folks

As promised here is the latest battle report from our continuing saga of the Wars of The Roses. Monday night saw myself, Vince and Tony take on the roles of the Yorkists whilst Mark F, Alastair and Stuart lead the line for the Lancastrians. We were refighting the Battle of Tewkesbury. 

All the details of the battle including background, set up and orders of battle can be found in the previous post HERE 

This was a relatively tight battlefield with the centre dominated by hedgerows and fields. 

Our game opened with the usual maneuver phase which was cut short when the Yorkist commanders realised they should be battering the Lancastrians with their artillery before the enemy closed. 

In the far distance of the picture below the Yorkist guns opened fire on the advancing enemy, across the field the Lancastrians poured forward to secure the hedgeline.

On the Yorkist right flank Lord Hastings (Tony) hastily split his combined units and waited for the more numerous troops of Devon (Mark F)

Meanwhilst the Lancastrian general Wenlock (Alastair) sent forward his mercenary pikes 

The Centre soon became a solid mass of Lancastrian forces.

Sporadic fire erupted across the table from a few skirmish handgunners and crossbows.

By now the Duke of Somerset (Stuart) had started to force his troops forward into the waiting guns of Gloucester (VInce). The artillery barrage soon found its mark and swiftly decimated an advanced unit.

As the guns poured their lead shot into the mass of Lancastrians the hidden horse in the woods surged forward catching another unit in the flank (sadly no picture). As expected Somerset was going to have a tough time. Just like the real battle !

With the Lancastrian right under pressure Gloucester forced his men at arms forward. This combined unit of tin cans was going to take some stopping 

Back in the centre Wenlock was pushing forward to be met with a hail of Yorkist arrows.

Whilst Somerset and Wenlock were coming under serious fire The Earl of Devon was pushing forward. Somehow Mark F always manages to keep his troops in nicely drilled lines

With the centre now in contention the question was who was going to take the last hedgeline

Devons troops approach the Yorkist left wing commanded by Lord Hastings

The lone Lancastrian artillery piece takes aim...

Devon rushed his pike forward. Hastings let loose his archers decimating the pike block

A fierce melee was about to ensue as units jockeyed for position

Both centres held their ground waiting on the results of the flanks before committing themselves

Mid game and things were edging it for the Yorkists - the Lancastrian left wing was in danger of collapse and progress was slow on the right

Devon finally manages to get his archers into play

As the Lancastrian left was suffering Somerset, with few intact troops left, opted for a bold strategy. His personal retinue of men at arms charged the twice as large retinue of Gloucester.

A brutal brawl erupted with Somerset winning by one - Gloucester's force was forced to retire daunted

Meanwhilst back in the centre the mercenary pikes forced there way through the hedgerow and confronted the Yorkist archers. Stiff resistance was offered

With a few remnants of the Lancastrian right stll loitering the artillery opened up again. One gun exploded in a shroud of fire and smoke, the other two continued to ploy their gruesome work.

Fearing the battle was being lost in front of his eyes Lord Wenlock threw his own retinue into the fight. Forcing their way up through the 'evil lanes' a bill unit was swiftly dealt with.

Somerset's victorious remnant watch the numerically superior forces of Gloucester continue their retreat. Two units removed from the Yorkist flank. We will forgive Vince as this was his first game of NMTBH but he will learn that splitting combined units is less expensive in the long run.

The fight on the right was still going toe to toe - each side trading blows

By now Wenlock had reached the end of the lanes and was facing down KIng Edward's retinue or a unit of bills. 

He launched his assault against the weaker of the two

As Wenlock pushed forward the entire Lancastrian left moved forward en masse

Wenlock removed the bills and faced down a unit of archers. 

Kind Edward (Me) might have timed this wrong I just couldn't get my troops into action.

As the clock marched to 10.30pm - the end of the game was called and the morale token totalled...

The Lancastrian right wing had all but disappeared.....

Wenlocks forces, severely dented, were locked in combat with Yorkist infantry

and Devon and Hastings were battling it out....

The token count was even - we declared a draw.

Battle of Tewkesbury - a 28mm Wargame - part 1

 Good Morning Folks

Cannot believe that it is now October ! As the evenings draw in and the temperature drops the use of the shed starts to diminish but there is a real sense of purpose within my gaming group to complete our ramble through the Wars of the Roses battles before we get to winter. Tonight we are going to refight the penultimate game in our plan - the Battle of Tewkesbury. As before this post is going to be a 2 parter with the action report following later this week.

Tonight's set up

By chance I visited Tewkesbury in the summer with Mrs Shed. It is an interesting place and the Abbey is a stunning building. They have clearly embraced the historic significance of this place as many of the approaching roads are festooned with flags of the known combatants some 500 plus years ago.

Just outside the town is the only part of the battlefield not developed. This was bloody meadow the site of the Lancastrian rout.

Blood Meadow - Summer of 2021

Background

Yorkists on left facing the Lancastrian forces

The Battle of Tewkesbury was fought on May 4th 1471.

Formed into three battles the Lancastrians took up a defensive position a mile south of the town of Tewkesbury. To their rear were the Rivers Avon and the Severn. Tewkesbury Abbey was just behind the Lancastrian centre. The Lancastrian position was characterised by hedges, woods, embankments and 'evil lanes' 

The Lancastrian right flank was commanded by the Duke of Somerset, the centre by Lord Wenlock and the left by the Earl of Devon. The deposed King, Henry VI's son, Prince Edward (not the King Edward) was present on the field within the centre battle of Wenlock's.

Like the Lancastrians King Edwards forces were arrayed in three battles. He commanded the centre whilst his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester fought on his left and Lord Stanley to the right. Both sides numbered around 6000 men. 

To the left of Edwards position was a thickly weooded hill on which the King placed 200 mounted spears. Their orders were to protect his flank and to harry the enemy when possible.

As the Yorkists moved towards the Lancastrian position, they found that the ground was so broken up by woods, ditches, and embankments that it was difficult to attack in any sort of order. However, the Yorkist archers and artillery showered the Lancastrians with arrows and shot. 

Either to escape the cannonade and volleys of archery or because he saw an opportunity to outflank King Edward's isolated battle, the Duke of Somerset led at least part of his men via some of the "evil lanes" to attack Edward's in the centre. Although taken by surprise, Edward's men resisted stoutly, beating back Somerset's attack among the hedges and banks. At the vital moment, the 200 spearmen Edward had earlier posted in the woods far out on the left attacked Somerset from his own right flank and rear, as Gloucester's battle also joined in the fighting.

Somerset's battle was routed, and his surviving troops tried to escape across the Severn. Most were cut down as they fled. The long meadow astride the Colnbrook leading down to the river is known to this day as "Bloody Meadow". Somerset galloped up to Wenlock, commanding the centre, and demanded to know why Wenlock had failed to support him. According to legend (recounted in Edward Hall's chronicle, written several years afterwards though from first-hand accounts), he did not wait for an answer but dashed out Wenlock's brains with a battleaxe before seeking sanctuary in the Abbey.

 As its morale collapsed, the rest of the Lancastrian army tried to flee, but the Swilgate became a deadly barrier. Many who succeeded in crossing it converged on a mill south of the town of Tewkesbury and a weir in the town itself, where there were crossings over the Avon. Here, too, many drowned or were killed by their pursuers.

Among the leading Lancastrians who died on the field were Somerset's younger brother John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset, and the Earl of Devon. The Prince of Wales was found in a grove by some of Clarence's men. He was summarily executed, despite pleading for his life to Clarence, who had sworn allegiance to him in France barely a year before.

Many of the other Lancastrian nobles and knights sought sanctuary in Tewkesbury Abbey. King Edward attended prayers in the Abbey shortly after the battle. He granted permission for the Prince of Wales and others slain in the battle to be buried within the Abbey or elsewhere in the town without being quartered as traitors as was customary. However, two days after the battle, Somerset and other leaders were dragged out of the Abbey and ordered by Gloucester and the Duke of Norfolk to be put to death after perfunctory trials.[20] Among them were Hugh Courtenay, cousin of the Earls of Devon, and Sir John Langstrother, the prior of the military order of St. John.

The Abbey was not officially a sanctuary. It had to be reconsecrated a month after the battle, following the violence done within its precincts.

Gaming Tewkesbury

Winning the Game

Either side will win the game if they break the enemy or kill King Edward, or Lord Wenlock (aka Prince Edward)

There are a few features in the game that require details

1. All of Edwards artillery is placed on the left flank under the command of Richard, Duke of Gloucester. It was this superiority that forced Somerset to advance and push towards the centre to avoid the guns.

2. Edward has placed a single unit of Light horse in the woods on his left flank. These troops are hidden and may not be shot at until they exit the woods. 

3. The hedges will add disarray every time these are crossed

The 200 spears hidden in the woods

Orders of Battle

Both sides were estimated to have around 6000 men with the Yorkists outnumbering the Lancastrians in both archers and artillery. 

As such the forces in unit counts are comparable but the Yorkists field more guns, have one extra archer unit and a greater number of men at arms. I reckon King Edward could call up[on more retainers.

There is some discussion that the Lancastrian army fielded French mercenaries so their forces include a number of pike replacing bills and archers. The commands are taken directly from the Pole Axed source books.

As we will be playing Never Mind the Billhooks all commanders bar Edward are rated as standard. Edward has heroic status. 

King Edwards retinue

Lancastrian – est 6000 men

Leader	Units	#units	#figures
Sir Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset (BC)	1 x Sk Archers 1 x Men at Arms	2
Sir John Beaufort, Marquis of Dorset	2 x Pike	2
Sir Hugh Courtenay of Boconnoc	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Gervais Clifton of Wilfords	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir John Wenlock/Prince of wales (BC)	1 x Sk Archers 2 x Men at Arms	2
Sir John Langestrother	2 x Pike	2
Sir John Lewkenor of Goringe	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir John Delves	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Nicholas Hervey	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir John Courtenay, Earl of Devon (BC)	1 x Sk Archers 1 x Men at Arms	2
Sire Walter Courtenay of Exeter	2 x Pike	2
Sir Seintclere Pomeroy	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Thomas Fulford	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Edmund Hampden of Beckley	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Artillery	1 Gun	1
		29

The Lancastrian Army

 Yorkist – est 6000 men

Leader	Units	#units	#figures
Edward 1V (BC)	1 x Sk Archers 2 x Men at Arms	3
Sir Fulke Bouchier, Lord Bouchier	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Walter Blount, Lord Mountjoy	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Thomas Fizalan of Arundel, Lord Maltrevers	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester BC	1 x Sk Archers 2 x Men at Arms	3
Sir John Howard	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Walter Devereux, Baron Ferrers	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir William Hastings, Lord Hastings (BC)	1 x Sk Archers 1 x Men at Arms	2
Sir John Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Edmund Grey, Earl of Kent	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Henry Grey, Lord Codnor	1 x Bill 1 x Bow	2
Sir Maurice Berkeley of Beverstone	1 x Light Cavalry	1
Artillery	Guns (with Gloucester)	3
Total		29

Awaiting Orders

So as mentioned the game is being fought tonight - full report in the next few days

See you soon

 

Battle Report here