Rockingham Castle - What a CRACKING event! All of those that couldn’t make it on the field really missed out on something (yes that includes you Private O Paul....turning up in Civvies! Hehehehe).
The castle grounds are a lovely camping area, and battlefield was really different and fun. This was originally an English Civil War battle site, and on Sunday before we stormed the hill we were hiding in the holes in the hillside where the artillery had fallen short of the castle walls.
Sundays battle saw us in skirmish order pushing up the hillside in the centre of the line in probably the most exposed position. The Rebs started down the hillside leaving the safety of the highest ground and fired on us (obviously not realising that firing at us in reality, a such an angle would have meant the lead balls falling out of the muzzle of their guns!) We kept our heads down and pushed up with the rest of the brigade boxing the Rebs in. You would not have guessed we were meant to lose that day
Sunday night Andy Charlton, Mark Tinsley & Alex Darby were initiated into the 69th (ie they got into “Deb’s Pants”) photographic evidence is available on request
Great to have the Captain with his guitar, Magz with her violin & Al on the drums for our evening entertainment.
Monday we practiced some excellent moves in drill, “by brigade into line on the right”, skirmish drill and “Nigel’s crop circles”
which can be found on page 69 of Morgan’s drill manual The battle was again a good spectacle until the farce at the end. The Union army were holding the hill, not moving down as the Rebs had done the day before. We were steadfast, with superior numbers, cavalry & some extremely determined infantry who were keeping up a good rate of fire on the Rebs. It really was a case of “They shall not pass!”
So all in all a great weekend. Good battles, great camping ground, excellent drill and of course good company.
Special mentions must go to Cpl Oli McCarroll and Pvt Dave Morgan who spent a good while teaching our guest Tom drill so he could be ready for the battle (thanks guys).
See you all at the next one.
Onwards & upwards
Chunky
