Saturday, May 31, 2025

Edward Neville, 3rd Baron Bergavenny Retinue

A Familiar Ring? Our Wars of the Roses Battle for the River Skerne

Last night, our club's Wars of the Roses campaign saw a fierce engagement: the Battle for the River Skerne! Now, some of you might be thinking "Ferrybridge?!" but I promise, any resemblance is purely coincidental. The Yorkists, showing impressive resolve, managed to seize the vital bridge and even pushed some of their forces across the river. However, the Lancastrian reserves were steadily advancing, poised to make their mark on the battle.

12mm Kalistra WOTR Project

12mm Kalistra project nearing completion! I've painted both Yorkists and Lancastrians and made as many command stands as possible to cover various battles for the period.

The Battle for St. Cuthbert's Spire

Setting: A chill morning in a contested borderland. The stone spire of St. Cuthbert's Church stood defiant, a crucial strongpoint held by the Lancastrians.

Forces:

Yorkists: Led by Edward, Earl of March, with the stalwart support of Black Herbert and the swift Devereux.
Lancastrians: Commanded by Earl Rivers, reinforced by the formidable Percy of Northumberland and the late-arriving Somerset.

The Clash:

The battle commenced with Devereux's men, tasked with the primary assault, pushing through a patchwork of fields and stubborn hedgerows. The Lancastrian archers, positioned within the church grounds and along the walls, unleashed a devastating hail of arrows. The Yorkist advance faltered, ranks thinning under the intense fire.
Edward, leading the main Yorkist thrust towards the church's central defenses, found his progress agonizingly slow. The Lancastrian defenders held firm, their spears and bills a deadly barrier.
The situation worsened for the Yorkists with the unexpected arrival of Somerset. His charge, a whirlwind of steel and fury, slammed into Black Herbert's flank. Herbert, attempting to secure the Yorkist right, found himself overwhelmed by the sheer momentum of Somerset's assault. The Yorkist household troops, though brave, were pushed back, their lines buckling.
In the center, Edward's men fought with grim determination, but the growing casualties and the relentless Lancastrian defense began to take their toll. The church, once a target, now seemed an impregnable fortress.
As the light began to fade, the Yorkists realized the battle was lost. Retreat, though bitter, was the only option. Edward, with his remaining forces, managed to disengage, leaving the Lancastrians in possession of St. Cuthbert's Spire.

Aftermath:

The fields around St. Cuthbert's Church were littered with the fallen. The Yorkist retreat, though successful, was costly. The full extent of their losses remains to be tallied, a grim prelude to the next chapter in this bloody campaign. The Lancastrians held the church, but at what cost to their own men? And what of the Yorkists, will they regroup, and what strategy will they employ in the next confrontation? Only time will tell.