Post by neil6147 on Jan 19, 2007 23:07:56 GMT 10
MEMORIAL TO BRAVEHEARTS
A MEMORIAL is to be erected to the Scots who died under William Wallace at the Battle of Falkirk.
More than 10,000 Scots lost their lives in the 1298 defeat by the English under Edward I. But Wallace's scorched-earth tactics meant Edward was unable to go on to conquer Scotland.
A7ft cairn will be unveiled at the site near Callendar Park after a march on July 21.
Braveheart - The First Battle of Falkirk
As the famished English army prepared to limp back to Edinburgh, the Earls of Angus and Dunbar came to the English camp to tell them that Wallace and his army were hiding 15 miles away in Callander Wood, south of Falkirk, waiting to harass the English when they retreated. On hearing this very welcome news Edward cried out "Thanks be to God, who hitherto hath delivered me from every danger, they need not chase after me, I will go forth and meet them". That night the English army lay in the fields eady of Linlithgow with their arms beside them, each horse beside its rider. They were not only hungry, but jittery. An alarm went up that the Scots were attacking, and in panic Edward's horse kicked him, breaking two of his ribs; despite the pain, he gave orders to advance. Fearing that Wallace would fall back leaving the countryside desolated and deserted for the starving English, Edward was impatient to come to battle.
Uncharacteristically, Wallace decided to stand and fight. His disposition was as good as the terrain allowed, but it was a desparate gamble with inferior Scottish foot soldiers, supported by a small number of horsemen, confronted by ironclad cavalry and a well trained force of longbowmen who could lay down a barrage of arrows to fall as thick as heavy rain, out-ranging the Scot's short bows.
Wallace deployed his infantry on a hill, now a district of Falkirk called Wallacestone. They formed four circles, or schiltroms, every man aiming a 12ft spear so that each schiltrom had the appearance of a giant porcupine. The front was defended by a stockade of long stakes driven into the ground and linked together with stout ropes. Wallace's cavalry, some 1000 horses, commanded by nobles, took up postion at the rear. Between his position and the advancing English lay Westquarter burn and a stretch of boggy ground. Somehow the English cavalry managed to cross the wet grund and, with their heavily armoured horses, soon knocked down the stockade to engage the schiltrom which held firm, many a rider being brought down on the end of a spear.
At the first charge of the English cavalry the Scottish cavalry fled the field, once again betraying Wallace at the last critical moment. The Welsh bowmen now joined the battle and smothered the Scots with arrows. For a long time the schiltroms held, 'each stepping where his comrade fell'. The Scottish defence was magnificent, justifying the discipline which Wallace had instilled in them, but eventually the schiltroms were breached. The slaughter which followed must have been horrific as the heavy English cavalry tore into them, a 12ft spear was an encumbrance rather than a weapon in close combat. The death toll has been estimated at 10,000 to 15,000. Wallace fled to the safety of the woods to the north where the pursuing cavalry could not reach him.
Please note we have this date marked in our diary and plan to make the trip to FALKIRK on this great day.
Neil
A MEMORIAL is to be erected to the Scots who died under William Wallace at the Battle of Falkirk.
More than 10,000 Scots lost their lives in the 1298 defeat by the English under Edward I. But Wallace's scorched-earth tactics meant Edward was unable to go on to conquer Scotland.
A7ft cairn will be unveiled at the site near Callendar Park after a march on July 21.
Braveheart - The First Battle of Falkirk
As the famished English army prepared to limp back to Edinburgh, the Earls of Angus and Dunbar came to the English camp to tell them that Wallace and his army were hiding 15 miles away in Callander Wood, south of Falkirk, waiting to harass the English when they retreated. On hearing this very welcome news Edward cried out "Thanks be to God, who hitherto hath delivered me from every danger, they need not chase after me, I will go forth and meet them". That night the English army lay in the fields eady of Linlithgow with their arms beside them, each horse beside its rider. They were not only hungry, but jittery. An alarm went up that the Scots were attacking, and in panic Edward's horse kicked him, breaking two of his ribs; despite the pain, he gave orders to advance. Fearing that Wallace would fall back leaving the countryside desolated and deserted for the starving English, Edward was impatient to come to battle.
Uncharacteristically, Wallace decided to stand and fight. His disposition was as good as the terrain allowed, but it was a desparate gamble with inferior Scottish foot soldiers, supported by a small number of horsemen, confronted by ironclad cavalry and a well trained force of longbowmen who could lay down a barrage of arrows to fall as thick as heavy rain, out-ranging the Scot's short bows.
Wallace deployed his infantry on a hill, now a district of Falkirk called Wallacestone. They formed four circles, or schiltroms, every man aiming a 12ft spear so that each schiltrom had the appearance of a giant porcupine. The front was defended by a stockade of long stakes driven into the ground and linked together with stout ropes. Wallace's cavalry, some 1000 horses, commanded by nobles, took up postion at the rear. Between his position and the advancing English lay Westquarter burn and a stretch of boggy ground. Somehow the English cavalry managed to cross the wet grund and, with their heavily armoured horses, soon knocked down the stockade to engage the schiltrom which held firm, many a rider being brought down on the end of a spear.
At the first charge of the English cavalry the Scottish cavalry fled the field, once again betraying Wallace at the last critical moment. The Welsh bowmen now joined the battle and smothered the Scots with arrows. For a long time the schiltroms held, 'each stepping where his comrade fell'. The Scottish defence was magnificent, justifying the discipline which Wallace had instilled in them, but eventually the schiltroms were breached. The slaughter which followed must have been horrific as the heavy English cavalry tore into them, a 12ft spear was an encumbrance rather than a weapon in close combat. The death toll has been estimated at 10,000 to 15,000. Wallace fled to the safety of the woods to the north where the pursuing cavalry could not reach him.
Please note we have this date marked in our diary and plan to make the trip to FALKIRK on this great day.
Neil
