A Welsh English Retinue at Agincourt

 

The Welsh English Retinue!

I wanted to do something a little different for my English Hundred Year War Retinue and the Welsh Archers of Brecon under their Knight Daffyd Gam provided the Inspiration!

By all accounts Davy Gam was something of a nutter, a blonde or Red-Haired, One-Eyed maniac who always led from the front and was involved in many fights from his teens until his death at the age of 64 in the mud blood and gore that was Agincourt.

  This figure comes from Perry Miniatures Agincourt English Army. The head is from West Wind, an Arthurian I think. I like its manic shouting face, the huge teeth and mop of hair! Of course he would have worn a helmet in battle but in his eagerness to get involved with his hot blooded Celtic genes screaming charge, the loon has charged in before he is completely dressed, no wonder he got killed!

The White of his surcoat is Citadel Screaming Skull as a base coat, washed with a mix 70/30 Citadel Zhandri Dust and Seraphim Sepia then gradually highlighted by adding Vallejo Ivory to the base before a final highlight of Ivory mixed with white 70/30.

   This is pretty much a standard recipe for me for white cloth

He has his heraldic device, Argent a Lion Sable, Rampant, armed Gules, displayed on his chest and back.

Ruckus allows considerable variety in the English Retinue and I have gone for the Squires as Captains of Archers option to increase the units shooting power.  Here Davy’s son Morgan and his Son in  Law to be William ap Thomas are equipped with longbows at the expense of some armour. 

I was thinking of differencing Morgan’s arms with a Red Label but I am not sure how established the rules of heraldry were at this time so I left it. I can always paint it in later.

  These are both from Perrys Agincourt, with the wrapped bow from the French Mounted knights box

Madoc, on the left, wears kettle helm and jack and is sporting the red cross of St George.  The Agincourt campaign is probably the first time that the St George cross was associated with a national identity for English armies. In Ruckus his spear and shield combination grant the traits Support and Fend.

In the centre is Eynon ap Gruffydh, man at arms and on the left, Ithel, another Spear and Shield wielding warrior. 

Ruckus allows considerable variation in the English Retinue and it can be fielded as  a standard Ruckus unit with a captain two fully armoured squires three retainer equipped with spear and shield or bills. It can also go for a “Full English” the “Agincourt Retinue” with captain and a man at arms in full armour, two less well protected captains of archers and eight archers

It was Henrys decree that all should bear the red cross of St George in the form of a badge

  I have based the unit with the mud of the ploughed field with some dead, sparse wintery foliage

 

Morfran, Idris and Ivor

The notorious two finger salute is supposed to have originated from Agincourt although there seems to be little evidence to support this.

  Legend has it that the French would cut off three fingers from the right hand of any archers they captured. Whatever the truth, there are quite few figures available performing the Agincourt salute. This one is a resin print and was given as a freebie to all that attended Mister B-I-G Billhooks. I think it is from Andrew Medbury

Madyn, Meurig and Hwfa

The Middle of these three is from my friend Martin Brook at Ragged Staff Minis an excellent range of sculpts. I had not noticed his missing sword until after I had taken the pics! 

Gwogan, Hywel and Cynddelw.

  These three are modelled as archers equipped for melee, like all the other figures, their weapons and armour, like the other rank and file, are rusted and grimy from the bad weather and mud.

I am quite pleased with my new Retinue and can’t wait to get them into a game!