Whilst the Newcastle’s Blog Writing Fairy was sunning herself in the South of France, the regiment took part in the annual commemorative march at the battlefield of Marston Moor, Yorkshire. Once again Graham was there and is able to step in and provide a round up of what went on! (The Newcastle’s Blog Writing Fairy will be making far more effort soon!)
Other Sealed Knot events did not keep Newcastle’s from commemorating one of Britain’s greatest military encounters. More than half those present donned the famous Whitecoats and the inhabitants along the route rushed to the end of their drives or angled their cameras from bedroom windows as we passed by.
Suffering notable absences from our 21st century casualties through age and illness, the regiment marched on, bolstered by the enthusiastic camaraderie of the younger members.
With cheap beer to start the march in a Sam Smiths pub and a picnic at the monument to finish, the only thing that could go wrong was the weather but it held just until we had finished eating, so that only the car journey home was awash: providing ample opportunity to reflect on the brilliant description we’d had of the Marston Moor campaign and battle by our own Simon Wright, as part of the commemoration at the monument. The only sad part for me was watching the mixed bag of other regiments march away, eventually to arrive at the other village, cut down to less than half the original – the symbolism of the bedraggled remnants bereft of the famous whitecoats would be lost on the welcoming onlookers.
If you only ever get one chance to do this historic march, right through the middle of the 1644 battlefield, do it. If you are near enough or love it enough do it all the time as many do: that is great but do it once at least. Personally, I think the joining fees for the regiment are worth it, just to take part in this annual event. Many died for their freedom on that field and their followers continued the fight right up to the restoration, the Glorious Revolution in 1688 and even beyond. It is good they are remembered still!
The Battle of Marstoon Moor, held in 1644 just outside York, was the most famous and important event of the wars for our regiment. Newcastle’s famous ‘White Coats’ were there until the bitter end and took part in a heroic last stand, until the final few were captured. The area where the deceased white coats were found was said to be awash with blood, making our white coated troops look like scarificed lambs, which is a loose reasoning for why we got our nickname of ‘lambs’ and often refer to ourselves as a flock.
Overall it was a great event and one that our Blog Writing Fairy very much looks forward to going to next year!! Here are some picutres of the day.
Images courtesy of Roma Webb.