ECW Comissions

During the time I produced my own ECW collection, I garnered a bit of interest from others who wanted me to paint some units for them...

One of these days I hope to return to this period. I think I have unpainted lead to the tune of four infantry battalions and three or four squadrons of horse.

Cropredy Bridge, Battle Line

I don't think these photos have every been published... enjoy!

Cropredy Bridge, Parlimentarian Commanders

I already posted William Waller, but here is again for the sake of completeness...

Lt. General John Middleton was William Waller's second in command and seems to have led the main attack at Cropredy Bridge.

Sir Arthur Heselrigge, commander of the famous Cuirassier regiment nicknamed "Heselrigge's Lobsters". I have found no less than a dozen spellings for this gentleman's name...

Next week I'll have some parting shots with this collection in action...

Cropredy Bridge, Parlimentarian Dragoons and Artillery

Continuing the ECW posts, we'll start off with Waller's Dragoons...

To properly represent them as dismounted, there should be two mounted squadrons. I usually field the mounted squadron and use the foot troops as commanded shot.

Finally for Waller's army, I have two cannons and a stand of artillery train guard. In Victory Without Quarter (my free rules in case readers don't know), you can have an artillery train guard deployed with your guns. They give some small measure of protection with the ability to stand and fire at chargers - not a huge defense, but better than nothing!

These models will work as easily for Royalists as Roundheads (as will most ECW units with a quick flag swap)!

Cropredy Bridge, Parlimentarian Horse

Turning next to the horse, My Parlimentarian horse consists of seven squadrons of horse organized into three regiments and two squadrons of cuirassiers (Heselrigge's Lobsters). The unit featured in the foreground in the first two photos below is Colonel Jonas Vandruske's Regiment (with the man himself leading the way). The flag is fictional since I couldn't find any record of the standard that unit carried.

Massed Parlimentarian horse led by Vandruske's Regiment

CHARGE!

Sir William Waller's Regiment

Sir William Waller's Regiment, Detail

Sir Arthur Heselrigge's Regiment (Cuirassiers)

Sir Arthur Heselrigge's Regiment (Cuirassiers), Detail

Sir Richard Norton's Regiment

Sir Richard Norton's Regiment, Detail

This is still the largest collection of cavalry (nine squadrons) I've ever painted for a single project. I'm hoping to equal that with my Jacobite army for the Boyne (1690) when I get around to painting them! Next week, dragoons and artillery...

Cropredy Bridge, Parlimentarian Foot

It's been a very long time since I looked at this army - unfortunately a lack of space in my mini cabinets means this army has been (carefully) packed away. Like all of my historical collections, when I started collecting models for the English Civil War, I chose a small battle on which to model my forces. The first army I chose was William Waller's army from the Battle at Cropredy Bridge, the core of which was made up of five battalions of foot.

William Waller

Col Samuel Joseph's Regiment

Col Ralph Weldon's Regiment

Kent Trained Band Regiment
 

Sir William Waller's Regiment

Sir Arthur Heselrigge's Regiment

Sir William leads his troops into battle!

Parlimentarian line of battle.

Next week I'll post shots of the horse...