Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I Remember the Battle of Stirling Bridge

I would like to take a moment to remember one of the most decisive victories by the Scottish ancestors in my attic. In 1297, a British force 12,000 strong set out to crush a smaller Scottish force of about 3,000 infantry. The depiction in Braveheart does not represent how the actual Battle unfolded. Mel chose to call it "Stirling Ridge" and completely ignores the bridge for cinematic purposes. The British forces needed to cross a river to get at the Scottish rabble, and the only real option was the Stirling Bridge.

Rather than attempt to hold and defend the Bridge, William Wallace pulled back and allowed a large number of English cavalry and archers to cross the narrow bridge, splitting key components of the British Northern Army. Once the optimal number of Englishmen had crossed, the Scots rushed the bridgehead with many giant spears and cut off the forces from each other. When the dust settled, the English suffered 70%-90% casualties, and the rest fled back to England. Scotland was free from English domination until Edward gathered his army and marched to Falkirk. The Edwards were quite obsessed with ruling Scotland, and Stirling Bridge was a major setback.

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for clarifying that battle. I love the movie Braveheart, so it's enlightening to read the actual historic description on how the Scots made use of their long spears strategy. William Wallace was a hero who faced internal disunity and betrayal of the clans as well as high odds against the English military. It is honourable to remember his noble fight and the indominable spirit with which it was engaged.

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  2. Hey Iceman, you have your facts correct except for the name of the battle. It was the battle of STIRLING bridge. How do I know?, Well I am originaly from Falkirk, and have, as a young man (not any longer) studied Scottish history. The town of Stirling is some 20 kms from Falkirk, and between the two towns is Bannockburn where we Scots in the 24th. of June 1314 decimated the English army and sent them home with their tails between their legs. We also have the battle of Falkirk 17th. January 1746 where the young pretender and his Jacobites also decimated the English and sent them home. Having said this, I do like your post...cheers..... argee

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  3. The battle was at Stirling Bridge.

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  4. Yay! I will join with you in remembering that war too. My great grandfather, born in Canada in 1846 was named William Wallace Miller. While I can not claim that we have relatives who participated in the Battle of Stirling Bridge, his namesake tells me a lot about his parents' sentiments, held dear after immigration. William's father came from Perthshire to Canada in 1829. He and his relatives were victims of the Brit-orchestrated highland clearances.

    I am sure that you, like I resent the re-writing of Canadian history to exclude the Scots (and also Ulster-Scots), who brought literacy and strength of character and real Canadian values of self-sufficiency, optimism, thrift, pride, respect for others and hard work. The wishy-washy, politically correct, multi-cult agenda is eroding the treuth about values that really built this country.

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  5. Somtimes I swear it would be nice to have an editor.

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  6. Not sure what you mean by a "British force". I think the whole thing was the Scots against the ENGLISH. In 1297 I doubt the Welsh or the Irish were involved.

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