Posted on 06/25/2014 4:03:56 AM PDT by the scotsman
'A SIMPLE wreath-laying ceremony was staged to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn yesterday as the Scottish Government declared the event had helped inspire the nation’s “psyche”.
A handful of visitors watched a ceremony at the spot Robert the Bruce is said to have planted his standard the night before he led his troops into battle.
However, more than 15,000 people are expected to flock to the site, on the outskirts of Stirling, this weekend for a series of dramatic re-enactments and a “celebration” of Scottish culture and history.
Ten children with roots from different parts of the UK, including England and Wales, took part in the ceremony, which was carried out following a procession – led by a sole drummer – from the new £9.1 million visitor centre to the historic rotunda monument.'
(Excerpt) Read more at scotsman.com ...
Battle of Bannockburn: What was it all about?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-27900285
‘Oldest surviving’ Bannockburn manuscript restored
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-27921960
Bannockburn anniversary: Scottish freedom ... and not a hint of Mel Gibson
Strange. The Scots made much more of a noise for the anniversary of Flodden - and they got well and truly tonked there.
Scot/Irish Bump.
I wish Scotland the best, but their current government sucks.
Leftism doesn’t ever work.
LOL
Its being kept low-key, so the nationalists don’t try and hijack it for their own ends. With Sept coming up.
They seem to be on the islamist track too.
I remember visiting Culloden moor battlefield some years ago and being amused by a small reenactment of the battle by a schoolteacher and his small, eager students. The teacher must have been a natural he was so good at it.
BANNOCKBURN
(Matt McGinn)
(Sung to the tune of “The Battle of New Orleans”)
In 1314, the twenty-fourth of June,
King Eddie says “We’re ready now to steal the stone of Scone.”
He brought his biggest army but discovered he’d backed a deuce
At Bannockburn he found that he was up against a Bruce.
Refrain: Well, we raised our pikes and the English kept a-coming,
But they werena quite so happy when we gie’d the pikes a blaw.
Struck once more, they began a-running.
Ready, steady Eddie, go, it’s time to shoot the craw.
Well, we had a bowl of porridge and a wee bit pinch of salt.
We had a dram of whisky and it was the finest malt.
We each wore a tammy and we wore the philibegs.
Eddie was in terror when he seen the hairy legs.
Refrain
Now poor King Edward, nearly had a fit
When he seen his cavalry falling doon a pit.
His men looked up from the trap that Bruce had built
And they were shocked to find out what was worn beneath the kilt.
Refrain
He sent for his archers, a group of country folk.
They erred and they purred, what a funny way they spoke.
With those archers Eddie had a go,
But they were as effective as the ones on radio.
Refrain
On the fastest horse that you ever saw,
King Eddie went a-racing o’er the Border and awa.
He was fond of Scotland, but he never did return.
He didna like the welcome that he got at Bannockburn.
Refrain
The novelist James Michener once noted the curious American tendency to commemorate defeats--Bunker Hill, the Alamo, Pearl Harbor, etc.
1314--Western Washington University Scottish Country Dance Club
There was a documentary done on that battle in the 70s; the most memorable scene was the depiction of 'grapeshot' used by the Brits - as the Scots advanced, the announcer said, "This is grapeshot, and this is what is does ..."
file under: Norman internecine squabbles, AD 1066-1485
And soon the first black president.
Sad. Did not know.
Battle of Bannockburn: What was it all about?
It looks like Bruce wanted the right to wear a kilt....
He thought he looked adorable in one.
And Custers last stand, vietnam, etc etc. Curiously, the English do that a bit as well - Hastings, Dunkirk, The Somme, Spion Kop... The English also have a very endearing quality of having a lot of time for people who beat us fair and square - King Arthur, Rommel, Saladin, Gandhi, Washington. Washington is quite a hero here. My local bar is called “The Washington”, and features a big picture of the man.
The British forces under the Duke of Cumberland outnumbered the Scots. Two to one. The Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho vastly outnumbered the troops Custer made available for the battle. Almost ten to one
The Indians had Henry repeating rifles, the 7th Cavalry was armed with Springfield Model 1873 single shot rifles. The English had cannons and grapeshot, the Scots were armed with claymores. They had 13 cannons, but no shot or powder. One side was vastly outgunned by the other. Custer coulld have had gatttling guns, but they were declined as they were too heavy and cumbersome, and would slow him down.
Both battlefields have a ghostly feeling after the tourists have left, the wind is blowing, and you hear the small sounds of near silence as the wind blows through the grass and heather.
Where they are different is that both battles were complete , overwhelming victories for the victors. The English are still in control, however the Indian victory was short lived with the destruction of the Buffalo, the massacre at Wounded Knee, and the unceasing westward march of the emigrants on the Oregon, California, Santa Fe, and Mormon Trails.
I can understand that feeling. I’ve been to Waterloo, Crecy and Agincourt, but the only time I’ve actually felt it was at Flodden.
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