Bloody January: Adams County\u27s Own Fall

On a cold 10th of January, in the dark early hours of the morning, more disaster struck. Cole\u27s Cavalry, the 1st Potomac Home Brigade Cavalry had seen nothing but disaster since January began. Cold air stung their noses, snow and freezing rain pelted their stand collars and soaked their saddles. Finally, the found rest in a camp atop Loudon Heights, with vast panoramic views of the Shenandoah and Potomac from the crest of the hill. [excerpt

Periodic Revival or Continuation of the Ancient Military Tradition? Another Look at the Question of the Katáfraktoi in the Byzantine Army

This article discusses the question of origin and identity of katáfraktoi – heavy-armoured cavalry in Byzantium. In the specialist literature on the subject, there is a widespread opinion that the heavily-armoured elitist cavalry, defined as catafracti and clibanarii had existed from the Hellenistic period until the end of Late Antiquity. Whereas a comparison of the construction, material and use of the individual elements of weapons and armour used by the Byzantine heavy cavalry from the sixth century and the first half of the seventh century with those of the ancient catafracti and clibanarii, allows us to draw the conclusion that the Byzantine heavily armed cavalry was its continuation, not necessarily in respect of the identity of the formations and their tactics, but more so in respect of the used arms and other elements of equipment. The term catafracti was not used at that time. Classifying the Byzantine cavalry from this period as catafracti, despite the fact that it is not usually defined in this way is based on the opinion of emperor Leo VI, expressed in Tactica, in accordance with which the chief element which distinguished catafracti and clibanarii units from other types of cavalry, was the complete armour of both the horse and rider. In spite of the fact, that the Romans, in response to the Sasanid heavy horsemen created their own mailed cavalry described by names catafracti or clibanarii, the influence of the Steppe people (principally the Huns and Avars) was more pronounced in the next centuries. Their weapons and tactics completely transformed the Byzantine way of war. In particular, this development concerned the cavalry – the main striking force of Byzantine army at this time. As we have seen, a disappearance of the ancient terms catafracti and clibanarii and their tactics (fighting in wedge-column order) was linked with this process of change. In the 10th century, in contemporary military treatises the term katáfraktoi appeared once again, a fact that can be connected with a usage typical for the “Macedonian renaissance”. At this time, the elitist formations of this type constituted a force marginal as compared to other cavalry units making up the Byzantine forces. However, the appearance of the 10th century katáfraktoi were a practical effect of the revival of ancient traditions in the Byzantine culture: they were not a formation which was only modeled on its ancient predecessor, but its constituted a continuation of the ancient patterns. The horsemen were equipped with similar protective armour as their ancient forerunners. They also applied the same tactics, for instance by fighting in the wedge-column order, which is ascribed to the ancient cavalry of this type. Sources mentioned above indicates, that this kind of battle array was reintroduced at this time. Moreover, the katáfraktoi were also present as a main striking cavalry force in the Comnenian army, which indicates, that heavy-armoured cavalry was still necessary. There is no reason to accept the opinion that there was no continuous tradition of heavy-armoured cavalry in the Byzantine Empire

Notes on Canadian Units and Formations Engaged: Battles of the Somme, March-April 1918

Although the Canadian Corps did not participate directly in the German Spring Offensives that began on 21 March 1918, detached Canadian cavalry, artillery, and motor machine gun units serving with British divisions played important roles at various points in the battles. In one of the better known instances, Canadian cavalry were instrumental in delaying a German drive on 30 March south of Amiens at Moreuil Wood where, in one of the most dramatic cavalry actions of the war, Lieutenant Gordon Flowerdew led a mounted charge with sabres drawn. For that action, he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. Le Corps canadien n’a pas participé directement aux batailles durant l’offensive du printemps des Allemands qui a commencé le 21 mars 1918, mais des unités de cavalerie, d’artillerie et de mitrailleuses du pays ayant servi au sein de divisions britanniques ont joué un rôle important à différents moments. Dans l’un de ces épisodes les mieux connus, la cavalerie canadienne a joué un rôle déterminant en retardant l’avance des Allemands, le 30 mars, au sud d’Amiens, au bois de Moreuil. Dans une des charges de cavalerie les plus mémorables de la Première Guerre mondiale, le lieutenant Gordon Flowerdew a dirigé ses hommes, armés d’épées déployées. Pour cet exploit, la Croix de Victoria lui a été attribuée à titre posthume

The Ottoman Gunpowder Empire and the Composite Bow

The Ottoman Empire is known today as a major Gunpowder Empire, famous for its prevalent use of this staple of modern warfare as early as the sixteenth century. However, when Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq visited Constantinople from 1554 to 1562, gunpowder was not used by the Sipahi cavalry who stubbornly, it seems, insisted on continuing to use the composite bow that the Turks had been using for centuries. This continued, despite their fear of European cavalry who used “small muskets” against them on raids. Was this a good idea? Was the composite bow a match or contemporary handheld firearms? Were Turkish tactics incompatible with firearms to the point that the Ottomans would have lost their effectiveness on the battlefield? Could the Ottoman Empire even be considered a Gunpowder Empire with such a refusal

Tackling the Turk : an examination of tactics employed by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade during the Sinai-Palestine campaign of World War I : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Defence and Strategic Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

This thesis examines the tactics employed by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles (NZMR) Brigade during the Sinai Palestine Campaign of World War I. It seeks to determine how the Boer War shaped mounted rifles tactical doctrine prior to World War I, what tactics were employed during the Sinai Palestine campaign itself, and how the tactics evolved over the course of the campaign. It begins by tracing the New Zealand experience in the Boer War, the ensuing development of mounted rifles tactical doctrine and the formation of yeomanry and mounted rifles units immediately prior to World War I. The thesis follows the campaign in Sinai and Palestine, focusing primarily on patrolling operations and attacks, from the re-building of the NZMR Brigade after its return to Egypt from Gallipoli in December 1915, until the conclusion of operations at Amman in September 1918. The thesis finds that by 1914, New Zealand mounted rifles units trained to employ fire tactics, to move mounted, but to conduct attacks dismounted. New Zealanders undertook extensive mounted patrolling from the outset of the campaign. Most attacks were conducted as 'quick' attacks, despite Turkish defensive positions often being well prepared and stubbornly defended. Most attacks employed envelopment of enemy flanks and followed a general pattern of firing lines of dismounted troopers closing on the enemy under the combined weight of their own and neighbouring rifle fire, machine gun fire and artillery support. Attacks usually concluded with a bayonet charge from short range, once firing lines had got close enough to the enemy. Mounted charges were rarely undertaken, despite the spectacular success of the Australian mounted charge at Beersheba. Indeed, the New Zealand commander, General Chaytor, made a deliberate decision to continue employing dismounted tactics. The thesis finds that longevity in command appointments and the influence and experience of Boer War veterans had a positive effect on the tactics used by the NZMR Brigade

Battle of Vellinghausen: Lessons Learnt? A Study of the British army in the closing stages of the Seven Years War in Western Europe as studied through the Battle of Vellinghausen

This is a study of the British military actions in Western Germany during the Seven Years War, investigating the army’s ability in combat and analysing its improvements through the case study of the Battle of Vellinghausen. This will provide a more concentrated scope of the conflict centred on the Western theatre, rather than the general study upon the British army in America or the academic’s attraction with the Battle of Minden. With this in mind the research will be significant as it will open up discussions on how the British army fought in the European style during the mid-eighteenth century, as well as aiming to explore whether the British army learnt from its lessons early in the war to become an efficient fighting machine. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the actions of the British army during the Seven Years War in Western Germany, breaking the army down into its component parts to highlight how the army fought on a European battlefield. By addressing the campaigns during 1758-61, this gives me several key battles with which to analyse whether the army improved its performance. The mid-eighteenth century was a period of shifting tactics in the way European war was fought, with new tactics and doctrine altering warfare, such as the adoption of irregular forces, or the advancement in artillery science. This thesis will identify any changes that were absorbed and whether these improved the army. It is to be noted that Western Europe is important to study, as the historiography studied within the Seven Years War focuses on other theatres of the conflict, chiefly America and Frederick the Greats campaigns in Central Europe. This lack of interest by British historians could possibly be due to the fact that the army in Western Europe was not chiefly a British one; nor was the theatre considered particularly important by the British government or featured any monumental battles such as Leuthen, Kolin or Kunersdorf. These features could be contributing to the lack of academic study within this area, a situation I would like to address. Coupled with this is the fact that enough has already been written on the analyses of the political, social and economic areas of this period in the Age of Enlightenment. Thus I believe it is necessary to return to traditional military history, which has long been neglected, and bring to light the successful actions of the British Army in Western Europe back into study

The Kelly Gang reborn: The first Australian mounted unit to see active service in the Second World War

In the pre-dawn chill the sentries shifted in their positions and stared at the rocky hills and mountains beyond their position. The camp stirred to the familiar smell of horse feed and the jingle of a bridle as the men, adorned in their distinctive slouch hats, prepared for their early morning patrol. Before them lay the vast expanse of the Middle East. The desert, rock and sands of Syria. The Middle East; desert, sand, horses and slouch hats invokes the images of the triumphant Australian Light Horse of World War One. It brings to mind images and memories such as the charge at Beersheba and the ride to Damascus. But this was not 1918, but 1941. Most of the men who mounted these steady beasts had not been born as the Light Horse had conducted the last great mounted campaign in military history. In the intervening years the horse had given way to sounds and throbs of diesel engines, to armoured plate and the crack of high velocity cannon. So what were these Australian horsemen doing in Syria, a generation on from the Light Horse and light years on in technology? The “Kelly Gang” as this Light Horse troop came to be known was the first mounted Australian unit to see active service in the Second World War. They formed part of the 7th Australian Division AIF (2 Brigades) under the command of Major-General John Lavarack who were responsible for the coastal and central sectors of the British invasion of Vichy French held Syria. Although vastly outnumbered and outgunned by the opposing Vichy French forces the operations that commenced on 6 June, 1941 were initially successful. By the 14 June the Australians had reached the line of Sidon –Jezzine- Merdajayoun. The French command reacted by assembling their superior armoured forces to counter-attack the advancing Australian units. The coastal thrust was brought to a standstill and Merdajayoun recaptured. \u27The Kelly Gang Reborn: The first Australian mounted unit to see active service in the Second World War\u27, has been published as