Author: Stephen Maggs

Orders of the day, Volume 33, Issue 5, Oct/Nov 2001

When the English Parliament took it upon themselves to execute King Charles I in 1649 the Scots were, to say the least, outraged. Immediately the Scottish Parliament set up negotiations with the dead King's son, Prince Charles, who had been living on the Continent since being sent there for his safety in 1646 after the Royalist defeat at Torrington. On 24th June 1650 the young Prince sailed from Holland and landed in Scotland at Garmouth-on-Spey. After enduring long, humiliating sermons he signed the Covenant. Believing that a Scottish invasion was imminent, Cromwell ordered a pre-emptive strike to be made and so began assembling his forces at Berwick. They would be under his direct command and be supplied by sea.

On 22nd July Cromwell's troops enthusiastically crossed the border. After weeks of counter-marching the tired, disease-ridden troops launched a surprise attack on 3rd September on the Scots at Dunbar and utterly destroyed them. Undeterred, the Scottish Parliament still backed the young Prince's right to the throne and on 1st January 1651 crowned him King of Scotland. Once more preparations to raise a second army swiftly got under way.

The new army would this time be filled with the King's loyal highlanders, who before were not thought by the Kirk to be godly enough to serve in Scotland's armies. As to be expected, the highland clans for the most part responded enthusiastically and by June began to muster at Stirling. At about the same time Cromwell's reinforced army had marched further north, cutting off any supplies to the King from that direction and at the same time laid siege to Perth. Charles had by now only three possible options open to him: he could abandon the whole idea of regaining his rightful throne, march his army north into the highlands where he knew Cromwell would be hard pressed to follow, or seize the initiative and make a lightning dash for London whilst Cromwell was to his north.

The King, against much advice, decided to march south, crossing the border with 14,000-16000 men on 1st August 1651. Knowing that the Commonwealth would be in serious danger if Charles’s army entered London, Cromwell reacted with great speed. Leaving General Monck at Perth with 6,000 troops he marched south, at the same time ordering Colonel Rich and Major-General Harrison to harass the Royalist rearguard whenever and wherever they found them.

On 23rd August, after a three week march, the King's footsore and weary army entered Worcester, to be greeted warmly by the inhabitants and enthusiastically by the Mayor. The stay in Worcester was only ever intended to be a brief one, for once in the city he intended to take the opportunity to rest his men and send out proclamations far and wide for all loyal citizens to join him there. Naturally he looked to Wales, less than 35 miles away, once a major source of recruits for his father Charles I. Sadly the only major Welsh troops to come to Worcester would be answering to Cromwell.

On the 27th Lambert and Cromwell reached Evesham, effectively barring the King's route to the capital. Hearing of this new development the Scots began to prepare Worcester for defence. On the 28th Lambert seized the bridge at Upton and began assembling his 12,000 men on the western bank of the Severn in preparation for his assault along the Teme River north of Powick. Cromwell meantime had pressed his outposts forward to within 'half a musket shot' of the Scots on Red Hill, east of the city.

On 3rd September 1651 Cromwell let loose 30,000 of his New Model Army, and the militias that supported it, upon the hapless city. In a skilful two pronged attack at Powick Bridge and the Castle Mound south of the city the Parliamentarians overwhelmed the Scots, though only after some very stubborn defending, much of which had to be driven away at 'push of pike'.

At around midnight the final shots of the battle would have been heard above the cries of the wounded. At least 3,000 of the Scots were said to have been killed, many more wounded. Upwards of 10,000 were taken prisoner and imprisoned within various city buildings, including the city’s fine Cathedral, which more than likely housed the majority. Of the thousands taken at Worcester at least 2,000 of them were said to have suffered transportation to the colonies whilst others were put to work in the Durham Mines and the Fenland drainage schemes of Cambridgeshire.

WORCESTER 2001
HOW THE MEMORIAL CAME ABOUT

Having been brought up in Worcester, where my family still live, it was inevitable that I grew up with an interest of in the Civil War, and in particular the battle of Worcester.

For many years I enjoyed walking the battlefield at Powick and in the city itself; for long periods I would sit on the old Powick Bridge and try to imagine what that fateful day was really like.

In 1989 my wife and I moved to Scotland, where we still live today with our three children. Here I started to find an interest in the highland clans that followed Montrose and soon began researching which clans had been at Worcester and in particular who led them. During the early part of 1999 I began to correspond with the many clan societies, whose ancestors had been at Worcester, to try find out more about them.

After visiting Worcester once more during the summer I began to seriously ask myself why there were no memorials marking the burial sites that were known throughout the city. Returning back to Scotland I once more began to correspond with the clan societies, asking them what they thought of the idea of a memorial stone being erected to the 3,000 Scots who died in the battle. Having received a very positive response I let the people of Worcester know of my plans, this being through the local papers.

The Commandery Civil War Centre duly contacted me and asked me what plans I had, as they too were interested in marking the 350th anniversary of the battle. Not long afterwards I was fortunate enough to get a phone call from John Bennett, owner of the original battlefield and land where I intended the memorial stone to be sited. John and I were soon joined by John Henderson, who was to become a valuable member of the team. The two Johns handled the fund-raising side of things and the banquet to which the clan representatives would be invited, whilst I organised the clans here in Scotland.

Much phoning and letter-writing resulted in Sir Tam Dalyell agreeing to unveil the memorial and various clan representatives travelling from the highlands and as far away as the USA, where their ancestors had been transported to after the battle. On 20th August 2001 the memorial stone, a two tonne block of Dumfriesshire granite, gifted to us from a quarry, was collected by John Henderson and brought to Worcester where it was inscribed with the words composed by the MacNeil of Barra.

On 1st September the memorial banquet was held in Worcester's Guild Hall, attended by about 150 guests. A traditional Scottish meal was enjoyed by all, the haggis being led into the room by a lone piper. On the morning of 2nd September the memorial ceremony took place. A guard of honour was mounted by members of the Sealed Knot and a large crowed gathered to witness Sir Tam Dalyell unveil the stone, my three children lay flowers to the fallen and a piper play a lament. The silence was broken by a musket volley from the guard of honour, bringing the service to an end. All who had witnessed the event agreed that it was long overdue.

I myself feel immensely proud to have started such a worthy project and for seeing it completed. Through “Orders of the Daye” may I thank the Sealed Knot, not only for two marvellous and inspiring battles that weekend, but for mounting a fine guard of honour. Your presence really made the event an experience to remember. My thanks also go to John Bennett and John Henderson for the tremendous help they gave in ensuring that the Scottish soldiers will now no longer be forgotten.