“Order your pike” … ”Advance your pike” … ”Shoulder your pike” … ”Port your Pike” … ”Prepare to charge!”
These were the orders being given to Lower 4 recently as they learnt the art of soldiery during the English Civil War. As well as training as pikemen, they were also instructed in the laborious process of loading of a musket. During the wars, the soldiers could load in approximately 20 seconds. However, two and a half minutes and several dropped musket balls later, Lower 4 were finally prepared to fire (for those Dad‟s Army fans amongst you, we definitely had more than one Corporal Jones in our platoon!).
The afternoon at the Royal Armouries proved a fascinating insight into the life of a soldier between 1642 and 1648. Having studied the events in History lessons, it was really helpful to hear more about it from the experts at the Armouries and to have the fantastic opportunity to handle and wear some of the artefacts and reproductions. Such a “hands-on” experience will prove invaluable to the girls in understanding this important watershed which divided families all over Britain.
