Just a few books that look interesting. The second in the list seems to be equating the 'Socialistic' Home Guard of WWII with the Local Militias that the UK raised from time to time - but these were not 'Socialist' in anyway and were dependent upon status and income. As only the socially trusted and prominent could serve - providing they could afford their own uniform, weapon and ammunition - and were wealthy enough to have 'leisure' time to drill! Some UK authors are adopting the anti-intellectual language of the US - referring to the time-span 1945-1991 as being the 'Cold War'. Up until Thatcher abolished 'Free' and 'Universal' Education in the UK (and began the privatisation of the NHS and dismantling of the Welfare System and Social Housing) - the UK had far more in common with the USSR than America - but what we are seeing is the attempted re-writing of history and the establishment of a preferred narrative. The philosophy underpinning the British Home Guard of WWII grew-out of the Soviet-backed International Brigades (comprised of volunteer workers - male and female - from around the world) that fought the Hitler-backed (Catholic) General Franco during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)! My suspicion is that Duddington might well have been in the 2nd (Soke) Peterborough Battalion on the Northants Home Guard between 1940-1942 - but was then transferred to the Huntingdonshire Home Guard (keeping its designation) between 1942-1944. This is premised upon data gleamed from the Northants Home Guard book you forwarded - but the even then the author states that this Unit was still considered part of Northants Home Guard even though it was officially associated with Huntingdonshire!
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Dear Merrill
Thank you for your very interesting email regarding Private Edward Vaught and my following article: 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot – Battle of Quatre Bras (1815) I have never seen an official 'Discharge' Document issued to Enlisted Men when leaving the British Army during the early 1800s - and I must thank you for sharing this with me. We will examine the text of this Document and see if we can extract any further data or conclusions - although you seem to have done a very good job. As you know, many of the men from this era were often recruited from over-crowded inner city areas and were usually 'illiterate' (partially or completely). Therefore, when issued with these 'legal' documents - they probably made the mistake of not attaching too much importance to them. I suspect these Documents granted certain legal rights and obligations on behalf of the British governmet, etc, to Veterans of the British Army. The designation of the 'East' Indies (India) and the 'West' Indies (Caribbean) seems a little vague - but can be explained. Of course, soldiers recruited in the UK were often relatively 'small' in number and transported all over the Empire to secure stability - and where necessary train 'Native' troops recruited into 'newly' formed Regiments of the British Army. This is the case with the West Indies and a very good historical assessment of the late 18th and 19th centuries is dealt with in Barry Renfrew's book entitled 'Britain's Black Regiments - Fighting for Empire and Equality'. The author discusses how 'White' British soldiers were brought over to the West Indies to 'train' 'Black' men (usually 'Slaves' or 'former' Slaves) who had volunteered to join the local British Army Units. I believe that these 'Slaves' were granted their 'Freedom' with Enlistment. Interestingly, components of the newly created West Indian Regiment were transported to the British colony of 'Sierra Leone' in West Africa - which I had no idea was part of the British Empire until I read the above book! On occasion, 'White' soldiers (recruited in the UK) are traversed through the area. This type of peripheral military data is often of interest to various historical researchers - as the professional (military) authors have gained access to difficult to find historical documentation. Within 'India', as far as I am aware, The East India Company was permitted to recruit and train a 'Private Army' which was commanded directly by the East India Company (and not the British government) - but was to be used only in the pursuance of British government business and political objectives (which 'mirrored' the business interests of the East India Company). The East India Company locally recruited ethnic Indians as private soldiers - and 'White' Officers from the UK (at least in the early days) - these 'Officers' were either recruited from retired British Army personnel or directly from University, etc. Even so, British Army Units (recruited from the UK and directly controlled by the British government) were still traversed through India on occasion. The following is what we think we can read from the 'Discharge' Document of Private Edward Vaught. He apparently could 'Sign' his own name - but does not seem to know his exact date of birth. The British Army authorities seem to be assuming that Edward Vaught was '18' in 1811 - which would suggest the birthdate was somewhere within the year of 1793: Colonel: Liet Gen Sir John Hamilton Bart Discharge: Edward Vaught (Private) Reason: Being affected with tape worms and being lame from an old (permanently hot) wound on right thigh - Charles Whyte (possibly Regimental ‘Doctor’ or ‘Surgeon’). On These Grounds - Demobilisation Process is Authorised: By Maj Gen Commanding - Dated 6th May 1828. Age: About 34 years Height: 5 foot 6 inches Hair: Dark Brown Skin: Dark Complexion Occupation: Labourer Character: Good British Army: 69th Regiment of Foot (Company and Platoon not clear) First Enlisted: Durham, Norfolk - 20th January 1812 - Age 18 - Limited Service. Re-Enlisted: Cannonne - East Indies. 13th March 1819 (aged 25 years) - Unlimited Service. East Indies 28th June 1817 - 24th February 1826. British Army: 69th Regiment of Foot (Waterloo) Duration of Service: 25th December 1811 - 28th May 1828. Total Years of Service: 16 years and 156 days. Signed: Charles Cuyler - Commander 69th Regiment of Foot - (Demobilisation Granted) 28th May 1828. With regards to Private Edward Vaught - the Discharge Document states his service could have been 'In East or W. Indies' - and that he served in these theatres between 1817-1826. However, as the 'time served' data column contains only a capital 'E' - I suspect this refers to military service in the 'East India' theatre alone - an assumption supported by the fact that there is no date entry attributed to a capital 'W' (or the 'West Indies' - a matter probably dealt with by a different form already printed with a 'W'. If a soldier had served in both theatres - then a form containing a pre-printed capital 'E' and 'W' would have been used). This seems like a 'medical' discharge as he had tape worms and an inflamed wound as you say. Oddly, it seems he joined the British Army on the 25.12.1811 - but his 'official' join-up is recorded as being the 20.1.1812 (under 'Limited Service'). He seems to have been considered '18' even in 1811 although 'both' dates are retained - with his Service being taken from the earlier of the two. As you can see, 'Drummers' and 'Trumpeters' were recruited - quite often boys as young as 8 or 9 years old at the time. His second 'Enlistment' was in India during 1817 when he about 24 years old (designated as 'Unlimited Service'). He was in India until the 24.2.1826 (around 33 years old) - after which he must have returned to the UK - where he was finally 'Discharged' on the 6.5.1828 (aged around 34 or 35 years old). As to whether Private Edward Vaught was at the Battle of Waterloo - it would seem to be the case from the 'Battle Honour' of 'Waterloo' being added to his Discharge Notes. Although the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 69th Regiment of Foot were amalgamated in 1816 - it seems that each part (or Division) of this Regiment retained its own distinct 'Battle Honours'. Whilst the 1st Battalion saw action in India and Java, etc - during the time period under discussion - the 2nd Battalion was the Unit of the 69th Regiment of Foot which fought at the Battle of Waterloo. I suspect that Private Edward Vaught enlisted in the '2nd Battalion' in 1811-1812 and was eventually deployed to Belgium during 1815 (where he would have been 22 years old). Perhaps this is where he picked up his leg wound. It would seem a musket ball or piece of shrapnel had embedded itself in his thigh - and after its extraction the wound was 'cauterized' - but never fully healed. If this is the case (as we cannot be sure), then it is remarkable that he continued to serve for another 13 years as a professional soldier in the British Army without complaint! Kind Regards Adrian The Viking ‘Wyles’ ('Jarls') Surname Entered Duddington During the Times of ‘Danelaw’ (c. 874 CE)11/20/2021 The ‘Duddington Hoard’ was discovered in Duddington during 1994, and consists of thirty-seven (37) silver coins (’pennies’) of Anglo-Saxon production. Marion MacCallum Archibald (1935-2016) - of the British Museum - was responsible for taking delivery of these coins, and providing an authoritative academic report regarding the provenance of these coins. Indeed, in her report dated May 25th, 1995, Marion M Archibald states (in-part) the following information:
‘The coins are silver pennies, some very base, of Burgred, King of Mercia 852-874, and of his brothers-in-law the Kings of Wessex, Athelred I, 865/6-871, and Alfred the Great, 871-899. All are of the Lunette type (so named from the moon-shaped panels on the reverse) produced as a unified type for the Mercian and West Saxon Kingdoms, and dating from the period of the late 860s and earlier 870s. The coins are listed in the schedule. The latest coins were probably issued c. 874/5. The coins of the West Saxon Kings circulated freely in the territories of the Mercian King and vice-versa at this time, with hoards usually containing a mixture of their coins as here. The Vikings raided extensively over England in the early 870s and in 874 Burgred fled into exile, leaving the Vikings in control of the east Midlands and the eastern counties. It is to this critical period that the Duddington hoard, as of several others, belongs.’ Up until 874 CE, it seems that the Anglo-Saxon village of ‘Duddington’ was part of the Anglo-Saxon ‘country’ of East Mercia falling under the rule of King Burgred (852-888 CE). Duddington – the ‘clearing in the Forest Founded by Dudd’ - was founded at some point between the 6th and 9th centuries CE according to Anglo-Saxon archaeological finds discovered throughout the area. Further evidence suggests that with the Viking Great Army successfully entered the ‘Cambridge’ area during the Winter of 1874, causing the Anglo-Saxon inhabitants of ‘Duddington’ to bury their wealth and flee the area! Obviously, their intention was to return to gather their wealth at a later date, but events turned-out otherwise (as the Vikings occupied the area for hundreds of years). Whilst the Vikings did not intensively settle the entirety of the large area of North and Eastern England they had conquered (known as ‘Danelaw’) – the Vikings did extensively settle the five towns of Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham and Stamford (with Duddington situated just 5 miles Soutwest of Stamford) - collectively known as the ‘Five Boroughs’. The ‘Danelaw’ existed in the North and Eastern England between 865-954 CE – and signifies that ‘Danish Law’ is applied to the local population through the Law Courts. As a legal system, it was separate and distinct from the ‘Christianised’ legal systems in use throughout the Anglo-Saxon and Celtic areas of Britain. I am of the opinion that the ‘Wyles’ surname entered the Duddington area with the conquering Viking Great Army during late 874 CE. References: https://wylesfamilyofduddington.weebly.com/duddington-hoard-1994.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Archibald https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylloge_of_Coins_of_the_British_Isles https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Five-Boroughs-Of-Danelaw/ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/History_of_Anglo-Saxon_England#/English_unification_.2810th_century.29 https://vikinghistorytales.blogspot.com/2013/11/874-great-danish-army-split-up.html Queen Elizabeth I - and the Use of 'Wyles' in Her Letter to King James VI of Scotland (1602)11/19/2021 Elizabeth I to James VI, 4 July 1602 (SP 52/68 f.75)
This letter is an affirmation of her friendship towards the King of Scots, and also concerns a proposed league of their two kingdoms with France against Spain. The King of France, Henry IV, had sent an ambassador to James that summer to broach the matter. Although England and France had traditionally been rivals, Henry was a great admirer of Elizabeth, and is reported to have remarked on her superior skill in suppressing rebels against the crown: ‘She only is a king! She only knows how to rule.’ By the closing years of her reign, Elizabeth had finally won not just acceptance but respect as a female sovereign in a man’s world. Transcript My good Brother. Who longest drawes the thryd [thread] of life, and viewes the strange accidents that Tyme makes doth not fynd out a rarer gift than thanckfulnes is, that is most pretious and seldomest found, which makes me well gladded that you me thinkes beginnes to feele, howe necessary a Treasure this is to be imployed where best it is deserved, as may appeare in those lynes that your last letters express, in which your thanckes be great for the sondry cares that of your state and honour my dere friendshipp hath afforded you being ever ready to give you ever such subjects for your wrytinge, and thinckes my self happie, when ether my warnings or counsells may in fittest tyme avayle you. Wheras it hath pleased you to impart the offer that the French King hath made you with a disyre of secresie, believe that request includes a trust, that never shall deceave; for thoughe many exceed me in many thinges, yet I dare professe, that I can ever kepe taciturnity for my self and my freindes. My hedd may faile but my tounge shall never, as I will not say but your self can in your selfe thoughe not to me wytnes: but of that no more, preterierunt illi dies [‘those days will be past’]. Nowe to the Frenche in playne dealing without fraude or guile, if he will doe as he pretends, you shalbe more beholdinge to hym then he is to himself, who within one yeare hathe wyncked at suche injuries and affronts as or [ere] I would have indured that am of weakest sex I should condemne my Judgement, I will not enter into his, And therefore if his verba come ad Actionem [‘words come to action’], I more shall wonder then doe suspect, but if you will needes have my single advice, try hym if he contynue in that mynde; And as I knowe that you would none of suche a league as my self should not be one, so doe I see by his ouvreture, that hymself doth, or if for my assistance you should need of all help he would give it; so as synce he hath so good consideration of me you will allowe hym therein, and doubt nothing but that he will have me willingly for Company. For as I may not forgett howe their League with Scotland was recyproke when wee had warres with them: so is it good reason that our freindships should be mutuall. Nowe to confesse my kind taking of all your loving offers and vowes of most assured oathes that nought shalbe concealed from me, that ether Prynce or subject shall to your knowledge worck against me or my estate; surely (dere brother) you right me muche if so you doe. And this I vowe that without you list, I will not willingly call you in questoon for suche warninges, if the greatnes of your cause may not counsell me thereunto, And do intreat you to thincke that if any accydent so befall you, as ether secrecy or speed shalbe necessary, suppose your self to be sure of suche a one as shall neglect neyther to performe so good a worck; let others promise and I will do as muche with truth as others with wyles, And thus I leave to molest your eyes with my scribling with my perpetuall prayers for your good estate as desyreth your most loving and affectionat syster. [postscript] As for your good considerations of border causes I aunswere you by my Agent and infinitely thanck you therefore. You Vikings were popular with the local ladies:
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