Jones, Serena (Hrsg.) Home & Away

The British Experience of War 1618-1721. Proceedings of the 2017 Helion and Company 'Century of the Soldier' Conference

The experience of war is never limited to those who are militarily involved: while soldiers defend their homeland or fight far away from it, the consequences of war affect their immediate families and communities, as well as the lives of countless civilians whom the combatants will never meet. In the 17th century, as in every other era, the wives and children of soldiers could fall into poverty or danger in the absence of their men, and many sought refuge elsewhere or followed the army on its campaigns. At the same time, complex military and administrative apparatuses emerged to arm, feed and clothe the combatants and to control distant territories often by force. The speakers at Helion's third Century of the Soldier conference focused on a wide range of topics, including personal experiences of war in distant conflicts and at home, as well as the Herculean efforts required to sustain conflicts. Keynote speaker Professor Peter Gaunt examines what is arguably the most gruelling and uncertain aspect of warfare alongside the fighting itself: the need to travel long distances and venture into unknown or even hostile places. Simon Marsh examines the defeat of the Earl of Essex's army at Lostwithiel in 1644 and the logistics behind its reconstitution within a few weeks. Rachael Abbiss takes us to the Indian War of 1688, when the British colonies in North America had to be defended permanently by armed forces and extensive administration was required across the ocean. Stephen Ede-Borrett examines the phenomenon of Deserters' Notices (wanted notices for deserters) in the London Gazette in the 1680s and the attempts by army commanders to find missing recruits. Laurence Spring looks at the often gruelling experiences of soldiers' wives in Britain and Europe, both those who stayed at home and those who followed their husbands. Alan Turton brings together a range of contemporary and archaeological sources to give a detailed account of the three times besieged Basing House; the life and predominantly military works of the gifted Bohemian draughtsman and engraver Wenceslaus Hollar are examined in depth by David Flintham. Finally, Jon Day takes us to Ireland in the late 1640s and reports on how Colonel Michael Jones played a key role in suppressing the Royalist movement before the arrival of Oliver Cromwell.