Page 97 - Mercian Eagle 2014

The Bowyers’ Company and its association with the Mercian Regiment
The Bowyers’ Company traces its history back to the 14th century when, as one of the City of London’s ancient craft guilds, it was responsible for making military longbows.
Bows and arrows had been around for
a long time, of course, but between about 1300AD and 1340AD the heavy longbow was rapidly and uniquely developed as
a primary weapon of war for the English infantry. A warbow was 6 feet long or more, with a 100-140lb pull, and in the hands of a trained archer was capable of shooting
a 3-foot metal-tipped arrow 300 yards
or more in artillery-type ‘arrowstorms’,
as well as being lethal in shorter-range engagements.
Its first big victory was at the Battle of Crecy in 1346, routing the French, who had no answer to the power of the weapon; they also, in the heyday of knights in armour, could not believe they were being beaten by an army of working men. The archers went on to prevail again over the French at Poitiers (1356) and Agincourt (1415), the famous victory of Henry V. The Bowyers’ Company coat of arms proudly
bears the motto ‘Crecy Poitiers Agincourt’, in permanent celebration of the role the longbow played in English military history.
In the 1500s came the field gun, with much longer range, and the musket,
which required less training, and by the early 1600s bow-making nearly died out. Fortunately the craft survived until the later 1600s when archery was revived as a social sport, as it is today. Several of our current members make longbows, and we maintain warm associations with the Craft Guild
of Traditional Bowyers and Fletchers, for whom we sponsor craft excellence awards, and the Royal Toxophilite Society, at whose archery competitions we award prizes.
Like most of the City of London’s various guilds and livery companies, our primary role nowadays is essentially charitable, often seeking connections between our past history and present-day needs. We are a small company of just 130 members, but we try to make our modest contributions count, and we are delighted to be able to support the Mercian Regiment’s Benevolent Charity, both with annual donations and
via special events such as the fund-raising
Supper Evening in London in February 2014, when RSM Paul Muckle talked about his experiences in Afghanistan, and Lt Col Bill Temminck told us about his roles as Casualty Visiting and Through-Life Care Officer. It was a most moving evening that brought our two organisations very much closer together.
Our connection with the Mercian Regiment is strongly rooted, having
initially been with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters. History indicates
that the original archers of Sherwood were indeed rather special; back in 1333, special terms were offered if they would join the King’s infantry!
It is a matter of great pride for us that our affiliation now extends to the entire Mercian Regiment, and that our 700-year connection with the military, indeed with the infantry, remains alive and well in the modern era. We look forward to continuing our close relationship for many years to come.
The Reverend John Hayton TD Master Bowyer
Mark Stretton with his 140lb warbow in action
REH crafting a longbow
This is what we do...
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and who we are...
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THE LIGHT DRAGOON
The Regimental Journal of
The Light Dragoons
Swanton Morley Volume 5 Number 4 April 2013
THE LIGHT DRAGOON Volume 5 Number 4
THE DELHI SPEARMAN VOLUME XI NUMBER 15
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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