PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - France accuses UK military of war crimes.
Old 29th Oct 2008, 08:37
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goneeast
 
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Wensleydale

Perhaps a glimpse into "total warfare" Medieval style can be understood by reading accounts of the Battle of Towton on Palm Sunday 1461, between Henry Beauforts Lancastrian army and a Yorkist Army commanded by Edward IV. Estimates of casualties range up to 35000 dead on the field (in one day) mostly killed after a rout.

To put it into context that was 1% of Englands population at the time. I did a dig of a burial pit when at University and most of the dead were killed by war hammer blows to the back of the head ( either ridden down by mounted knights or dispatched post battle). Contemporary accounts gave details that rivers ran red with blood 30 miles from the battlefield.

The reason that the death toll was so high was that both sides agreed that no quarter be given, a similar agreement was in place at Agincourt according to many writers..

Incidentally, most French dead at Agincourt were probably killed in a crush, caused by reargaurds pushing into a bottleneck under fire. Plus fallen men unable to get up from sodden ground in full armour.
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