Battle of Ripple Field

The Battle of Ripple Field, fought on 13 April 1643, was an engagement in the First English Civil War. In the battle, a Royalist calvalry force led by Prince Maurice routed Parliamentarian cavalry and infantry forces led by Sir William Waller.

Battle of Ripple Field
Part of the First English Civil War
Ripple Cross and Stocks
Date 13 April 1643 Location Ripple in Worcestershire, England Result Royalist victory
Belligerents
Royalists	Parliamentarians
Commanders and leaders
Prince Maurice	Sir William Waller
Strength
2,000[1][2]	2,000[2]
Casualties and losses
Light[3]	c. 50 cavalry Unknown infantry.[4]

Ripple Field

Worcestershire and Ripple Field

Prelude

After marching north from Tewkesbury, Waller tried to block the cavalry forces of Prince Maurice and the Royalists by containing them on the western bank of the River Severn. Prince Maurice, however, successfully crossed the Severn at Upton-Upon-Severn and quickly proceeded south through Ryall to confront Waller's men who had taken a defensive position in Ripple Field.[5]

Battle

An initial cavalry charge by Waller was easily repelled by the Royalists. The Parliamentarians then retreated into the lanes of the village of Ripple where they were overrun and routed. Haselrigge's Lobsters (one of the few proper cuirassier regiments fielded during the war) lost around 70% of their men defending the retreating Parliament army which was attempting to return to Tewkesbury. At the end, Parliamentary reinforcements checked the Royalists at Mythe Hill just north of Tewkesbury.[6]

Citations

1. Willis-Bund 1905, p. 81.
2. Plant 10 August 2009).
3. Willis-Bund 1905, p. 83.
4. Willis-Bund 1905, p. 83.
5. Willis-Bund 1905, pp. 81–82.
6. Willis-Bund 1905, pp. 82–83.

References

• Plant, David (10 August 2009). "Ripple Field, April 1643". BCW Project. David Plant. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
• Willis-Bund, John William (1905). The Civil War in Worcestershire, 1642-1646: And the Scotch Invasion of 1651. Birmingham: The Midland Education Company.