Military Service

Ancestors at the Battle of Agincourt

Walter Colepeper  

       Ancestor of Ernie Clifton Abshier

Thomas Corbet  

       Ancestor of Mary Etta White

John Kendall   

       Ancestor of Mary Etta White

The Battle of Harfleur and Agincourt, 1415

King Henry V of England believed that he was the rightful heir as the King of France.  The throne was empty at the time while the French were arguing and fighting among themselves as to who should be King.  

Henry invaded and two main battles were fought.  First, the port of Harfleur was put under siege and eventually captured.  Then King Henry marched inland and some say the march was for show and then he would go home because his forces were decimated by disease and the siege.  

The French, however, dropped most of their arguments amongst themselves and marched to meet Henry.  The estimates of King Henry's strength are around 5,000 men maximum.  The estimates of the French forces are as many as 50,000 but probably closer to 25,000.  They met at Agincourt, where the field was very, very muddy and the French allowed King Henry to move his men into the gap between two dense forests. There the French attacked in small "armies" of a few thousand at a time.  Against all odds, King Henry won.

If you enjoy historical novels, read Bernard Cornwell’s book “Agincourt”.

Click here for Wiki link to Agincourt