Thomas Strickland was not a knight at Agincourt. He was a King's esquire, and would not be knighted for another three years — yet on 25 October 1415 it was he who carried the royal banner of St George. What he brought to the war tells you more about Henry V's army than the banner does. In April 1415 he contracted, formally and in writing, to serve with a personal following of two men-at-arms and six archers: nine men all told, including himself. The host that crossed to France was assembled out of hundreds of small private bargains exactly like his. Nor was he new to it. At Shrewsbury in 1403 he had fought for Henry IV against the rebels and been rewarded with £38 and two horses that had belonged to Hotspur. He outlived the battle by forty years, sat for Westmorland in three parliaments, held the shrievalty of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and died in 1455.

Tradition of London put him on a barded horse in his own arms — sable, three escallops argent, the black field and white shells you can see across the horse's covering and his surcoat — with the red cross of St George held high on its staff. Note what he has not got. A man carrying the banner rode without a shield; both his hands and his whole attention belonged to the flag, and the flag is what an army steers by. Set him among his countrymen with Sir Thomas Erpingham KG and Richard de Vere Earl of Oxford, then face them across a diorama towards the French command — Charles d'Albret, Constable of France and Jean de Boucicaut — and you have the two halves of 25 October 1415 in one display case.

Model: MK08 / Tradition of London / 54mm (1/32) scale / 1 piece set

All hand painted Toy Soldier sets packed in the Classic Tradition Red Boxes. All Toy Soldiers cast in quality white metal, and individually hand painted in gloss enamels.

Please allow 2-3 weeks delivery.