A motivational day

All of 593 years ago yesterday, the 25th of October, a battle took place on the field of Agincourt. The army of King Henry V, starved and ridden with dissentry, faced a fresh French force with at least five times the number of forces. French historians go so far as to say their advantage was 6 to 1. Despite these odds Henry's army was victorious through its excellent deployment of longbowmen.

This battle and the tactical genius involved has always held a special place in my heart. A couple of centuries later Shakespeare immortalised this day with the play Henry V. There have been a few film versions, most notably Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh's interpretations.

It's a great work, and truly inspirational. No part of the play is more likely to rouse a man to action than The Crispin's day speech, Shakespeare's imagining of how the King motivated his troops before battle. Below is a video of Branagh delivering that famous speech, I wish a belated happy St Crispin's day to one and all.



"Old men forget, yet all shall be forget, but he'll remember with advantages what feats he did that day" - Best of luck on Monday John!