The Monument Traditional Cache
castagnari: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.
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Regards
Shaun
castagnari
Volunteer UK Reviewer - geocaching.com
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This straightforward Micro (35mm film canister) and can be done as a cache & dash but you may wish to take time to read the notice board for which the monument was erected for.
Now for the history:
The battle of Chalgrove, which was in fact little more than a skirmish, took place around 9 o’clock on the morning of 18th June 1643. It was one of a number of small scale actions between Essex's army and the Oxford royalist forces that followed the fall of Reading.
Prince Rupert had learned, via the turncoat Colonel John Urray, of a parliamentary pay convoy of £21,000 heading for Thame. Unable to resist such a prize Rupert headed to intercept it with a force of 1,000 horse, 500 infantry and 350 dragoons.
Although he failed in his attempt to capture the parliamentarian payroll, Rupert was highly successful in disordering two parliamentarian quarters at Postcombe and Chinnor, capturing or killing 170 enemy troops and easily outwitting and out manoeuvring his enemies at Chalgrove. The importance of Chalgrove lies not with its military significance; there were numerous other skirmishes of similar scale throughout the country during the war. It was rather its political implications in the loss of Colonel John Hamden, who was fatally wounded in the conflict. Hampden had been a key political figure on the parliamentarian side both before and during the war and his loss was keenly felt.
Chalgrove battlefield remains largely as agricultural land. The World War II airfield to the west covers a substantial area of land but appears not to impinge upon the core of the battlefield. Adjacent to the airfield, within the area where Rupert would have deployed and approaching closely to the line of the former hedge, is an industrial estate. Much of the hedge that had such a significant tactical influence on the skirmish has been removed. To the east of Warpsgrove Lane there is extensive industrial development.
There are no public rights of way across the battlefield, but fortunately Warpsgrove Lane runs right across the battlefield from the former open field into an area of what was in 1643 pasture closes. A monument to John Hampden stands at the crossroads on Warpsgrove Lane where roads lead off to the left and right to the appropriately named ‘Monument Industrial Park’ and ‘Monument Farm’.
Please replace the cache as found.
FTF goes to metal-bijou
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Vg'f n qrnq raq!
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