Battle of Dornock

Coordinates: 54°59′02″N 3°12′07″W / 54.984°N 3.202°W

Battle of Dornock
Part of Second War of Scottish Independence
Date25 March 1333
LocationDornock, on the western Anglo-Scottish border
Result English victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of England Kingdom of Scotland
Commanders and leaders
Ralph Dacre, 1st Baron Dacre and Sir Anthony Lucy Sir William Douglas, Lord of Liddesdale
Strength
800 50+
Casualties and losses
2 26+ killed

The Battle of Dornock was fought on 25 March 1333 during the Second War of Scottish Independence.

Background

In 1333 Edward Balliol, a claimant to the Scottish throne, sought support from the English King Edward III. In exchange for ceding the region of Lothian to England, Balliol was given assistance and replenished forces.[1] He returned to Scotland and attacked the Scottish at Berwick-upon-Tweed. After several retaliatory and counter attacks from both sides, the attempt failed and no tactical advantage was gained.[2]

Build Up

In response, William of Lochmaben, Sir Ralph Dacre and Sir Anthony Lucy led an English force of 800 men into Dumfriesshire. William Douglas, Lord of Liddesdale[3] and 50 Scottish defenders along with Sir Humphrey Boys and Sir Humphrey Jardine moved to intercept them.

The battle

On 25 March 1333, the small Scottish force intercepted the English at the village of Dornock. Little is known about the battle itself, as it was reportedly over very quickly, but 24 Scots (along with the two Humphreys) were killed and Douglas was taken prisoner. England reported only two losses.[2]

Aftermath

The rest of the Scots fled, and Douglas was imprisoned for two years under special instructions from King Edward.[4] The Scottish poet Andrew Wyntoun noted the battle in his verse:

“ That ikle tyme at Lowchmabne
Off Annandyrdale the floure was tane

With off the West Marche men
That had thame in till Ingland then.
Amang thaim Williame of Dowglas
Takyn an till presone was.
That was bot erlys for to tell
Off infortwne that efftyr fell.

 ”

A well in the area was known as the sword well by the late 18th century, probably because artefacts of the battle were discovered near to there.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Edward Balliol
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Battle of Dornock, 1333
  3. ↑ Battles involving the Douglases
  4. ↑ Overview of Sir William Douglas
  5. ↑ Sinclair, Sir John (1791). The statistical account of Scotland: Drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes. p. 24.

Sources

Primary

Secondary