War vs. Atenveldt
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*Robert McCulloch, the founder of Lake Havasu and the chairman of McCulloch Oil Corporation, purchased the bridge to serve as a tourist attraction. While the bridge did come over, brick by brick, from London, it is not Tower Bridge. Rather, it was designed by Scottish architect John Rennie the Elder (1761-1821), who was also known for the beautiful Waterloo Bridge built across the Thames.
The King of Atenveldt challenged Prince Christian of Caid to a war for possession of the bridge. The forces of Caid were victorious and Caid took possession.
Event Information
(Taken from the October 1974 Special Edition of the Crown Prints with the headline "WAR DECLARED!")
The King of Atenveldt has issued a challenge to Caid's Prince Christian for territorial rights to London Bridge! The war will take place on Sat. Oct. 12. The Autocrats of the event (the Great Land Barons of Lake Havasu Developers) have offered free transportation for up to 35 Caidans to attend the event. It is hoped at least 15 to 20 fighters (& their ladies) will be in that number. The winning army will receive a sword: a replica of Excalibur (and of course the right to claim London Bridge as part of their Kingdom or Principality.)
When interviewed by this reporter for their reactions to the War, Caid fighters were heard to comment, "HOORAY!"
Details: The War will be fought beside (not ON) London Bridge at 2 PM SHARP. There is a parade at 10:45 AM in which everyone is asked to participate in full costume. Those who arrive Friday night may camp with Atenveldters at the War site. There will also be 2 hotel rooms (or so we are told) for changing & plopping down sleep bags, if you do not wish to sleep outside. It can be quite cool at night--bring a warm cloak.
Our activities on Sat. night are our own choice, but will probably degenerate (previous word crossed out) evolve into some sort of revel with Atenveldters. The bus will return sometime Sunday--time is more or less up to people involved.
Departure time and place from Los Angeles to Lake Havasu by bus are not yet firmed up. Unless plans change drastically, however, the bus will probably depart at 6 PM on Fri Oct 11 from central Los Angeles; possibly the downtown Bus Terminal. This information will definitely be available by Angels Anniversary Tourney. Or can be obtained sooner (as soon as she gets it, at any rate) from the Principality Seneschale, Mistress Bevin Fraser of Stirling.
The Editor, Maestra Flavia Beatrice Carmigniani also provided driving directions to the site, special warnings about desert weather and a hand-drawn map
Memories
- We had thought we would be fighting on the bridge itself. We ended up fighting on a dirt field below the bridge. London Bridge tourists watched from the bridge. The massed forces of Caid (our first such foray) met a larger force of Aten men. We had a small number of halberds and pikes and these were the deciding factor. Those of us who had practiced the new tactics with Robear du Bois held off the bulk of the Aten might while our heavier flanks rolled up the Aten line. We also employed a dedicated reserve to bolster any holes in the lines. Of amusing note, this is where many Caidens became closely acquainted. The London Bridge owners had offered hotel rooms to us. I guess we showed up in larger numbers than they expected. The room I was in slept six to the bed, 12 to the floor, and one in the tub. The (unofficial) Stromboli award (a cork suspended from a purple ribbon), was first conceived that night in honor of a man whose snore is now attributed to knocking a plane from the sky, (to say nothing of keeping us awake most of the night). He could even snore sitting up and being shaken. Only two Stomboli's were ever given. -- Martin the Temperate
- As I remember it, the London Bridge War had 33 fighters including the 2 Caidan Knights & Sir Robert of Westmarch from up north vs. 33 Atens (of whom rather more were knights but I don't know the exact figure). I do not know where the main part of the West got the idea we were outnumbered but The Page from the time has a good song they wrote about it. I believe Sir Robear du Bois was the only other recipient of the Stromboli Award. -- Charles of Dublin
- Charles is right about the sides being equal, but wrong about the numbers. I counted 27 on each side before the battle. It was not the Stromboli Award, it was the Order of the Sleeping Rhinoceros, an award that I made up after sleeping in the same room as Stromboli at the London Bridge War. I am a heavy sleeper and had never been awoken by someone else's snoring, but Stromboli woke us all up repeatedly. Shortly after the event I took the largest cork I could find, attached a picture of a sleeping Rhinoceros with three Old English Z's above it, and attached it to a purple ribbon. I think I presented it to him at Dreiburgen Anniversary, and I asked Martin to help me, because this was only my fourth event. We called Stromboli up and Martin described his remarkable feats while sleeping, and then we gave him the award, telling his Lady that he was to wear it when sleeping, and if the noise was unbearable, she should drop the cork down into his mouth. While I know I snore, I have never felt I was in the same class as Stromboli. If it were to be awarded again, I think Cameron of Caldoon would have precedence. For eleven years I autocrated Winter Weekend, and assigned the rooms. During that time, I was told by several couples that they would share a room with anyone "but Cameron", due to his snoring. -- Robear du Bois
http://history.sca-caid.org/LondonBridgeASIX.html
