Crecy

Pictures are Here.

Crecy was the first example of English forces using force multipliers to defeat a larger force of well trained French soldiers and nobility.    Crecy also saw the first recorded use of cannons in a battle in Europe and was where the sixteen year old Edward the Black Prince proved himself as a leader and "won his spurs" as it is said.

I did not have a lot of time to take in the battle field.  I had scarcely 20 minutes of time to get the layout of the field and take some pictures when a storm from moved in with such speed and violence that staying on the hill, even my car felt like pure foolishness.  I saw what I came for so beat a hasty retreat up through Belgium and back to Amsterdam that night.

The English clearly had the high ground, but it was not steep enough to be decisive.  As with Agincourt, the English victory depended as much on poor choices by the French as their own initiative or control of the battle.