The History of the Kingdom of The West
The Fourth Year

From The Page (no number/date):

Attention kngihts, ladies, fighters, and others interested in warfare. A small war is to be held on the island in Ncasio Reservoir in Marin County on Saturday July 26, 1969.

The island is joined to the mainland by a land bridge, and is reached by walking in from the paved roadway over an unpaved fire road. All fighters and spectators are welcome. Fighters under 21 must have a waiver signed by their parents or guardiants.

participants are warned that they must bring all food and water with them -- there is no water on the island. Tents, pavillions or other forms of shading are strongly recommended since it usually is hot andsunny.

FIGHTERS
Fighters should be on the island by 9:00 a.m. at the latest. At that time rules will be explained and sides chosen. The first engagement of the war will start at 10:00 a.m. and latecovers will be excluded until completion of the first war.

Following is a list of rules:

1. No fires or smoking on the island.
2. There will be NO QUIBLING. Fighters must determine their own injuries.
3. Real armour is considered protective against weapons it could really stop.
4. Archers will be allowed (male and female).
5. Archers may fire only at helmed enemies.
6. When killed one must go to the "graveyard" and remain for 15 min. While dead, no talking is allowed.
7. Un-helmed archers are taken only by gently touching them with any part of one's body or weapon or shield. (keep in mind, some will be ladies)
8. Catapult devices, etc., throwing water-balloons may be used.
9. Water may be poured simulating "Greek Fire".
10. Anyone touched by "Greek Fire" is dead (including the weilder).
11. Bows may not have more than 35 lbs. pull.
12. Arrows used by archers must have shafts no longer than 15 inches and must be well padded. The Autocrat has final say on any dispute.

From the History (by Wilhelm):

Held on the Island in Nicasio Reservoir, Marin County, California. Duke Henrik of Havn was the autocrat.

Annotations:
“One march through the sun had been sufficient for me. I never went back to the Island.” – Stefan de Lorraine

“This was the Dunharrow Eored (6 fighters, plus archers like Geri & Master Lin) versus everybody else (also 6 fighters plus some archers, led by Duke Henrik). By this time, many fighters had been to the island before & wimped out when faced with the lack of comforts there. Anyway, we occupied a hilltop and Henrik besieged us from his nearby base. (We had agreed that archers could not leave their home base while any fighters on their side were alive. So their initial role was only defensive.) Henrik devised a brilliant pincers strategy to encircle us and attack us from 2 sides at once. The only flaws were timing and the fact that we could see both groups of them while they could not see each other. So we ran down one side & killed those 2 with no losses to us, then back up to meet Henrik, with a 2-man advantage for us. Still, by the time we killed all of them, only my son, Rick, was left. He then attacked the archers at their camp & got shot. Next our archers assaulted their camp, but one of ours (Master Lin) stepped behind a rock to take a pee and saw their unguarded banner nearby. He ran down, grabbed it, and ran back up our hill with it. (Lin ran for exercise regularly and no one had a prayer of catching him.) So we had both banners and that was how you were supposed to win the war, but it was our least warlike member who did it at last.” – Robert of Dunharrow

Description of this event, © Copyright 1980 by William R. Keyes (Wilhelm von Schlüssel)
This is from The History of the West Kingdom, Volume 1 (the only volume produced). When reading this text, please keep in mind the following disclaimer:

Disclaimer: This history may have errors in it, as much of the detail is “remembered” history, or as one of the cover pages of the original type-written manuscript states “The material within is derived from the information printed in The Crown Prints and in The Page, and from the memories of the participants.” The original document was typed on onion-skin paper, with hand-written notes (often in the margins). All attempts have been made to reconcile the notes with the original document.

Annotations, when they are added, are from The Annotated History of the West, Volume 1, which is the same text as Master Wilhelm's mentioned above, with commentary from members of the SCA who were active at the time of the event, and are added to help clarify questions and expand on what happened and why. This volume is copyright © Ken Mayer (Hirsch von Henford).

The West Kingdom History Website was created by and is maintained by Hirsch von Henford (mka Ken Mayer).