Falkirk, Bantaskine

NS87NE 12 870 791.

The second Battle of Falkirk was fought on a field about 10 chains W of South Bantaskine (at NS 8705 7910 on OS 6" 1864). (For first battle,

see NS88SE 28).

Name Book 1860

This battle was fought on 17th January 1746, between the army (8000 men) of Prince Charles Edward, and 9000 Hanoverians under General Hawley, 1300 of whom were horse and 1000 Argyll Highlanders. Hawley, seeing the Highlanders advancing on a hill near South Bantaskine, sent his dragoons to seize and hold the height, and the foot to follow. The Highlanders reached the hill-top first, however, and drew up in two lines, with a reserve in the rear. The Hanoverian troops, arriving from Falkirk, formed in two lines along a ravine in front of the enemy, about 100 yds away. Hawley advanced his dragoons, but they were driven back and pursued by the Highlanders, who routed the rest of the Government troops. The NSA states that the ground where the battle was fought is now crossed by the Union Canal and railway.

F H Groome 1901; NSA 1845 (W Begg); M Brander 1975

This battlefield was included in a nation-wide study of key battle sites. A detailed gazetteer was created by The Battlefield Trust, which includes an historical overview of each site, detailed assessments of the action and its location and the number of troops involved, casualties, sources of information and an interpretation of the events and its impact on history. For more detail see the gazetteer and associated materials - MS 2522.

G Foard, T Partida 2005