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Written by Philip Neale
Tuesday, 06 May 2008

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 May 2008 )

In our age of high speed satellite communication news gathering is almost instantaneous but for those reporting events in earlier times, weeks or even months may have passed before any details emerged. The circumstances surrounding the Norman invasion of England, if related using modern technology, may have sounded something like this…………………

Good evening I am Tim McDougall in the newsroom and today is Wednesday the 25^th of September 1066. Our main story tonight is victory for the English forces at Stamford Bridge as the combined armies of the Norwegians under Harrald Hardrada and Tostig, the brother of Harold Godwinson are routed after a forced march northwards by the English army to head them off. Over to our political correspondent on the spot, Richard Major.

Yes, hello Tim. It’s all over here and the English are understandably jubilant at their victory. Hardrada’s Norwegians had been in the country for about a week and had disposed of Morcar and Edwin just outside York, but Godwinson’s army were simply too strong, too many and tactically too good for them. They’re looking a pretty sorry lot now, and I can see in the distance wagons being loaded up for the long journey home. We understand from our sources inside the English camp that Harold Godwinson has a signed document pledging no further incursions on English soil by the Scandinavians. Back to you in the studio.

Thank you Richard, and we’ll keep up to date with the after battle celebrations as the army heads back home in the coming days. Now some breaking news from our foreign team in France. Over to David Sleet in Normandy.

Good evening Tim. We have a considerable build up of forces around the coastal area as William, Duke of Normandy, and his military staff carry out a series of manoeuvres which they say are in preparation for defence against a possible cross channel attack. No-one here is taking that idea too seriously though, and it looks to me more like the organisation of an invading force the other way. I have to say that this situation has been building up since the death of Edward the Confessor and Harold Godwinson’s usurping of what William still regards as his right to the English throne. I am sure that there will be more to report as the days progress, but for now it’s back to you in the studio.

Thanks David, now for a brief summary of other news it’s over to Dominic Soul.

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Good evening, Tim McDougall in the newsroom on Friday the 27^th of September 1066, and in an extraordinary development across the channel we understand that there has been movement of the French forces. Over to David Sleet in Normandy.

Yes, hello Tim. I am standing on the deck of the Norman flagship as final preparations are being made to put an invasion force to sea across the English Channel. I have lost count of the number of vessels, but if the weather holds fair Harold Godwinson is going to have one hell of a fight on his hands. The Normans are keeping their cards very close to their chests right now and I have no idea where they are going to land. Back to you in the studio.

Thanks for that David. Now Richard Major is still with Godwinson’s forces as they make their way back south after success at Stamford Bridge. Richard, do we know if Harold has received any information concerning the Normans?

Hello Tim. Yes, word reached us just hours ago about the impending departure of the French, and Harold Godwinson is furious. Although they’ve just seen off the Norwegians, there’s a physically demanding march before them to try to intercept any invasion and he’ll have to recruit replacements for lost forces on the way. This might not be as easy for him as one may think because a lot of people I’ve been speaking to off the record regard him as something of a tyrant after the reign of Edward the Confessor, but we’ll have to wait and see. Back to you in the studio.

Ok David, well I am sure that we’ll be hearing more from both camps in the coming days. Now for details of a startling new medical development we go to our science correspondent, Fergus Welch.

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Good afternoon, this is Tim McDougall in the newsroom with a newsflash. We have reports coming in that French forces have landed at Pevensey. Over to our reporter on the spot, David Sleet.

Yes Tim, we’re here in England on the beaches at Pevensey in Sussex and the landing has gone completely unopposed. I gather that Harold Godwinson’s forces are still some way north of our position at the moment, and the Normans are setting up camp having established their beach head. There are French soldiers as far as the eye can see, and they are all fresh from extensive training. You worry quite seriously at the ability of the English to carry this off after their exploits in Yorkshire and the forced march back down south. For the moment, back to the studio.

Thank you David, and for an update on the English forces it’s over to Richard Major with the Godwinson army. Richard?

Hello Tim, well we’re a long way short of London at the moment, and it has to be said that recruitment has been difficult. Harold’s army is nowhere near the strength it was before the battle against Hardrada and there is a disquieting rumble of discontent amongst the troops. We are making best possible speed, but I feel it’s going to be a long hard journey and early indications are that we do not expect to be in Sussex until at least October 12^th. Back to the studio.

Thanks Richard, and we return you now to your normal programs.

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Good evening, Tim McDougall in the newsroom on Thursday 10^th of October 1066, and with no more ado it’s over to our reporter David Sleet with the French forces in Sussex. David.

Yes, good evening Tim. Here in the Norman camp we’re just about ready for the arrival of the English forces and final training sessions have being going on throughout the day. I have to say that confidence here is sky high at present with all troops fresh and rested. William has been holding meetings with his senior staff and although we are not allowed access to them, several unofficial sources are predicting a resounding victory within the next few days. Back to you in the studio.

Thanks David, now for an update on Harold’s situation we go over to Richard Major who, I gather, is approaching London. Richard?

Yes we are Tim, but it’s been a weary journey and I reckon these men will need a good rest before flying into a fight with what we gather are completely fresh French forces. We believe that arrival in the capital will be around ten o’clock tomorrow evening and plans are already well advanced for a recruitment drive amongst the residents. Back to the studio.

Ok thanks Richard. It looks like we are going to be in for a remarkable few days and the fate of the entire country now hangs in the balance. Now it’s over to the weather desk and Mick Pike.

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Good evening it’s Saturday the 12^th of October 1066 and I’m Tim McDougall in the newsroom with dramatic events unfolding as the French and English armies prepare for a showdown in Sussex. Over to our reporter Richard Major with Harold Godwinson’s Saxon forces.

Hello Tim, we arrived in London as planned yesterday evening and recruitment began almost immediately to replenish the English ranks in readiness for what we now believe will be a battle some time on Monday. It leaves very little time for a march down to Sussex where the French have dug in and are preparing their forces for a classic pitched battle, but in their favour the English have that victory in Yorkshire under their belts, and the knowledge that they, at least, are battle hardened troops against a largely inexperienced albeit well trained Norman outfit. It’s going to be interesting, back to you Tim.

Ok Richard. Now over to Sussex and David Sleet.

Good evening Tim. Well, the Normans are ready and we think that the site selected will be just outside Hastings, giving William all of tomorrow to move his forces into place and this means that he should have the pick of the battlefield positions. All the indicators are in his favour and frankly the English are going to have to pull something pretty spectacular out of the hat. Back to you Tim.

Thanks Richard, and we’ll be staying with this story over the next forty-eight hours, but for now over to the sports desk and Paddy McGinty.

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Good morning, this is Tim McDougall on Monday the 14^th of October 1066 in the newsroom as dramatic events unfold in Sussex outside the town of Hastings. Over to our correspondents David Sleet with the French and Richard Major with Harold’s Saxon army. Richard, how’s it going?

Not well Tim, good morning. William appears to have made a serious tactical blunder. With numbers on each side of around the seven to eight thousand, field position was absolutely vital in ensuring a victory, but he seems to have allowed the English to occupy the high ground leaving him an uphill attack as the only option. At this point all the advantages seem to be in Harold’s favour.

Ok, thanks Richard. David what’s your view on this?

Hello Tim, yes I agree it’s a serious error. We are behind the main English force and looking down on the French from a seemingly unassailable position. It seems to me that all Harold has to do is fend off a series of attacks from what is bound to become tiring force, and then simply mop up the battlefield. It looks to be all over before it’s even started. We think the initial movements will be taking place very shortly. Back to you Tim.

Thanks guys. We’ll be staying live with that story as the day unfolds and we’ll bring you all the latest news as it happens.

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This is Tim McDougall in the newsroom with dramatic news of the battle at Hastings in Sussex. Over to our two reporters at the scene Richard Major and David Sleet. Firstly David – what has happened?

Well Tim, as we said the Normans had an uphill struggle before them, and initially their archers had little impact on Harold’s shield wall because of two factors. Firstly the arrows that were on target simply hit English shields, and secondly many flew straight over the top of the Saxon lines through sheer inaccuracy. The next thing I saw was a shower of rocks coming down the hill from the English lines right into the midst of the Norman ranks. William then sent in his cavalry far too soon and they struggled to get up the hill and it fizzled out. We then had the amazing sight of the Breton and Flemish lines retreating back down the hill in apparent disarray.

Ok David. Richard, what happened next?

Tim, this was unbelievable. The Saxons broke ranks and pursued the fleeing Normans down the hill, but as soon as they got on level ground the fitter and fresher French outmanoeuvred them and in the ensuing melee Harold’s troops lost the advantage. William then regrouped his archers and changed the point of their attack to land arrows over the remaining Saxon shield wall. Reports are coming in that one of these arrows struck Harold Godwinson and that he may already be dead. Certainly the English forces now seem to be in full disarray and the Normans appear to have snatched victory out of the mouth of defeat.

Thanks Richard. Well that’s truly amazing and we’ll bring you more up to date information as soon as we receive it. Until then we return you to our normal schedule.

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Hello, this is Tim McDougall at the news desk with the latest from Hastings. Harold Godwinson, King of England, is dead. He was struck in the eye by an arrow during the battle against Norman forces today and succumbed to his injuries. After a resounding victory against all the odds, William of Normandy has proclaimed himself King and is, as we speak, on his way to London for his coronation. We will bring you more news on events as they unfold, but for now we return you to today’s match at the national archery centre.

Copyright 2008 Philip Neale

Tags: News 1066