Oh lovely. So there you go, take that one and see how we do, ooh, aah.
Hi, it's Tod from Tod's Workshop and Tod Cutler here and today I'm back,
with our Roman pilum, our Javelin and, more importantly - Michael Allison, our under 20s,
GB Javelin thrower. Hello Tod. It's good to be back. It's good to have you back,
because it was brilliant last time because we just got to watch a professional thrower
throw a spear and that's, you know, I mean we've seen the throw javelins and all that.
Who's interested in that? Spears, that's where it's at and it was great to see it
But, one of the insights that you brought to me - and it was obvious really, I mean, I had
considered it, but, I hadn't mentioned it, is the fact that Michael was not wearing armour. Now,
the thing about Roman forces is that there was an awful lot of different people in different roles
with different amounts of armour and some of them would have been very lightly armoured, or, not
at all, pretty much like Michael was. Other guys would be wearing more armour. So, what we've done
now today is we've set up a very simple test and that is - how far can Michael throw as he is now?
How far can Michael throw when he wears a maille shirt? How far can Michael throw when he wears a
maille shirt and carries a shield, a Scutum? but, what I have to say right at the beginning here is
this is part of Michael's life. He's not just a casual bloke turning up to a YouTube film,
this is part of what he does. He competitively competes and at any point here on this wet field,
if he feels that things are uncomfortable for him, because he's not experienced wearing armour
and throwing, we will stop. So, if we don't get everything done I'm sorry about that but we'll
explain where we're at. But, there's something else you should know as well as not only do
I read your comments, I've also been reading Vergettius. Now for those of you who don't know,
this is a fantastic little book actually, uh, written fourth Century A.D by a Roman general
I don't know, anyway, but, whoever it was, he knew an awful lot about military history and Military
science. A brilliant book. Really readable. Read it. But, what is also clear in this,
is that static throws if you like, just like one step forward and throwing which is as you
were doing most of the other month when it was cold, that's definitely a thing. But,
what's also a thing is it mentions explicitly that throwing with a run-up and a jump makes missiles
go further and harder and that ranks should be spaced for that so we can assume that they were
doing running throws with the pilum. That was a thing. However, we don't really know how far so
we're going to allow you like maybe three steps or something like that with the running through,
rather than an eight meter run up or whatever it usually is and so that's it . There's going
to be six throws with and without armour, running not running. Are you ready for it ? Absolutely,
I'm looking forward to seeing how far it goes. Brilliant, right, see you down there.
So we're down on the range now with Michael and it's a really simple test. We've got five
meter divisions here marking out out to 40 meters - where there's a GoPro,
your traditional target we're gonna do one throw standing, one throw running
but with no armour, with maille armour and with mail and a shield
that's it. Simple, let's see what happens. Right, ready to take it away? yeah, throw one
oh, so that was out at about 35 meters
Let's go again. So, this is going to be a little bit of a run now. So, v
Vegetius is writing saying that we all know that they go further. So let us see
oooh
That is, I can't say exactly , I'm gonna say about 39 meters 40 meters we'll put
the number up on screen but lovely, lovely throw. Didn't kill the GoPro! Not quite.
This was the first one as a standing throw at 34 meters and then this was the second, ah,
second as a running throw at exactly 40 meters. So, 40 meters brilliant stuff .
So what we'll do now is we'll put a maille coat on you, with well a hoodie as basically
a bit of protection for it because it's a bit scratchy uh and then we'll go again.
Let's get this on you. You have your protection. Okay, that's it
There we go over here.
yep, you in ? okay.
Lovely, all right, quite restrictive actually. Is it? It's, no, well, we'll see when I throw them
but it's, there is some weight to it. Yeah. What we can do is put on this lovely belt
which helps because then what it does it takes some of the some of the weight onto the hips.
So we've got Michael all togged up in his maille now and looking good and we're going
to go for a static throw and we're going to go for a running throw just as before.
Let's see what difference it makes because it's it's got to make a difference I guess, so yeah,
yeah let's find out how do you feel about it how does it ? I mean it just feels like your whole
body is just a little bit heavier because of the weight of the male so a little bit heavy but yeah,
so it's going to make a difference. I think we all know it's gonna make a difference,
um, how much of a difference so take it away. Static throw first
ooooohargh
so actually that is about five meters down, so that is about 29 meters,
something like that. We'll put the numbers on the screen. Running
and now for the running throw Michael. See how we go...
So that's maybe 32 - 33 meters again we'll put the number on screen but it's good I mean.
What I will say, yeah, is um, obviously running in mail is pretty difficult so,
it took more distance off my running throw than it did my standing one. Yes, it did. It took
maybe 10 meters there yeah but actually this is a good point to bring up right now, is Michael's
stature. Now, he is not a Roman legionary with a scrawny diet at five foot four or whatever it
might be whatever that is 1.6 meters tall. He's clearly not that. You know, he trains a lot he
eats really well, so how can you compare him to legionary? Well, in many respects, we can't. What
we can say is the legionaries trained for decades with these weapons. their length of service was
24 years or 25 years I forget, but, they trained for decades regularly with these weapons. Michael
has been throwing Javelin for about a year and a half ,he's been throwing pilum for 10 throws,
you know, so and he's worn maille - never! He has never trained in maille, he's never worked in it,
he's never done a run like legionaries did. So Michael is bigger, he has more stature, got it.
But ,also, he is deficient in other ways compared to a legionary. So, up down some,
who knows. What we can say is, he's a very good thrower and he's better than me!
So, wearing maille, Michael's static throw, 28 meters and his running throw 32 meters.
So we're going to come to the last one now Michael, where you are going to hold the
scutum. So, we'll do a standing throw first of all, um and see how you do and then,
see if you're comfortable going a running throw with this thing because it is going
to be awkward. But, of course, I also have to mention it's England. So, it's beautifully
sunny and it's raining obviously- right. So there you go. Take that one and see how we do
aaah
I'll give it another go. Yeah, so that was like 15/ 16 meters. Are you out of Interest,
are you nervous? a little bit So, yeah, so that one, yeah,
I think the standing throws. I'll get one at 20 standing. Okay, that's fine,
we'll ditch the idea of doing a running throw. Go for another standing. Yep, see how you go.
aaah,
much better. So I'm gonna say 24 -25 meters. Oh yeah,
something like that. That's decent. So we'll put the numbers up on screen. I can't quite see from
here so sorry if I've got it wrong but, yeah, I mean a decent throw, a decent throw. Yep.
So Michael's first throw was bang on 20 meters. But, you could see,
I could see his nerves. He wasn't comfortable doing it.
Second one - 23 meters 24 something like that. He was more comfortable with it but again, first
throw ever in maille and holding a shield , second throw ever. We know it's going to go up from there
but, anyway, I think we need to go back and conclude and see what we learned from today.
So here we are at the traditional conclusion and I have really learnt something today actually
and it's a confession because, when I first saw you throw in that first film I was just like,
every everyone's wrong, everybody's wrong this pilum thing, it goes so far, it is amazing every,
all numbers are wrong but, actually when you start to come back and you get Michael in the maille
and holding the pilum we've gone from 34 meters down to I think it's 28 and now like 24 meters
Maybe 23. So it makes a massive difference and you can see that holding the shield it was horrible.
Um, would you run with it ? I mean right now, today, without training ? Oh no. Not a chance. No
and I think even with training it's it's going to be something awkward to run with. It's much
easier to run without the shield. Yeah. With the shield, I'd probably still stick
to standing throws in battle. If you had a choice. Okay, but and it comes all the
way back to the beginning again really, that Roman troops weren't just one thing right. It
wasn't just the the guy from Asterix in the Lorica Segmental. There were all sorts of other people,
auxiliaries, differently armed and so on. Skirmishes coming out the front and and so
we can't just give one definitive answer . But what we can say and this is definitive,
is it makes a big difference. It does. Big difference. So anyway, thank you very much.
Another cracking day Michael and we will see you again. Yes I'm sure, cheers, thanks guys