This post is inspired by a chapter in former editor Charles E. Bunnell (Charlie to his friends) recently compiled Bonnells & Bunnells of Note (And a few Burnells & Burrells for Good Measure). The complete work is available on Internet Archive at this link: Charlie Bunnell's Bonnells & Bunnells of Note.
From Curiosities of Popular Customs and of Rites, Ceremonies, Observances, and Miscellaneous Antiquities, by William S. Walsh, J.B. Lippincott Company, London, 1898; pages 293- 296: "The boys go round asking for money in the name of St. Crispin, bonfires are lighted, and it passes off very much in the same way as the 5th of November. It appears from an inscription on a monument to one of the ancient family of Bunell, in the parish church of Cuckfield, that a Sir John Bunell attended Henry V to France in the year 1415 with one ship, twenty men-at-arms, and forty archers …"
Cecil Bunnell, Genoa, New York, 13071-9707, wrote that his daughter Diana found a website The Soldier in Medieval England. The site's home page says, "Our database contains the names of soldiers serving the English crown between 1369 and 1453. Most were fighting the French. In this second phase of the Hundred Years War major invasions of France were launched, including that of 1415 which culminated in Henry V’s victory at Agincourt 1415. We have also included soldiers serving in other theatres (Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Spain, Calais etc), and in all types of service (expeditions on land and sea, garrisons, escorts, standing forces)."
When Ceci searched for Bunnell, there were no hits, but the following one popped up when he searched Bonnell.
Humphrey was the youngest son of Henry IV King of England and brother to Henry V. The expedition to France was part of the Hundred Years War.
I searched the data base, with the following results:
John Bonnell, origin Northwich Hundred, Hampshire; rank Archer, service Expedition, France; commander Henry V, King of England; service date 1417
Matthew Bonnell, Archer; service Field Service, against Montfort l'Amaury, Houdan etc. mustered: Sees; commander John FitzAlan (1408-1435) Earl of arundel, Lord Maltravers
Martin Bunel, Archer; service of Harfleur
Thomas Bonel, Archer, Garrison of Verneuil; origin, status, Captain blank
Martin Bonnel, Archer; service Garrison of Alencon; Captain Count of Mortain, Earl of Dorset, Duke of Somerset Edmund Beaufort.
William Burel, Archer, service Garrison of Tombelaine; captain the Duke of Suffolk (William de la Pole)
William Ie Burel, Archer, service Garrison of Tombelaine; captain the Duke of Suffolk (William de la Pole)
Martin Burel, Archer; captain Sir Thomas Kirkby; service Field Service at the siege of St. Denis, mustered Garges.
Jehan Burel, Archer; service Garrison of Domfront (with creu); captain Lord Thomas Scales.
Thomas Burrel, Archer; service Garrison of Mantes (additonal) mustered Vernon; captain Sir Thomas Hoo.
It's interesting that John Bonnell's commander was changed from the Duke of Gloucester to King Henry V. Clearly it's the same archer since the source information is the same.
The website cites specific sources for each individual's information, which I chose not to record here. Instead I encourage you to explore the fantastic database on your own. Maybe you'll find one of your ancestors was among that Band of Brothers.
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