Casualties at Helms Deep

[Silvorn]

Just a question:

It's understood that the orc force was completely obliterated . . . but what were the losses on behalf of the Rohirrim?

[Steve the Great]

It's quite a hard question, I didn't find any evidence about the rohirrim casualities...
In the book can be found the following quote:
'Maybe, we have a thousand fit to fight on foot,' said Gamling, an old man, the leader of those that watched the Dike.
This applies to the warriors of Westfold, so the total number of warriors could be approx. 2000-2500.
We doesn't know too much about the burial:
In the midst of the field before the Hornburg two mounds were raised, and beneath them were laid all the Riders of the Mark who fell in the defence, (...)
I think, less than the half of the defenders were killed in the battle, so beneath a mound could lay maximum 400-500 men... (They sould be quite big mounds...)

[Silvorn]

Many thanks! It was always my opinion that less than half must have died, but I couldn't really find any literature to back me up. Thanks again, StG.

[Eomund]

All wouldwe died, if Erkenbrant wouldwe not comen. Erkandbrand didnt get casualties at all except few men for then were orcs already frightened. Now how many men did Erkenbrand have.

[Steve the Great]

Umm... As far as I remeber, Tolkien didn't write the exact number of them, I suppose Erkenbrand had around 1500-2000 men, all were foot-soldiers...

[Gil Galad]

about 1500 sounds right for Erkanbrands force, and about 2000 or so all told in Helms deep. that makes about 4000- 4500 men of Rohan involved in that battle.
right how many men did Theoden bring with him to Gondor, i think this would be the best means of figuring out the Casualties at the Deep

[Flanyboy4]

I remember reading somwhere that about 6,000 men of Rohan were brought to gondors aid. Dont forget that before helms deep the entire nation of Rohan was not musterd before heading to gondor there was a muster in rohan. The same thing as a draft.

[Feanor]

In the book, I read that Aragon and the company were riding down the causeway and then saw Gandalf and with him were a thousand foot soldiers but how many men died, I don't know.

[IronHills Dwarf]

You have to look further in the book for these figures.

"for the king was leaving only a small garrison in the Burg, and all who could be spared were riding to the weapontake at Edoras. A thousand spears had indeed already ridden away at night; but still there would be some five hundred more to go with the king, for the most part men from the fields and dales of Westfold."

Return of the King
The Passing of the Grey Company
Page 51 in my copy

So using Steve's figures of 2000-2500 to start and 1500 leaving for Edoras and thence for Dunharrow after the battle with a small number staying at the Burg (say 200) we've now got maximum:

2500
-1700
=800 casulaties (32%)

Least of course is 300 dead. (12%)

[Eomund]

now, ive got a thought...Theoden wanted 12 000 men to Gondor..where were they..i think it said...all who could were already there...or something liek that...