The pay issue was defused by Oliver Cromwell acknowledging the justice of the soldiers' financial grievances and securing £10,000 towards payment of arrears from Parliament.
But 400 troopers under the command of Captain William Thompson who were sympathetic to the Levellers set off from Banbury, where they were billeted, to speak with other regiments at Salisbury about their political demands.
Major White was sent by Cromwell and Thomas Fairfax to mediate with Thompson's troops and give assurances that force would not be used against them.
Captain Thompson escaped only to be killed a few days later in another skirmish near the Diggers community at Wellingborough.
In 1979 a plaque to the three soldiers on the church wall was unveiled by Tony Benn to commemorate the event.