The Fury of the Northmen!

Earlier in the week Phil and I met up in GHQ for our regular game. Almost at the last minute I elected to switch from the ECW to a 1066 & All That game ~ it's a long story that boils down to age! Philip de Rawnsley, Lord of the manor of Hednes' Ford led forth his men against the invading Northmen of Bicca Biccasson. Marching south Bicca gathered support from disaffected Saxon Earls, Thegns and Coerls. Reaching the outskirts of Staffa's Ford the ragtag army was confronted by de Rawnsley's Normans and Bretons. Both armies prepared for the coming battle ~

Philip de Rawnsley leading his loyal knights, from the rear it seems. Did Bicca see this as an open I wonder?

His Norman infantry held the centre screened by crossbow armed Light Troops. Bishop Ranulf can be seen blessing their efforts as they pass St Caliver's rough hewn church.

Earl Egfroth has mustered all the men he could, sensing a chance to give those Norman barstewards a bloody nose, not to mention the anticipated boots! He holds Bicca's right flank.

Bicca himself with his loyal Northmen holds the centre position. His men are ready for action after long days marching south.

On Bicca's left Earl Egberg has taken up position with his loyal herthguard and as many able-bodied men still on his estates. Bicca's army is poised ready to unleash a reign of brutal terror on these effette Normans.

Breton cavalry on de Rawnsley's right advanced smartly to support the infantry in the centre and threaten the flank of Bicca's thrust through that area of the battle line.

Norman heavy infantry make steady progress in the centre of the line of battle.

The Saxons on Bicca's right Blunder! Each unit takes a casualty and the whole Division falls back! Not the best of omens Bicca feared.

Worse was to come as the skirmishers emerging from the woodland come under fire failing their Morale test and Break!

On Bicca's left the Breton infantry, supported by their knights, hurl themselves against the Coerls catching the skirmishing light infantry napping!

Amazingly the Coerls throw back the infantry and the supporting knights break. Perhaps the Old Gods are will him after all Bicca muses...

The Breton right is thrown back in disarray. Bicca's small mounted unit gallops forward to see them off decisively! There is still no sighting of de Rawnsley's knights who are held back on his left.

The Bretons are Broken and the Norman centre is pushed back in confusion. At last the Norman cavalry is moving forward. The Saxon Hirdmen steady themselves forvthe coming shock, their Dane axes glinting ominously in the sunlight.

Bicca's Viking Hirdmen make short work of more of de Rawnsley's Norman infantry!

It's not all going Bicca's way though as weakened by losses in brutal fighting the Saxon Hirdmen are Broken! Is the tide of battle turning against him worries Bicca?

They may have been defeated. But their sacrifice was not in vane. De Rawnsley senses that God is not with his army and his cause today. His knights have failed to turn the tables on Bicca's right despite earlier successes for the Norman infantry.

His centre Breaks under mounting losses and with it his army is Broken too. The victory belongs to Bicca's host! All played out in nine Turns using Hail Caesar, though not without some rules checking from time to time! Even then I'm confident we still got the odd thing muddled! It's an age thing, as I said at the outset...