...at Brecon Wargames Club! While we were down in Herefordshire visiting Matt and family I was a guest of Brecon Wargames Club - Matt and Reuben being members. The chaps were great company, formidable opponents; competitive of course, but in a gentle and friendly way. If you live in the area and are looking for a club to join I'd recommend getting in touch!
The chaps playing in the Waterloo big game pose for a group picture before friendly hostilities commenced {from the left: Paul, Owen, Brendan, Reuben, Matthew and Stuart} with the arrival, or not, of the French centre - the very first of our dice rolls for Command being a Blunder! Our centre retired two moves! Merde!
That left General de Division Byklié rather hung out to dry in the attack on the Chateau de Hougomont on the British right.
The chateau is a splendid scratch build by Brendan, any wargamer would be proud to have that in his collection! It was [too] gallantly defended by my opponent, Paul, with many of his excellently painted British infantry and cavalry supporting the beleaguered garrison. Our fight became rather detached from the ebb and flow of the battle as my chaps replete with élan, but sadly unsuccessfully, tried to break into the chateau!
The French centre belatedly arrives and advances on the ridge bristling with British guns and muskets! "En Avant, mes braves! Vive L'Empereur!"
While in the distance, from my perspective at least, the French attack develops carefully against the British left ably marshalled by Stuart, a fellow Walsall FC fan! Probably the only thing I have missed since leaving wargame clubs for GHQ has been the big day games. I'd forgotten though how tough they can be for old chaps and how difficult it is to keep up with "what's occurring" elsewhere in the battle.
A second of Brendan's very fine scratch built structures, the farm of La Haye Sainte anchored the British left.
Meanwhile the fight for the chateau continues on the French left. My gallant garçons were full of élan, but little else, as a desoltary firefight over the garden walls produced no significant advantage for either side.
Sensing a chance to attack the French in the flank as they were
Disordered Paul's stout defenders sallied forth, colours unfurled and drums beating!
Meanwhile in the centre the French columns hurl themselves repeatedly against the thin red line of British infantry, only to be driven back time and again!
On our right a sharp cavalry action is developing although the French look to have the advantage at this point in the affair.
The French centre regroup and goes again, encouraged by the arrival of L'Empereur [ably played by Reuben] and La Garde!
An impasse develops on the British right where although the French infantry are forced into square by the Light Cavalry their guns can do little execution on my brave fellows. The pinning of Paul's infantry on the ridge contributing to the general stalling in our sector.
Enfin though, the French defeat one of the two British infantry regiments debouching from the chateau and halt the second with a sharp volley. All too late in the day though on our flank as the clock runs down on our game time.
Napoleon's Garde are unleashed on the weakened centre as the climax of the action is reached. By now Paul and I had reached an amicable draw in our sector of the battlefield and were mere supporters for our colleagues striving for victory!
La Garde smash into and through the British line in the final twist of the game! Was it enough for victory? Well, Stuart, Reuben, Matthew and I certainly thought so. The British so ably lead by Paul, Owen and Brendan might have a different view of course...
At the conclusion I must confess to being very tired, I certainly slept well on Saturday night! But, it was a splendid day's wargaming with the most convivial of company and lovely toys in quantity. Would I go again if invited, of course I would. It was a great advert for our hobby of wargaming and for the members of
Brecon Wargames Club in particular!
