The Battle of Palmer's Cross 1643

Games hosted here in GHQ have been somewhat disrupted here; a combination of holidays, illness and domestic work combining to restrict opportunities to gather the chaps together at any one time. So this Monday's game was anticipated more than usual I felt, at least it was by yours truly! I settled on a fictional ECW game, pitting once more Sir Marmaduke ' Gaylord' Robinson against that stout Parliamentarian Obadiah Bykleigh. So, to the Battle of Palmer's Cross in our ongoing loosely linked games set in the south of Staffordshire around Wolverhampton. First, the field of battle before any troops are deployed ~

The buildings making up the hamlet of Palmer's Cross are from Conflix, the trees and hedges from The Last Valley, Phil made the terrain boards for me and, lastly, the animals from a host of sources too numerous to mention. {Pay more than usual attention to this layout as it's going to feature again later in the month, with some C20th additions, in a VBCW game, Incident at Palmer's Cross, 1938.}
Back to the C17th now though with some images from the game. We revisited Victory Without Quarter for the rules in a real nostalgia fest ~

Three turns into the game and the Parliamentary army is finallyunderway.
The cards were not favourable to me in the early phase of the game.

The Royalist infantry have advanced with gusto, supported by their Horse.
The first clash is on their left flank when the outnumbered Parliamentary Horse
counter charge their opponents.

On the Parliamentary left the Horse clash and the first blood is to their cause.
More Royalist Horse hurry to their support as the guns are threatened.

On the Royalist left the Parliamentary Horse sweeps all before them. The rout
exposes the infantry to destruction.

On the Royalist right their Horse is also routed and the guns are in jeopardy.
Only the Lifeguard of Horse are between the Royalists and utter defeat.

Parliamentary Foot surge forward supported by fresh Horse. The situation is
grave for the Royalist's cause.

It was all up for Sir Marmaduke Robinson in Turn 7 as his cavalry on both wings was routed by the Parliamentary Horse, leaving his artillery and infantry at their mercy! As an adjunct to the main action a number of vignettes which gave flavour to the table ~

"This may hurt!" The surgeon set by Foundry.

"I'm sure if we attack there we shall find a weakness!" Figures
from Foundry & Redoubt with Irregular furniture.

She had a cunning plan I suspect. He should have listened!
Foundry figures and dog with more Irregular furniture.

"For want of a shoe the
 battle was lost!" 

No game here in GHQ now until the end of the month when we shall be playing a VBCW game across substantially the same terrain, although the canal and railway might be a bit of a C20th giveaway. Next week the action switches to Phil's Olaf's HQ for the final game in the Strontium Campaign with both Goths and C3rd Romans tussling for final victory.

The Lafayette Rifle Volunteers

As I promised you last week, some pictures of the latest additions to my War of 1812 expansion project.These are Foundry figures once more, sculpted by Aly Morrison to represent the US Regiment of Rifles. Having already deployed the regiment in my American army in the original project, started when Foundry moved into Nottingham under one roof, I was keen to use the figures in a different guise. To that end, after much uniform research in books and on the net, I decided on a fictional unit which I've called the Lafayette Rifle Volunteers ~

Their uniform is grey with green facings, on the whole, though some are wearing hunting shirts due to a shortage of cloth caused by those damned Limeys and their naval blockade! The yellow cords and plume on the shakos are a nod to the dashing French Voltigeurs, much admired in some American circles it seems. I've wanted to use the Warflag green colour for a long time and finally I've been able to do so with a clear conscience ~

I just hope that no lace junkie out there has had a coronary as a consequence of my tinkering with reality!

Next in line for the War of 1812 expansion project are more American Militia, again by Foundry, and then a second unit of  Knuckleduster Figures, this time some Canadian Militia in round hats. I hope to complete both units in December, festive disruptions permitting of course.

From deepest, darkest Brummagem.

I've been to the nether ends of Birmingham today, where never have I set foot afore, all in aid of visiting Wargamer, the last show of 2019. It was held in a new location, King Edward Sheldon Heath Academy, in Sheldon. Not the most convenient location from GHQ but much better for the visitor I thought. I took a few pictures of the games (see below), chatted with several friends and a former work colleague, and spent the princely sum of £8, including Senior admission and a coffee. I enjoyed the visit, a good end to the campaigning year before hunkering down in Winter Quarters. Anyway, pictures of the games, excepting the couple of fantasy ones not to my taste. No idea which group is which game on the whole, so just enjoy the spectacle that was on offer ~

The show programme says it will be held once again in 2020 and,DV, I hope to be there. Now though it's back to painting more War of 1812 figures in the form of the Canadian Volunteers.

Attack on Fort Découragement

As I mentioned in the previous Blog post,Phil and I tackled a second F&IW game in our regular Monday meeting here in GHQ last week. Phil as Lord Rawnsley assumed command of the British force, keen to follow up its success under Lord Walton, while I had the task of rallying my defeated French force and halting the British advance. In this I was aided by being able to fall back towards Fort Decouragement to give my battered force a secure base at least. I also had the very faint hope for the timely arrival of my Paddoquoi Allies who had taken the previous defeat very badly.

At the start of the game, the Fort and its environs as the armies
deploy.

De Bykli overseas the deployment of the defenders as the
British under Lord Rawnsley hasten to the attack.

Some early success for the French! The British attack falters
under French fire!

The Rangers advance on the British right flank. But those
treacherous Padoquoi have been seduced to the British cause!

Local French settlers have flanked the British infantry to aid
their regulars and woodsmen.

A group of Rangers are in the French rear, an ominous sign...

Oblivious to the new threat, the French look to their front.

Fire from the fort disrupts the Rangers and eases the threat on
the French positions.

But in the next turn, its all up for the French and they march
away from the fort a broken force...

While on the French left the treacherous Paddoquoi massacre
the surviving French settlers!

At least De Bykli saves his face, marching out with the Honours
of War as the fort is put to the flame!

Again Black Powder proved robust enough to deliver an excellent and gripping game going almost to the wire despite our tinkering with the parameters of unit sizes and the nature of command and control. It will be a while until we revisit the F&IW here in GHQ. I hope to add a few more figures this coming year, the usual riders to ambition being added of course. No games here in GHQ next week, as Phil is away on a tad of R&R and Jon is unavailable,but don't despair I have some finished units ready to show you next week. Now there's a treat to look forward to...or not.

More surplus figures utilized

A while back now I featured some small bases utilizing surplus American figures from the War of 1812 ongoing expansion project. I use them to represent skirmishers and to populate buildings more readily than the larger rectangular or square bases. I've done a few now for the British regulars stationed in the Canadas at the outbreak of hostilities ~

These Foundry British flank company figures, sculpted by Aly Morrison back in the day, were left over from a bag of assorted figures I got from Colonel Bill's earlier in the year. As they say, "Waste not, want not!"
While on the subject of using up figures I've also been painting up some Foundry American Rifles. Rather than just paint them as more US Rifle Regiment figures I've created an entirely fictitious Volunteer Rifles unit with a totally made up name and uniform, the Lafayette Rifle Volunteers. I'm half way through them, so hope to complete the unit by the end of the month.

Attack on Petit-St Mellon

Jon and I were trying out a few ideas for a French and Indian War game using my collection of Redoubt Enterprise figures and Black Powder 2, including the recent dedicated theatre supplement. The scenario sees a British attack on a small French settlement, Petit-St Mellon. Lord Walton assumed command of the British force sent to burn the French out and hopefully secure more Paddoquoi allies, while De Bykli assumed the mantle of French commander charged with the defence of the settlement ~

The Rangers just fail to make contact with the Padoquoi village in Turn 1.

Meanwhile the British Regulars, their left screened by their Light Company,
advance on the French left.

The inhabitants of Petit-St Mellon prepare to defend their homes. In the
background the French artillery makes slow progress towards the left flank.

"Not quite time for the last rites, Father." ...not just yet anyway!

French regulars have been wrong-footed by the British attack on the weaker
French left flank.

The French left is held by two elements of Coureur Du Bois, who will very
soon be driven in by the British infantry advancing on their position.

The British advance relentlessly supported by their native allies. We treated
each base as a separate unit in BP terms for firing and fighting and it seemed
to work just fine throughout the game.

The French infantry attempt to take the British in the flank, while the folk of
Petit-St Mellon hold off the Light Company. It was looking very good for the
French cause at that point!

The remaining Paddoquoi have been persuaded to come over to the French
side and set off with a whoop to take a few scalps! Or so I hoped!!

Four Morale Save failures later, the French are being driven back by Turn 8.

In Turn 9 a further two Morale Save failures sees the French force Broken.
The French commander orders a retreat and Petit-St Mellon will burn!

We both thoroughly enjoyed our game and felt that until very late on in proceedings it was very open as to which side might triumph. In the end my superb firing throws, sadly matched by Jon's equally good Saving throws, could not be repeated by my Morale saves. Four on the bounce failed at less than 4 each for my first four attempts! But then I find this the real beauty of Black Powder in action, the very unpredictability of events keeps the game alive until the last throw of the dice! Al being well with the sick and ailing on Monday Phil and I will be giving the rules another outing in the F&IW setting with a follow up scenario I'm busy devising this weekend.

Upper Canada Militia 1812

Foundry figures sculpted by Aly Morrison of course, the first of this type I’ve added to the Anglo-Canadian forces.These have been a bit of a struggle for me to be frank though as there proved to be no obvious short cuts to the finished look I wanted for them. In all they took a couple of weeks to finish to my satisfaction. The colour bearers come from the British infantry command pack and the officer from the pack of British officers and sergeants. The flags are by Flags or War and the bases from Warbases. I’m pleased by the final look of the unit, so I hope any visitors will be too ~

Next up are the bases of spare flank company figures to act as skirmish markers. Each of the three bases will be painted in the facing colours of one of the regular units serving in the Canadas at the time.
I’ve also taken the decision to have two extra regular units added to the army, again using the Foundry range. These are being painted for me by John Hill and I hope to be able to show you the both units sometime towards the end of the month, or early December at the latest. The first unit, the 1st Foot, the Royal Scots are already based and textured, awaiting static grass application and the flags fixing to the ensign figures. The second unit, the 100th Foot are even as I type under the brush.