VBCW Big Game (Herefordshire)

A few pictures from today's Big Game in Herefordshire (not so big as there was only five of us there). 

The Communist and the royalist/fascist were both trying to 'tax' the same area of Herefordshire to replace losses incurred in recent battles. The local farmers had other ideas.

The game started surprisingly peaceful, with both the communist and the government forces not wanting to antagonise the well armed farmers, preferring instead to do battle using proxies in the from of unallied forces (the police, the AA, some well armed rugby players) to influence the farmers.

Things took a sharp detore when two platoons of german paratroopers (umpire controlled) dropped onto the battlefield with orders to eliminate the communist leader, Colonel- Commissar Professor Winters.

Some of the farmers, lead by Farmer Giles, unimpressed with foreign Johnnies dropping into their farms unannounced and uninvited, switched sides and started shooting at the Germans and their fascist allies.

The Communists and Farmer Giles managed to hold off the combined forces of the Government, the Fascists, the Germans and a treacherous, greedy farmer who sided with them. When it became clear that Farmer Giles' farm house was undefendable, the Communist fell back to a solid defensive position behind the farm. 

Reluctantly Colonel-Commissar Professor Winters gave the order for an orderly withdrawal. The Communist had acquired a fair amount of bootie (I mean voluntary contributions to the workers cause), and even rescued forces sweetheart Vera Lynn from the clutches of the Fascist regime. All this and they has only suffered a single casualty, killed by a bouncing exploding rugby ball. 

Not a bad result really. 

Farmer Giles and his family sadly lost their farm house, but Professor Winters gamely arranged to send them all to one of the CPGB's many luxurious re-education facilities. 

A van belonging to the CPGB Voluntary Contributions Unit- charged with redistributing wealth. 

Some unallied rugger buggers

The AA with their new tank. (Another unallied faction)

A firefight breaks out between the Royal Main the AA as both sides start using the unallied factions as proxies in the battle. 

Sergeant Thomson of the Voluntary Contributions Unit of the CPGB stops a passing vehicle and inspects it for contraband. After a small voluntary contribution to the communist cause most of the vehicles were allowed to continue on their way. 

Meanwhile some of the Communist round up wildstock to take. All in the name of the workers of Great Britain, of course. 

The BBC film plucky Communists assaulting the AA tank with nothing more than a crowbar and a Molotov cocktail. 

I wonder if the roadside assistance will be able to fix that!

Boy scouts set up a roadblock and search a cadbury's can. Unfortunately for them it was empty!

One of the farmers had a Flame tank. It looked impressive but it was crudely built. 

Colonel-Commissar Professor Winters and his command section. 

A solid defensive line blocked the fascist advance and allowed the Communist to retreat in good order with their bootie. 

VBCW Battle Report: Chaos in Herefordshire!

This week saw an epic battle take place in the hills and valleys of Herefordshire as a group of VBCW enthusiast gathered to fight out another Big Game. 

For fun, the organisers Roo and Clive, came up with a mad cap scheme where the three senior commanders (Socialist, Royalist and Anglican League) each had money and resources to try to attract the 'neutral' LDV (Local Defence Volunteers) to their respective causes. The game began with frantic attempts by the three senior commanders (I was the Socialist commander) to attract the support of the LDV. I only managed to get the support of one LDV (Roo) but I was very pleased because I knew Roos LDV had a 17pdr field gun, which I was confident would come in jolly handy. The Anglicans had two LDV in support, and the Royalists also had two. 


Now while my force was nominally a Socialist force it has, since the last battle, taken on a more left wing tone as the leadership of the Red forces in Herefordshire has been infiltrated by the Communist Party of Great Britain. It is now not unusual to see CPGB Commissars in Socialist platoons, ensuring that the troops and officers are 'thinking correctly'. My commanding officer is Professor Winters, who commanded a Socialist company at the Second Battle of Ledbury. During that battle the Winters' force was allied to the much larger Anglican League force. The collapse of the Anglican defence of Ledbury left Winters' forces encircled by BUF and Royalists, and Winters' entire company was wiped out or captured. Winters himself only managed to escape by hiding under a bridge. After the battle he fled to Birmingham but the Socialist Council found him guilty of incompetence, and he was arrested and detained in Aston Hall. He later escaped with the help of agents of the CPGB, who used their influence to help him get promoted to senior commanding officer for the Red forces in Herefordshire. 

Captain-Commissar Professor Winters briefs members of the CPGB prior to the battle 

For historic reasons the Anglicans and the Socialists in Herefordshire had an alliance against the Royalist/Fascist Government forces, so we began the game together, opposed to the Royalist forces. Due to a shortage of manpower on the Royalist side the Socialists found that their two companies were opposed by a single company of the North Herefordshire Volunteer Militia, ably supported by Royalist Tank commander Sir Alan MacGuffin. The three companies the Anglican League were on the other flank, matched against two Royaist companies. 

Sir Alan MacGuffin's tank leads the North Herefordshire Volunteer Militia in their attack. 

As we position our forces to sweep across the flank and wipe out the North Herefordshire Volunteers, MacGuffin's tank trundled up the road, leading the Royalist advance.  My anti tank team, from the Wolverhampton Steel Workers Militia, raced towards the lumbering metal beast in their tiny car, before piling out ready to assault it. 'Anti-tank' team is something of a bold title for what really equates to two guys with a crow bar and a hand grenade. Somehow these plucky Reds managed to clamber on top of the Royalist tank, prize open a hatch and lob a grenade in. Sir Alan's butler (gunner) and Chauffeur (tank driver) were killed in the blast. A dazed MacGuffin clambered out of the smoking tank and was promptly captured by the Reds. 

Red Anti-tank unit disables the Royaist tank and capture Sir Alan

What happened next was a surprise to everyone (well almost everyone). With the Royalist MacGuffin captured, the proletariat of the North Herefordshire Volunteers decided to throw off the chains of their aristocratic masters and raise the Red Flag.  CPGB infiltrates and anti-royalist propaganda had persuaded the LDV commanders to turn on their royalist masters. (Basically Craig, the LDV player, had randomly drawn a order that he was to betray his Royalist paymaster at some point during the battle, and naturally MacGuffin's arrest seemed like a good time). The North Hereforshire Volunteers had a unit of Bee Keepers Militia, who were in the woods with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, covering the open ground in the middle of the battle field. Upon seeing the Red Flag they turned on the sailors and opened fire at close range...chaos and carnage ensued. 

A Republican Air Force Hawker Fury circles overhead waiting for a target

Roo's 17 pdr now re-positioned ominously pointing at the Anglican League

With our flank secure (well there was no one to fight as all three of us were 'Reds') Professor Winters decided it was time that the alliance between the socialist and the Anglican League was brought to an end. While the North Herefordshire Volunteers engaged the Royalist force in the woods, the rest of the Reds advanced on the Anglican Leagues positions. The Anglicans held a small field surrounded by dry stone walls- a good defensive position- and one we would have to take if we would stand a chance of breaking their Anglican forces. 

Professor Winters called in the Republican Air Force to strafe the position (alas the Hawker Fury was shot down), and Roos field gun pounded the Anglican's position relentlessly. Under the cover of this barrage the Reds advanced towards the Anglican's defences. 

The Hawker Fury strafes the Anglican League position in the stone walled field

The fury is damaged by the Anglican League and crash lands. 

At this point another unexpected occurrence changed the dynamics of the battle, as the Anglican League and the Royalist decided to declare a temporary truce while they dealt with the 'Bolshevik Scourge'. Both of them were happy to have the workers fight and die in their armies but the idea of the proletariat rising up and seizing power was enough to terrify them both into co-operating to protect their vested interests. 

Anglican League forces abandon their attacks on the Royalist and turn their attention to their former allies

As Craig's Militia pushed unit after unit into the woods, and the Royalists did the same, the entire woodland became a meat grinder, where neither side could achieve a significant break through and the loss of life was terrible. The commanding officer and senior NCO of the North Herefordshire Volunteers was killed leading his men in an assault on the Royalist positions, as was a CPGB Commissar Winters sent to assume command of the LDV. The Royalist Officer, Captain Giles, was also wounded, but only lightly, and is likely to make a full recovery. 

The Anglican Bishop negotiates a truce with the Royalists

As Roo and my forces advanced on the Anglicans defences we found our armoured cars could make little progress over the boggy fields, and so out infantry were unsupported by armour. The infantry- two full companies- advanced across an open field, onto the Anglican held positions, braving machine gun fire as they advanced. Winters' company suffered terrible losses, but were able to wipe out the Anglican infantry defending the stone walled field, and although they were a spent force they had  cleared the way for Roo to advance. An Anglican League officer was killed by a lucky shot from Roos 17pdr field gun, which was a blow to the Anglicans. Despite this loss they did manage to advance another company up to try to push Roos forces back, but it looked like too little too late.

Socialist forces advance stoic towards the Anglican defences

The Anglicans defened the stone walled fields to the last man

The battle concluded with a hallow victory for the Reds. Craig and my forces had lost almost all their infantry, and Craig had lost an officer to boot. The Royalists had lost the best part of a company in the meat grinder of the woods, and the Anglicans had lost another company, and an officer, to the combined attack of Roo and myself. 

What is, perhaps, more important, is the repercussions for the future of the VBCW in Herefordshire. Winters' personal vendetta against the Anglicans, who he blamed for his losses in the Second Battle of Ledbury, has shattered the alliance between the Reds and the Anglicans, which can only strengthen the Royalist/Fascist power in the area.  Perhaps the temporary truce between the Anglicans and the Royalist might turn into a more permanent political arrangement?

Craig winning the Umpires Award for being a treacherous backstabbing rogue!

As a parting thought I would leave you with this to think over: Did the communist Party of Great Britain know that Winters would turn on the Anglicans? Did they plan to use Winters' hatred of the Anglicans to break the alliance between the Anglicans and the Socialists? Was this why they made so much effort to free Winters from his imprisonment and secure his position as senor officer in charge of the Socialist forces in Herefordshire? It certainly makes you wonder...

Scouse Cossacks for Very British Civil War

November will see me travelling to Herefordshire to participate in another 1938: A Very British Civil War (VBCW) "Big Game". I will be playing the commander of the Red forces. This game will see the return of Professor Winters (Hoping to make up for his disgraceful conduct in the Second Battle of Ledbury). 

Winters has now fallen in with the Herefordshire Communist Party, and has now ingratiated himself with the local commanders and managed to get the rank of Captain-Commissar. This game will be a little different to the usual VBCW big game as most of the players will begin the game unaligned to either the Reds or Government forces, and must be persuaded, bribed, bullied etc into joining one side or the other. this might lead to uneven battles, but will certainly be fun. 

Prof Winters, resplendent in the uniform of a CPGB Captain-Commissar (with lots of added medel bling which I doubt he really earned)

Winters and his CPGB Bodyguards

To mark the battle I have painted up a new unit for my Reds. These are from the 1st Aintree Light Horse Regiment. This is a horse-cavalry unit from the Liverpool Free State. They are primarily a light reconnaissance unit, and these tough soldiers often operate behind enemy lines for prolonged periods. They are encouraged to live off the land, which is where they eared the nick name 'Aintree Light-fingered Horsemen'. 

Aintree Light Horse mounted for a patrol

They are trained to fire from a mounted position, and in skirmished are likely to adopt this tactic, however they are not equipped or trained to fight in melee as cavalry, and in larger engagements will dismount and fight as regular infantry. Their light role means that they lack a LMG, but are equipped with hand grenades to make up for this shortcoming. 

Aintree Light Horse dismounted for serious fighting. 

The Aintree Light Horse have adopted a grey fur hat as their unofficial uniform. This has lead to their other nickname: The Scouse Cossacks. 

VBCW: The Defence of Dorstone!

I joined Giles and JP for a VBCW game in Hereford  last week. It was a Big Game in every sense of the word with fifteen players, including some old familiar faces and even a few new ones. 

I was fighting with Lord Robert Grover, nephew and heir apparent to the Duke or Farnham, for the Royalist Course. My fellow Royalist JP found himself besieged in the rural village of Dorstone by the dastardly brigand Sir Gilbert and his hired thugs, along with their depraved Anarchist allies. 

Sir Gilbert, devious rogue and reputed head of a huge smuggling and organised crime network, needed to capture Dorstone to allow him unrestricted access into the heart of Herefordshire. JP's men had barricade their village and prepared to resist until relieved by Lord Robert Grover. Lord Robert's men were to enter from the East, over the hills and fields (which made my decision to bring armoured cars instead of a tracked light tank a bit foolish as they could hardly mover in the muddy English fields).

Our Battlefield. The village of Dorstone, Hereford

Some odd locals- not all that friendly

Sir Gilbert- The dastardly rogue!

Anarchist gun truck attacking the Royalists barricades

JP's men braving enemy fire to man the barricade!

Lord Henry Flashthorpe (Lord Robert's cousin and renowned big game hunter turned Anarchist hunter for the day, and his valet, Brown)

Lord Robert's men to the rescue!

A Royalist Armoured Car!

In another part of the county Anglican League use rocket batteries to pound Royalist positions in the village of Kinersley 

Lord Robert's forces arrive in strength in the East of the village and prepare to drive Sir Gilbert's bandits from the gardens of the village. 

Lord Robert Grover- Dashing as ever!

Royalist soldiers take up positions to hold the eastern side of the village

Anarchist cavalry are driven off, protecting Lord Robert's flank

Mad Wullie, Sir Gilbert's terrorist leader, bombs JP's armoured car, the last line of defence in the western portion of the village

Sir Gilbert's roguish hirings scramble like rats across the Royalist barricade, but without more support were they too little, to late? 

 Sir Gilbert's attempts to drive JP's Dorstone Royalists from the barricade were partially successful, and in the last turn of the game he managed to get four men over the defences, but for the most part his force was spent, and his casualties had been high. In contrast Lord Robert's casualties had been light and he was poised to retake the barricades with ease. The Anarchist had proved they lacked the moral fibre to go toe to toe with brave English Royalist and had sulked in the hedges and orchards. Their casualties were low too, and had they have tied a more offensive tactic then they might have been able to push the Royalists harder.  In the end we decided it was a draw, as Sir Gilbert lacked the men to hold the village and push home the attack, by the Royalists were by no means successful in driving off the attackers, and indeed JP's force was significantly depleted. Lord Robert's platoon suffered a total of ten casualties, mostly groundsmen and Royalist soldiers. The most tragic loss was Cornet Albert 'Binko' Binksley who was killed by a mortar shall while acting as a liaison with the Royalist defenders of Dorstone. He was just eighteen years old. 

RIP Binko. 

French and Indian Wars: Horse and Cart

Just a bit of scenery or an objective for French and Indian Wars. I showed it off in the same picture as the Village Girls a few weeks ago but it was in the background and I though it should deserve a larger photo. The horse and  cart are from Warbases and the cargo is from Ainsty Castings. It will be useful for many setting as well as the FIW, from ECW right through to VBCW and WW2.

Scenery for Pirates (Arrh! Jim Lad!)

Here is a few of pictures of the latest bits of scenery I have been making. These are from 4Grounds and they are from their Fabled Realms fantasy rage (they are from the Mordenburg range- not at all based on inspired by Mordhiem) They certainly wouldn't look out of place on a Warhammer table but I think they will do for a number of other genres as they are mercifully free from grinning sculls and other Games Workshop inspired oddness.


Included in the range is three different types of houses- Dockside, High Street and Back Street. Dockside is the grandest quarter, where the burgers and merchant's homes and so on. They are three stories: The ground floor is accessible from the street and is a cellar or a shop. The main family residence is accessed via an external staircase. High Street houses are simpler affairs, but still impressive, while back street houses are simple single story structures. There are also a number of ruined versions of the houses and a very imposing inn. 

I picked up a back street house and a dockside dwelling, principally to use for On the Seven Seas and Freebooter's Fate. They are pre-painted and Laser Cut from MDF, and come with a step by step photographed instructions which were very useful. The smaller house took about an hour to build but the larger one was more complicated and took about 5 hours (I would probably be quicker next time, and I used PVA, which I had to wait to dry during a few of the more delicate stages). 

They are lovely models, with lost of nice details like doors that open, and even a trap door. They also have fully detailed interiors, which is great too, especially for skirmish games. I lightly dry brushed the timber work and roof tiles to help pick out the detailing and cover a few burn marks. This took about five minutes, but really enhanced the over all look. I particularly liked the way they are made to look a bit 'wonky': the roofs and walls slope at weird angles. Having grown up in Chester, where we have some of the best preserved Tudor timbered buildings in England, I really liked this as it looks very realistic and stopped them looking too boxy. 

While I intend to use these houses as pirate dwellings I can also see they will be useful for Lord of The Rings, VBCW, ECW or a whole host of other settings. My regular gaming buddy Pulp Citizen is getting a couple too, and when we put the together we will have the start of a little town!