Monday 19th Octobe4r 2014

Our latest club campaign game, Portuguese now holding the river against the French

 LISBON HERALD

 General Beresford has done it again and laughed in the face of French Bullies!!!

Although taking large casualties and eventually being reluctant to leave the field of battle he is reported to be pleased with his mens tenacity in the face of French Imperialism.

The army was tasked with holding the river which had so easily been taken from the French earlier in the day. This task was to allow the Allied army under 'Bob' Wellington to retreat and resupply ready to turn and support the withdrawal of 'Andy' Beresford.

The right flank under General Trant was initially in danger of being over whelmed by large French numbers, however the stoic morale of the common Portuguese Soldier, supported by the gallant men of the R.H.A held and stemmed the tide briefly.

Unfortunately number told and, only, after receiving over 57% casualties where they forced to quit the field.

On the right flank General Spry is reported as asking what all the fuss is about with these men who claim they are Napoleons Guard. He held the ford allocated to him and even when faced by the 'Guard' his men didn't flinch - "just new meat for the grinder" - a sergeant was heard saying.
Only on the order of Beresford did the brigade quit the field in good order and heads held high.

Finally, the centre.  General Lecur asked "were where the enemy, I've been waiting to give them a bloody nose!"
His brigade held the town and bridge, losing no units and withdrew in good order but frustrated at getting no action. 1st Battalion Vila Real reported firing a few rounds at some Voltigeurs and receiving some sporadic and wayward long range round-shot.
The reason for this - The VALIANT Transoco Cazadores. Intially holding the forward posistion near a burning house, they where forced out by some of the Frenchies Lackies from Switzerland!
Not accepting that this was a warning, they then advanced alone against the whole brigade and dealt a blow on the first unit, whilst weathering the fire storm of return fire from the rest of the brigade. Eventually retreating when the damage had been done.

The French held the field and are shouting about a great victory on the streets of Paris, but we of the free world know it was a morale and tactical victory to the Portuguese, who on returning to the British lines where cheered through the deployed red coats as heroes.

None shall pass on the right!

The Centre Holds thanks to Transoco Cazadores

The Gallant Left, eventually forced back
Initial Deployment -

The French surge forward, only to be held back initially -

Finally, overwhelmed and cause to retire

Sunday 18th October 2014

Two games played again today.

Mark (Marines) and Sam (Tau/Dark Eldar) played a 1500 point WH40K game.

Didn't get to see much of the game, coming from the laughter eminating from their direction it sounded like fun.

I was told that Mark eventually won the game which lasted the maximum 7 turns.

Some pics -

Second game involved, Jeff, Les, Adam and me playing a 4 player SAGA game.

Scenario was a 4 point aside game, winner the one collecting most enemy bodies!
We had played around 13 turns when I remembered it was a 7 turn game!!
Adam won that one.

We decided to play again, properly this time, and some of us tweaked our armies.
Again Adam won, and won big.

Finally Adam and me played scenario 5 (defend the village) not reading the scenario til after we had selected armies. Scenario was supposed to be a secret bid on points needed to defend the village, with lowest number being the defender.
We carried on with 6 points aside and Adam defending - He won again, only just on the final turn (6).

Some pics -

Sunday 6th July

Two games - Sam v Mark (40K), Adam v Me (Black Powder)

40K
Mark and Sam played a game of 40K.
Sam used a Dark Eldar/Tau combination, whilst Mark fielded a Space Marine army.

Battle was very too and fro according to Sam and Mark with the final result ending in a draw.

Couple of pics -

Black Powder
Adam and me used my 25mm Black Powder armies and even points (700)

It was a good game, with it being a close run thing! However the French overcame the British firepower and took the day.

Figures are both Perrys and Warlord games.

Pics below -

Monday 17th March

Second Battle of Warrington

The Facists and Communists had been reinforced and took the action to the South of Warrington.

The forces from Rixton and Culceth now joined the fray giving my troops a taste of the action.

The battle went well for the facist side eventually with tanks proving a great help along with the Rixton Regiment charging and destroying several artillery pieces.

Pics below

Monday 15th September 2014

Club Campaign Game

The Anglo-Portuguese army had skirted round Madrid after the last battle and headed north.
After a hard march through the mountains the hungry army came to a bridge with a road heading north towards Valladolid.

The path was blocked by the French and they refused to surrender. Game on!

Got to admit it was a hard battle in terms of the allies being a bit nervous of charging across the bridge and attacking the buildings.
NOT helped by rubbish command rolls by Brits and rubbish searches for fords by both allies.

The Dragoons were eventually burned alive as they held off the Brits, the French unit on the other side of the road felt the full force of 3 batteries of Portuguese 9lbers firing canisters at close range.

The allied cannon were short on gunpowder and only had 4 shots each for the whole game, hence the Portuguese waiting til canister range before firing.

Once the Portuguese found a ford, they enjoyed a great set of commands, for several turns gaining 3 moves with each order and enabled them to quickly cross and deploy before the French cavalry arrived.
Even when rolling a blunder (whilst trying to advance) the blunder roll forced them to advance!!!

Near to the end of the battle the main French force arrived behind the allies, but too late to stop the allies crossing.

It was surprising how easy 3 units of Infantry, 2 4lber cannons, 1 unit of Dragoons and 4 units of Hussars can stop a force from crossing a bridge until fords are found.
As stated the allies were nervous of crossing under a hail of fire and assaulting buildings. Also low supplies for the artillery and the army suffering -1 morale due to hunger.

The result was a win for the allies with no units lost (Portuguese only took 2 casualites all game) thanks to some really poor French cannon fire. How many times when firing at medium range can a commander rolls a 1 & 2?

The Portuguese have turned to face the French, whilst the British head north to find supplies and a defensive position to allow the Portuguese to pass through once the French are slowed. And then the British will battle whilst the Portuguese return the honors.

Lets hope a bigger force than the French had can hold the river just as well.

Some pics below
The Allied deployment 

 
Dragoons hold the South bank and receive some attention

Cannons and infantry holding the North bank

Portuguese firing line and finding the ford

Portuguese fly across the ford and form up to face the cavalry

The Brits  finally find a ford and start to cross the bridge, just as the French army arrives to their rear, including the Guard!

Final table, most of the Portuguese are across to the bottom and Brits are just starting to cross, whilst the French Guard can be seen top left arriving on table.

SALUTE report

Going to combine both 2013 and 2014

Both shows were at Excel and got to say organisation and size of venue was excellent.

2013
Went down Friday evening and stayed at London Tower bridge Premier Inn and found street noise a slight problem during the night.

I was the only one with a ticket and was lucky enough to get a "golden ticket" giving us a free KR Multicase backpack.
Quality of games were great and we played loads of games and spent plenty of money!

Here's some pics -

2014
This year we went early and stayed at Premier Inn Stratford Westfield Shopping Centre. this time went earlier and enjoyed an afternoon around the Olympic Park, followed by tea at Pizza Express and then 'Captain America' at the vue cinema.

Lads after last year each wanted a ticket, but this time no "golden ticket"!

After paying nearly £20 last year for a butty and drink, we found out how to get a pass out and eat at one of the vendors. Nice big pasty this year!

Didn't play as many games but enjoyed all the demo games and trade stand.

As with both years, it coincides with booking in for the Marathon and trains leaving are crammed, however there are ways around getting back avoiding the crowds by not following the announced route.
Adam had a great idea of traveling in wrong direction to next station and jumping on the empty train back before  the crowds got on.

Great weekend out and hotel booked for next year. Stratford price very high so going for Greenwich Premier Inn this year.

Here's some pics