Verdun - phase 1 - Recce

 Here at FLW we have experimented with a number of 'Big War' games in a Wellsian manner.  The Great War, which HG predicted in 'Little Wars', is a fascinating wargames subject - as it is essentially a siege game.

The approach to playing a game with FLW is as follows:

• Recce phase - using aero's and balloons with air to air combat
• Bombardment phase - and mines
• Attack phase - or going 'over the bags'

The Verdun position included frontline trenches, a line of blockhouses and the fort - with artillery positions in the wood.

 

The Recce phase commenced with some sharp combats, and lots of Archie - and some very near misses.  It was a tumult in the clouds.

Armt Black (Germany) achieved air superiority and shot down two Horizon Blue (French) machines.  The plucky and outgunned French succesfully shot down a German balloon.  

The stage was set for phase 2 - Bombardment. But not before the soup ration arrived at the fort ...

 

Verdun - set up

 Gloruious weather and the Shrophire countyside - what could be a better for a garden wargame in the very land of AE Housman, and the Edwardian idyll.

So to the set up, and the scenario was looslely based on the German attack on Fort Douaumont in 1916.  

A small ridge marked out the 'quiet' French frontiline - with the Fort as the main objective.

The garrison had been reduced, both in the number of guns and the use of Territorial troops.  The defenders remained alert, with balloons and recce aero's active ...

Meanwhile, the German attacking forces were massing in the dark woods of the Meuse ...

 

VERDUN

for FLW ‘Big Wars’

The Pals Edition

Holcroft Wright

A WORK IN PROGRESS

“my own financial predicament is very unimportant when I think of the millions of men who are going to be massacred in a War of the Worlds, comparable to that of Wells, because the Emperor of Austria thinks it expedient to have an outlet onto the Black Sea.”

From the Letters of Marcel Proust

 

 

Verdun game - in the offing

After Tim's excellent Somme game, the focus now moves to the wooded Meuse region, and Verdun ...

Somme game - dispatches

 The Somme game proved to be a most entertaining exercise, and I will leave it to the Brigade Commanders to judge the quality of the Chateau Generalship - but we did achieve a first break through of a front line ...

The weather turned wet, so it became a floor game.

http://megablitzandmore.blogspot.com/

Communications proved to be remarkably effective - with the use of modern technology ...

A Funny Little Wars game tomorrow - the first day of the Somme, 1916. Tim is hosting the game and I am providing some Chateau generalship ...

This is a multi player scenario with the British fielding a Division of three Brigades - and 180 infantry figures.  There will be an observation, bombardment and attack phase.

Garden Campaigns is currrently being tested, and then a 'HG's Big War' edition is planned for 2023.

Somme Day

Remembering the Highfield and Up Holland boys on this Somme Day, 1st July 1916.

The three Wright brothers, Thomas Holcroft, Jack Foote and Joe Starkey.

And Elizabeth Ellen Holcroft, munitions factory worker in Vickerstown, Barrow.

Fondly remembered today.

The Wellsian Kriegspiel - or Little Campaigns re-written

 Many thanks to everyone who has supported the re-release of Funny Little Wars - there have been some really kind comments and I am delighted that the book is back in print, and widely available.  It is also available for sale from Tradition, Stockholm - and a very big thank you to Erik.

Little Campaigns is now on the table, and I have decided to go for a complete re-write - and make it a folllow on to the amplifications for Kriegspiel that are at the end of Little Wars.

The new version will have all new photos, and will be set in 1913.  I will use the blog to provide updates &c.  

The campaigning season will begin with the follow up actions to the Battle of Spring Pool wood - and both sides have now practised with the Kriegspeil system, and the wooden blocks...

Below - some snaps from the original Little Campaigns.

Funny Little Wars - available now!

Funny Little Wars - the revised edition - is now available for sale at:

 https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/paul-holcroft-wright/funny-little-wars/paperback/product-5m6ng6.html?page=1&pageSize=4

This revised and updated edition of Funny Little Wars is a new way of playing the classic garden wargame of HG Wells. It also tells the story of the Edwardian crisis, and the Wellsian imagination, that created Little Wars in 1913. 

Paul Holcroft Wright is a battlefield guide and military historian. He lives in Belgium and London. 

The battle of Buggleskelly - confusion, and mush worse...

 The Volunteer force opened a brisk fire, with deadly accuracy from MS.

Red deployed its artillery and machine gun to return fire, and the infantry deployed to support the dismounted cavalry and cyclist attack on the station.

The artillery from both sides was now hitting the targets, but the attritional rate on Red was becoming unsustainable.

It was time for Red to withdraw, leaving the road firmly in the hand of the Volunteers.

Reinforcements will be needed to clear the way ...

The battle of Buggleskelly, 1914

It is a well known maxim that no plan survives contact with the enemy, and the planned outdoor battle of Buggleskelly was turned into  a 'Floor Game' due to the March weather.

This was not a huge problem as the forces involved were small.  Pictured below is the Curragh Garrison (Army Red) commanded by your (most impartial) reporter of the events.  

The Volunteers were commanded by Dr MS - finally exhibiting his (deeply concealed) low church tendency... the HQ group (below)were hosting a visit from Edward Carson!   

Meanwhile, the volunteers elite cyclist unit had seized the railway station and RIC barracks.  

Approaching from the south, the Cyclist vanguard of the Curragh Camp.

The cyclists dismounted, on spotting the Volunteers scouts.  The main body were now in view, with the Wigan Hussars (TF) tentatively deploying against the Station. -

 The Company of light infantry advancing on the left flank towards the hill.

 

The action at Buggleskelly, late Spring, 1914

Update - the first copies of the revised edition of FLW will be delivered this week - and it will be on sale over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The revised edition of FLW is a more concise presentation of the rules, and placed within the context of HG Wells and his world in the immediate years up the publication of Little Wars in 1913.  

Notwithstanding the very dangerous situation on the Continent the situation at home was bleak, with some very difficult issues - which came to be encapsulated in that most evocative phrase;

the strange death of Liberal England.  

The crisis were Irish Home Rule, Votes for Women and the Great Labour Unrest.  This background is brought to life in the new edition of FLW.  

The action at Buggleskelly, late Spring, 1914

Ulster says No!

This scenario is a ‘what if’ and based on the Home Rule crisis of 1914.  What if the Army garrison in Ireland had deployed north to secure key depots and strategic places?  This event was of course the background to the Curragh Mutiny.

Situation and objectives

 The Army is deploying north – and a small Brigade sized force has been ordered to secure the station and RIC Barracks at Buggleskelly – and then proceed north over the high ground and proceed to Belfast.

 The Ulster Volunteer Force has deployed in strength around the high ground, and aims to prevent the Army from progressing north; and if possible seize and hold the railway station. 

This is an encounter battle – and both sides deploy on their baseline.  Scouts may deploy in advance – up to 24” from the baseline. 

Buggleskelly is situated in the rolling country of Ulster..

The ground is undulating with the following features - using an historic map as the template.

The key features being:

·        Small copses 

·        Kopje’s/hills 

·        The Station 

·        A road and railway with a small embankment

 

                                                        Disposition

 Army Red deploy on the baseline E1 – E3

Army Blue deploy on the baseline A1 – A3 – the line of kopjes

 The Armies were formed as follows.

 Army Red – Curragh Camp (General Backsight Forethought)

 1^st Brigade

Brigade HQ - 6 figures and staff car                                          

1 x Regiments of regular Infantry – 1^st Blankshires (20)

1 x Company of regular infantry – A Coy, 2^nd Fore and Fit (10)

The Fore and Fit Princess Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen-Anspach's Merther-Tydfilshire Own Royal Loyal Light Infantry

MG Coy

 1 x Regiment of Cavalry – Wigan Hussars TF (10)

1 x Regiment of Cyclists – Clitheroe Cyclist Volunteers TF (10)

Artillery 1 x 4.7 in the basic game – an 18 Pdr in the advanced game

Sappers (6) - optional

 Motor Transport section – 1 x bus, 1 x lorry

 Total 64           

 

 Army Blue - Ulster Volunteers (Brigadier Leisurely Trundle, MP – resigned commission)

 HQ – 4 figures + 2 scouts (mounted or motorcycle)

1 Regiment of Volunteers – Antrim 1^st UVF (20)

1 Company of Volunteers – Belfast special Cyclist Coy (10)

MG

UVF Ladies section (4)

Lord Carson and journalists (3)

Signals Platoon (2)

 1 x 4.7  - no cannon in the advanced game

 Total  45

 British and Empire forces are used – with Boers and others for the UVF 

Funny Little Wars - cover art

 

The new edition will be appearing soon ...

This revised and updated edition of Funny Little Wars is a new way of playing the classic garden wargame of HG Wells. It also tells the story of the Edwardian crisis, and the Wellsian imagination, that created Little Wars in 1913. 

Paul Holcroft Wright is a battlefield guide and military historian. He lives in Belgium and London.