Holding the line - the raid - follow up

The stretcher party and the Padre went out to find the CSM.  This had to be completed in five game turns; with an alert defeneder firing star shells.  

The stretcher bearers were pinned down on turn 3, and had to retreat  -with one wounded.  CSM King is officialy posted as missing.

Intelligence from from the prisoner - the opposition sector is manned by the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Hohenzollern-Simaringen- Anspach Regiment.  Morale is high!

The Knuston Pals rotation is complete and they will now hand over to the Hull Commercials.  From the original 20, four are dead, one wounded and one missing.  Attached arms have two wounded.

Holding the line - the raid - and recovery

 The raiders went in and captured the sentry - no noise - and so CSM King led the party into the German trench ... so far the raiders have complete surprise.

Turning from the sap, into the trench the German sentry was surprised, and an alert sounded - leading to a short and sharp melee...

Two defeneders killed in round 1, and Pte Thomas.  In round 2 more German defenders were appearing, and the raiders were losing their impeteus.  they fell back, loosing Pte Bradbury.   

Collecting the prisoner, there was a dash through 'no man's land' dodging start shells and Mg fire - with CSM King wounded, and left in a shell hole.

There was an exchange of mortar fire, and then all quiet.  A stretcher party will now have to head out and find the CSM.

Holding the line - the raid

Orders have arrived from Brigade HQ - a raid is to be conducted tonight.  The aim;

'To recce the new sap/listening post, capture prisoners and dirupt the enemy'

'A Coy' recieved the tasking - and the raiding party comprised:

CSM King

Drury

James

Thomas

Bradbury

Forming up in the frontline trench

And over the bags - a nearby star shell is a close call

A German sentry in the sap

Into the German trench - and the action begins ...

Holding the line - Day 1 - after action report

 

Night Report

 

The wring party went over the Bags at 2330 – with the recce party following.

 On turn two, the wiring party rolled  a 1 - noise - resulting in starshells being fired from the German frontline trench.

Pte Knowlden was illuminated, and two bursts of machine gun fire swept the area.

Knowlden was killed, and Pte Elliot was wounded and recovered to the First Aid Post.  The mission was aborted.

The recce edged towards the enemy position - and sighted a sap/listening post at B6.

They successfully recovered on turn 6.

Orders from Bde HQ have arrived ...

 

Holding the line - phase 1

 Orders

A Coy are holding the Frontline Trench – B Coy in reserve

Sentries posted:

A 3 - Thomas

B3 - Bradbury

C2 - Eagling

Listening post - Brock

Major Huband and CSM King are in the dugout at B 2

The OC and CSM

Bradbury on sentry

Colonel – tonight’s tasking from Brigade:

 

Having taken over the sector – please prepare

·         a four man wiring party and patrol to go out into ‘no man’s land’ and check our wire –

·          a two man recce patrol to ascertain the German wire and any new saps

Please nominate the party from B Coy – and the routes out and back.

A Coy and Mg’s and Mortars will be stood by and aware of the activity.

The wiring party moving forward

Recce patrol receiving orders

Day 1 - Report

A quiet day, with some sniping - Bradbury survived three rounds!  One very near ...

The wiring party and recce patrol are in position to go 'over the bags' at 2330hrs.

 

A very happy Christmas from FLW

 

Holding the line - the ground

 So the situation is this ...

Dawn - centre of the position 

December 1916, a quiet sector of the Ypres Salient and and the 167 East Midland Brigade (New Army) is taking over the ++ sector of the front on rotation..  

ORBAT

167 East Midlands Brigade (New Army)

• 1st (Service) Battalion, South Midlands Regt,  the Knuston Pals (TG)
• 6th (Service) Battalion, Sheffield City Pals (TG)
• 5th (Service) Battalion, Hull Commercials (JW)

 Attcahed arms

• 167th Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps
• Trench Mortar Battery
• Bde HQ – Brigadier Backsight Forethought (the hero of Kakdorp)

 

Initial positions

The Knuston Pals have taken over the frontline trenches and are holding:

·         Frontline trench  -with listening posts forward

·         Second line trench – with Battalion Command Post        

                                                                                

BHQ – B1

Frontline Trench – ‘Wells Street’ from A3 – B3– then – C2

Second Line Trench – ‘Hooks Farm Avenue’ A 2 – B1 – B2 – C1

Company Dugouts / CQMS

·         A Coy – B2

·         B Coy – B2

Mortar Battery – B2

MG Posts – A3 and C3

Sap – listening post C4

Dressing Station – A1

Left arc/Right arc

BHQ are preparing orders ...

Christmas Shopping - the Armoury, St James's

 

Holding the line - the Knuston Pals

The incoming Battalion are the Knuston Pals - the 1/8 (Service Battalion) South Midlands  who first appeared in our 2016 Somme Centenary game.

They are the creation of TG - and can be found on his Megablitz blog:

http://megablitzandmore.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-knuston-pals.html

Plucky fellows!

They are entering the front line tonight - as the King's Own Loyal Light Infantry say cheerio.

Orders to follow.

Holding the Line - Embusing

 The 1/8th (Service Battalion) South Midland (Knuston Pals) prepare to move forward to the Salient for a stint in the line ...  

                                        

The Pals edition

 Funny Little Wars is firmly situated in the world of 1913 - and is a homage to the pacifist spirit of HG Wells.  

Volume 2, or Garden Campaigns, continues the 1913 story - and Lord Kitchener appears in his role of Inspector of Colonial defence.

The FLW trilogy will be completed by a 'Pals' edition which moves the rules into this Great War era and Kitchener's Army are at the heart of the story.  This was a very Wellian army of town clerks and tradesmen.

We have played a number of Great War games, and the Pals edition will develop these ideas and rules.  As the Autumn draws on, a battalion sized campaign game will be played - set in a quiet sector of the Western Front in 1916.  

A Pals battalion is taking over the line on rotation ...

Battle at the Canal - engagement

 Part of this scenario was to test a small mounted force, with two x HMG against a larger opposition force with artillery.  Army Blue had a heavy howitzer available, and it opened the battle with an excellent shot againts the Red blockhouse.

Meanwhile, Blue deployed one Battalion against the goods yard, whilst the remiander of Blues's forced swung to the right flank.

Red was furiously digging in, and the HMG at the station was very effective in holding the Blue attack.

However, more excellent shooting from Blue decimated the retiring Cyclist advanced guard.

A bold flanking move by Blue turned the Red flank, as the goods yard was stormed on the left flank.  The HMG at the station managed to destroy one of the Blue buses,and a company of infantry.

It was time for Red to withdraw, with one Cyclist unit complete,and the Sappers and HQ.

Blue had won, but had lost approx 33% of their infantry on the right flank.

The campaign continues, as Red retires on Div HQ at Southport pleasure beach ...