CAMPAIGN SHOCK ! STOKKIES JOUBERT BREAKS OUT !

 The Man in the High Tower.....

Stokkies Joubert, Leader of the Kings Colonials, in Anglican captivity.
Can he make a daring escape ?
(For more on Stokkies Joubert, see HERE)

A "game within a game" at the Autumn Big Game 2024.
The Ladies of Herefordshire could vote on Stokkie's destiny..
Yes, Free Stokkies Joubert ! Or.......

No, Let Him Rot !

LAF Bearwoodman's entry to the Modelling Challenge 2024
took pride of place in front of the "High Tower".
(For more on LAF Bearwoodman, see HERE)

 A substantial early vote for the liberation of Stokkies Joubert.
Royalists, Fascists and wide eyed Stokkies "groupies" all in combination.

Anglicans, old maids and disapproving moralists vote "No".
But they are badly outnumbered, and there can be only one result..

FREEDOM !
Stokkies Joubert breaks out of Anglican captivity and makes
a heroic progress to Hereford (and his old suite at the City
Arms Hotel). After an anticipated period of "rest and recreation"
what will be his revenge ? Cue theme music...

BEARWOODMAN'S BARRICADE - AND MORE !

As preparations intensify for the forthcoming Big Game ("Return to Little Hereford"), LAF Bearwoodman has laid down the gauntlet in the Modelling Challenge 2024 (Ladies! To the Barricades!). Not content with just one strike, our intergalactic plastic fiend has settled down to some proper (fully illustrated) barricade modelling:

Rumour has it that LAF Bearwoodman has only one VBCW figure. If true, almost as
remarkable as starting a barricade model from this piece of plastic...

Infinitely cunning cardboard modelling, plus some resin pieces, brought together with 
wooden offcuts (love the upturned bath)

painted and completed......

and the reverse, with some nifty VBCW signage...

close up......

He's back! "The Leader" never could resist a photo-opportunity...

and some discreet graffiti left by LAF Bearwoodman, no doubt
in memory of the Modelling Challenge 2023....

But there's more! This years Modelling Challenge is titled "Ladies! To the Barricades!", and Bearwoodman has produced a chunky curvaceous lovely lady in the substantial shape of Miss Gertrude Tunns ("the Weobley Valkyrie"):

Introducing Miss Gertrude Tunns.......

...with her Boyes AT Rifle.

Bearwoodman's backstory for Miss Tunns:

"A powerfully-voiced soprano noted across the County for her dominating presence (on and off stage) she was progressing steadily up the rankings of Herefordshire opera singers when war rudely interrupted her rise to international fame and fortune. Deeming her art above the grubby business of politics, she initially avoided taking a side in what would become the VBCW as constitutional crisis led seemingly inexorably to armed conflict. She was, however, unable to avoid getting entangled in the growing conflagration when her much anticipated performance of Wagner's Gotterdammerung at Weobley Village Hall was threatened by the approach of a marauding mechanised column. According to her agent, while at first her singing was able to drown out the desperate shouts and crackle of gunfire outside, mid-way through Act II a tank shell passed through the wall and shattered the ceiling mounted spotlight that was illuminating her. Incensed at the interruption, but without stopping singing and in full costume, she strode off stage, out the side door reserved for members of the cast and straight to the barricades, pausing only to relieve a gaping militiaman of his anti-tank rifle. There, firing the weapon from her shoulder, she emptied its magazine in to the impertinent tank while her voice soared to a shattering crescendo. Her intervention turned the tide of the action and the remaining attackers retreated, dazed and deafened, back down Gadbridge Road...."

And thus Miss Tunns strode into Hereford VBCW history (and folklore!). 

Note: full details of Bearwoodman's barricade build and more photos of Miss Tunns can be found HERE. Well worth a read!

HEREFORD VBCW AUTUMN BIG GAME 2024 - THE RULES !

Actually, we mean "the Additional Rules", or "the Scenario Specific Rules". These are the special rules for this particular Big Game, inapplicable otherwise - for after a very lengthy period of thought and good intentions unfulfilled, the Umpires have actually produced a new version of the "Went the Day Well Rules" - updated, clarified, slimmed down and simplified, cross-referenced, indexed etc etc - appropriately known (for a famous cider County) as "WTDW - the Herefordshire Homebrew Variant".

All players have been emailed a copy of "WTDW - the Herefordshire Homebrew Variant" and should bring along a printed off copy for use in the Big Game. No other versions of WTDW will be allowed !!!

So here are the additional, scenario specific, rules (the Scenario explains the background - see HERE):

1. Farmers Sections - Agricultural Workers - Capturing a Farm

1.1.    Six sections of Agricultural Workers (9 Rifles, 1 LMG) distributed 1 Section per Farm and placed by the Umpires within the perimeter of "their Farm" at the start of the Big Game.

1.2.   At the start of the Big Game, Agricultural Workers "stand on the defensive" and are within Umpire Control.

1.3.  From the start of Turn Two of the Big Game (and in each succeeding turn), a section of Agricultural Workers may be controlled by the Player playing the highest card and nominating the relevant section to be under his control. That section of Agricultural Workers then move and shoot (or perform any other actions) under the command of such Player for the relevant turn.

1.4.    Each "Big Table" should have three Farms, and thus three sections of Agricultural Workers. A Player with the three Highest Cards that turn (lucky chap!) may choose to nominate each of the three relevant sections to be under his control for that turn. If he does not exercise that right, sections "not under command" that turn may be controlled (by nomination) by the Player with the next highest card, and so on.

1.5.    Players using a card (or cards) to control Agricultural Workers may not use the same card for any other purpose that Turn.

1.6.    A Farm is considered "captured" by a Player when the number of his troops within the perimeter of the Farm outnumber the remaining relevant Agricultural Workers within the perimeter of the Farm. In case of doubt, consult the Umpires.

1.7.    A Farm may "change hands" during the course of the Big Game, i.e. a captured Farm may be "recaptured" by an opposing Player.

1.8.   Card control (as per Rule 1.3) of the relevant section of Agricultural Workers continues notwithstanding the "capture" of their Farm. If an opposing player draws a high card and chooses to use it to control an Agricultural Section of a "captured" farm (to, say, shoot at or melee with the "captor's troops"), that is quite permissible - a "revolt" of agricultural workers is then considered to be under way.

1.9.    While within the perimeter of their own farm, all Agricultural Workers are immune from morale tests. They are determined to "fight and die for their home" and while within the perimeter of the Farm count as "Trained/Regular" for all other purposes. Should the Agricultural Workers be moved out of the perimeter of their own Farm, however, they count as "Raw/Green" for all purposes, including morale.

1.10.    Once a player is in control of a Farm, he may "invite ladies to tea" within its perimeter. See Section 6 ("The Ladies !") below. Note particularly Rule 6.9 !!

2. Random Formed Female Forces - General

2.1.    An unknown number of "female sections" (9 Rifles, 1 LMG) are "rambling around" the Big Table at the start of the Big Game. The Umpires place the "female sections" randomly on the Big Table and will point them out to the Players.

2.2.  At the start of the Big Game, "female sections" stand on the defensive and are under Umpire Control.

2.3.    From the start of Turn Two of the Big Game (and in each succeeding turn), "female sections" are subject to "Player Card Control" - see Rule 1.3 above. Rule 1.5 equally applies, as appropriate.

2.4.    Most "female sections" will be considered "Raw/Green" for all purposes, including morale. Some "female sections" may have particular (and particularly eccentric) traits, i.e. all Nuns are immune to morale tests (because they're Psycho Nuns), Lady de Braose's Ninja Crumpet Death Squad will never take orders from Communists (because they are sworn to execute Comrade Colonel Professor Winters and all who stand in the way of their mission), etc. etc. Any such peculiarities will be explained by the Umpire at the start of the Big Game.

3. Random Formed Female Forces - Bordels de Campagne

3.1.    Each "Big Table" will have a randomly placed "Bordel de Campagne" (Alan's "enthusiastic gels" have recently increased in number, thus allowing a "Bordel" on each Table).

3.2.   Each "Bordel" (and all of its 'crew') is unarmed. Nevertheless, as we shall see, they are not without resources.

3.3.   At the start of the Big Game, each "Bordel" stands on the defensive and is under Umpire Control. From the start of Turn Two of the Big Game (and in each succeeding turn), each Bordel is subject to "Player Card Control" - see Rule 1.3 above. Rule 1.5 equally applies, as appropriate.

3.4.  The "crew" of each Bordel is (of course!) considered as "Trained/Professional" for all purposes, including morale.

3.5.   Although unarmed, a Bordel may launch a "Vortex of Seduction" attack against one Section (or one Element, ie. a tank or support weapon) once per turn - count as a "firing action".

3.6.   The range of a "Vortex of Seduction" attack is 15 inches, measured from the centre point of the Bordel's transport vehicle. A nominated target section (or any part thereof) within range is considered to have become "completely distracted from proper military duties" by the female wiles and seductive powers of the Bordel's crew, and is therefore:

(a). unable to move, fire or perform any other action voluntarily that turn; and instead is

(b). moved by compulsion 6 inches towards the centre point of the Bordel's transport vehicle.

3.7.   Troops subject to the "Vortex of Seduction" may be fired upon by other troops not so subject. Troops subject to the "Vortex of Seduction" may be charged or forced in to melee by other troops not so subject, in which event they surrender and/or are considered captured without a fight.

3.8.    Troops subject to the "Vortex of Seduction" for two (or more) turns may throw a D6 at the start of each succeeding turn. 1 - 3 the troops remain subject to the "Vortex of Seduction", 4 - 6 the troops are able to move and fire normally again, and can no longer be subject to a "Vortex of Seduction" attack for the rest of the Big Game. We can leave you to work out the factual justification for that...

4. The Fenian Mad Bommerz

4.1.    Each Big Table has three "Mad Bommerz", distributed randomly by the Umpires.

4.2.   At the start of the Big Game, "Mad Bommerz" stand on the defensive (probably hiding out in the undergrowth, or behind bushes) and are under Umpire Control.

4.3.    From the start of Turn Two of the Big Game (and in each succeeding turn), "Mad Bommerz" are subject to "Player Card Control" - see Rule 1.3 above. Rule 1.5 equally applies, as appropriate.

4.4.    "Mad Bommerz" move as infantry, do not take morale tests (because they are completely nuts), and are unarmed - apart from the considerable stock of highly unstable explosives stashed around their person.

4.5.    A play in control of a "Mad Bommer" may choose to detonate his explosives (counts as a shoot action). For the consequences of such explosion, place a Big Gun Artillery Template centred on the "Mad Bommer" and proceed as per artillery fire.

4.6.    No "Mad Bommer" has been known to survive post-explosion. Remove figure from play after any such explosion.

5. The Handley Page Heyford

5.1.    The Handley Page Heyford has been forced down into "Long Field" by engine trouble. The Fallschirmjager and RAF crew have formed a defensive perimeter around it, as placed by the Umpires at the start of the Big Game.

5.2.    The Handley Page Heyford has 1 x LMG in its nose, and 1 x LMG in a "bin" turret underneath the fuselage, covering the entrance/exit to the plane. Neither LMG benefits from any kind of armour protection. The nose LMG has 180 degrees of fire, the "bin" LMG has 360 degrees of fire.

5.3.    The Handley Page Heyford is controlled by the Umpires (or their nominee) at all times.

5.4.    The Handley Page Heyford dices (2D6) at the start of e6ach turn. Any score of 10 or above allows the Handley Page Heyford to take off on the following turn. The RAF mechanics must have fixed the engines just in time...

6. The Ladies !

6.1.   The Ladies (individually based, acting on their own - not "Female Formed Sections") are scattered over the table randomly by the Umpires at the start of the Big Game.

6.2.   The Ladies do not move during the course of the Big Game, nor are they controlled by anybody. In terms of movement, they are the very definition of passivity.

6.3.    A player may "invite a lady to tea" by moving any of his figures into base to base contact with "a Lady".

6.4.    Some Ladies are unarmed, some have hand weapons only (including handbags, umbrellas, etc.), others are armed. Check the figure - its WYSIWYG time!

6.5.    Unarmed Ladies cannot refuse "an invitation to tea"

6.6.    Ladies armed with hand weapons only can refuse an "invitation to tea". The relevant player "dices off" with the Lady (rope in an Umpire or an opposing player to throw "the Lady's die"). If "the Lady" loses the "dice off", she accepts the "invitation to tea". Drawn throws are re-rolled. If, however, "the Lady" wins the "dice off", she is considered to have beaten the relevant player's figure about the head with her handbag, or rolling pin, or whatever, screaming "You won't keep Stokkies from me ! Let me go, rough villain !". The relevant player's figure is then automatically moved 6 inches away from the Lady in any direction (player's choice, and irrespective of whether he has previously used up his movement allowance for that turn). 

6.7.    Ladies armed with firearms can refuse an "invitation to tea". The relevant player "dices off" with the Lady (rope in an Umpire, etc. etc.). If "the Lady" loses the dice off, she accepts the "invitation to tea". Drawn throws are re-rolled. If, however, "the Lady" wins the "dice off", she is considered to have drawn, cocked and fired her shotgun (or Webley, or mini-gun, or whatever) whilst shouting "The impudence! At least Stokkies is a gentleman! I'll teach you!) - thereby blowing away the relevant player's figure. Golly, some of these gels are downright dangerous! The relevant player's figure is instantly removed from the Big Game.

6.8.  Ladies successfully "invited to tea" are instantly zapped back to the Farm controlled by the relevant player. The "capturing figure" remains in place. We know this isn't very realistic, but it saves a (usually) long and disconcerting "tramp back to the Farm" for the Lady and "the captor", solves problems with unit contiguity, etc. etc. Place "the Lady" next to the Farm's "Big Man" (no doubt very welcoming). Ladies do not move or fire thereafter - they are considered simply to be "taking tea".

6.9.    In the event that another Player captures the Farm, he "takes custody" of all "Ladies" already within it. No doubt the Ladies appreciate someone new to gossip about over their tea.....

6.10.    There is one exception to the "instantly zapped back to the Farm rule" as per Rule 6.8 above. Instead of the Farm, a player can choose to have the Lady "instantly zapped" to his HQ in the field, taking up position next to his Platoon Commander. If a player chooses to do this, the Platoon Commander and his HQ Section lose 4 inches of movement in each succeeding turn, and all members of the HQ Section's morale declines by 1 for all purposes. This rule allows players who have "lost out on bagging a Farm" some scope to secure a Vote (or two!) at the end of the Big Game, but also reflects the negative effect of a female(s) on the warlike capability of Platoon HQ....

6.11.  IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL PLAYERS. Ladies may be killed accidentally, i.e. by unexpected movement of artillery or mortar templates. It is, however, considered MOST UNBRITISH for any Player intentionally to kill, or attempt to kill, a Lady - in fact, POSITIVELY CADDISH. Any player considering such a scheme should know that the Umpires have at their disposal considerable off-table forces, including (but not limited to) the South Herefordshire Hunt and the Police Lancers, and VENGEANCE WILL BE SWIFT AND CERTAIN. P.S This warning obviously does not apply to "Female Formed Sections" as per Section 2, for if you don't shoot at them, they'll most certainly shoot at you....

7. Alliances

7.1.    Alliances between players (both the making and unmaking thereof) is positively encouraged. There are no rules for alliances, which may be made (or unmade) informally between players during the course of the Big Game. Quite how much you should trust any such "ally" is, of course, a matter for you......

8. The Vote !

8.1.    There will be a public vote at the end of the Big Game as per the Scenario (see last blogpost). Players vote by placing their "tea party" Ladies in one of two columns (a large piece of paper will be provided) - YEA to set Stokkies free, and NAY to foil his escape attempt. Players may "split their tea party", positioning some ladies to vote YEA, and some to vote NAY, if they so wish. The total number of votes will then be counted and the SEISMIC RESULT declared.....

PLAYERS SHOULD PRINT OUT THESE SCENARIO SPECIFIC RULES

AND BRING THEM TO THE BIG GAME !

(ALONG WITH THEIR COPY OF THE HEREFORDSHIRE HOMEBREW RULES)

HEREFORD VBCW AUTUMN BIG GAME 2024 - THE SCENARIO !

"The plane ! The plane !" Little Timmy Tompkins was beside himself with excitement, pointing upward at a lumbering twin - prop biplane, flying low. Farmer Watkins, briefly raising his eyes skyward from the plough, nodded agreement. "Ar, that it be, right enough.". The plane was huge, and getting lower, both engines spluttering unevenly.

"It's a Handley Page Heyford!" squealed little Timmy. "Still the backbone of Bomber Command, even now, Farmer Watkins ! All these modern types they're talking about - like the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley or the Vickers Wellesley - well, it's taking them ages to be introduced to service. Heyfords are still the best - and they can be used as heavy transport aircraft, too!"

"Mebbe yer right, n'all, young feller". Farmer Watkins squinted upward and sighed. Little Timmy Tompkins was really rather an annoying little brat, all things considered. "Looks like it be in trouble, n'all. Could be coming in to the Long Field, down thereabout..."

Watkins rolled his "Rs" as authentically as he could, seeking always to stay in character. It had been a long time since he had received the death threats from those BUF hit squads, forcing him to flee from his position as Reader in English Literature at Christchurch, Oxford, and go undercover. Ah, what he would give for some decent conversation and a small glass of port in the old Senior Common Room....

"There's our boys!" squealed little Timmy again, watching the plane land in Long Field and the crew descend. "Gosh ! I so want to join the Royal Air Force when I grow up, Farmer Watkins!" The farmer grunted, studying the uniforms. The crew wore the light blue of the RAF, certainly, but the descending passengers wore uniforms of a different blue, some in olive green smocks, with distinctive, very un-British helmets...

"Luftwaffe !" Little Tommy whistled. "Fallschirmjager - that's paratroops, you see, Farmer Watkins. Goering's lot. And they look like they're putting a defensive perimeter around the aircraft ! Look how they're setting up that machine gun ! What do you think can be going on ?"

Watkins steeled himself to retain his cover. "This be Little Hereford, young feller. Dangerous it be, these parts, for furriners.......'specially for those with secrets, y'see? Or treasure, happen it be, hahar..."

Farmer Watkins of Little Hereford (the former Reader in English Literature
at Christchurch, Oxford, now deep undercover)

It's the Autumn Big Game 2024 ("Return to Little Hereford") ! Once again, we leave the main campaign narrative to return to the most dangerous parish in the whole of the County, familiar to all those took part (or studied subsequently!) the Autumn Big Game 2023 ("Big Trouble in Little Hereford"). But this time, we're northward of St. Mary Magdalene Church (rustled and robbed by Pete J. on the last occasion), right on the border with Shropshire (for reasons that will become clear, rather rapidly)......

1. The Tables

It looks like a good turn out of VBCW players for this Big Game, enough for two "Big Tables" representing the northern boundaries of the Parish of Little Hereford, each consisting of three farms randomly distributed across the Tables by the Umpires (there should be six players per Big Table). Umpire/Terrain Tsar Roo will, as per usual, provide and place all the roads, hedges, ditches, trees, bushes, haystacks etc. that might be necessary to give us a suitably "agricultural feel" (and break up fields of fire). Between the two "Big Tables" is a narrow table representing Long Field, containing a 1/56 wooden model of a landed Handley Page Heyford...

A Handley Page Heyford. Not the one forced down into Long Field, Little Hereford,
but a handcrafted model made from Philippine mahogany. The Hereford VBCW version
is slightly larger (but was thankfully less expensive)

2. The Farms and Farmers

Each of the six farms is owned and run by a "Big Man" - the 1930s equivalent of an "agricultural baron". It just so happens that each "Big Man" is represented on the table by a Charbens or Britains 54mm figure dating from the 1930s, so quite as old as the VBCW itself. Each "Big Man" is placed within the boundaries of his farm and will not move during the course of the Big Game - he is just as personality placeholder.

Each of the six farms has a section of 10 armed agricultural workers (rifles/LMG) standing ready to defend their "Big Man" and farm. While within their own farm, all agricultural works are immune from morale tests. They are all determined to "fight and die for their home" and while on the farm count as "Trained/Regular" for all other purposes. Should the agricultural workers be moved out of their own farm, however, they count as "Raw/Green" for all purposes, including morale.

Some sections of agricultural workers may be supplemented by the presence of improvised AT weaponry. The self sacrificing agricultural workers with TNT satchels and the "bomb pigs" provided some amusement last time out....

At the start of the Big Game, all "Big Men" and sections of agricultural workers stand on the defensive, and are under Umpire Control.

3. The Ladies !

Farms are not the only thing to be scattered across the Big Tables by the Umpires. Oh no ! On this occasion, there are also a wide variety of 28mm, individually based, ladies (of differing types and political allegiances, some armed, some not so). We'll get to the details of these ladies soon enough, but for now it's enough to note (although this shouldn't be taken the wrong way) that they take the place of the cows of the Autumn Big Game 2023....

4. Random Female Formed Forces

Quite apart from the individual ladies, each Big Table also boasts a random number of "Female Formed Forces", i.e. organised sections of ladies. Like the agricultural workers, these are on the defensive and under Umpire Control at the beginning of the Big Game. Unlike the agricultural workers, however, they do not inhabit any of the farms, but are simply rambling in the countryside. While we will have to wait until the "Big Day" to learn exactly what "Female Formed Forces" are rambling on each table, it is known that they will certainly include Psycho-Nuns ("they're back - and this time they mean business"), Lady de Braose's "Kill Bill" Ninja Crumpet Death Squad (look out, Comrade Colonel Professor Winters, revenge is coming!) an Urban Women's Institute, lots of hockey stick waving schoolgirls, and at least two Bordels de Campagne (thanks Alan!).

5. The Fenians

The Little Herefordshire countryside is a dangerous place, and not the least of the dangers (on this occasion) is an infestation of fanatical Fenians. Yes, it's a welcome return for Eamonn O'Toole O'Toole and his Mad Bommerz, somewhat misplaced in the Autumn Big Game 2023 as "an Intelligence Section" and now restored to their true function of randomly blowing things up (including themselves). In addition to the random Ladies, and the random Female Formed Forces, each table has three Fenian Mad Bommerz placed - you guessed it - randomly. The Fenians Mad Bommerz stand on the defensive and are subject to Umpire Control at the start of the Big Game.

Eamonn O'Toole O'Toole and his Mad Bommerz

6. So What's It All About, Then ?

Truth be told, there's lots of games going on within this Big Game. Every player brings along his own Platoon, organised as per the "Platoon Generator" within the WTDW Rules ("the Hereford Homebrew Variant" as already emailed to all participants) and sets up where he will on one of the Big Tables. 

"Return to Little Hereford" is one of our "All Play All Slugfests", so it doesn't matter which faction your Platoon represents, or whom you might fight. Your Platoon could simply be 'an independent battlegroup' from one of the VBCW Factions (Anglican, BUF, Royalist etc. etc.) stranded or left behind in this parish by the Hereford VBCW's famous "War of Manoeuvre". Or you could be an outfit of robbers, or brigands, or discontented agricultural workers, or anything you like, really. The point is that you're not bound by VBCW Faction, but are acting quite independently and for your own personal interests. Nobody is likely to enquire too closely as to what is happening in remote Little Hereford, and you can therefore feel free to make (or unmake) strange alliances as you wish...anything to succeed in your aims:

(1). The first aim for each player is to capture a Farm. Possession of a Farm confers a considerable advantage upon the relevant player, in that it is the only place where a player can "invite ladies to tea". 

(2). The second aim for each player is to capture as many ladies  "invite as many ladies" to tea as possible. By "ladies", we mean the individually based ladies scattered across the Big Table, not the rather more threatening "Female Formed Forces" (who frankly are best avoided).

(3). The third aim for each player is the negative of the first two, i.e. stop your opponents ("with extreme prejudice") from capturing a Farm, or inviting ladies to tea, or otherwise seeking to gain an advantage over you. After all, all's fair in an "All Play All Slugfest"!

(4). The final aim (well, possibly more of a luxury, really) for each player is to discover the secret within the downed Handley Page Heyford. Rumours abound as to what might be in the hold of the plane, but even little Timmy Tompkins has worked out that, if the RAF and the Luftwaffe are co-operating to defend it, there must be something (or perhaps someone) extremely valuable within.....

So there are the aims, and then this question arises - what's the point of "inviting ladies to tea" ? At the end of the Big Game, every player in possession of ladies holding ladies hostage who has successfully "invited ladies to tea" may use his "tea party" as individual voters in one of the MOST SEISMIC DECISIONS ever to be made in the Hereford VBCW - can Stokkies Joubert escape from Anglican captivity ?

7. Who's this Stokkies Joubert chap ?

Commandant Stokkies Joubert, roistering devil-may-care lecher leader of the "Kings Colonials", is one of the legendary figures of the Hereford VBCW campaign. During the early stages of the Civil War, Joubert strongly contributed to the Royalist cause at the Battles of Second Ledbury and Marcle Ridge. Nevertheless, possibly suffering from a surfeit of flopsies dames ladies and reputedly of alcohol, Joubert was captured by the Ludlow Expeditionary Force at the close of the Battle of Winforton Pontoons (Autumn Big Game 2018).

The start of the Civil War - Stokkies Joubert at the head of the Kings Colonials.
Edward VIII takes the salute in the Strand, London.

Captured.....a rather stouter (if by now much decorated) Stokkies surrounded by soldiers of the
 Ludlow Expeditionary Force at the close of the Battle of Winforton Pontoons.

Can it really be five whole years since Stokkies was seen in the Hereford VBCW ? Well, as we all know, time runs rather differently in the Hereford 1938 universe, and Stokkies captivity may only have lasted a month or two "in campaign time". But it hasn't been pleasant - from first interrogation to lending his name to a fashionable style of Women's Institute pinafore - there's every chance that Stokkies could be a 'broken man' by now, however long his captivity.

But the rumour is that he's going to "attempt a break-out" in the near future, and that's why Little Hereford is awash with ladies. Some have arrived (so they say) "to assist the authorities" and prevent Stokkies escape - mostly Anglican sympathisers and "wronged women". Others have come to assist Stokkies flight, anxious to have such a charismatic commander back in the field and in the service of the King - mostly Royalist and some BUF sympathisers. Some are pursuing their own (very) private agendas, and others are simply "hopeless groupies" desperate for a sight (and preferably a lot more!) of "the great man" as he treks back to Hereford and glory.

And Stokkies' destiny is in the hands of the ladies - or more accurately, of the players who successfully "invited them to tea" during the Big Game. At the conclusion of play, each player can use his tea party to vote in a simple ballot, placing figures in a "Yea" column (Free Stokkies Joubert!) or a "Nay" column ("Let Stokkies Rot!"). As this is a Very British ballot, it's "First Past the Post" and simple majority rule - none of those foreign proportional representation or transferable vote systems! In the event of a tie (and this might be a close vote), the player declared to have "won" the Big Day will have the casting vote......

8. The Rules

So how do you "invite a lady to tea" ? And who is going to control the "Female Formed Forces", and how? Or for that matter, the Fenian Mad Bommerz ? What is the role of the Bordels de Campagne ? All the relevant rules are coming, VBCW chaps, in the next post.....

HEREFORD VBCW AUTUMN BIG GAME 2024 - KEEP THE DATE FREE !

A short "keep the date free" post in relation to the Autumn VBCW Autumn Big Game 2024, which is going to be a little later than usual this year because Umpire (and Terrain Tsar) Roo is "moving barracks" in October, so our 2024 Big Game will take place on/at:

 Saturday 23^rd November 2024
Yarkhill Village Hall
9.30am – 5pm

The full scenario will be put up on the blog in the due course, but it’s already clear that, with our working title, "Return to Little Hereford", we’re revisiting the same Parish as last year's Autumn 2023 Big Game. Its an “All play All” game in farming country, with "Big Men", hordes of marauding women – possibly a return of the Nuns – on a battlefield centred upon a 1/60 scale Handley Page Heyford, flown by the RAF but crewed by Feldmarschall Goering’s Fallschirmjager (on day release from The Red Lion, Bridge Street). With such unprecedented co-operation between RAF and Luftwaffe, what valuable secret can the plane be carrying? And how many marauding women can you capture take hostage “persuade to take tea” in your farm – if you can even capture a farm ? 

And can Stokkies Joubert, rollicking hero of the King’s Own Colonials, finally escape from Anglican captivity? Will the Umpires have made up some rules for his possible escape by November 23rd ? (if either of them can find an envelope, you can count on it).

All these serious issues can only be resolved by attendance at the Hereford 1938 Autumn Big Game 2024 on Saturday 23rd November 2024 - keep the date free !

PS. Free Stokkies Joubert !!

CHATEAU de CANDE (2) - EDWARD and WALLIS

 The usual VBCW Historian's Trigger Warning applies to this Post

Edward and Wallis were married at the Chateau de Cande on 3rd June 1937, and today the Chateau remains as a shrine to their wedding day:

Wedding Photograph at the Chateau.

Another wedding photograph at the Chateau

The original photograph - Wallis and Edward

Wallis' wedding dress at the Chateau. This is, in fact, a copy -
the original is in the US but undisplayable, as the specially
dyed "Wallis blue" colour has faded over time to .... brown.
Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.

The Library of the Chateau set for the wedding guests.
Through the doorway is the wedding altar.

Wallis at the altar.

The wedding lunch. In the centre, an outsize wedding cake with
Prince of Wales' feathers.

The wedding lunch in progress, "Fruity" Metcalfe right foreground.

The wedding certificate on display at the Chateau.
"Fruity" rather grandly signs himself simply "Metcalfe"
(in rather larger writing than the happy couple, too)

Signature close up. This is the first public document signed by Edward as Duke of Windsor
(in the French style, too) and the first document ever signed by Walls as "Duchess of Windsor".

(1). For those resisting the urge to visit the Chateau de Cande in the immediate future, You Tube is (as ever) your friend. A very professionally done video tour of the entirety of the Chateau is available on YouTube here

(2). Charles Bedaux, the owner of the Chateau de Cande in June 1937, died far from France and in mysterious circumstances in Dade County Prison, Miami, Florida, on 18th February 1944. His interesting Wiki Bio is HERE.

CHATEAU de CANDE (1) - EDWARD AND WALLIS

Trigger Warning : VBCW Historians should look away now. This post clearly comes from an alternative time line, one where Edward VIII did not raise his Royal Standard in the Mall, Mosley did not become his appointed "Prime Minister", and Britain did not descend into an uncertain Civil War. Instead, it appears, Edward VIII tamely abdicated, and was then taken into exile in France aboard a British destroyer.....good grief.....

It is 3rd June 1937, and the wedding day of the Duke of Windsor (formerly Edward VIII, King and Emperor) and the Duchess of Windsor (formerly Mrs Wallis Simpson, formerly Mrs Wallis Spencer, formerly Miss Wallis Warfield) at the Chateau de Cande in the Loire Valley, France. After the wedding ceremony, the happy couple emerged onto the front steps of the Chateau for formal pictures:

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Chateau de Cande, 3rd June 1937.
None of the Royal Family attended the wedding, and some days previously
(27th May 1937), King George VI had informed his brother that the 
Duchess of Windsor would not, upon her marriage, be accorded the title "HRH".

The Duke and Duchess in close up.

...and colourised....

The happy couple with the Duke's best man, "Fruity" Metcalfe.

another colourised photograph, reverse view.
The photographer is within the entranceway
of the Chateau, looking out upon the same steps and estate.

The couple with their wedding guests - a generally sorry lot of hangers on, perhaps
exemplified by the presence of Randolph Churchill, son of Winston (right). Between
the Duke and Randolph, Mrs Fern Bedaux, chatelaine of Cande. More helpful detail
and the full guest list HERE

A closer image. Randolph to the right of the photograph and to the left, Wallis'
redoubtable Aunt Bessie.

Looking down and......

....later, after the wedding lunch and changed for departure.
The Chateau de Cande, now owned by the French State following the deaths of
its previous owners, Mr and Mrs Bedaux, (in 1944 and 1972 respectively)
is open to the visitors of today...

87 years later, a helpful tourist practises a "royal wave" at the entrance

to the Chateau de Cande...

and "steps in to history" (or at least steps on history,
or on alt-history) at the Chateau de Cande.

HRH the Duke and (not HRH) the Duchess of Windsor, same spot,
87 years before.

Notes

(1). The formal photographs of the wedding were taken by Cecil Beaton; the informal photographs by (amongst others) "Baba" Metcalfe, wife of "Fruity", daughter of George Nathaniel Curzon, one time Viceroy of India, and very close friend of the very married Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, 1938 - 1941

(2). An amazing and colourised moving film of the Duke and Duchess on their wedding day is on YouTube HERE. Baba Metcalfe can be seen taking some of the above photographs, and there is a suitably 1930s musical accompaniment!