SPRING BIG GAME 2023 - "CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY"

On the urging of Lord de Braose, HM's Governor of Hereford and Lord Warden of the Marches, an urgent aerial photo reconnaissance has been undertaken of the Opposition Forces advance from Leominster towards the "Dinmore Hill Line":

That's right - Wing Commander Roo strapped himself into his stripped back and specially adapted photo reconnaissance "Silver Spitfire" to supplement the existing map information of the area around the Cadbury's Chocolate Factory at Marlbrook. 

The gallant Captain of the Cadbury's Corporate Guard (otherwise and perhaps somewhat hopefully known as "Cadbury's Commandos") has already reported "infiltration of the enemy around the Factory" and "masses of troops" heading straight towards his position. Cadbury Captain "Coco" Cubbe has personally telephoned Major Everard, Commander of all HMG Forces "in County" to plead for urgent assistance.

The history of "Corporate Guards" in the Hereford VBCW has not been a particularly happy one. Used to protect trade and resupply truck convoys, a variety of Corporate Guards became caught up in the Battle of Mortimer's Cross (Autumn Big Game 2019). At that conflict, an infantry section of the very same "Cadbury's Commandos" shamefully 'sold out' to the Communists, and were in turn bloodily "wiped out" by rampaging Morris Men. Their fellow "Corporate Guards" fared little better. An infantry section of the yellow clad "Fyffes Motor Guard" similarly "saw red" and joined" Comrade Colonel Professor Winter's Presteigne Communists (thereafter being massacred by newly landed Fallschirmjager), while their (extremely annoying) "Corporate Mascot" was machine gunned by Lord Scudamore's Loyal Legion. The red-clad "Oxo Brand Guardians", so far as can be recalled in the confusion that was the Battle of Mortimer's Cross, never even made it into action....

Thankfully, following these events, all three companies initiated a "joint strategic board review" in order better to defend "company property and profits". Considerable investment was made in 'heavy equipment' (obviously at a very favourable tax discount), a variety of dubious types were discharged from service, headquarters relocated (usually offshore) and new officers appointed. All three corporates agreed to "pool their resources", and a neutral "Collective Corporate Guard" flag was adopted:

The Collective Corporate Guard flag, 1938.
The original suggestion for a suitable motto,
"Profits before People", was reluctantly jettisoned
 following PR advice.

All that remained was the recruitment of a suitable figurehead, neutral between the contending corporates, to "Chair the Board" and provide direction to the fighting men. Strict selection criteria were drawn up, requiring military experience (preferably), courage, competence and undoubted honesty. No such candidate being available, the Board instead appointed Sir Charles Tite-Wadde, Bt., a Birmingham screwmaker (and nightclub promoter), a man who had (notoriously) "done well out of the (Great) War" and purchased his family baronetcy from Lloyd George in 1922...

Can Sir Charles and his Corporate Guards save the Marlbook Chocolate Factory? What resemblance is there between Marlbrook, 1938, and The Alamo, 1836? Which opposition faction will seize this huge "strategic asset" in-County and gorge themselves on its product? (this may largely depend upon who turns up from the available Opposition Forces). Is Cadbury's indeed the crumbliest, flakiest chocolate? Can Major Everard's Government forces "save the day" before the factory falls? All these questions, and so many more, can only be answered by attendance at the Spring Big Game 2023 ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory") on Saturday 25th February 2023!

Amongst all the questions, one thing is certain. Everybody - but everybody -
hates "Banana Man", the Fyffes' Motor Guard "Singing Mascot".

And don't forget our latest Modelling Challenge ! If you've made your "Armoured Legend", you can play it as a free "Umpire Bonus" - in addition to your usual forces - at the Spring Big Game 2023!