SPRING BIG GAME 2023 - MAJOR EVERARD'S REPORT

Major Everard's formal report to His Majesty upon the recent battle (Spring Big Game 2023):

To:                                                                                                                From:   

H.M. King Edward VIII                                                                                 Maj (Acting) R.Everard

Madresfield Court                                                                                        In the field

Worcestershire                                                                                             Dinmore Hill

                                                                                                                     Herefordshire

 Your Majesty,

    I have the honour to report that the recent Communist incursion into the Dinmore pocket has been removed, indeed obliterated, by your loyal forces, despite the Reds' resort to underhand tactics, including petrol tanker bombs and agents dressed as nuns pushing cart loads of bombs. Practically their entire force has been killed or captured. Their odious leader, Professor Winters, the so-called ‘Red Menace’, has revealed his true colours as 'Canary Yellow' by abandoning his men and fleeing to save his own disreputable skin. Our own losses were relatively light, apart from our sailors and cavalry, the BUF's "Iron Hooves", who suffered some casualties.

    As a result of this overwhelming success, your royal troops were able to relieve the besieged defenders of the Cadbury’s factory at Marlbrook, forcing the Bromyard Socialists and their Anglican hangers-on to retire whence they came. I understand a very large selection box of their local product is even now on its way to Queen Wallis.

    I am also pleased to report the successful introduction to combat of Professor McGonagall’s OFSTED tank, commanded by Senior Officer Cadet Macken-Chees, which disabled an enemy armoured vehicle in its first engagement.

I have the honour to be

Your Obedient Servant,

R.Everard

Such was the King's pleasure upon news of the crushing Government victory and receipt of the above report that Everard's past was "quite forgotten" and he was immediately promoted to Major-General. A formal vote of thanks from Parliament is further anticipated....

SPRING BIG GAME 2023 - FLEET STREET HEADLINES!

After the Battles of Marlbrook and Dinmore (this Saturday's Spring Big Game 2023), Fleet Street's first editions screamed the "Stop Press" news:

SMASHING VICTORY FOR HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT!

CADBURY'S MARLBROOK FACTORY SAVED!

COUNTY CHOCOLATE SUPPLIES ASSURED!

COMRADE WINTER'S COMMUNIST LEVIES MASSACRED!

While the world waits anxiously for the fully illustrated Fleet Street editions, we have the very first selection of the "Op Eds":

COMPETITION FOR JESSE OWENS - WINTER'S 100M SPRINT RECORD?

VICTORIOUS EVERARD'S BATTLEFIELD PROMOTION - FROM MAJOR TO THE "VERY MODEL OF THE MODERN MAJOR-GENERAL"

CHOCS AWAY ! CADBURY'S FACTORY SAVED!

TITE-WADDE CONFIRMS NO CHOCOLATE RATIONING - CADBURY'S SHARES RISE STEEPLY - SEE CITY PAGES INSIDE.

CELEBRATORY BELLS RING OUT IN HEREFORD - GOVERNMENT COUNTER-ATTACK ALREADY IN PLANNING?

True to it's traditions, "The Times" carried the very first (and truly historic) picture:

WINTER'S RUN - "Exit stage left - pursued by BUF Tankette".... 

LEDBURY ANGLICANS (IN EXILE) - MECHANISED SUPPORT ("THE STORRIDGE SKUNK")

The Company of St. Michael, that well-known Anglican "Free Company", possessed either divine engineering skills, or a very good press agent, or perhaps both. VBCW historians still argue about that matter, and continue to marvel at the Company's well publicised "heavy weaponry":

We had better let Major Bernard Temple-Meades (ret.) (Dave) explain "the Storridge Skunk":

"Although they had managed to acquire sufficient small arms and ammunition for them, the Company of St Michael was desperately short of support weapons. They therefore had to improvise solutions where military weapons weren't available. Adding improvised armour and a Lewis gun to an agricultural tractor produced a solution of sorts. However, this one also had a sting in its tail.

Fitting a captured mortar would provide fire support if the company could get more ammunition than the six rounds they captured with the mortar. In absence of proper ammunition the company resorted to a home made solution. The vehicle's name soon came from the sulphurous smell of the improvised mortar bomb propellant emanating from its rear....."

"The Storridge Skunk" (Crew - Reiver)

THE SIEGE OF DENDERMONDE - CLASSIC WARGAME CAMPAIGN

As a variety of Opposition forces, with the Communists in the van, approach the Government's hastily constructed "Dinmore Hill Line" (the last defensible geographical boundary before Hereford itself), the prospect of the County Capital being besieged (in due time) has occupied some of the 'wilder minds' in Fleet Street.

Just as well then, that Mike Lewis of the "Little Wars 1913" blog is planning a recreation of that classic wargame, as published in "Battle for Wargamers" magazine from December 1976, "The Siege of Dendermonde"....

Mike Lewis' blog contains a link to a PDF, compiled by Henry Hyde, containing a scan of all the original "Seige of Dendermonde" articles - a welcome addition to the Library.

For the PDF and Mike Lewis' plans, see HERE.

And just to prove that a good wargame never quite goes out of fashion, see HERE for the Vintage Wargaming Blog's equivalent entry, also containing Henry Hyde's PDF, dating as far back as June 2010....

HMG "OFSTED TANK" - AND SCIENTIFIC GENIUS

Every VBCW faction needs a "Mad Scientist", and since the banishing and imprisonment of Professor Dave Ross, inveterate scientific tinkerer and notorious cider addict, His Majesty's Government has been sadly lacking in this department. But no more! Let HMG's C-in-C, Major Everard (Alan) take up the story:

"PROFESSOR FERGAL MCGONAGALL

Inventor of the OFSTED  (Oil Fired Steam Turbine Electrical Discharge) Tank.

Another extraordinary invention from the fertile mind of the eccentric genius and inventor, Professor Fergal McGonagall. Variously described as ‘a brilliant but unstable mind’, ‘that loony bastard’, ‘the cleverest man in Ireland’, ‘a complete and utter lunatic’ and ‘totally bonkers’, the Professor has many weird and wonderful, though not always effective, inventions to his name. Examples include – the magnetic vacuum cleaner for cleaning workshop floors of metal fragments, the steam powered washing device, the clockwork rotating washing line, etc. etc.

Prof. McGonagall has been a friend of Major Everard ever since the latter saved the Professor from an angry lynch mob in Palestine when, after an evening of heavy drinking, the inebriated Irishman mistook the entrance to a local mosque for a public convenience.

Hearing of his friend’s current strategic difficulties, the Professor has devised a new armoured weapon to assist the fight against Communism and the Church, both of which McGonagall despises (along with teetotallers, vegetarians, tax collectors, Pekinese dogs, and physical training instructors).

The tank tows an armoured trailer containing the oil, fuel and water containers. These are pumped into the tank, where an oil-fired boiler heats the water to produce steam to drive a turbine which generates electricity. Upon firing, the tank discharges a high voltage current at the target, which (hopefully) suffers rather as if struck by lightning. This current can be capable of destroying all electrical circuits, melting metal, igniting fuel and starting fires, and electrocuting any human or animals caught in the discharge. However, as this example is a prototype, which has not yet been perfected, it may (like so many of McGonagall's inventions) not be entirely reliable………

For its initial foray onto the battlefield the tank will be commanded by Professor McGonagall’s nephew, Senior Officer Cadet Leo Macken-Chees, a wild young spirit known by admirers in his home town of Ballyorefall as ‘The Young Lion’, (and by his detractors as ‘the Prat in the Hat’)."

Senior Cadet Leo Macken-Chees (mounted and dismounted versions)
together with his OFSTED tank. Tanker's uniform clearly of his own design...

An "aerial reconnaissance" view of the OFSTED tank.

OFSTED tank and armoured trailer.

Onward ! The Ofsted Tank trundles off towards Major Everard's "Dinmore Hill Line"
outside Hereford, ready to "sally forth" against the gathering Communists...

Notes:

(1). the "Ofsted Tank" constitutes Alan's entry for the Modelling Challenge 2022 ("Armoured Legends") and is therefore playable as a FREE UMPIRE BONUS to Government Forces on the "Dinmore Hill Line table" at the forthcoming Spring Big Game 2023.

(2). Senior Officer Cadet Leo Macken-Chees, as Alan's "Armoured Legend" also benefits from the "Armoured Legend Special Rule" as previously posted, and replicated here for convenience : "Special Rule for "Armoured Legends" - in the event that an "Armoured Legends" tank is blown up, the "Armoured Legend" himself/herself does not die, but is "catapulted" by the force of the explosion from the tank in a random direction for a random distance (use direction die and 2D6), and thereafter continues "on foot". The bias is always against an "Armoured Legend" being killed in this Big Game - because they have to have some time 'in County" to become "the Legend" that they supposedly are.... 

 

(3). Alan has drawn up a very special firing/reaction/results table unique to the Ofsted Tank, available on the BIG DAY of the Spring Big Game 2023, apparently involving a lot of enhanced toasting of Communists (with equal chances of explosive reactions within the Ofsted itself). The Umpires are grateful (even if the Communists might not be), as this outstanding effort is one up on the usual "oh...I wrote the rules on my mobile phone....,let me check..." (of blessed memory).

CORPORATE GUARD - "A GATHERING OF STANDARDS"

Having obtained the support of the Marlbrook Agricultural Militia, Sir Charles Tite-Wadde, Bt., has looked to improve the morale of his Corporate Guards by the presentation of company standards:

From LtoR: flagbears of the Fyffes Motor Guard, the Oxo Brand Guardians,
 and Cadbury's Commandos. The Oxo standard bearer has either had his right
hand missed in painting/converting, or is a 1938 version of Captain Danjou
All figures Gripping Beast WW1 British.

Sir Charles Tite-Wadde, Bt., with HQ Section and newly presented "Company Standards".
The Platoon Standard bears the motto of the Combined Corporate Guards -
"Profits and People" (not "Profits before People")

A formal Group Portrait of the Combined Corporate Guard HQ at Marlbrook.
All figures Heroclix plastics save No.2 with umbrella (Warlord Dredd line)
and medic/nurse with rolled towel (Empress?)

VBCW FARMERS (4) - MARLBROOK AGRICULTURAL MILITIA

As a vast array of Anglicans and Bromyard Republicans descend upon the Cadbury's Factory at Marlbrook, Sir Charles Tite-Wadde, Bt., leader of the Combined Corporate Guards, has persuaded the local farmers and tenants of Marlbrook to lend him their support:

Farmer Albert Fruitful, Leader of the Marlbrook Agricultural Militia, with his HQ Section -
Allan, his No.2 (with elephant gun), a standard bearer, two "runners", and
acting as a nurse and medic, his niece, Luscious, with her "pail of healing herbs".

No.1 (or "Green") Section, Marlbrook Agricultural Militia

No.2 (or "Black" Section) Marlbrook Agricultural Militia

No.3 (or "Blue" Section) Marlbrook Agricultural Militia

No.4 (or "Red" Section) Marlbrook Agricultural Militia

HQ and Infantry Contingent, Marlbrook Agricultural Militia.
Sir Charles Tite-Wadde, Bt. has promised Farmer Fruitful "the best
of heavy weaponry" from Corporate Guard Stores - AT Element,
Mortar or MMG, Tank or "Big Gun"- thereby making the Militia
a full Platoon under "Went the Day Well" rules.

28mm Notes:

(HQ Section) Farmer Fruitful is an old boardgame piece obtained from EM-4 Miniatures; the standard bearer and runners are Old Glory ACW from the spares box, "Allan with Elephant Gun" is a Wargames Illustrated Giants in Miniature figure (Allan Quatermain), "Luscious with pail of healing herbs" is an old plastic Britains/Herald 30mm figure from an Ebay joblot - see HERE.

(Infantry Sections) All (apart from Section Leaders) ACW figures from EM-4 Miniatures, painted and slightly converted versions of the "cheep plastic" miniatures originally featured HERE. Section Leaders (with shotgun) are venerable Britains/Herald 30mm farmers - see HERE. Four infantry sections, or 40 figures, for a about a tenner - and painted to be "flexible" for future games - Black Section as BUF Rural Militia, Blue Section as Anglicans, Red Section as Communists, and Green, ummm....well, rural types in support of any faction.

MILITARY UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE OVERSEAS 1938 (6) - THE RHODESIA REGIMENT

Moving north from Cape Town and crossing the Limpopo River (but obviously staying within the boundaries of the British Empire of 1938), we trek to Southern Rhodesia:

A Sergeant of the Rhodesia Regiment 1938

The reverse of this cigarette card (No.5 of 50) states:

"The Southern Rhodesia Defence Force originated with the early Pioneers and in 1892 developed into a volunteer force which served in the Matabele war and Rhodesia Rebellion. In 1899, it became the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers, with units in the principal centres and Rifle Companies in outlying districts. Volunteers therefrom served in the Boer War and Great War. In 1926 the Defence Act was promulgated, instituting compulsory peacetime training, and the Rhodesia Regiment - of two Battalions - was formed from members of the Southern Rhodesian Volunteers and other citizens in the larger towns. We show a Sergeant of the Rhodesia Regiment in Drill Order, standing in front of the Drill Hall at Salisbury, S. Rhodesia."

Notes:

(1). as to 28mm suggestions, the temptation is (of course) to start with an 8th Army figure in shorts as a base, either living with its "long socks" or converting them to match the Rhodesians' long leather gaiters. However, this would still leave you looking around for a Wolesley helmet, and both the webbing and shirt/jacket would be quite wrong. Probably the best "donor figure" would be from the Gripping Beast WW1 line, "BRIT 11 - British Section in Shorts":

Gripping Beast WW1 British in shorts - varieties of separate
heads are available, of which the Wolesley is one option.

Gripping Beast separate head options (British).

(2). The Drill Hall was built in 1902, and is a particularly fine example of its type. More background information (from 1956) HERE, and interesting contemporary accounts of the Duke of Connaught's visit in 1910 HERE:

The Drill Hall (now in Harare, Zimbabwe) still exists, but unfortunately we have been unable to trace a modern photograph of it, nor establish its present use. The equally impressive Drill Hall in Bulawayo is in use as a Police Administrative Building, and it may therefore be that same is true of the old Salisbury building. Leave a comment to this post if you can do better! Whatever may have happened to their Drill Hall, however, the Rhodesia Regiment has certainly marched away into history:

The Rhodesia Regiment marching away from the Drill Hall, late 1930s.
It may be that this is a contingent going to war in 1939, or an earlier
departure to Herefordshire in 1938...
(David Heppenstal collection, via Pinterest)

PRESTEIGNE VBCW COMMUNIST POSTERS (1)

With the mouth watering prospect of breaching the "Dinmore Hill Line" and capturing Hereford itself now a real possibility, Comrade Colonel Professor Winters has demanded that Commissar Moody's "Bureau Desinformitzya" redouble their propaganda efforts with a new poster campaign:

Comrade Lenin points the way.......

Supported by "Proley" tanks and Soviet aircraft, fanatical Presteigne
Communist Infantry are ready to follow...

My name is Comrade Stalin and I approve this message...

While Comrade Stalin has undoubtedly given public approval to Commissar Moody's efforts, he has also sent a chilling "private reminder" to Comrade Colonel Professor Winters of the consequences of any failure: 

Will Winters' fanatical Presteigne Communists breach the Dinmore Hill Line? Or will Winters die in the attempt? Is it to be "Victory" or "The Gulag"? These, and even more pressing questions, etc. etc., can only be answered by attendance at the Spring Big Game 2023 !

LEDBURY ANGLICANS (IN EXILE)

Malvern lies at the foot of the Malvern Hills, just on the border of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Companies of "Malvern men" have occasionally made their presence known in the Herefordshire VBCW - one thinks of the bodyguards of Emperor Hailie Selassie, by way of example, or the shadowy body known as the "Malvern Hills Conservators", who have fought both against and (more recently) for the Crown. Another such company is that body of Ledbury Anglican fighters (in exile) known as "The Company of Saint Michael", lead by Major Bernard Temple-Meades (retired).

Originally from Malvern, Temple-Meades' Anglicans "retired in a forward direction" (aka "jumped over the Hills") to Ledbury at the very beginning of the VBCW, joining the congregation of St. Michael and All Angels in devout worship and adopting an appropriate name and standard:

The standard of the Company of St. Michael. Cross of St. George with Anglican quarter
and a representation of the stained glass to be found within the church of St. Michael and All Angels. 

Temple-Meades' tactical re-location appeared wise, for Malvern, at the start of the VBCW, was not a good place to be anti-King or anti-Government. With the King designating nearby Madresfield Court as his "summer residence" (and re-locating a sizeable protection force of Guards there) and armed Royalist elements (including British Fascisti and, dependent upon what they had been drinking that Friday night, the Malvern Hills Conservators) making their presence felt in town, being a "militant Anglican" in Malvern was really not a good idea. 

 

Unfortunately, Temple-Meades' Ledbury refuge swiftly became a focal point of the early Herefordshire VBCW (see the First and the Second Battles of Ledbury) and, upon its capture by HMG Forces (and the imprisonment of the Bishop of Hereford), the Company of St. Michael were forced into renewed exile, becoming a "Free Company", roving around from their "secret location" in the Malvern Hills, living off the land and conducting daring raids against Government Forces.

It is said that, in this capacity, Major Temple-Meades was a "key backroom player" in the intensive diplomatic activities that resulted in the recent pact between the Anglicans and the Independent Republic of Bromyard, resulting in the foundation of the "Three Counties Co-Prosperity Sphere". Deciding that such "co-prosperity" actually meant consuming a good deal of chocolate, Temple-Meades' "Company of St. Michael" then took up a key position for an assault on the Cadbury's Factory at Marlbrook:

Captain Temple-Meades (ret.) and the HQ Section of the
Company of St. Michael.

Notes: many thanks to Dave for the photos and original text, and with best wishes from the Bishops of Ludlow and Lichfield for the Spring Big Game 2023!

SHINY STUFF - HER LATE MAJESTY

Bad Squiddo Games have an interesting "new arrival" in their webstore, a bundle collection of 3 figures and 2 corgis in commemoration of Her Late Majesty, all for £20:

The same figures are also available individually in the Bad Squiddo webstore, but at significantly greater prices per figure. If one is inclined to a little lese-majesty, the "coronation gown" figure would also make a wonderful Queen Elizabeth, wife of George V, and therefore a central "Yorkist" personality figure for the VBCW. Alternatively, the "Silver Jubilee" QEII (in blue) might make a very superior Chairwoman of the local Women's Institute....

....or find an Austin K2 Ambulance for your Platoon!

TECHNICALS (2) - THE BISHOP OF LUDLOW'S REBUKE

In a widely circulated "Pastoral Message", the Bishop of Ludlow has rebuked those "misguided souls" claiming that they were the first to invent "The Technical" in the Hereford VBCW. Dismissing the "notorious propaganda" of the Presteigne Communists and their conversions of the 1.5 ton PMW truck chassis, and even gently chiding "my old friend" Chief Constable Recurrin-Lockdowne and his Rolls-Royce MG carriers, the Bishop pointed to his own forces' long-standing "Covenanter Mk.1" gun bus section:

A historic event: the Bishop introduces his "Covenanter" gun buses to Pathe News.
Trucks - Lledo minor conversions.

The Bishop "wished to make clear" that the Ecclesiarchy of Ludlow "as muscular Christians, stood at the forefront of modern armaments technology" and would shortly introduce the "Covenanter Mk.2", an even more heavily armed and armoured variant of the "Anglican gun-bus". The enemies of Anglicanism, he concluded, "would shortly meet their Maker" and were therefore "always in his prayers".

The Bishop blesses the film crew - and, in absentia, Anglicanism's enemies.

SPRING BIG GAME 2023 - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW !

After the fall of Leominster (Spring Big Game 2022 - see HERE) and subsequent diplomatic shenanigans the declaration of the "Three Counties Co-Prosperity Sphere" (see HERE) a mixed force of Anglicans and Bromyard Republicans advances southward, intent on capturing the new Cadbury's Factory at Marlbrook (see HERE), one of the key "economic assets" in the County. Simultaneously, a strong force of Communists, under the leadership of the notorious Colonel Commissar Professor Winters, has force marched from the outskirts of Leominster and "hooked around" behind the Marlbrook Factory, intent on breaking through HMG's hastily constructed "Dinmore Hill Line" (see HERE) and capturing Hereford itself.

Sir Charles Tite-Wadde, Bt., newly appointed Commander of the Collective Corporate Guard (i.e. a combined Platoon of Cadbury's Commandos, Fyffes Motor Guard and Oxo Brand Guardians - see HERE) is determined to defend the Marlbrook Chocolate Factory against all enemies. He has persuaded the local Marlbrook Agricultural Militia to "stand with him", and banned any historical reference to "The Alamo". His second-in-command, Cadbury's Captain "Coco" Cubbe, has pleaded with HMG by telephone for urgent support....

Major Everard, C-in-C of HMG Forces in the County, has secretly re-inforced his troops along the Dinmore Hill Line and determined upon "a sally in strength" towards Marlbrook. He aims to "sweep away" the oncoming Communist Forces and "join hands" with the gallant defenders of Marlbrook - all without losing control of the Dinmore Hill Line itself, his last geographical line of defence against capture of the County capital.....

Can Sir Charles save the Chocolate Factory? Are the Cadbury's Commandos really "flaky"? Will the Marlbrook Agricultural Militia "melt away" and return to their fields? Can Major Everard defeat his nemesis, Colonel Commissar Professor Winters? Will Hereford fall to the triumphant Communists, or Cadbury's Marlbrook to the greedy sweet-toothed Anglicans and Bromyardistas? Just how many times will the Fyffe's corporate mascot, "Bananaman", be blown up - and by whom? All these, and even more pressing questions, can only be answered by attendance at:

The Hereford VBCW 1938 Spring Big Game 2023

("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory")

Burley Gate Village Hall

Herefordshire

on

Saturday 25th February 2023

10am - 5.00pm (doors open c.9.30 am)

Burley Gate Schools, c.1900, now the Burley Gate Village Hall.
Who could have guessed that, some 38 years later, the very future of the
the County would be decided here...

Notes for Players:

(1). Set - Up : 2 large tables, the "Marlbrook Factory" table and the "Dinmore" table. On the Marlbrook Factory table, 3 Platoons (Anglicans and Bromyard Social Democrats) attack the Cadbury's Factory, defended by 2 Platoons (Combined Corporate Guard and Marlbrook Agricultural Militia). On the Dinmore table, 3 Government Platoons (Royalists and BUF) clash with 2 Communist Platoons in a "meeting engagement", each trying to "break through" the other.

(2). Rules : "Went the Day Well" (Mort v.11) with the following amendments/clarifications:

(a). one phase bounds, no Mort "two phases";

(b). tanks have a maximum of one gun and one LMG;

(c). armoured cars can only be armed with one LMG;

(d). cavalry and infantry do not need to take a morale test to "charge home";

(e). "hedge hopping and obstacle crossing" - test by unit, not by single figure;

(f). only Platoon Leaders and one Platoon Standard Bearer can produce morale effects;

(g). no cards on the playing surface - hold cards in your hand and rely upon "the Card Caller";

(h). special rule as below for "Armoured Legends" (Modelling Challenge 2022)

(i). "Bananaman" (with his appalling singing) causes a -1 morale effect on ALL troops (except Fyffes Motor Guard) within a 6 inch radius. This adverse morale effect ceases when "Bananaman" is shot, exploded, bayonetted, or "permanently expired" otherwise howsoever. Upon expiry, "Bananaman" re-spawns (in the discretion of the Cadbury player) at the centre of the Cadbury Factory;

(j). Umpires have discretion to amend as may be deemed necessary for the "good of the game".

USMC Lt-Gen "Chesty" Puller channels Sir  Charles Tite-Wadde, Bt., 1938
(An alternative version has this famous Marine saying,
"We're surrounded.....they can't get away this time.")

(3). Platoon Generator and Troop Experience

(a). Platoons organised in accordance with the Platoon Generator HERE;

(b). Experience ratings determined "on the day" in accordance with the procedure set out within the Platoon Generator post, again HERE.

(4). Practical Matters : 

(a). Setting up of tables will take place from c. 9am, so if you want to come earlier than 10am please feel free;

(b). Directions to Burley Gate Village Hall can be found here.

(c). Tea, coffee, biscuits provided, but please bring your own lunch. Those who forget can (usually) purchase provisions at the Burley Gate Village Shop, located in the Portakabin right next door to the Hall itself.

(d). cost is £15.00, collected on the day. Please remember to have change or it may cost you more!!

(e). photography of the BIG GAME is definitely encouraged! Please don't forget your cameras!

(f). paper & pen desirable for (3) above

(5). Modelling Challenges

(a). don't forget to collect (on the day, from the Umpires) your "cheep plastic" PMW 1.5 tonne truck(s) to take part in the Modelling Challenge 2023 ("Technicals") (see HERE);

(b). participants in the Modelling Challenge 2022 (see HERE) may play their creations ("Armoured Legends") as a FREE UMPIRE BONUS at this Spring 2023 Big Game;

(c). Special Rule for "Armoured Legends" - in the event that an "Armoured Legends" tank is blown up, the "Armoured Legend" himself/herself does not die, but is "catapulted" by the force of the explosion from the tank in a random direction for a random distance (use direction die and 2D6), and thereafter continues "on foot". The bias is always against an "Armoured Legend" being killed in this Big Game - because they have to have some time "in County" to become "the Legend" that they supposedly are......

(6). And that's it, VBCW Chaps! Just remember.............

A GENTLEMAN'S DILEMMA, VBCW 1938

The gentleman's dilemma....

CORONATION POST (4) - THE KING'S CHAMPION

And on with the Coronation posts !

There's nothing like a good tradition, and nothing quite like "The King's Champion". The reverse of this 1937 "Churchman's Cigarettes" card states:

"For nearly six hundred years the head of the House of Dymoke of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire, has been hereditary King's Champion, appearing at nearly every Coronation down to that of George IV in 1821. The Champion is shown wearing the famous Dymoke armour, preserved at Windsor Castle, and in the act of throwing down his gage. The Manor of Scrivelsby came to the Dymokes from the Marmions, and is held in Grand Sergeantry. This means that the holder must perform some service in return for the Manor, and in this case, appear as the King's Champion at Coronations. The first Dymoke to perform the service was Sir John at the Coronation of Richard II [on 23rd June 1377]."

while a second card in the same "Churchman's Cigarettes" series explains:

"Just before the serving of the second course of the Coronation Banquet, it was customary for the Champion to ride into Westminster Hall, escorted by the Earl Marshall and Lord High Constable, and preceded by a herald; esquires carried his lance and shield. The herald read the challenge immediately on entering the Hall, the Champion flinging down his gage. No one taking this up, it was returned to the Champion by the herald. The challenge was repeated below the steps leading to the King's table. The Champions last appearance was at the crowning of George IV [on 19th July 1821]"

It seems unlikely that we will see "the King's Champion" at the Coronation of Charles III - see HERE for the detailed history. This may be just as well, as the present Dymoke of Scrivelsby is, ahem...a distinguished accountant.

Still, in the world of the 1938 VBCW, there is absolutely no reason why "The King's Champion" should not take the field in support of the justice of Edward VIII's cause - an ideal reason to include a 28mm mediaeval knight in a Royalist Platoon !

CORONATION POST (3) - THE PROCESSION

Back in 1952, the ever patriotic "Daily Express" published (at the VBCW price of "two and six") a boxed "paperback and model" in celebration of the forthcoming Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II:

In the same way as now, nobody could be quite sure of all the details in advance of Coronation Day itself, and therefore the "Daily Express" based its illustration of the anticipated 1952 Royal Procession on the actual 1937 Coronation:

The 1937 Order of a Coronation Procession, adapted to 1952. 

The principal difference between the 1937 Procession and the 1952 Procession was the absence, given Independence in 1947, of all Indian influence at the latter - for the 1937 Coronation was not only of a King, but also of an Emperor.

Note - keen students of the VBCW Coronation of 1937 may want to download and magnify the "Procession" illustration (shutting one's eyes, of course, to the very puzzling reference to "King George VI"). 

MILITARY UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE OVERSEAS, 1938 (5) - CAPE TOWN HIGHLANDERS

Another John Player cigarette card from 1938, on this occasion demonstrating the strong ties between the "Old Country" and Commonwealth:

The fearsome RSM of the Cape Town Highlanders

The reverse of the cigarette card (No.1 of 50) states:

"Under the Defence Acts of the Union of South Africa, every citizen between seventeen and sixty years of age is liable for military service in any part of South Africa, whether within or outside the boundaries of the Union. There is also a liability to compulsory service for all citizens between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-five. The Permanent Force is recruited on a voluntary basis, service being for a period of three years; re-engagement for periods of up to two years is permitted up to the age of forty-five for privates and 50 for non-commissioned officers. We show a Regimental Sergeant Major of the Cape Town Highlanders; the Town Hall, Capetown, appears in the background."

Notes:

(1). As to 28mm figure suggestions, Footsore Miniatures have some Scottish Highlanders (in glengarry cap) within their Early WW1 British range which would form a good basis for a 28mm Cape Town Highlander; alternatively Steve Barber Miniatures has produced WW1 London Scottish in glengarries that would do equally well.

(2). The Town Hall, Capetown, still stands:

 (3). The Wiki history of the Regiment can be found HERE. Some readers may enjoy the latest news of the Regiment (and evidence of continuing Scottish stubborness) at a time of great political change: "In August 2019, it was announced that 52 South African Army Reserve Units would have their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. The Cape Town Highlanders was due to be known as the Gonnema Regiment....[in June 2022] it was confirmed that the unit had not officially changed its name and remains known as the Cape Town Highlanders."

Add Edit:

The badge of the Cape Town Highlanders, from a contemporary cigarette card produced in South Africa:

SHINY STUFF - WARGAMES ATLANTIC GERMAN SENTRIES

Well, not shiny exactly, as they're hard plastic, but...

Anyway, in the summer of last year, Grey for Now Games released a new "WW2 Commando Raid" game called "02 Hundred Hours". Not quite our thing, although there was an interesting mix of 28mm metal and plastic figures representing WW2 Germans, many of whom would be usable (most with head swaps) in the VBCW as jackbooted BUF.

The Grey For Now 28mm release - top figures metal, bottom figures plastic.

It appears that the plastic figures came about as a result of co-operation between Grey For Now Games and Wargames Atlantic, for, after a decent interval, Wargames Atlantic have now made the same plastic figures available in a separate, dedicated box, labelled "German Sentries":

Yay! German Sentries - 30 figures and 10 Alsatians for £25.00!

Very decently priced and capable of being modelled in lots of varied poses, these 'straight up and down" sentry figures are just the thing for guarding installations, searching and patrolling, standing at road blocks (aka presenting a tempting target) - or, with a little more conversion, serving as engineers or pioneers if you've already built your BUF Bridging Column.... 

Notes: A good review with illustrations can be found HERE

VICKERS Mk.6 LIGHT TANK

Some Koestlerian synchronicity to start the week, items simultaneously foraged by blind chance from the extensive "VBCW Army Surplus" store in Ludlow. First up, a lovely colourised photograph:

A Royalist Vickers Mk.ViB "somewhere in Herefordshire" 1938.
Or possibly near Arras, 12th October 1939.

and then another lovely, a 28mm Vickers Mk. 6B speeding toward VBCW battle:

Painted, not colourised - 28mm Vickers Mk.VIB

and finally, the real thing:

Vickers Light Tank Mk. VIB at Bovington Tank Museum

Notes:

(1). 28mm Vickers 6B found on the web years ago - if you wish to claim the credit for it, please leave a comment!

(2). For more 28mm 1930s (Very) British historically accurate stuff, see HERE