HEREFORD SPRING 2024 BATTLE REPORT (4) - BATTLE OF WILLERSLEY

After hours of anxious waiting, the telephone hotline at Comrade Colonel Professor Winter's Presteigne Headquarters finally burst into life:

Finally reporting in, it was Captain "Izny" Stroganov, leader of the Communist "raiding party" sent to block the A438 between Hay-on-Wye and Hereford (and ally of Mr Benn, commander of an Independent Labour Party Platoon with a similar mission): 

The battlefield of Willersley. A quick sketch by Stroganov. Communist raiding party
and ILP ally taking position on the right of the map - Blackshorts entering from left.

In the early morning mists around Willersley, Stroganoff ordered his Presteigne Soviet Platoon (a section of Presteigne Red Guard, a section of veteran OGPU troops, and a section of militia) into the advance, in order to take up a forward defence line along the dried river bed.

The wary advance of the lead Communist Platoon - an officer of the
Presteigne Red Guard.

Stroganoff kept a section in reserve, but advanced his major asset, a KV-1 "Big Gun" in support:

Early morning mist - the reserve section and the KV-1, plus standard bearer, in advance.

Reserve Strike Force - two Communist Armoured Cars and the ILP's "Tom Tank" in the rear.

To Stroganoff's left, the ILP garrisoned Willersley itself, and extended their defence from the village to the very far left (a position that they were, of course, entirely comfortable with):

Far left ILP Section with supporting tank.

Heading straight towards the defenders, an awesome sight never before seen in the VBCW, an entire Brigade of Blackshorts - led in person by Roderick Spode, 7th Earl of Sidcup, and his nephew, Eustace!

Eustace Spode and his Headquarters Section

Eustace Spode's "Classic Blackshorts" stationed on the left of the advance, about to 
do battle with Captain Stroganov's Communists

"Third Blackshorts" in the centre, linking up with Roderick Spode's
"Imperial Blackshorts" on the right.

"Third Blackshorts" infantry and HQ Section

Another shot of the Third Blackshorts HQ Section, with supporting arms.
At the corner of the wall, the Third Blackshorts AT Rifle and Spotter discuss tactics
 with Eustace Spode's own "high tech" Anti Tank asset - "Mr Sticky Stick Bomber".

Roderick Spode's Imperial Blackshorts advance on the right.

Ever hopeful of the power of Soviet propaganda, Captain Stroganov's troops taunted the advancing Blackshorts with repeated and derisive shouts of "EULALIE !", and Stroganov himself was comforted by reports of conventional Herefordshire opinion:

As the early morning mist cleared, the Battle of Willersley was about to begin........