As small arms fire crackled along the length of the front, the Communist KV-1 "Big Gun" fired with deadly accuracy. Eustace Spode's Big Gun was hit hard, with dead and dying crewman scattered around the temporarily disabled artillery piece. First blood to the Revolution, Comrades !
Nevertheless, encouraged onward by Roderick and Eustace, the Blackshorts bravely advanced into the fire:
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| Forward the Blackshorts! Eustace Spode's "Classic Blackshorts" advance into heavy Communist fire. |
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| An elite unit, the Sidcup Highlanders, use the little cover available to them. |
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| On the right flank, Roderick Spode's Imperial Blackshorts scurry forward.. |
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| ..occupying the Church and churchyard in a lengthy "skirmish by fire" with Mr Benn's Independent Labour Party Platoon. |
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| The Imperial Blackshorts take cover in the Church graveyard. Mr Benn swears that they are "conveniently located" for "efficient disposal". |
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| The Communist KV-1 fires again with deadly effect, for on this occasion a Blackshorts' HQ Section is hit.... |
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| ....and Eustace Spode himself is caught in the centre of the mighty explosion! He is hastily "carried from the field" to the Blackshort Field Hospital (already overflowing with casualties). |
The continuous and highly accurate Communist fire, together with the unexpected loss of their young commander, has a devastating effect on the "Classic" Blackshorts:
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| The "Classic" Blackshorts surrounded by adverse morale markers. Nothing is going forward for a while, not until this is sorted out... |
As the entire Blackshort advance stalls, with Roderick's "Imperial" troops scrabbling in the dust of the Church graveyard, and the Third Blackshorts yet to advance, it looks like the Battle of Willersley will result in an embarrassing early defeat for the forces of the "British Knee":
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| Congratulations, comrade ! A Communist militiaman grins broadly as he waits for his lunch. A good morning's work! |
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