HEREFORD SPRING BATTLE REPORT (6) - BATTLE OF WILLERSLEY

After all their early successes, the combined forces of Communism and the Independent Labour Party had to keep the initiative. As the afternoon wore on, however, it was clear that this was beyond them...

The Classic Blackshorts reconstituted the crew of their "Big Gun" (using runners from the Platoon HQ) and started to return fire at the KV-1.

The Third Blackshorts started their advance, delivering a volley of rifle fire so devastating that it completely destroyed the Presteigne Red Guard.

Thus encouraged, the Classic Blackshorts recovered their morale and began their advance again.

The Imperial Blackshorts, still cunningly "in cover" behind the gravestones of the churchyard, began to wear down the Independent Labour Party with fire.

The Communist KV-1 was hit and tracks disabled, unable to move in any direction for the remainder of the battle.

[Gamers' Note - the Initiative Cards had now turned decisively in favour of the Blackshorts. In one hand alone, Eustace Spode's Platoon had not one, not two, but three "Jokers" - supreme initiative cards. Who knew we were playing with a (Communist supplied) card pack including three Jokers ? Grrrr.......]

A bad omen - the Communist KV1 is hit and disabled. The crew must take
a morale test as, to the right, the Third Blackshorts begin a flanking manoeuvre.

"Classic" Blackshorts advance, morale now fully recovered.

Crisis - Classic Blackshorts flank the dried river bed to the left as Third Blackshorts
push hard in the centre. The Communists are reluctantly forced to retire from their
advanced defence positions...the OGPU section sacrifice themselves in an
attempt to cover their colleagues.

The Communist's retirement uncovers the disabled KV-1. A magnificently heroic
member of the Classic Blackshorts - Mr Sticky Stickman himself - attempts a 
sticky bomb attack on the Soviet Behemoth KV-1...

Unbelievably, Stickman fails; but subsequent Blackshort fire
ignites the KV-1...

...which promptly completely disappears in a catastrophic explosion...

The Third Blackshorts now made rapid progress in the centre, easily destroying a Communist machine gun emplaced to prevent just such a move. Now Captain Stroganov had nothing left to stop them, other than himself............. 

Captain Stroganov's lone stand. Third Blackshorts advance on the right of the photo.

Unsurprisingly, Captain Stroganov himself now suffers from adverse morale...

Can Stroganov turn the deteriorating situation around ? Is Mr Benn of the Independent Labour Party in any position to provide support to the badly depleted Communists ?