HEREFORD VBCW CAMPAIGN - TOPOGRAPHY AND STATE OF PLAY

Some jolly useful maps to help make cartographic sense of the present state of the Hereford 1938 VBCW campaign. First up, a useful general map showing the rivers and elevations of the entire County:

Map 1 - Topography

North is "up". Having broken the Siege Lines around Kington, Comrade Colonel Professor Winters' Communist troops have surged confidently westward, roughly alone the course of the River Arrow, only to be checked at Leominster. Leominster itself has fallen to the forces of the newly declared Social Democratic Republic of Bromyard, advancing west to east. The Anglicans, advancing southward from Ludlow (not shown above) had been expecting to take Leominster themselves. However, at the critical moment, their forces were drawn off into Shropshire, in defence of Evesham, with only light Anglican "screening forces" being left to the north of Leominster. Government forces have retreated southward to the hastily created "Dinmore Hill Line" between Leominster and Hereford itself.

Next up, a handy computer graphic of the same area:

Map 2 - Computer Generated

Ludlow, the home of Herefordshire Anglicanism "in exile" following the defeat and imprisonment of the Bishop of Hereford by Government forces early in the Hereford VBCW campaign, is shown on this map. Note can also be taken of Ross on Wye, the home of another Anglican army in the south of the County under the command of Captain "Teddy" Jermingham. The south has been relatively quiet of late, Jermingham having been held up by the construction of the "De Braose Line" at the order of Edward VIII's "Lord Warden of the Marches".

Comparison of the two maps allows battlefield reconstruction of both the "Dinmore Hill Line" and the "De Braose Line".

The "Dinmore Hill Line" lies to the north of Hereford, running east - west from Dinmore Hill to Burton Hill (Map 1) with Credenhill to its rear (Map 2).

The "De Braose Line" lies to the south of Hereford, running east - west along the line of natural elevations (Map 2) - Orcop, Aconbury and Woolhope - (Map 1)

Lord de Braose, Lord Warden of the Marches and Edward VIII's Governor of Hereford, is therefore in danger of being literally "boxed in" by Opposition forces. His lifeline, however, is that the BUF are in the process of significantly re-inforcing Ledbury, ensuring that supplies can be got through east-west from Gloucestershire to embattled Hereford via the A438.

Time for a road map of the present "theatre of war":

Map 3 - the "Theatre of War"

The A438/A417 running east-west from Ledbury to Hereford is shown here. At present, this road forms the "backbone" of Government controlled Herefordshire.

The newly founded Bromyard Republic has unexpectedly (but dramatically) expanded its sovereign territory by capturing Leominster, thus taking control of the east-west "A44 axis".

The Anglicans "A49 thrust" south from Ludlow towards Hereford has been checked on the northern outskirts of Leominster.

The Communists advance west - east along the approximate lines of the A4112 and B4362 has stalled on the western outskirts of Leominster.

So what to make of it all? Recent opinion pieces by certain senior Fleet Street war correspondents (Messrs. Featherstone and Scruby) have sketched out the strategic possibilities:

(1). although apparently impressive on paper, the "Dinmore Hill Line" has been only hastily constructed. While it supposedly contains "strongpoints" atop Dinmore Hill and Burton Hill (Map 1) the lower lying land between the two hills (Map 2 - instantly christened "the Dinmore Gap") is undoubtedly a weak point. Government propagandists have pointed out that "the Dinmore Gap" may instead be a perfect place for a strong Government counter attack along the A4410 (Map 3) against Communist forces;

(2). there is a possibility that the forces of the newly founded Social Democratic Republic of Bromyard could use their geographical position (Map 1) to outflank the "Dinmore Hill Line" entirely, sweeping down upon Hereford from the higher ground around Bromyard (Map 2) along the A465 (Map 3). However...

(3). the same Government propagandists have pointed out that the strong and increasing presence of the BUF in Ledbury will hold the Bromyardistas in "strategic check" (Map 1). It is unlikely, they insist, that even "the Bogeyman of Bromyard" (aka Councillor Dribblesnot, the "flame haired founding father of the Republic") will expose his left flank to the BUF in a drive on Hereford, or so weaken his own defensive lines around Bromyard to risk the fall of the Republic itself to BUF forces. These matters, together with the fact that the shadowy "Malvern Hill Conservators" have yet to declare their hand in relation to their neighbouring Bromyardistas must, so goes the argument, prohibit any advance by Dribblesnot towards Hereford;

(4). in any event, point out the Government, the fall of Leominster to the Bromyard Republic "must throw the Opposition Factions into chaos". For the first time, Communist troops are directly "facing off" against Anglicans and Social Democrats around and to the north of Leominster. There is (at least at present) no alliance between any of these factions, and the prospects of "internecine conflict" must therefore be very real.....

Note: for those wishing to study the County's cartography in greater detail, click on the "Maps" label.

LEOMINSTER - STRATEGIC MAP

 A Strategic Map of the Herefordshire VBCW, showing the position of Leominster in the County:

The strong rumour in the City and County Refreshment Rooms is that the newly established Republic of Bromyard intends a "surprise attack" on Leominster, presumably moving directly east to west along the A44.

As Staff Captain Maynard and Major (CRO) Everard of His Majesty's Forces contemplate this entirely new threat, both realise their position is perilous.

To the north, the Bishops of Ludlow and Lichfield are leading a combined Anglican Army southward from Ludlow along the A49, aiming to recover the captured Bishop of Hereford and restore him to his episcopal throne (and temporal power) in the City of Hereford itself. In order to do so, the Anglicans clearly need to capture Leominster first.

To the west, the Communists of Comrade Colonel Professor Winters, previously temporarily checked at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross, have now re-inforced and 'right hooked' their front along the A44, heading west to east directly towards Leominster.

Assailed on three sides, can the forces of His Majesty's Government save Leominster from falling into enemy hands ? 

And if not, to which "Opposition Faction" will Leominster fall?

CENTRAL HEREFORD MAP (1937)

For those readers avidly following the Herefordshire VBCW Campaign, but who may not be familiar with the City or County, here is a map of central Hereford as published in 1937, around the time that the VBCW started: 

 Notes:

[1]. Those wishing to devote close study to Central Hereford in 1937 might wish to download the map - the original is considerably bigger than Blogger will allow to be posted.

[2]. other relevant maps can be found by clicking on the "Maps" label to the right of this blog.

[3]. this 1937 Map was published by Baedeker, originally drafted in Leipzig (see annotation at bottom right). Historians still argue as to whether this was (1). a perfectly usual activity in support of the well known European travel company's commercial activities; (2). a sign that Reichsmarshall Goering may have a longer stay at the Castle Hotel than previously anticipated (3). a nefarious plot by that well known "Nazi lifestyle magazine" sub-editor turned Roman fettuccine maker, Captain Arrowsmith (blogposts passim). 

WELSH COUP IN HAY ON WYE!

Just as the eyes of the world focus on SHOBDON in anticipation of the Spring Big Game 2019, news reaches us of a coup d'etat in HAY ON WYE !

Hay on Wye Strategic Map.

His Majesty's Government have held HAY ON WYE without substantial challenge since the early part of the Herefordshire VBCW. Originally occupied by a substantial garrison (albeit without an identified Royalist/BUF commander or any substantial organisation), the demands of campaigning elsewhere and the Government disaster at the siege lines of Kington (Autumn 2017 Big Game) both contributed to a drastic reduction in garrison strength.

While details are still sketchy, it is reported that the small remaining garrison downed arms and fled in terror before a screaming horde of rabid Welsh Nationalists lead by a certain "Kenny Gwain" and his "Abergavenny Sheep Rustlers", who wasted no time in raising the Welsh standard:

The instantly recognisable features of the "conqueror of Hay", Kenneth Gawin, Esq.

What does this development mean for the Herefordshire VBCW? The loss of HAY ON WYE is undoubtedly an early blow for Major (CRO) Everard, the newly appointed Government C-in-C. With the historic advances of the Anglicans from Ross on Wye towards Hereford and the recent triumph of Sir Gilbert Hill at the Battle of Winforton Pontoons, this embarrassing loss of Hay on Wye renders it doubtful whether the Government now have any formed troops south of the River Wye.

But it is not only Major Everard who will have to contemplate a response. Sir Gilbert Hill, if not still "confined to quarters" at Kentchurch Court, must now worry about the security of "his" Golden Valley, particularly the Golden Valley Railway:

Were Gwain and his Abergavenny Sheep Rustlers now to advance south east from HAY, Sir Gilbert and his famous Golden Valley Invincibles (now on the north side of the River WYE, having of course crossed by pontoon) might have to make a strategic re-assessment and retrenchment. As it is, however, the latest aerial reconnaissance reports suggest that Gwain is in fact moving north, along the Welsh border, no doubt to effect a conjunction with the Communist forces of Comrade Professor Winters for the purposes of his attack on SHOBDON.....

A Treasury of Campaign Maps

For those around the globe who are breathlessly following the progress of the Hereford1938 AVBCW campaign, but who may not be wholly familiar with the geography of the County or have the opportunity to "tramp the battlefields" in the company of the editor of "Hereford VBCW : Then and Now" (other historic tour guides are available), this Treasury of Historic Maps of the County (at the highly detailed scale of 6inches to the mile) may be of considerable interest. The 1930s - 1950s maps are generally the most useful, being before the "Beeching Cuts" to the railway network. Such maps are fully "zoomable", although a moment or two may be necessary before a "zoomed" map comes fully into focus. By way of example, this map illustrates the locality of Winforton and Willersley, the site of Sir Gilbert Hill's victory at the Battle of Winforton Pontoons. The "Old Farmhouse" and St. Michael's Church, Winforton, may be found, as photographed in the contemporaneous battle reports referred to HERE. 

AVBCW Situation Map (No.11)

As Hereford1938 ("TOS") gently gives way to Hereford1938 ("TNG") those interested in the continuing campaign may wish to refresh their memories of the present state of play:

Hereford1938 VBCW Situation Map No.11

Situation Map No.11 (broken down into Herefordshire's parishes as usual) is the last of the situation maps published on JP's blog and was compiled after the Battles of Aconbury, Whitney and Brimfield. A little further local news was published after Situation Map No.11 was compiled. Who knows what a future Situation Map No.12 may show?