Concerns for Sir Gilbert!

Sir Gilbert Hill (in 1/60 scale), accompanied by Lady Hill and
 Miss Fragrance Sweetmeat, Very Personal Assistant to Sir Gilbert

Concerns have recently been widely expressed within Hereford's City and County Dining and Refreshment Rooms that Sir Gilbert Hill, of Pontrilas, Ewas Harold and Abbey Dore, may well be over-celebrating the victory of his famous Golden Valley Invincibles (and their Anglican allies) at the recent Battle of Winforton Pontoons. With his recent recruitment of some strange tribals as a "(Dominions and Colonial) Loyal Volunteers Section", lately supported by some notorious female practitioners of "the dark arts", these central questions are being asked : is Sir Gilbert quite well? Has he fallen victim to a ju-ju spell? And just what is he smoking?

Just what is he smoking? The 1/1 scale Sir Gilbert Hill manoeuvres
 his landing fleet at the Battle of Winforton Pontoons, inspired
(it is widely surmised) by some "waccy baccy", as said to be
a gift from Chief Kansan O'Flynn [note1] Or is it simply
 "The Sweet Cheroot of Victory" and the characteristic
 VBCW smell of "nicotine in the morning"?

Rumours are spreading that Sir Gilbert has even taken to drinking heavily, such strong spirits causing him to suffer from serious delusions or, in layman's terms, "to go absolutely, completely nautical" [note2]:

"I see no ships". In the midst of one of his legendary drinking bouts, The 1/1 scale
Sir Gilbert suffers "a fit of the Nelsons" (or should that be "Priens"?) [note2].

In his present rumoured travails, Sir Gilbert will undoubtedly benefit from the support of his close family, both Lady Hill and his eldest son, The Honourable Timothy Hill, together with the wise counsel of his particular friend, Monsieur Picardy, and the tender ministrations of his Very Personal Assistant, Miss Sweetmeat. Nevertheless, the prevailing gossip is that Sir Gilbert's recent erratic behaviour has caused him to be "confined to quarters" within the turret rooms at his Pontrilas HQ, historic Kentchurch Court [note3]:

Note1: oh, alright then. In case the modern day health police are worried, it's just a strange trick of the camera that makes the 1/1 scale Sir Gilbert look like he's smoking. But as this is AVBCW 1938, spoilsports...

Note2: Cheers! A photo from the absolutely splendid LAF thread to be found HERE, as marvellously titled "On the Day, Went the Eagle's Landing Well?". A full ingredients list for Sir Gilbert's interestingly named "Between the Sheets" cocktail (shades of Miss Sweetmeat, shurely?) may be found within the LAF thread, HERE

Note3: and historically the home of the Lucas-Scudamores. Quite how Sir Gilbert came to base himself at Kentchurch Court during the Hereford AVBCW may have to be the subject of another blogpost. For now, it need only be noted that "Lord Scudamore's Loyal Legion" were specifically singled out for praise by Lt. Everard (as he then was) in his confidential (but captured) despatches after the Battle of Winforton Pontoons. See Lt. Everard's despatches within this blogpost

News - JP's New Year Nan!

JP, long the co-organiser of the Hereford1938 campaign and now our distinguished "Honorary Co-President Emeritus", has been notably busy over the festive period - painting up a lovely, specially made 28mm model of his own grandmother:

It's m'Nan!

For the full story as told by JP, see HERE

BBS BROADCASTS "THE TRUE STORY"

The "Bishop's Broadcasting Service" ("BBS") has recently taken to broadcasting a new multi-part documentary series upon the late Battle of Winforton Pontoons ("the Autumn Big Game 2018"). The documentary also provides valuable insight on the fate of the captured Government commander, Stokkies Joubert. Episode One starts here, while Episode Four concludes here.

A victor in the field - Sir Gilbert Hill and staff at the Battle of Winforton Pontoons

A PROMOTION (AND THOSE FASCIST LEADERS IN FULL)

The "County & Social" pages of "The Hereford Times", renamed the "Military, County & Social" from the beginning of the Very British Civil War in Herefordshire, today carried a short announcement:

"Everard, Richard (Lt.) to be styled Major (County Rank Only) with seniority dating from the Battle of Winforton Pontoons. Major Everard will assume command of all HM Government Forces within the County, reporting directly to the Lord Warden of the Marches, Lord de Braose."

It appears that the Lord Warden has thus moved quickly to fill the leadership position so recently vacated ("with extreme prejudice") by Group Leader Giles. Demonstrating an unexpected delicacy of diplomatic manoeuvre, Lord de Braose did not forward Lt. Everard's name for promotion to the War Office (and hence the King), preferring to provide his new Commander in Chief with a "County rank" only. No doubt it was anticipated that, whatever Lt. Everard's undoubted military merits, his reputed closeness to Queen Wallis would have earned His Majesty's express disapproval of any proposed promotion within the regular Army.

As the newly promoted Major Everard settled into his substantial offices at the County Hall, he may have paused to give some thought to the fate of his various predecessors and fellow Government commanders:

(1). Lord Foy (in hiding): Government C-in-C at the beginning of the Herefordshire VBCW, Lord Foy enjoyed substantial early successes, including the capture of Anglican held Hereford and the detention of the Bishop of Hereford himself, before suffering successive disasters at the First and Second Battles of Foy. He escaped the Government rout at the latter only by shaving off his instantly identifiable moustache and diving head first into the River Wye in an attempt to swim to safety. It is said that he did indeed escape (by punt), but found himself unable to live with his consequent disgrace. He has therefore adopted a new identity and now lives under an assumed name, earning his living as a humble hop picker and agricultural labourer in the vicinity of Leominster.

(2). Captain Arrowsmith (absent without leave): BUF Supremo and effective Government C-in-C following the sudden departure of Lord Foy, Captain Arrowsmith rose to command prominence in a succession of subsequent battles (the Battle of Eardisley, The Battle of Bredwardine Bridge, and the Battle of Bredwarrdine Fords) which (just) contained the Anglicans' attempted advance from Ross on Wye to Hay on Wye in order to capture the whole of the south of the County. Known for his love of behemothic tanks and high technology (planes, "darleks", multi machine gunned armoured motorcycles and converted canal boats) together with a contempt for civilian lives, private property and cute furry animals (particularly dogs), Captain Arrowsmith's BUF forces and "canal boat fleet" enjoyed a last success against a Socialist/Anglican alliance at the Battle of Whitney on Wye before he inexplicably disappeared from Hereford and the Hereford VBCW. His controversial disappearance has subsequently been associated with the disappearance of the Bank of England's gold reserves and collapse of the pound sterling. There has been much County gossip and speculation about Captain Arrowsmith's subsequent fate : it is presently thought that the once all powerful BUF Leader now scrapes a living in Munich as a lowly translator for "aryan lifestyle magazines".

(3). Lord Robert Grover (returned to his estates): Senior Royalist Officer within the County during the early battles of Hereford's VBCW, it is said that Lord Robert "fell into disfavour" with Lord de Braose, HM Government's Lord Warden of the Marches, after intervening in Lord de Braose's enraged attempt to murder the imprisoned Bishop of Hereford. While a re-appearance in Hereford's VBCW cannot be ruled out, Lord Robert has, for the moment, "returned to his estates". 

(4). Major Straitt-Jackett (exploded): Major Miles Straitt-Jackett achieved an early reputation as a masterful VBCW diplomat. It was he who persuaded (the very late) "Cousin Verity" (a supposedly loyal Anglican LDV commander) into a "battlefield truce" at the Battle of Berrington Approaches, thereby saving HM Government from total disaster. He then brokered a treaty between HM Government and Sir Barrington Patchpole KC at the subsequent Battle of Wigmore, thereby administering the first check to Comrade Professor "Bill" Winters "Red Horde" offensive. But for one small matter, Major Straitt-Jackett may well have been destined to achieve overall command of HM Govt forces. The explosion of a heavy artillery shell directly on top of his head in the last stages of the Battle of Wigmore, however, did little for Major Straitt-Jackett's career prospects. He (or his re-animated remains) is presently an in-patient at the Special Hospital for Injuries Treatment, Woolwich, and his future remains uncertain. 

(5). Commandante Jay (sunk): Commandante Jay, the leader of the (Politically Confused) Spanish Nationalist Monarchist Field Force allied to the BUF in the course of many Hereford VBCW battles, distinguished himself further by finishing second in the County Golf Cup Challenge, and thereafter returned to Madrid for "a triumphal homecoming". Recalled to the BUF colours for the Battle of Wigmore, it is said that the ship carrying Commandante Jay struck an Anglican mine at the junction of the Rivers Severn and Wye, and rumoured that the transport sank "with all hands". The search for Commandante Jay continues, but it is very much feared that he has drowned, along with his entire Field Force.

(6). Commandant Stokkies Joubert (captured): A (reputedly very) loveable South African rogue, Stokkies Joubert commanded the "King's Colonials" from an early stage of the Hereford VBCW, taking part in the Battles of Second Ledbury and Marcle Ridge. A constant support for HM Government throughout the VBCW (when not wenching, carousing or "lying in" at the City Arms Hotel, Hereford), Joubert was captured by the Bishop of Ludlow's forces at the Battle of Winforton Pontoons, and presently languishes dolefully in the deepest dungeon beneath Ludlow Castle. 

(7). Group Leader Giles (shot at dawn): although HM Government have lost a significant number of leaders during the course of the Hereford VBCW (see above), Group Leader Giles is the only one to enjoy the dubious distinction of having been shot by his own troops after a drumhead court martial.

Notwithstanding his own meteoric rise to command, Major Everard must now contend with the substantial challenges to Government authority within the County. Attacked from both south and north by now battle-hardened Anglican armies and from the west by the fanatical legions of Comrade Professor Winter's Not So Broad Front (Not After Our Latest Round of Liquidations) True Communists, Major Everard must recruit new Government commanders, recall those who are still alive, at liberty and even arguably within their senses (Roderick Spode, anyone?), obtain immediate allies (a social call upon the Malvern Hills Conservators, perhaps?) procure substantial re-inforcements from within or without the County (Captain Queeg's WYRD Force?) and generally "stabilise his lines". None of this is likely to be particularly easy to accomplish, a prison cell or worse awaits any failure, and the statistical odds seem stacked against him.....

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2018 - GROUP LEADER GILES - AN OBITUARY

Staff Commander A.D. Mann, official spokesman for H.M.Government's "Warden of the Marches", Lord de Braose, today confirmed the "death by firing squad" of BUF Group Leader Giles, formerly one of the County's most prominent battlefield commanders.

The late BUF Group Leader Giles

"Thanks to our excellent communications network, news of Sir Gilbert Hill's assault across the Wye in the general area of Winforton reached Hereford very quickly," stated Staff Commander Mann. "It was imperative that re-inforcements be rushed to this new front as soon as possible. Upon enquiries being made, however, it was discovered that our senior commander, Group Leader Giles, was lolling about in his private quarters, quite disinterested in battle, instead perusing a Colefax & Fowler catalogue and gorging himself upon strawberry ice-cream. There was only one possible sentence for such a gross dereliction of duty. Captain Queeg of Wyrd Force organised a drumhead court martial and the subsequent firing party."

Giles (38) originally rose to prominence in the VBCW as the loyal BUF henchman of toady to subordinate of Captain Arrowsmith at The Battle of Bredwardine Fords, there being some suggestion that he transferred to the BUF Three Counties Legion from the Malvern Hills Conservators shortly after the earlier Battle of Bredwardine Bridge. Arrowsmith's initial patronage assisted Giles' rise within the Government command structure, as did the notoriety associated with his name featuring on the Anglican "Most Wanted List" after his spiteful massacre of the Ludlow Expeditionary Force's RNVR Rocket Crews at Bredwardine Bridge (note 1).

Storm Leader Giles (as he then was) thereafter served with distinction at the Battle of Whitney on Wye, before assuming overall command of Government forces following the still unexplained disappearance of his former military mentor, Captain Arrowsmith. It was thought at this time that Giles' influence would wane within the Government command structure; instead, following his stubborn defence at the Battle of Berrington Approaches and battlefield promotion to BUF Storm Commander, Giles' future prospects brightened considerably. Joint leadership (together with the allegedly late Major Straitt-Jackett) of the Government assault columns that successfully invaded came to the assistance of Sir Barrington Patchpole KC at Wigmore burnished his burgeoning reputation and lead to his rapid further promotion, on this occasion to BUF Group Leader.

A publicity still of Giles released by HM Govt.
upon his promotion to BUF Group Leader 

Against this background of sterling service to the Government cause, how can the BUF Group Leader's sudden "dereliction of duty" be explained?.Some say that Giles never quite recovered from being severely wounded in the course of his epic "woody battle" at the Battle of Berrington Approaches. His illness at the subsequent battle of Wigmore was evident to all military observers, and caused his early - on this occasion, honourable - retirement from the field of battle. Others suggest that the administrative strain of organising the relocation of BUF Barracks within Herefordshire - a very long term project - brought on a severe case of "PTSD" and exacerbated a pre-existing complaint of "OCD" (evidenced by Giles' obsession with the BUF interior design being carried out by the fashionable new firm of Colefax & Fowler). Nobody can quite explain, let alone understand, the late Group Leader's obsession with strawberry ice-cream, which seems to have originated from some kind of "cinematic in-joke" unknown to all but the Group Leader himself. Be that as it may, a few point to the notorious ambitions of Captain Queeg, the newly appointed commander of the Government's "Wyrd Force", and darkly suggest that the drumhead court-martial may have reached its conclusions obscenely swiftly. (note 2).

Group Leader Giles was unmarried, and had no issue. He is buried in an unmarked grave. Donations to the BUF Benevolent Fund (Three Counties Legion). No flowers, please (by order, Staff Commander A.D. Mann).

Notes

(1). see Note 4 to the account of the Battle of Bredwardine Bridge.

(2). in an alternative time-line, Hollywood apparently filmed this version of the Group Leader's final moments.  

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2018 - FIRST REPORTS!

After his personal triumph at the Battle of Winforton Pontoons, Sir Gilbert Hill has provided a fully illustrated Press Release in celebration of his hard fought victory and commemoration of the fallen.

A panoramic shot of the start of the battle. Sir Gilbert's forces are in the centre, flanked by his Anglican allies.
The first smokescreen has been laid down as the Anglican Tank Brigade (on left) undertake road manoeuvres.
Following a prayer from the Bishop of Ludlow, Sir Gilbert gives the order : Boats away!

Sir Gilbert's assault boats storm the River Wye as pontoon bridge building gets underway.

Towards the middle of the battle: pontoon bridge building is well advanced as the Anglican tanks await
their opportunity to cross the river. Hidden by clouds of smoke, Sir Gilbert's forces are landing on the northern bank.

Sir Gilbert and his command staff observe as battle is joined.

Sir Gilbert's forces storm the northern bank of the Wye. Lord Scudamore's Loyal Legion, under the command of newly arrived Lt. Everard, wait in line amongst the green crops, wondering when their promised Government reinforcements
 will arrive. "Stokkies House" - and the scene of his ultimate capture by the forces of Ludlow - is to the left.

Sir Gilbert completes his Pontoon Bridge and throws his tank support into battle. The battle is almost over and,
with the capture of Stokkies Joubert and rout of his King's Colonials by the forces of the Bishop of Ludlow,
HM Government's remaining troops are forced into "an orderly retirement towards Hereford"

Having successfully extricated HM Government's forces from the battlefield, the newly arrived Lt. Everard, anxiously dashed off a brief report to County HQ. Unfortunately, such was the confusion in the County caused by Sir Gilbert's "breakthrough battle", Lt. Everard's despatches soon fell into "enemy hands". Here they are in full:

"To :         General Officer Commanding                                                       From :  Lt.Everard

                 H.M.Government Forces                                                             Acting Commander

      Marches Command                                                               South Hereford Region

Sir,

Herewith my report concerning the recent action in the Willersley – Winforton area.

Intelligence was received that a large Anglican force, supported by the renegade Sir Gilbert Hill’s troops, were mounting an amphibious operation to cross the River Wye near the villages of Winforton and Willersley, supported by an entire tank brigade, and included the building of three pontoon bridges. The enemy also had the assistance of several smoke tanks with seemingly unlimited ammunition, which due to the prevailing wind blowing into our faces throughout the day hindered our defensive fire.

As the news was received late there was no time to gather all our forces, and although all available troops in the area were rushed to the spot some unfortunately did not arrive in time to assist in the battle, causing us to be even more severely outnumbered and out-gunned. Despite this our men put up a stout resistance for as long as possible, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, before eventually being forced to withdraw in the face of overwhelming odds.

Our right flank was held by our colonial troops under Commandant Stokkies Joubert, who also failed to receive adequate reinforcements. It was anchored on a farmhouse and came under heavy and sustained assault by crack Anglican troops. The centre was held by our Second Platoon, of whom only the Forest of Dean Free Miners and Lord Scudamore’s Loyal Legion were present, supported by one field gun (Signore Mussolini’s gift) and belatedly by two tanks. The left flank was held by the BUF Wulfhere section and the newly arrived Cameroon Highlanders, in their first action. They also had our lorry-mounted artillery, ‘The Dominator’, and latterly  two tanks.

Under cover of a sustained smoke bombardment the enemy infantry crossed the river and began building bridges. Fierce fighting ensued all along the line. The Forest of Dean Miners drove back their attackers, and accurate fire from our heavy weapons prevented the Anglicans completing their bridge in this area. On our right the burning oil surprise weapon was released into the river earlier than intended after the tanker was hit by an Anglican artillery round, so it only delayed bridge building briefly. Sadly the roadside bombs and caltrops also did little damage.

Heavy HMG fire caused the Cameroon Highlanders to retire but they eventually reformed, while the BUF was pitted against two enemy units, inflicting severe casualties and fighting heroically to the last man in a prolonged melee. Fortunately the Wormelow Wildcats arrived in the nick of time to fill the gap. 

A tank melee in the centre ended inconclusively with both sides losing tanks. Lord Scudamore’s men were subjected, not only to heavy fire, but also a barrage of juju spells from Sir Gilbert’s native witch doctor. However they held their ground showing that British pluck and resolve were more than a match for primitive native superstition.

It is a sad commentary that the Anglican Church is now so desperate in this struggle for the soul of the country that they are prepared to encourage the performance of Black  Magic and other arcane rituals by drug-crazed natives, using the blood of cockerels and other such foul rites to try to unnerve our stout-hearted and true defenders of the faith. May God have mercy on their souls.

A late attack by the grim-faced harridans of Sir Gilbert’s Women’s brigade was repelled by a gallant charge by the BUF Canine Section, which put the gin-sodden old biddies to flight.

Sadly our colonial friends on the right seemed to lack their usual elan (whether due to their ritual pre-battle drinking games I cannot say) and proved unable to stem the overwhelming forces against them, culminating in the loss of the farmhouse redoubt and the unfortunate capture of their commander, Stokkies Joubert. The collapse of our right flank made a temporary withdrawal of our remaining troops a prudent measure. I doubt that the Anglicans will long be able to hold a man of such redoubtable stature as Commandant Joubert, whose temporary loss will be felt in boudoirs throughout the county.

In short, a temporary setback, but the performance of (most of) our troops in the face of overwhelming numbers is to be commended.

Respectfully yours,

Lt. Richard Everard"

For his part in this notable Anglican and Allied victory, the Bishop of Ludlow has ordered a "Day of Hymnals and Rejoicing" (rapidly translated by his more PR conscious Chancellor, the Rev. Duff-Postin, into "A Victory Parade and Gala Fun Day"). Ludlow's Saturday evening papers have gone into overdrive, and the Bishop has confirmed the capture and incarceration of Stokkies Joubert by formal statement. Goodness knows what Ludlow's Sunday supplements (more pages than ever!) will say.......

Note : with thanks to Alan, Doug and Roo for the photographs. An "Umpire's Wash-Up", complete with further "illustrations" will follow in due course.

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2018 - THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

HEREFORD AVBCW AUTUMN 2018 BIG GAME

“BRIDGE OVER TREBBBLED WATER”

LATE NEWS SPECIAL BULLETIN

TABLETOP TEASER

The Hereford AVBCW Autumn 2018 Big Game ("Bridge over Trebbbled Water") is nearly upon us! A "hard-core" of AVBCW gamers are committed to converge on Burley Gate Village Hall, Herefordshire, at 10am on Saturday 13th October for a full and frenzied day of "double fisted" AVBCW action!

That's right, double fisted! Each player is bringing along not one, but two, full Platoons to commit to action! (note1) It's going to be the greatest test of each player's command ability since, well, um, lesssee now...well, at least since Zama! But will Sir Gilbert Hill prove to be Scipio or Hannibal? With the fate of his nephew, Chief Superintendant Ronald Bigsworth-Hill, hanging in the balance (and the possibility of dear Ronald being hunted down and himself hanged by the BUF unless it goes "the right way"), Sir Gilbert has doubled his efforts and re-doubled his forces...

Sir Gilbert Hill intends to fight "double fisted" with his two Platoons

Sir Gilbert has bravely announced his "battle line up" well before the Big Day, trumpeting the addition of a "Colonial & Dominion Platoon" to the original "Golden Valley Invincibles". But will this "propaganda coup" hand the military advantage to Sir Gilbert's enemies, or is it mere recognition that the much feared Government Intelligence & Telegraphs Section ("GITS") would be bound to discover the composition of his forces before the "Big Day"? After all, it appears that they have already discovered the location of Sir Gilbert's intended battleground:

An Intelligence Map hand drawn by a GITS operative, said to be based on Sir Gilbert's own
Operational Maps. The meaning of "Table1", "Table2" and "Table3" remains obscure, but
may be a secretive Government code.

If the Government's intelligence is accurate, it appears that Sir Gilbert and his Anglican allies plan a river crossing to the west of Hereford itself, striking from the south to the north of the County in the area of Winforton and Willersley. But what tactics will Sir Gilbert and his Anglican allies (variously, the Bishop of Ludlow, the Rev. Canon Colcannonroo and the Rt. Rev. Canon Winters) adopt to try to "force the crossing"? A straightforward "charge of the assault boats" across the river? Or a careful construction of Pontoon Bridges to bring the Anglican Tank Brigade into play (if there is an Anglican Tank Brigade, of course)? Should Sir Gilbert concentrate all his available forces (at least 18 infantry sections plus supporting weapons!) on one part of the battlefield, or should he spread them out in the hope of reducing the Government's resistance and counter-fire? How will Sir Gilbert use his section of "tracked and armoured smoke dischargers" to best advantage?

And what of the newly promoted Group Leader Giles and his newly arrived Government ally, Lieutenant Everard? What will be their plan of defence with their available forces (at least 12 infantry sections plus supporting weapons)? Field fortification and investiture of Willersley, Winforton and "the Farm" may have many advantages, but may also leave the "Western Approaches" ("Table 1") dangerously denuded of defenders, an open avenue for the Anglican Forces to pour through in the direction of Mortimer Country. How will Group Leader Giles use his BUF Tank Brigade (if there is a BUF Tank Brigade, of course) and supporting "Big Guns" - well in advance of his principal battle line with the aim of disrupting the Anglican crossing of the River Wye, or echeloned deep in defence?

Fleet Street's miiltary correspondents breathlessly await the opposing C-in-C's solutions to this "tabletop teaser", just as their Foreign & Colonial counterparts muse over the first entry into the Hereford VBCW of substantial bodies of "native levies" from the Empire and beyond (note 2):

Lt. Everard leads a section of the Cameroon Highlanders, a regal gift from the Fon of Bandjun,
King Kamga II, hereditary ruler of Cameroon, to his "fellow monarch", Edward VIII. The
Cameroon Highlanders are expected to play a major part in the Government's resistance
upon the Wye and and throughout the County.....

....while Sir Gilbert has of course welcomed Chief Kansan O'Flynn and his native levies into the
tender embrace of the Hill Enterprises (Dominions&Colonial) Platoon (blogposts passim)

The newly arrived Lt. Everard has been heard to sniff that his native troops are at least trained and uniformed regulars, rather than "mere mercenaries"; an insult which, it is understood, Chief Kansan intends to remedy by "poppin' Everard in ma'evah boiling pot" at the first opportunity. And how does the Chief intend to do this? Why, dark rumours are already circulating of the Chief's principal "ju-ju man" and his mastery of the dark arts.....

Can Lt. Everard escape the encircling coils of "ju-ju"? Can Sir Gilbert and his allies triumph, and save Sir Gilbert's nephew from "the long drop"? Do the Anglicans - or even the BUF - really have a Tank Brigade? Can Group Leader Giles pull off another masterpiece of "fighting defence" (and yet another promotion)? All these questions can only be answered by participation in the AUTUMN 2018 BIG GAME, BRIDGE OVER TREBBBLED WATER....

Notes

(1). The late addition of the Rt. Rev. Canon Winters means that the Bishop of Ludlow's forces will be fought as usual, one Platoon commanded by the Bishop (Clive) and one by the newly arrived (but still Rt. Rev) Canon (Robb). The remaining forces (Roo, Doug, Giles, Alan) will nevertheless indeed be fought "double-fisted". May any modern and bad taste jokes resulting please be directed to Umpire Roo.....

(2). if you ignore the Abyssinians, of course. And the "Chinese Christian Converts". And no doubt others innumerable now lost in the mists of campaign history....

Late Notes for Players

(1). Given the lower numbers of players than usual, we will be playing all three tables as "one table" in wargame terms, even if the same are slightly separated physically. C-in-C's should note that sections of Platoons can therefore be "intermingled" by Players if it is thought to their tactical advantage, and Platoons (and their constituent sections) are not therefore restricted to "one table" as usual. Food for thought....

(2). Please have a late check of the special Scenario Rules (blogposts passim) applicable to this Big Game, and remember that we are playing the original "one phase" rules, not the Mort amended "two phase" rules. A look at the original rulebook may therefore help....

(3). Remember your own lunch and the usual tenner!