THE WAR ILLUSTRATED NO.6 - SECOND BATTLE OF SHOBDON

9. BATTLE IS JOINED - WEST!

Blue on Blue Action - Commander Queeg's Naval Section form a firing line at the edge of Shobdon Airfield,
preparing to meet the charge of Comrade Professor Winter's Red Sailors.

Further west on the same "table", another Naval Section loyal to the Government comes under fire.
Behind the hedge lines, an Anti Tank Gun sets up to take on the formidable (but unarmed) Armoured
Hedge Clearing Vehicle, while a BUF Armoured Car provides support.

A cunning plan. While Commander Queeg's forces are pinned back on the airfield perimeter, Cormrade Professor
Winters launches a flanking attack of  Red Mounted Infantry across table, aiming to occupy the buildings
overlooking the roadway from Shobdon Court to Shobdon Airfield. Comrade Gollumroo urges his forces
forward - speed is vital, comrades!

THE WAR ILLUSTRATED No.5 : SECOND BATTLE OF SHOBDON

8. BATTLE IS JOINED - EAST !

Shobdon Instructional Centre under Attack! The Forces of the Rev. Jones, Chaplain to the Bishops (including

an Artillery piece, centre, and the newly recruited Jojoban Fusiliers, right) advance in company with the

Ludlow Experimenal Armoured Force (top). The Ludlow Light Lancers, regularly deployed and equally regularly

utterly destroyed, charge towards the entrance to Shobdon Instructional Centre. Now part of Sir James' Government

strategy becomes clear : to mount his stock of Roadside Bombs in BUF trucks and drive them full tilt at

the advancing Anglicans, exploding them at the best opportunity! Christian suggestions that

"such isn't it in the rules, now really, is it?" are met with an aristocratic raised eyebrow.

THE WAR ILLUSTRATED No.4: SECOND BATTLE OF SHOBDON

7. THE COMMUNIST HORDE

Frustrated in diplomacy, Comrade Professor Winters resolves to take Shobdon Airfield by force.
His Communist Hordes prepare to be unleashed......

And advance! The Armoured Hedge Clearing Vehicle (last seen crashing helplessly into
 the Wigmore Cricket Pavilion) leads the way, supported by Red Sailors.

Forward the Revolution! On to Hereford! The AHCV clears its first obstacle and heads towards
Shobdon Airfield. A column of revolutionaries follows....

8. THE ANGLICAN "CONGREGATION"

On the other side of the Shobdon battlefield, the forces of the Bishop of Lichfield lead off the
"Anglican Crusade". Their mission - to capture the Shobdon Instructional Centre, free
the VIP Prisoners therein, and provide all assistance to Mr Hodges in his quest
to become the 4th Baron Bateman and occupant of Shobdon Court.

Prepared for all eventualities - a close up of the Lichfield artillery piece and crew. Behind (with the
 Sacred Crook of God) stands the Bishop of Lichfield himself, accompanied by his banner and HQ party.
Out of shot and further east, Lichfield is flanked by the forces of the Rev. Jones, and then the forces
of the Bishop of Ludlow.

On the extreme east of the battlefield, the Ludlow Experimental Armoured Force. A "Steve Austin" Somua-pattern
tank heads the advance, supported by an Armoured Mortar Carrier and several Armoured Personnel Carriers.
The artificers at the Bishop's Experimental Proving Grounds have been very busy... Behind, the Great Standard
 of Ludlow is just in shot. At odds of 3 to 1, how can the Government forces of Major Sir James Barleycorn MC possibly cope?

THE WAR ILLUSTRATED No.3 : SECOND BATTLE OF SHOBDON

                 5. THE PEACE PROTESTORS - AND THE BATEMAN COAT OF ARMS

Shobdon was alive with militant Peace Protestors. Here, Miss Florence Cholmondley - Warner, President of the People
of Peace (Provisional Wing) protests vocally against the Civil War. Elsewhere, her sister Primula, President of
the Anti Testosterone League, and their adored pooch,Scamp, make similar trouble for all the intending combatants.
The Misses C-W are so against the Civil War that they are prepared to blow themselves up in the name of peace -
and take out anyone within the vicinity at the same time. Stop the War Now - or Else!

The Bateman Coat of Arms at the Shobdon Village Road Junction. The LDV Leader who commands this prize
at the end of the day will become the 4th Baron Bateman and inheritor of Shobdon Court - resolving a serious
estate dispute. The Coat of Arms is guarded by the adored Scamp (loaded with dynamite) and another
Peace Protestor Bomb (unlovingly labelled by some players as "those big Tomato Things")

6. DIPLOMATIC MANOEUVRES (IN THE DARK)

Comrade Professor Winters and Bodyguards. The notorious leader of the Herefordshire Communists (having long
ago given up the pretence of being a "Broad Left Front") sizes up the situation before the battle. News is brought
to him that Senior Captain Maynard, HMG Commander has issued an "Appeal to Loyalty" Proclamation to the
three Shobdon LDVs. Winters immediately despatches his No.2, Comrade Gollumroo, to negotiate with
any LDV that wishes to ally with the Proletarian Masses. "Yeth, yeth, join usth...." Gollumroo's sibilant
tones have little effect on any Shobdon LDV, who are all determined to pursue their independent course
- or are they?

The Bishop of Ludlow's HQ before the Battle. The Bishop, together with his ecclesiastical allies, the Bishop of Lichfield and the Rev. Jones, Chaplain to the Bishops, leads strong Anglican Forces towards Shobdon.
Upon news reaching him of Senior Captain Maynard's Proclamation and Comrade Gollumroo's diplomatic
overtures, he is determined not to be outdone. The Rev Duff Postin, Chancellor of Ludlow (aka "The Talleyrand
of the Herefordshire VBCW", here carrying the Great Flag of Ludlow) is at once despatched by fast car to confer
 not with all Shobdon LDV leaders, but just one : Mr Hodges. Does he wish to become the 4th Baron
Bateman with divine assistance (and that of a lot of Anglican heavy armour)? Yes he does! A secret pact is sealed!

THE WAR ILLUSTRATED No.2: SECOND BATTLE OF SHOBDON

3. SHOBDON AIRFIELD

Shobdon Airfield on the "west table". Commander Queeg of the BUF has been entrusted by Senior Captain Maynard with defence of this vital installation against Communist aggression. Subject to the dice gods, Shobdon Airfield
may expect reinforcements throughout the Big Game, including the all important "transport planes" (for those
"Very Important Chests"

Off Table Reinforcements for Commander Queeg - 3 Transport Planes, 2 Fighter Bombers, and the King's
own Dragon Rapide (with Royal Party). The accompanying flight stands, explosion markers,
and "deep hole in the earth" marker provide for all D6 contingencies.

4. SHOBDON INSTRUCTIONAL CENTRE

Shobdon Instructional Centre on the "east table". Some VIP Prisoners can be seen returning from a work detail
at the rear gates of the Instructional Centre (or are they?) while a BUF Armoured Car guards the main entrance.
The VIP Prisoners and Instructional Centre are under the able command of Major Sir James Barleycorn MC

Major Sir James Barleycorn MC's Armoured Car Detachment (and command car) loiter in the adjoining village
of Little Shobdon. What can they be doing there, rather than defending the Instructional Centre? A passing
cyclist receives no reply to this pressing question.

THE WAR ILLUSTRATED No.1 : SECOND BATTLE OF SHOBDON

The following extracts from "The War Illustrated", a popular journal of the VBCW, may make more sense to our many readers if the background (starting HERE) and the scenario (outlined HERE) are read first. In fairness, this seems to be more than certain players did.......

1. SHOBDON COURT

On the driveway of Shobdon Court, an Automobile Association transport column -
already loaded with "Very Important Chests" - awaits orders to move. Captain Camshaft,
AA Section Leader, has placed his Armoured Car at the head of the column, then mounted
his Section LMG on top for "extra covering fire". 

A wider shot. Senior Captain Barrington Maynard, North West Regional Commander for the Government,
observes the AA Column from the first floor window of Shobdon Court. He has now had news from his newly commissioned ADC, Lieutenant Lucy, of both a Communist advance towards Shobdon from the west, plus an Anglican raid towards Shobdon from the east. Just when should he evacuate the "Very Important Chests"?
 Note : Lord de Braose's personal stock of champagne has been laid out on the lawns, but looks (in the absence
 of further transport) as if it is to be sadly sacrificed....

2. SHOBDON VILLAGE

A panoramic shot from the east. Shobdon Court and the AA column are on the right, while Shobdon Village is
on the left. In the foreground, the LDV of Mr Hodges assembles around his Pillbox HQ. Now that both the
forces of Communism and Anglicanism are converging upon Shobdon, will Mr Hodges prove loyal to
the Government, or will he 'pursue his own agenda'?

In Shobdon Village itself. The forces of Mr Jones, another Shobdon LDV leader, deploy around their Pillbox HQ.
The AA Armoured Car can just be seen at the top right. On this day, will Mr Jones allow the AA column to pass unmolested, or does he secretly covet those "Very Important Chests"?

Another pillbox, another commercial vehicle. The forces of "Young Mr Grace", a third Shobdon LDV leader,
park their red transport lorry and assemble around their Pillbox HQ on the western edge of the Shobdon Court "table". Nervous of the impending Communist advance towards their rear, will "Young Mr Grace's" forces help out
 Senior Captain Maynard and Captain Camshaft, or pursue "other avenues" to VBCW glory and distinction?

ARROWSMITH AIR ASSETS

Pssstt.............anyone wanna buy an Air Force?

The City Correspondent of the "Ludlow Leader" (aka Sid the Spiv) has reported with some excitement that Her Majesty's Government are continuing to liquidate Captain Arrowsmith's "impounded assets" in order to make some recovery against the Bank of England's "lost" gold deposits. On this occasion, it is the missing BUF Commander's personal aircraft :

The Arrowmith 1/48 Air Fleet - going cheap, honest, guv.

The impounded Fiat CR32 (a personal gift from Mussolini to the missing Captain) and black-clad Hawker Fury Mk.2 (once the pride of the BUF Air Fleet) are available for inspection at the former Hereford Racecourse (now HMG's Central Airfield). Bids can be placed HERE by aspiring VBCW aviators, or the wealthier type of Platoon Commander looking for some instant air support....

Note : HMG's Auction is time limited. If the link has time expired, a check of the "Ebay" marketplace under username "Shadespyre" or subject "VBCW Aircraft" may disclose continuing availability.....remember to "ask for Sid".