Friday 4 February 2022

The Left Bank 1916 part 10 - The Price of Glory

 

Here - at last - is the final part of the Verdun report.  Above is the German position on Telegraph Hill.  Note the additional field telephone lines hastily laid in anticipation of a French assault.

Artillery Hill.  Historically the French attack - insisted on by the top brass but otherwise regarded as pretty futile - was led by the elegantly turned-out Colonel Macker.

And here - resplendent in kepi with red plume - is the man himself.  The real Macker led his men in person carrying a cane and smoking a cigar.  One wonders what was going through his mind at the time.
One of the more entertaining happenings was an early break in the German wire.  A runner was swiftly dispatched to effect a repair.

Another view of Col. Macker.  The figure is a Mokarex hard plastic pre-war officer.

Artillery Hill was captured after a bloody struggle.

At this point the bold Colonel was still standing.
However a swift counterattack by the Jager Btl threw back the French attack
Meanwhile, as the Germans repaired the first breach in the wire, it was cut in two more places!

And finally, here were my main references for the game:
This excellent map is recommended for battlefield visitors and it turned out to be very useful for the game.
This was a slightly random purchase but I now want to visit the area it covers!
And of course this old classic.  Both books describe Col. Macker's attack and indeed it was this which inspired the game.  As always, in among the entertainment we think of all those who did this for real and I offer up the game and these reports as my humble tribute to Col Macker.




10 comments:

French Follower said...

The Colonel Maker figurine is a Saint-Cyrien from the special military school training the officers of the French army.

Founded in 1802 by Napoleon, student officers wear a shako decorated with red and white rooster feathers (colors of England) in honor of Queen Victoria, on the occasion of her visit to Paris in 1855.

On July 20, 1914, the Saint-Cyriens swore to attack, sword in hand, in full dress cassowary and white gloves, and were bravely massacred.

https://www.letemps.ch/lifestyle/panache-casoar-gants-blancs

http://www.amismuseearmee.fr/2-uncategorised/1096-2020-promotion-de-l-ecole-speciale-de-saint-cyr-serment-de-1914

The reality is a little different, out of 600 only one died like this, but this explains the presence of this Mokarex figurine.

Brad DeSantis said...

Excellent battle Tim! I love the Colonel Macker figure, he's got a real attitude and battlefield presence! That's what you want from a character figure! Your paint job is also great!

Martin Rapier said...

That was a great game Tim. Hugely entertaining to play and lovely to look at.

Funny Little Wars said...

Bravo - en avant!

Lovely report

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Yes, the Alistair Horne book is a classic

Tim Gow said...

French Follower
Thanks. That’s why I thought this particular figure would make for a good Col. Macker.

Tim Gow said...

Brad DeSantis
Thank Brad. I found the story of Macker’s attack both inspiring and depressing so I wanted to do something which served as a small tribute to him and all those who fought there.

Tim Gow said...

Martin Rapier
Glad you enjoyed it - as always a game’s success (or otherwise) is down to the players.

Tim Gow said...

Funny Little Wars
Thanks - a very entertaining game to write and run.

Tim Gow said...

Geordie
Certainly a top 10 WW1 book.