Somme day soon - part 1

Last Friday I ran another version of the Somme game for 10 players (including me), one of whom joined us by ‘phone to issue orders from 158 miles away.  Real château generalship!  I’d planned an outdoor game but on the day it was raining quite heavily so we adjourned indoors. 

For earlier outings to the Somme see here and here.  I provided the terrain and most of the toys. Lloyd kindly provided five of the nine(!) British infantry battalions and half the British artillery. 

The British division deployed three brigades each with three battalions and a field artillery battery. A heavy howitzer battery was attached and allocated by the CO to the first brigade. Two squadrons were available from the Royal Flying Corps.

A British front line trench in a quiet sector. 

Most of the British battalions were New Army ‘pals’ units but luckily there were two pre-war battalions of the Royal Scots Fusiliers and Black Watch. This splendid officer is a pre-painted figure from the British Toy Soldier Co.  

The howitzer battery. On the left is a Britains 18-inch howitzer. The other is a pre-war tinplate model. 

(Most of) the players.  From left Simon (Gun Major 331 Bde), Russell (OC 331 Bde), Tom (gun Major 330 Bde), Lloyd (OC 330 Bde), Pete (RFC), Tim C (OC 329 Bde), Diego (gun Major 329 Bde), Martin (the wicked Boche). 

Some of Lloyd's figures. 

The Germans had been doing a lot of digging since the 1915 campaigns….

…resulting in this three-layer defensive position. 

330 Bde en route to the front. 

331 Bde awaits Zero Hour.