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.
12 comments:
A brilliant days gaming. Many thanks Tim.
Cheers,
Pete.
Excellent photos. The last is rather poignant to my mind.
Some lovely toys ready for action!
A wonderful looking set-up Tim, those howitzers have an especially fearsome look!
So much drama in that last photo!
Must. Resist. Urge. To. Buy. AiP. British.
Tim, great looking post. I was gifted a Del Prado WW1 German HMG set. They are more 1/30 scale, as you no doubt know. Will work better with AIP figures. Yours if you can use it. I have a small collection of about 35 lead British, restored Britains and Johillco. Don't wargame the period but enjoy having them in the collection as I once found a damaged lead figure in my grandmother's garden, belonged to my father, it was WW1 British. It was rather appropriately found where they originally had their Anderson Shelter.
Michael
Pete
It did go rather well! Well, the game at least…..
Tradgardmastare
Thanks. Plenty still to come.
Maudlin Jack Tar
It’s always good to get the toys out!
Brad DeSantis
I miss no opportunity to deploy implausibility big guns!
John Y
Join us - resistance is futile! You will be assimilated….
MGB
I’m sure I can find your MG team some suitable employment - very kind of you to offer! If you leave me your contact details as a comment on a post at least 12m old (so,it won’t automatically publish) I’ll be in touch.
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