Dispatches from the Mess

Saturday, 4 May 2013

Lastest paintwork

It's been quite some time since my last dispatch. Real life has imposed on my beloved hobby, but that hasn't meant that I've stopped painting figures or stopped gaming. On the contrary, over the last few months I've been tarting up and rebasing my old 25mm Dixon ACW armies. The September 2010 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch ensured these armies suffered substantial casualties....mostly in damage to the paintwork, but also with broken bayonets and carbines.

With the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg being celebrated in Christchurch this year with a massive re-fight in 25/28 mm, I have needed to get to work on these. So far I've managed to finish five infantry units, four artillery stands and four mounted generals of my beloved Confederates. I have promised to fix up some 'pesky Fed'rals' as well to ensure some of my gaming colleagues have sufficient forces for the game. I'll have some photos of them in my next dispatch.

Here's some images of an ACW game that the Southern Strategists held in the Mess late last year.

The motley crew from left to right: Dave Houston, Adrian Powell, Seamus Stack, Rodger Wood, Geoff Martin, Chris Packer and Gavin Bowden

The motley crew from left to right - Dave Houston, Adrian Powell, Seamus Stack, Rodger Wood, Geoff Martin, Chris Packer and Gavin Bowden

Rodger's scratch-built rebel signal tower

Saturday, 17 November 2012

SYW - Fitzjames' Horse

As a result of doing some family history research a few years ago I discovered that my paternal ancestors were prominent within the Irish Brigade of France (largely recruited from Irish Catholics and known as 'The Wild Geese') during the 18th century. Hence, since that time I've had a fascination with regiments within brigade.

I was always going to have at least one regiment from the brigade represented in my fledgling 28mm SYW French army, with Fitzjames' Horse being the first to get a coat or two of paint. The regiment was originally part of James II personal army that fought in the war against William of Orange in Ireland, before it was evacuated to France after James' defeat, although at that time is was known as Sheldon's Horse. It had the misfortune of being one of the most-destroyed regiments of the 18th century; it was decimated at Neerwinden (1692); badly mauled at Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet during the Marlburian Wars; captured during the '45 rebellion (1746); annihilated at Rossbach (1757), and completely eliminated at Wilhelmstahl (1762) during the Seven Years War. So, it's a well seasoned regiment....albeit, somewhat unlucky.

I've taken some artistic license in representing the trumpeter in my unit. It is recorded that the trumpeters in the regiment wore yellow coats (the colour of the Stuarts) along with the white and green lace of the Duke of Berwick (James Fitzjames) and his descendants. Berwick was the natural son of James II who became a marshal of France. I decided to add red cuffs to my trumpeter to give some continuity with the rest of the unit, although I've haven't found any evidence to suggest this occurred in history. I've also painted my regiment for the period of the 1740s so that it could be used in my 1745 Jacobite Rebellion project. In 1758 the regiment replaced it's felt cocked hats with grenadier-style bearskin hats.

The flag is one of the superb GMB flags made by Grahame Black, while the figures are Front Rank.

Fitzjames' Horse charging to destruction

I've also included a couple of snapshots of several Zulu War commanders that have been half painted for over 12 months and finally finished off last month. These are from the outstanding Empress Miniatures range. Unfortunately the close-up photos have exposed a need for a bit of touch-up paint work.

Saturday, 20 October 2012

Conquest 2012

Christchurch's annual wargaming convention, 'Conquest', is being held this weekend at the St Albans - Shirley Workingmens Club. This year the Southern Strategists put on a 28mm Seven Years War demo game (well, really Chris Packer did all the work by providing the rules, figures and most of the terrain). We used the Die Kriegskunst rules that are based on the General de Brigade system which provided a free-flowing and very enjoyable game....but of course I'm bound to say that I was on the victorious side (which is very unusual !).

The scenario Chris put together was not based on any actual battle which allowed the commanders of both the Austrian and Prussian armies the freedom to fight as they pleased.....or as well as their dice throwing allowed! The luckless Prussians were commanded by Rodger 'John Bell Hood' Wood and Chris 'Tiny' Packer, while the Austrians were led by Adrian Powell, Seamus Stack and myself. The Prussians had an advantage of having a strategically placed battery placed on a hill in the centre of the line, while the Austrians held a town on their right flank. The terrain ensured that the cavalry could only fight on one flank, leading to a substantial clash of sabres that helped to determine the outcome of the battle.

Being exposed to the Prussian guns in the centre the Austrian infantry was forced to charge the battery from the outset or face destruction. Thanks to some fortunate dice throwing from Seamus the battery was destroyed early on, while a massed cavalry melee on the Austrian left flank led to the elimination of the Prussian cavalry, thus exposing the Prussian infantry in the centre. The Prussians advanced on their left flank but became exhausted after failing to capture the town due to a wall of effective Austrian musketry. The Austrian artillery proved very effective against the Prussian grenadiers who were decimated. However, the Austrians didn't have it all their own way.....an unfortunate dice throw saw the Austrian brigade commander in the centre being captured after his horse bolted in the direction of the enemy. The Prussian infantry took advantage of this and pushed back several Austrian battalions before the collapse of the Prussian right flank that determined the final outcome of the engagement.

Great fun had by all and there was plenty of interest from follow gamers and members of the public. There were about 110 gamers registered in the Flames of War, DBA, 40K and other fantasy based competitions, with the two halls packed with gaming tables. There were about 8 blokes playing in a Saga competition, with a Grand Manner Dark Ages castle providing an attractive centre-piece in their area. Tim Driver (owner of Comic Compulsions and sponsor of the convention) and friends put on a very colourful 'Pike and Shotte' English Civil War demo game next to ours which equally proved popular with the public. Tim very kindly sponsored new tape measures for every gamer playing at the convention....much appreciated, Tim !

Rodger's Prussian infantry stemming the Austrian advance

Adrian's Austrian infantry and artillery providing a sold defence

A cavalry skirmish in Tim's ECW game

Chris's Prussians approach the town on the Prussian left flank

The hand of God (with ruler attached) orders another Prussian advance in the centre

Hungarian infantry advancing

Another doomed Prussian attack in the centre

Prince Rupert's foote (in blue) take on the Parliament rabble in Tim's ECW game

The Grand Manner Dark Age castle in the Saga area

Rodger's sole -surviving Prussian unit about to receive the coup de grace on the Prussian right flank

Seamus sends his Austrian infantry to deal with the Prussian guns

The cavalry melee on the Austrian left flank. The Prussian cuirassiers wait in the rear for an opportunity to enter the fray.

The battlefield from the Austrian left flank. Tim's is playing his ECW 'Pike & Shotte' game next to us.

The Austrians hold the town while the Prussians advance screened by light troops. Rodger 'John Bell Hood' Wood pensively looks on. The beard is just right for the Gettysburg game next July !