How to win a war - throw a five and stampede the elephants

From Wargamer's Newsletter #88 of July 1969, and repronted there from the Evening Standard (the London evening newspaper). The article includes sightings of Peter Young, Chris Ellis, and Don Featherstone's elephant rules. Further thoughts on elephants in wargames can be found on Harry P's blog Parum Pugna here.

Napoleonic Warships - Airfix "Victory" Conversions

While waiting for day 4 of the Adelaide Ashes test to start, I noticed that the blog has acquired its 111th follower. If you are not au fait with the great traditions of cricket, you might not now that scores of 111 are refereed to as "Nelson" and multiples (222, 333 etc) as double Nelson, treble Nelson etc, and are viewed with great superstition as likely to cause a wicket to fall. One test umpire (sadly no longer with us) would officiate standing on one leg until a further run was added.

No-one seems 100% sure why this tradition has grown up (cricketers are a very superstitious lot) but it seems to be called Nelson from the erroneous belief that along with one eye and one arm Nelson had only one leg. So the combination of a Nelson of followers and the Ashes made me think a naval episode might be appropriate.

This article reflects an earlier time in wargaming where you made the best of what was available, rather than having vast ranges of wargaming kit available. I have a soft spot for the small Airfix Series 1 ship kits, and i have even half heartedly started on a long considered project using the Golden Hind, Revenge and Mayflower models to create Royalist and parliamentarian fleets for Prince Rupert's later career as an Admiral.

There might be something in this Nelson stuff - Kevin Pietersen has just got out.

The War of the Bombar Succession Part 5: The Affair at Mitau- 1752 by Neil Cogswell, Wargamer's newsletter 85 April 1969

Wargamer of the Month: Professor Gerard De Gre, from Wargamer's Newsletter 85 April 1969

The War of the Bombar Succession Part 4: The Siege of Bombar - 1752 by Neil Cogswell, Wargamer's newsletter 84 March 1969

I am glad to resume posting of the classic War of Bombar Succession articles by Neil Cogswell from Wargamer's Newsletter.

For previous posts I had scanned the articles through optical character recognition software and then undertaken quite a bit of editing, as the quality of reproduction of the earlier articles were low. This was very time consuming, and I have changed my main computer since then and do not have this facility on the printer/scanner attached to it. The quality of reproduction improved in the later Wargamer's Newsletters so I have gone with simply adding scans of the originals to this post.

Hopefully this approach will also mean that I will be able to complete posting the series much more quickly. If you have been waiting for the later instalments in this series, thanks for your patience.

This particular article may also be of interest to those of you who have been following the recent theme on sieges.

American Revolutiion: Rules by Charlie and David Sweet

Partly as a late trubute to HG Wells birthday last week, and partly inspired by the pictures of Charlie Sweet's gridded 30mm AWI set up from Bob Bard's Making and Collecting Military Miniatures, posted earlier here, here are Charlie and David Sweets American Revolution rules, published in Wargamers Newsletter no 93, December 1969.

The Wells-like features include the use of a spring loaded cannon firing cotton buds. Other interesting elements are a timed three minute move and the use of Chance Cards.

Enjoy!

At the Colonel's Table, Part 5: by Don Houghton, Wargamer's Newsletter 92 November 1969

The ball and grape-shot tore great jagged lines through their ranks. But they did struggle on and joined up with the shattered Dragoon Guards, the latter now mustering less than a squadron ii strength.

The battle was all but over. Some Cuirassiers did try and give chase to my surviving infantry - but I had moved the R.H.A. batteries from Monte Petirrojo to a position near the northern ford, covering the remains of my Corps as it made for the Corunna road and safety.

It was a moral victory for the Colonel. I had managed to get some of my troops past his force - but at a terrible cost. Readers may be interested in the final muster of the respective Corps after the campaign.


BRITISH CORPS

1st Btn. 11nd Reg. of Foot: Casualties = 32% . 68% of the battalion got through
1st Btn. 55th Reg. of Foot: Casualties = 26% . 74% of the battalion got through
1st Btn. 92nd Highland Reg: Casualties = 41% . 59% of the battalion got through
1st Btn. Coldstream Guards: Entire battalion killed or captured
2 Coys. 95th (Rifle Regiment): Both companies killed or captured
3 Coys, the Royal Marines: All companies killed or captured
10th Hussars: Casualties = 24%. 76% of the regiment got through
13th Light Dragoons: Entire regiment killed or captured
The Royal Scots Greys: No casualties. Entire regiment got through
The 1st (Kings) Dragoon Guards: Casualties = 68%. 32% of the regiment got through
Royal Horse artillery: Three batteries lost. Three got through

British casualties killed, captured or seriously wounded: 54.1%


FRENCH CORPS

42nd Line Regt: Casualties = 11%
49th Line Regt: Casualties = 8%
2nd Imperial Guard: Casualties = 18%
2 Coys of Voltigeurs: Casualties = 21%
Polish Lancers: Casualties = 15%
Hussars: Casualties = 11%
Chasseurs a Cheval: Casualties = 17%
Empresses Dragoon Guards: Casualties = 24%
1st Cuirassiers: Casualties = 29%
2nd Cuirassiers: Casualties = 48%
Field Artillery: Casualties = 48%

French casualties, killed or seriously wounded: 18.3%

Strangely enough, the Colonel was rather subdued in victory and even went so far as to compliment me on getting even 43.9% of my troops through his forces. He had, he said, estimated that less than a third of my entire Corps would reach the Corunna road beyond Filomela. It was only when I saw him putting away his Heavy Cavalry that I fully understood. The Cuirassiers were the pride of his vast collection - and my Horse Artillery had wrought havoc amongst them. His Heavy Brigade had lost a third of its troopers.

We spoke of this in the Post Mortem, something which was to become a regular feature in our gaming. He snorted violently as he said: "Trouble with you is that you don't like to come to grips. Your artillery, f'r’instance, sitting up on that damn’ hill. No glory in lobbing shot from way off like that. Reduces the whole tiling to the meagreness of a damn' coconut shy!" I didn't argue. I had proved the effectiveness of those RH.A. batteries on Monte Petirrojo, at least, to my own satisfaction. It was fair enough if the Colonel tended to dismiss them and their marksmanship. He firmly maintained that the bright spark of my campaign was the Highlander's stand, just north west of the road. (GAME NOTE I had to dice for their morale no less than three times during the Heavy Brigade's onslaught. I was lucky enough to find them standing fast each throw). It was the staunchness of their square which enabled the 22nd and 55th to make their escape. As for the fighting on the eastern side, and the loss of my Coldstreamers, he had nothing but disdain. I had fallen quickly and easily into his trap - one, which he maintained, even the greenest subaltern should have foreseen - and he had been well satisfied with the results.

I was amazed to find that it was 8.30 p.m. and now that the battle was over I-felt totally exhausted! The Colonel's wife announced that dinner was almost ready and brought in decanters and glasses on a silver tray. It's been a long time since I enjoyed a scotch so much.

Over the meal we talked about the campaign and wargaming in general. His patient wife sat and smiled and said very little. It was after eleven when I finally took my leave. Although I had been well and truly thrashed in the battle, I felt strangely elated as I drove home. have many interests and some other hobbies, but I could think of none which absorbed me as completely as did wargaming. I suppose, like other aficionados, my involvement with battles and toy soldiers gave me cause to ponder. Did the hobby satisfy some deep down, subconscious lust for violence? Or, worse still, was it some vague, martial substitute for a fading masculinity? (Oh, how modern students of psychology, psychiatry and psycho-whatever would love to analyse that!) I didn't think so - and my wife assured me that she didn't think the latter was the case.

It was the Colonel who gave me the only answers that have ever really satisfied me on the subject. True, he is an old reactionary - but he still makes a lot of sense - between snorts and guffaws. "It's the era we live in," he said. "The 20th Century has gained too much momentum. No one knows how to put on the brakes. There's nothing left to discover, nothing to satisfy inherent instincts for survival, every¬thing is fabricated and we don't look for truth or beauty or naturalness anymore. No one appreciated wars that were nothing short of damn' blood-baths - but wars are getting worse all the time! There never has been an era more violent than this. And there never has been so many people getting so violent about the need for peace! You find snips of lads rioting and demonstrating all over the place, citizens rebelling against regimes, people smashing things and killing things - and everyone looking for some answer in violence. I've been a soldier most of my life - but I loathe and detest today's savagery. It scares the living daylights out of me!”

He paused for a moment to assemble his thoughts and bring the subject back to wargaming. "Wargaming isn't really a substitute for anything - not the sort of substitute the psycho-wallahs talk about. But, for a few hours each week, it does help, just a little, with some of the question marks that plague us. You'll always find an answer on the wargame table. Someone will win, someone will lose, some decision will be reached. The urge to create is satisfied, be it in the painting of a single soldier, the forming of a regiment or some pleasing feature of terrain. You've built something where nothing existed before. The colours of the uniforms and banners are aesthetically satisfying to the eye. That is, if you have an eye for form - yes, and beauty. There is a rhythm and pattern in the movement of the troops. There is a basic truth in the actual combat. If you don't depend too much on the dice, the better man will win, all things being equal. There is the absorption of delving into history - and this nearly always means discovering things - at least, discovering things that will interest you, personally. As for the fighting when your troops join battle - is it really fighting in the violent sense? Or isn't it a bit more than that? Isn't it a question of exercising your wits - mentally, rather than physically, pitting yourself against an enemy? Your senses, too. I'll wager there's not a true Wargamer who doesn't feel some twinge of sadness or remorse when he witnesses a favourite regiment suffering." I agreed with him, remembering his attitude when his Cuirassiers started' to fall. "Then there's the exhilaration that comes hard on the heels of a successful cavalry charge, or the elation when an infantry square stands fast and steady. Yes, a lot of emotions are aired at the wargame table - and most of them good ones. I don't believe that there's anything bloodthirsty in the hobby. After all, chess has been played for umpteen years - I doubt whether its enthusiasts could be accused of indulging in sadism. Most serious wargamers I've come across have invariably been gentle, thoughtful people. You see, I don't think there is anything wrong with com-petition or the competitive spirit. But then, I'm old fashioned. I subscribe to the old fashioned idea of patriotism. So many seem to think that it's a dirty word to describe a weakness these days. I love my country and I appreciate all the :good things it stands for. Yes, still stands for. I am hurt and angered by the things seem to be losing. I dislike intolerance, indifference and national laziness. On a wargame table I find a certain degree of perfection. ll my troops are valiant, all my commanders adventurous and vigorous - and all my horses thoroughbreds! It's not reality - but, by God, it's not a bad goal to strive for!"

What an enigmatical character he is! An illustrious soldier (he holds the MC and has been Mentioned in Despatches on more than a couple of occasions) who, beneath a steely crust abhors and detests mankind's perpetual need to kill, maim and destroy. A bluff, gruff, hearty man who has obviously lived his life to the brim - yet who possesses, deep, deep down, the soul of the poet and the appreciation of a lover of beautiful things.

And if he ever discovers I've written these thing about him - he'll slaughter me!



This was the last article in the series

At the Colonel's Table, Part 4: by Don Houghton, Wargamer's Newsletter 91 October 1969

The Colonel's Heavy Cavalry continued its advance southwards, down towards the western approaches of the village - and only my totally inadequate Light Dragoon Regiment, commanding the south western approaches to the bridge, could stop them from getting in amongst the main bulk of my infantry which was still in column on the Corunna road. As for his Light Cavalry Brigade, over on the east heights, they were, quite obviously, preparing to charge my Rifle and Marine skirmishers at the fords south of Filomela. And the full weight of his infantry continued its ominous, slow advance between El Gavilan and the river, north of the village. I had the feeling of being squeezed in a vice.

As it happened, it was my gunners who fired the opening salvoes of the campaign. I had eased forward my batteries on Monte Petirrojo as the Cuirassiers and Empresses Dragoon Guards advanced slowly into range. To this day I still believe this was an oversight on the Colonel's part, although afterwards he staunchly maintained that it was a chance he had to take. The gunners sighted up on his second and closest regiment of Cuirassiers and opened fire. God bless the battery commander (I made a mental note to mention his name in my next despatch to the Commander in Chief) and the sure eyes of his gunners. The fire from the three batteries cut deep holes into the Cuirassiers neatly formed ranks, even though the range wasn't all that close. Amongst the first of the casualties was the Regiment's Colonel and, for a minute, his troopers wavered (GAME NOTE: dice for Morale here when C.O. be¬comes a casualty: usual Featherstone rules apply) but the Second in Command checked them and the Regiment quickly recuperated. I was seized by an awful temptation to send my Scots Greys, guarding the batteries, charging down into that valley to finish off that particular Regiment, but I fought back the impulse. His Heavy Brigade still had a regiment of Cuirassiers and the Empresses Dragoon Guards completely untouched. No matter how valiant my Scots Greys - they could not have stood up to odds of nearly three to one, regardless of the impetus they may have gained from a downhill charge. From my R.H.A. Batteries on Monte Petirrojo the Colonel's third Cuirassier Regiment had suffered some 20% casualties.

But things weren't going at all well to the east. His guns (two batteries) had opened fire on my Marines and Riflemen skirmishing by the fords. It pinned them down, making any further northward advance impossible. And just beyond the guns his Light Cavalry Brigade was easing itself into its final position before a charge down onto the river. I brought up another gun to the fords to help repel the imminent charge of the Lancers, Hussars and Chasseurs-a-Cheval that I knew must be coming in the next move. I nudged my Guards Battalion, the one I was supposed to be keeping in reserve, slightly to the east and formed them into a square behind the skirmishers with the Dragoon Guards and a single R.H.A. Battery ready to support them. As for the main body of my infantry, I extended them along the western side of the road, ready to meet any attack from the Colonel's Heavy Brigade. For the time being there was little else I could do. My skirmishers could not move and had already suffered 10% casualties from the guns on El Gavilan.

Yet still the Colonel's Light Cavalry did not charge the southern fords. His guns continued their fire, but now my skirmishers had taken up better positions and his batteries had ceased to bother them so much. The remainder of his troops, the Heavy Brigade and the Infantry continued a slow advance.

It was at this point that the elusive picture, the one that had escaped me at luncheon, suddenly became crystal clear. I had been concentrating too much on the village and the bridge across the Golondrina. Right from the very beginning I should have ignored it as a prime target. The village and the bridge were unimportant. What I should have done was to use it as a pivot or the axle for my advance to the north east. I should have swung my troops around in a great arc and made for the northern ford, disregarding the road altogether. It would have been a slower advance, but at least I could have concentrated my troops, instead of having them strung out all over the place, as they were at this stage. It did not matter if the Colonel hooked round and took me in the rear - as long as I cleared the path in front. I was guilty of a commander's cardinal sin. I had, very early in the piece, forgotten my prime objective - that of getting the majority of my force to Corunna! Now the question loomed in my mind: was I too late to alter my whole basic plan? (GAME NOTE: orders must be written a full game move beforehand). As things stood all the Colonel had to do was to hold his extended line and maintain his front as a wall to my advance. So this is why his Light Cavalry hadn't charged down on the southern fords. All they wanted to do was to contain my skirmishers and my reserve troops. This was the trap he had set - and I had fallen into it, boots, stirrups and all! He had successfully split my force into two - the skirmishers and reserves to the left and the remainder to the right. I had virtually nothing left in the centre.

But there was a refinement to this trap - and I was going to learn about that very, very soon!

My batteries on Monte Petirrojo opened up again on that second Cuirassier regiment and scored some hits. The Regiment’s casualties mounted to 27% (GAME NOTE: Morale must again be checked when casualties reach a third of the Regiment’s s original strength). Unfortunately, this brave body of troopers was screening the other two regiments; consequently my gunners could not sight up on the rest of the Brigade. They were advancing unhindered.

(GAME NOTE: I have hinted before that the Colonel was a resourceful man and an imaginative one. One of the refinements of his game is a simulated 'smoke of battle’ factor. We play, as I have mentioned earlier, on two stripped down billiard tables: over these are suspended three Phillips wide-beam lamps. They are strung overhead, one each illuminating the opponent’s base lines: the third lamp is situated over the dead centre of the table. As the game progresses this lamp is dimmed fractionally each game move, so that by the time the campaign is at its height there is a degree of gloom over the main battle area. You can still pick out positions and formations - but identification becomes just a little more difficult. If you are not very careful, and if your concentration lags, you can find units cut off and a degree of confusion reigning).

Then, suddenly, my pulse was racing and the adrenalin started pumping into my veins. I peered at the Colonel's approaching infantry. On the eastern side of the extended line, his right flank, had closed up a little on the road. It was a battalion of Chasseurs de Montagne and it had been hugging the lower slope of El Gavilan. But now, between it and the lower slopes there developed a great gaping hole and the battalions flank was in the air! There was a breach in the wall big enough to allow my reserve formations through - and, beyond the breach, there was nothing to halt a fast advance to the Corunna road and the north east! If I was threatened at all by the enemy's infantry - I could attack it in the flank and still continue my forward move. At least I could ensure that some of my troops - including the Coldstream Battalion - might reach safety. (GAME NOTE: Points are awarded for each unit, dependant on its casualties, which achieves its objective. Similarly, the opponent receives points for every unit stopped. To these points are added the opponents total casualties. The sum is added, the victor, naturally enough, is the one scoring the most total points). Could I draft orders in time to utilise the situation to my advantage?

I reformed the Coldstreamers into a column and advanced the Marines so that they joined the Riflemen at the ford nearest the bridge. The escorting Dragoon Guards would peel off and cross the river at the southernmost ford, ready to attack any flanking Regiment of the Light Cavalry Brigade should it threaten my guardsmen. My Hussars in the southern outskirts of Filomela would move down and support the main crossing.

The Colonel grunted. I thought that was a good sign. He did not move his Light Cavalry, but his gunners up on the heights opened up with some desultory fire.

Over to the west his Cuirassiers and Dragoon Guards were forming up to charge my infantry now extended on the northern side of the road. My own gunners, up on Monte Petirrojo, had become too sure of themselves. The range on that Cuirassier Regimentwas shorter now, yet they failed to inflict more than a meagre 2% casualties. In the meantime, my Highlanders had time to form a square and thus make a bastion of them¬selves before the onslaught which I knew must be coming.

The excitement mounted. The tea the Colonel's wife had brought us lay untouched in its delicate china cups.

For a while luck seemed to be favouring me. My Dragoon Guards and Coldstreamers began crossing the river. Some casualties fell as the Colonel's gunners opened up again, but not enough to cause me any concern.

It was when the last Company of Coldstrearners, escorted by the Marines and Riflemen, cleared the ford that all hell broke loose. The Chasseurs de Montague swung round to meet the threat - they and the Voltigeurs and the Imperial Guard Battalion. It was a beautifully executed move,. The Colonel must have gauged the distance to a millimetre. The Voltigeurs and the Guards crossed swiftly over the road and swept down on my hapless Coldstreamers. There had been a token exchange of musket shot a little earlier but very few hits had registered - the enemy was almost at full strength. The Coldstreamers held and took the full impact of the charging Frenchmen - two and a half battalions to one. The Dragoon Guards hastened to help - but as they moved up the Colonel's Light Cavalry made their charge. His Lancers and Chasseurs a Cheval engaged them and forced a wedge between the Dragoons and my Coldstreamers. His remaining Light Cavalrymen, the Hussars, took my guardsmen in their left flank. I might have made a better showing if I could have brought my own Hussars into the fray - but they were still on the other side of the river, too far from the ford to cross and come to the rescue. They could only watch the awful slaughter of their countrymen. The conflict raged, with artillery batteries from both sides adding ball, canister and grapeshot into the melee. The Coldstreamers were locked in that one position. They could not retreat because of the enemy's cavalry in the rear. They could not advance because the enemy's infantry was massed in .front of them. They could not break out to the west because the river was a natural barrier, neither could they turn to the east for escape because of the Heights of El Gavilan. They could only stand and slog it out - and hope that the Dragoon Guards might break out and reach them.

And if I wasn't careful the whole sickening process might repeat itself over on the western side. For as the Colonel's Guards and Voltigeurs swung on to my Coldstreamers, his two Line Battalions rushed through Filomela and over the bridge, taking up a position in the rear of my Light Dragoon Regiment. This was the extent of his second trap. His Heavy Cavalry would charge down on my infantry whilst his Line Regiments would deliver an uppercut behind them.

I was prepared for the worst. Already my Light Dragoons were falling from musket fire delivered by the battalion of the Colonel's 42nd Regiment of the Line. They could either turn and engage the infantrymen, or sit there and take it and wait for the Heavy Cavalry charge. My 22nd moved behind the Highland square and engaged his 42nd with their muskets at maximum range. It was pretty ineffectual, but at least it diverted their attention from my luckless troopers.

Now came the final crisis of the battle. The Colonel's Heavy Cavalry made its spectacular charge. My gunners got one good volley into them as they galloped forward - and the green of the Empresses Dragoon Guards fell alongside the silver of the Cuirassiers. The Highlanders bore the brunt of the attack - and the square held!

My Light Dragoons flung themselves at the enemy cavalry's flank and my 22nd Regiment closed with the Colonel's 42nd. His 49th charged home on my 55th - and soon every single soldier on the battlefield was fighting for his life. That is - all except my Scots Greys guarding the R.H.A. batteries. They were chomping at the bit -they badly wanted to get down into the fight. But I had to hold them in reserve -they might end up by being the only ones to get to Corunna.

Over to the east, the situation was worse than grim. The Coldstreamers were a dying battalion - and my Dragoon Guards were little better off. My guns were lost and my Hussars arrived far too late to alter the course of the battle. The latter did manage to break through a line of Voltigeurs, but they could not get near enough the beleaguered Coldstreamers to be of any help. Instead they were ordered to make an attempt to escape to the Corunna road and eventually rejoin my survivors up by the French base line. But as soon as they cleared the Voltigeurs, they came under the direct fire of the Colonel's batteries on El Gavilan.

Gereard de Gre Collection: Wargamer's Newsletter 93 December 1969

These pictures show items from the collection of influential early US wargamer Gerard de Gre. These pictures are interesting for the views of Alymer figures and equipment, and, of course, the balloon!

At the Colonel's Table, Part 3: by Don Houghton, Wargamer's Newsletter 90 September1969

The second campaign at the Colonel's Wargame table was to be a much more grandiose affair. This time we would fight a full scale battle - not just a Brigade skirmish, as he was pleased to put it. (Readers may recall that the 'Brigade skirmish', my first encounter with the Colonel, ended in my complete rout and the decimation, amongst other casualties, of a battalion of the 16th Regiment of Food, the Bedfordshires!). I shuddered to think what might happen to any Corps under my command under similar circumstances.

During the week, I received, by post, a most impressive map and a set of detailed instructions. The Colonel is always very interested in the 'character' of any specific battle. By this he means whether it is to be a Waterloo-type fight, an Austerlitz-type, a Peninsula-type or whatever. He then very carefully designs the terrain to meet these specifications. On this particular Sunday, we were to fight a fictitious Peninsula-type battle. However, there was a certain freedom of choice in regards to the troops involved. The Commanders could pick any units of their respective armies that fought up to the end of Waterloo. This rather confounds the purists, but does allow for more scope and imagination in planning the battle. Each Commander forms his Corps on a point system (specific point-values being allotted to various units) and he can favour a preponderance of Infantry, Cavalry or Artillery as he wishes.

Once more chance dictated that I should command the British Forces. The instructions outlined my task very clearly. It was assumed that I was engaged in a fighting retreat towards Corunna. I had to get my Corps through a valley road that led to the sea and safety. However, the Colonel's French troops had somehow managed to get round to the front of me and lay between my Corps and my destination. I had sixteen game moves to get my forces passed him.


Map detail: (as illustrated) Corunna lies to the N.E. A fairly straight road from the S.W. corner leads up to the N.E. In the centre of the fictitious battlefield there is a bridge crossing the Golondrina River. The river flows from the S.E. corner and off into a due North direction after the bridge. The Golondrina is fordable in three places, one spot north of the bridge and two south of it. The tiny hamlet of Filomela nestles about the bridge. On the western side, close to the British base line, are the lower slopes of Monte Petirrojo. To the east are the Heights of El Gavilan.

Order of Battle. We chose the following troops:

British Corps:

Two Battalions of Line Infantry (22nd and 55th of Foot).
One Highland Battalion (92nd of Foot).
One Guards Battalion (Coldstream) .
Two Companies of the 95th (Rifle Regiment) as skirmishers.
Three Companies of Royal Marines (as Light Infantry).
Two Regiments of Light Cavalry (one Hussar, one Light Dragoon) .
Two Regiments of Heavy Cavalry (Royal Scots Greys and 1st (Kings) Dragoon Guards).
Six Batteries Royal Horse Artillery.

French Corps:

Two Battalions of Line Infantry (42nd and 49th of Foot).
One Battalion of Chasseur de Montagne.
One Battalion of the Imperial Guard.
Two Companies of Voltigeurs as skirmishers.
Three Regiments of Light Cavalry (Polish Lancers, Hussars and Chasseurs a Cheval).
Three Regiments of Heavy Cavalry (Two of Cuirassiers and one of the Empresses Dragoon Guards).
Three Batteries of Field Artillery.

It is immediately apparent that the Colonel favoured his Cavalry arm, whilst I, remembering the disastrous effects of his Artillery in the last campaign, leaned to¬wards the guns. But in my dash to the north east I wanted to be able to move them quickly, so I chose Horse Artillery. When I first saw his Order of Battle I congratulated myself on having no less than six batteries, bearing in mind his awesome display of cavalry. Perhaps I could cut them down before they got in amongst my infantry. Perhaps....

I arrived at the Colonel's home at about eleven in the morning. Politely, but very definitely, I refused his offer of a stiff whisky before we crossed swords. I wanted my head clear and my wits sharp this time. The Colonel was in a rare good humour. He guffawed with monotonous regularity and kept on slapping his thigh with the palm of his hand, as though thumping a cavalry boot with a horse-whip. I took that as a hint. I was going to watch his Cuirassiers with an eagle eye.

The table was a joy to behold. He must have spent nearly the whole week setting 5 up the terrain. The village of Filomela looked tranquil and peaceful as it slumbered .: innocently beside the Golondrina River. The two main heights, El Gavilan and Monte Petirrojo, on either side of the road were massive and brooding. (Students of the Spanish Language will have noticed that the Colonel named all the physical features after species of birds - a strange choice for this hell-fire-and-shrapnel character, I thought). All too soon this gentle panorama would be swarming with men locked in mortal combat - in some ways it was a great pity. In his own way the Colonel was a great artist and builder, odd, therefore, that he should have spent most of his professional career either in battle or preparing for battle.

This time I had brought my own troops and he inspected each unit as I brought it out of my travelling case. He thought they were, in the main, a pretty mouldy lot (and indeed they were, in comparison to his beautifully detailed and painted figures) but he did pass a grudging compliment on my Guards and Highlanders. I only hoped they would do their uniforms justice when it came to the crunch!

His troops were already deployed behind his base line. Mine would appear from the south, the entire Corps arriving during the course of three moves.

The campaign began at twelve noon on the dot. The guffaws and the thigh slapping stopped - but the Colonel did give out with a snort when I won the toss. So to battle.

1 scanned the slopes of Monte Petirrojo and decided to locate no less than three of my six batteries there. Consequently the first of my troops to arrive was the R.H.A., escorted by the Scots Greys. Next I sent my Light Cavalry Brigade full pelt N.E. along the Corunna road, bound for Filomela and the bridge. I badly wanted to secure that position as early as possible. My Riflemen and Marines advanced fairly slowly along the western bank of the river, anxious to command the first fordable area of the river south of the bridge.

For his first move the Colonel seemed to ignore his infantry completely. He sent his Light Cavalry Brigade towards the Heights of El Gavilan. His Heavy Brigade, and I suspect, the pride of his army, he sent immediately to the river bank north west of Filomela and close to the fordable area north of .the bridge. Obviously it was the flanks of my approaching Corps he wanted to threaten. One solitary battery of his artillery followed slowly behind the Light Brigade on to the Heights.

My batteries on Monte Petirrojo began to get into position. I placed them so that they could command the village and its bridge and also cover the northerly threat from the Colonel's Heavy Brigade. The Scots Greys formed up behind the artillery and would remain there to guard the guns in case Monte Petirrojo was assaulted by infantry or cavalry. The downward slope would give them good impetus if they had to charge. I brought up another two batteries to cover the southernmost fordable strip of the river and they took up position behind the Riflemen and Marines. Next I brought in my Guards Battalion, The Coldstreamers would take up a position in the centre of the field just north of my base line and form my main reserve, supported by the 1st Dragoon Guards. In the meantime, my Hussars and Light Dragoons were approaching Filomela rapidly. As for the bulk of my infantry, they would appear in the next move, Highlanders in the van, from the south west along the Corunna road.

I stood back from the table and was well satisfied with my dispositions. But then the Colonel smiled and I had a horrible feeling, in the pit of my stomach, that I was marching into some sort of trap. For the life of me I couldn't yet see what it was.

His Heavy Brigade continued its advance and crossed the river at the northern fordable strip. His Light Brigade gained the Heights of El Gavilan and yet another artillery battery joined them up there. From their position on the slope his Lancers, Hussars and Chasseurs a Cheval were already threatening my own R.H.A. battery, the 6 Riflemen and the Marine skirmishers.

And now came his infantry, uniforms a blaze of colour, eagles glittering in the morning sunlight. They approached in a long, extended line their right flank resting on the lower slopes of El Gavilan and their left hugging the eastern bank of the river. They made a fine and impressive sight. They were, also, an almost impregnable wall laying across the road that would lead me to Corunnal Slowly they moved on to¬wards Filomela - and the first of my forces they would balk would be the.Light Cavalry Brigade attempting to secure the village and the bridge. How the hell could my Hussars and Light Dragoons make any sort of impact on the Colonel's infantry with mass of village houses blocking any chance of a charge? And, anyway, I had nothing at all to support my cavalry. My own infantry was far too far back to help them. Only the Coldstreamers, whom I had hoped to keep in reserve, had any chance of reaching them. So I deployed my Hussars on the left hand side of the road and my Light Dragoons on the right to the south of the village outskirts. For a while there was no chance at all of me securing Filomela.

The Colonel's Cuirassiers wheeled and began to advance due southward. I could see his plan now, with awful, crystal clarity. The mass of his infantry would bear down on me from the centre whilst his two cavalry arms would deliver a right and left hook from the flanks.

And then.... the Colonel's wife asked if we might call a truce for an hour. It was lunchtime - and so great had been our concentration that we hadn't even heard her come into the room. Reluctantly we had to leave the table. Up to this point not a single shot had been exchanged.

I remember I didn't talk very much over that excellent lunch. There was some¬thing nagging at my mind, something about that battlefield and the situation it presented. It was some elusive point that just refused, for the moment, to materialise. The Colonel, too, was a little less exuberant than he had been half an hour ago. Both our thoughts were concentrated on the forces soon to join in battle. The Colonel's wife, sensitive to all moods, remained the quiet and gentle hostess. We had, I recall, a bottle of cold Chablis with the meal - but by the time the cheese came round there was still a good third of the bottle left untouched.

So we went back to the table. I won't bother too much about describing the respective moves in detail. Instead I shall give an outline of the battle as it progressed.

The War of the Bombar Succession Part 3: by Neil Cogswell, Wargamer's Newsletter 82, February 1969

Owing to the map and the number of tables in this article I have scanned the original, and reproduced it, rather than scanning it into text (which would have played havoc with the formatting).

John Sandars: 8th Army in the Desert

John Sandars' series on the 8th Army in the Desert ran to 10 parts, from July 1973 to April 1974. I remember eagerly waiting for each new instalment. The series was collected in edited form in the Airfix Magazine Guide 20, published by PSL in 1976.


These photographs are from Miniature Warfare December 1969 and are interesting as they predate the Airfix Magazine series and book by a number of years, though some of these troops will be familiar to these later readers. The military policeman on the scooter from the Airfix civilians set is particularly fine...

John Tunstill on the Wooden Warriors of Stirling Castle, Miniature Warfare January 1969

Another find from Miniature Warfare magazine is this brief article with pictures, of Webb Military Figures for the Practice of Tactics, from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders' regimental museum.

The Hyper Miniature System by K F Jones, Miniature Warfare August 1969

Some of us may remember systems for using plastic hair rollers or matchsticks to provide large small scale armies, followed by Minifigs regimental blocks. Here K F Jones screws himself up to outline a possible alternative system...I thought I would leave the advert in, in the Carry On spirit of the time. I wonder if the tie was polyester and whether we might see on on e-bay one day.

Wargamer's Newsletter #82 January 1969 Wargamer of the Month

At the Colonel's Table, Part 2: by Don Houghton, Wargamer's Newsletter 89 July 1969

I remember the meal very well. It was the first of many memorable dinners. We started with a lobster salad (and white wine), followed this with roast beef and all the trimmings (with burgundy) and then on to a good Stilton cheese (with claret) and ended with coffee (and a couple of balloons of brandy). Now, I could be mistaken, but I rather thought the Colonel took a little too much interest in the state of my wine glass. It seemed to me that it was perpetually being filled up! I was, I suppose, an unknown factor to him at the wargame table - and he may not have been taking any chances.

By nine we were ready to move into the War Room - at least, the Colonel was. I think I floated in on a haze of good grape juice. But I had digested not only his food - but also his Wargame Rules. Late though it was I wanted to take up my Command. I felt, just then, as though I could have routed the Emperor Napoleon's Army with a single staunch English Battalion!

Prior to dinner he had outlined an Order of Battle for a 'short' game. The opposing sides would be numerically even. They would consist of two battalions of infantry of the line, two companies of skirmishers, one battalion of Guards, one Regiment of Heavy Cavalry and three batteries of Field artillery - all in prepared positions. We spun a coin - and this decided I would command the British. (GAME NOTE: This, I might point out, was the Colonel's idea of a short game. We play nine or ten men, plus an officer, to a tray and this represents a Company - not a Battal­ion! It makes for an interesting game - but never a short one!)

I was, needlessly to say, soundly thrashed. I opened up with a line of skirmish­ers, followed by a battalion of line infantry, advancing beside a road which led almost directly to his Command position. They moved forward supported by a short artillery barrage and with a Regiment of Scots Greys close behind, the Colonel feinted with a desultory counter by one of his own line infantry battalions - then quietly withdrew. I continued to advance confidently. I remember thinking that the old boy was one of those 'theory only' commanders - it was, perhaps, a different thing putting his theories into practice...

Then it happened. My fine Scots Greys were caught in enfilading artillery fire from both flanks, behind the infantry. This left an awesome gap behind my advance - a gap soon filled by exultant Cuirassiers, which he had split into two squadrons, and who came at me, seemingly, from nowhere. I couldn't disperse them with artillery, because, by then, they were already engaging my rear ranks - and my own troops pre­sented a much better target to my gunners than did his wretched cavalrymen! The only way 1 could retreat from this attack was - forward. And that shut tight the trap. My one battalion of line infantry and their two companies of skirmishers were set upon by his Guards Battalion, his cavalry and his original battalion of line infantry - the latter had merely about face and joined the Guards in the massacre. I'd had no time to form a square to hold off the Cuirassiers - I was badly extended in front to meet the infantry attack - my artillery was worse than useless - I was, in fact, in one hell of a mess. Of course, I brought up everything to try and rescue my ad­vance troops - and brought them up far too quickly. He delivered a startling left hook with his now disengaged cavalry, joined by his reserve infantry battalion and fully supported by his deadly accurate artillery, now firing canister at witheringly short range. It was a horrible sight. It was a tragic sight. I draw a veil over the rest of the battle. My casualties amounted to a staggering 62% - the Colonel had sustained a mere 11%. My advance battalion had been reduced to about Company strength. My Scots Greys - would never forgive me - they hadn't even closed with the enemy, yet his artillery had cut down their numbers by nearly 50%. As for my gunners - they had fired a sum total of only three rounds per gun! Then, to add to my misery, I discov­ered that the advance battalion - the one that got itself decimated so early in the piece - was identified as the 16th Regiment of Foot - the Bedfordshire Regiment. I fully expected black flags of mourning to be hanging from every window of every house in my village when I returned.

It was after midnight when the stragglers from my routed battalions finally made it back to their base line. I was utterly exhausted - the Colonel was in a fine mood, his eyes twinkling with happiness and jubilation. His wife brought in two enormous mugs of steaming, creamy cocoa whilst the post mortem was delivered. It was after two a.m. before I was allowed to get into my car and drive wearily home. Resting in the glove locker was the tiny fictitious Dragoon - the reason behind the whole incredible evening.

But it wasn't going to end there. The Colonel had maintained that there was some hope for me as a commander. The deceased major, his old opponent, he pointed out, had suffered much more severely than I had in their first engagement. Within the first three moves, the Colonel said, his artillery had been completely overrun - at least I'd got my gunners back safely. I didn't mention that they were about all I'd got back in safety. Anyway, he said we would meet again next Sunday - but that I was to arrive early, so that we might have a 'decent tussle' - on a Divisional basis. Furthermore, I could bring my own troops. He added that perhaps I might feel more at home with Regiments I knew and had led before. As it happened I, too, had a battal­ion of the 16th - but I made a mental note to leave them safely behind when next the Colonel and I crossed swords over his War table!

The War of the Bombar Succession Part 2: by Neil Cogswell, Wargamer's Newsletter 82, January 1969

Deployment

The Bavarians, anticipating the arrival of the Hessians, deployed their main strength on the left wing. This wing advanced and deployed behind the stream. Two battalions were pushed forward to occupy the Ossenberg. The centre formed on the Schlatberg. The Right wing formed up south and west of Forgau in a rather detached position. The Reserve remaining centrally posted North West of Zotton.

The Hanoverian deployment was in two lines on the high ground opposite the Schlatberg. The cavalry covered the right wing with its right on the road. The light troops seized the Wiessenberg from which they obtained a splendid view of the proceedings.

The situation at 09.30 is shown on the map (see previous post). Fire was being exchanged between the artillery on the Schlatberg and opposite. The Hessians had not yet appeared.

Cumberland was alarmed to receive reports of the enemy on the Ossenberg. He at once detached half his second line to join Hardenberg with the cavalry. These he ordered to clear the Ossenberg. The two battalions must have felt themselves exposed on the Ossenberg and rued the fact that their artillery was behind the stream. Attacked by twice their number of infantry and cavalry, they fell back in disorder pursued by the Horse Grenadiers. These pursued to the stream where they halted and observed the Bavarians drawn up before them. The flight of these troops and the appearance of cavalry on his left flank alarmed Hildburghausen, who detached his Cuirassiers from the Reserve to stabilise the position. This was not his only alarm. Four squadrons had been detached from the Wiessenberg to investigate Forgau. This village the mounted jaegers found unoccupied. Swiftly they remedied this and opened fire on the dragoons opposite, Fearing a major turning movement through the Wiessenberg gap, Hildburghausen detached his Uhlans to secure this wings. He further instructed Xavier to retake Forgau. The jaegers did not wait but with news of this troop concentration they fled back to the safety of the hill top.

Cumberland now committed what should have been a fatal error. His pleas to the Hessians to speed their march were answered. At 10.15 these troops marched on to support the attack on the Ossenberg. Hardenberg was ordered to withdraw his battalion and occupy Ossen. This order was then countermanded and the Hessians ordered to the task instead. Not content with countermarching his troops once he suddenly realised his blunder (the Hessians were then on the Ossenberg and Hardenberg approaching Ossen) and sent messengers to bring back Hardenberg (who had at once set off for Ossenberg) and send back the Hessians to the berg. Had the Bavarian left made some attempt to retrieve the Ossenberg any such attempt must have thrown the Hanoverian right into disorder. The moment passed however and the Hessians took up positions in the woods south of Ossenberg while Hardenberg entered Ossen.

Cumberland now had reports telling him that the enemy wings were in strength. He guessed that the Schlatberg could only be weakly held.

The attack

Cumberland to Ohien - Assault Schlatberg
Cumberland to Lippe - Support Ohien
Cumberland to Hardenberg - Support Ohien
Cumberland to Hereditary Prince - Engage Bavarians behind stream

Hildburghausen realised the troops in Forgau had been but a feint and was most alarmed at the Hessians bursting from the woods round Ossen. The Uhlans were switched from the right to the left.

The Hanoverians in the centre now burst upon the Schlatberg. Despite heavy casualties in the approach they swiftly threw back the Bavarian centre, which retreated in disorder. Xavier with four battalions and nine squadrons attempted to counterattack but, outnumbered, he was soon in retreat.

On the Bavarian left all was in disorder as some Hanoverian dragoons burst across the bridge (which had been left unguarded). The Light artillery was abandoned and the whole, covered by the cuirassiers, retreated on Zotton.

The Pursuit.

The cuirassiers and other Bavarian squadrons covered the retreat, which was not pressed - the light troops on the Wiessenberg being too far back to change the retreat into a rout. Hildburghausen managed to fire his magazine as he retired.

Casualties

Hanoverian: 2,200 (including 800 Hessians)
Bavarians: (2,900 + 1,000 captured and 40 guns; General Xavier)

The serious Bavarian losses (nearly 25% of their force), combined with the loss of the main magazine, resulted in a precipitate retreat during which many of the territorials deserted. The remainder of the force shut themselves up in the walled capital of Bombar; Major General Preysing was left in command while Hildburghausen went off to gather a relieving army. Cumberland, lacking siege artillery, contented himself with blockading Bombar, the investment of which was completed on October 3rd. The tale of the siege will be related later.

Appendix 1

Despatch from Count Hildburghausen to the Elector of Bavaria dated September 29th from Bombar.

"Your Highness,

The forces under my command have succeeded in denying to the enemy the use of the Zotton magazine, although the cost has not been slight. I instructed the main body of Your Highness's Army to occupy the Schlatberg-0ssenberg position, pushing as far as possible along the river. A smaller force under General Xavier was detailed to defend our right flank in the Forgaufeldt area.

The enemy being reported in force north of Ossen, I ordered the Ossenberg-Schlatberg line to be held defensively, whilst starting to build up a striking force around Xavier's command to come in on the flank of the expected attack from the north. Regrettably the Ossenberg units were not kept together, and two exposed battalions were suddenly attacked by heavy cavalry and scattered with great Ioss. Prince Klemens then withdrew behind the brook. During this action enemy cavalry had been reported as occupying Forgau, and fearing that this could be a big raid on the magazine Xavier’s force was ordered to investigate before he advanced northwards to succour the main position. When at last he was enabled to advance it was too late. Massed infantry attacks had dislodged Your Highness's troops, who had defended themselves with great bravery against overwhelming numbers, thereby adding great glory to Your Highness's Arms. Xavier counter-attacked vigorously, throwing the enemy into disorder, but numbers prevailed and his attack was repulsed. Xavier was shot down while leading the Piosasque dragoons to the attack.

Our cavalry covered the withdrawal of our troops to Zotton where the magazine was fired. The enemy is believed to have lost six thousand out of their force. Our casualty lists are not yet complete, some guns had to be abandoned.”

Appendix 2

Despatch from William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, to his Majesty Ceorge II, King of England, Elector of Hanover. Dated September 27th, Zotton. Extract (the original despatch being somewhat wordy).

Sire,

Almighty God has been pleased to grant to your Majesty's forces under my command, this day, a great victory over the invasive forces in the neighbourhood of Zotton.

(There follows a minute description of the Duke's march to Worste).

I conceived it my first objective to form a junction with your Majesty's auxiliaries commanded by the Hereditary Prince of Hesse. To this end I deployed my army in two lines on the hills north of Ossen ..... The left wing was covered by the Light troops of General Zastrow posted on the Wiessenberg… The enemy commenced a brisk cannonade from the Schlatberg opposite to which our artillery replied. Towards ten o'clock the Bavarians made a desperate attempt to turn our right flank by occupying the Ossenberg. Ma,jor-General Hardenberg with the cavalry and three battalions of infantry from our second line severely punished this impertinence .... We despatched four squadrons of Stockhausen's Corps of Jaegers to investigate the neighbourhood of Forgau. These troops reported the enemy in great strength thereabouts…

The Hereditary Prince having come up on my right I ordered a general advance .... Your Majesty's infantry behaved with the utmost gallantry and drove the enemy from his positions. We instructed our cavalry to cross the stream at the Ossen bridge. This bridge they found unguarded and their appearance threw the enemy into great confusion ... The left wing repulsed a counter attack from the enemy advancing from Forgau after which the whole Bavarian force retired precipitately ...

The Bavarians retired in great disorder leaving forty guns and over 1,000 prisoners in addition to 3,000 dead and wounded. !n retiring they attempted to fire the town of Zotton which contained abundant supplies. Your Majesty's losses have been some 2,000 which nay be considered a small price for so complete a victory.


Uniform Notes

Bavarian Infantry wore a characteristic light blue uniform with various coloured facings. Cuirassiers white uniform - cuirass worn underneath coat. Dragoons red. Artillery grey.

Saxon (Kries-Regiments) local contingents wore grey uniforms with vari-coloured facings. The Hussars were lancers in a long white coat with a tartar headress.

Hanoverian Infantry - red coats, with brown or red trousers, vari-coloured facings. Dragoons white uniforms. Horse Grenadiers white uniforms with the mitre head-dress. The Horse Grenadiers of the Guard wore a red uniform. Artillery steel blue with red facings. Buckeburg Carabineers, black leather with cuirasses, tartar head-dress. Jaegers - green.

Hessians. Prussian style uniform but dark blue trousers.


NEXT TIME - THE SIEGE OF BOMBAR

Two new series: At the Colonel's Table, and the War of the Bombar Succession

Two of the most-remembered and best loved series of articles in the Wargamer's Newsletter were Don Houghton's At the Colonel's Table and Neil Cogswell's War of the Bombar Succession.

The first article from each series has been posted below, and I will complete these series over the next weeks.

Because the quality of the original typescript for some of these articles is not wonderful, I have scanned them for optical character recognition and then imported the text into the posts. I have taken the opportunity to make some very slight amendments where this has clarified the sense. The text of posts in blogger don't have extensive formatting options but I have done my best to keep things readable.

The Examination for General: Neil Cogswell, Wargamer's Newsletter #92

The year 1750.

The post of commander-in-chief of the armed forces of a European principality is vacant. There being a number of contestants for the post the prince has elected to set them an examination to see who can produce the most sound, and the most inspired, military solutions.

He has caused to be drawn up an approximate map of part of his dominions. This map should not be considered to be complete in minor details such as possible fords or causeways over marshes. The contours however are exact. The map covers an area of some forty square miles. Using this map show how you would handle his Highness's troops in the following situations. The answers to each question may include a dia­gram on tracing paper and up to 100 words. Brevity will be rewarded as will clarity.

The armies referred to in the questions are:-

Army A 2,500 infantry, no communications routes
Army I 10,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, 20 guns and communications at A or B or E
Army II 20,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, 100 guns + bridging train, communications at J
Army III 20,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, 40 guns, communications at A or B or D
Army IV 30,000 infantry, 8,000 cavalry, 100 guns, communications at E
Army V 3,000 infantry, communications at A or E
Army VI 3,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, 20 guns, communications at B or D

(garrison always available at communication points)

Weather is settled fair with 12 hours daylight.

Questions.

1. You command Army I at position F. It is dawn. In six hours time an important convoy (2 m.p.h.) is due to arrive at B for passage to E. Your enemy II is reported at H - bridging the river may take him four hours.

(i) What action do you take?
(ii) Assuming your action is successful what recommendations do you make to pre­vent a recurrence of the threat?

2. It is dawn. You command Army II at H. Your objective is to cross the river and destroy an enemy convoy due from B on passage to E in six hours time. The enemy holds A and may have a much inferior field force in the neighbourhood.

(i) What action do you take?
(ii) What action do you recommend to gain a permanent bridgehead on the south bank?

3. It is midnight. You command army III at A. Information received indicates that an enemy army of

(i) 35,000 men is approaching E.
(ii) 35,000 men is approaching B.
(iii) 80,000 men is approaching E.

with the object of blockading A. What action do you take in such case?

4. It is midnight. You command army III at A. Information received indicates that three enemy columns of 10,000 men each are approaching from B, D and E. What action do you take?

5. You command army IV at E. You are ordered to invest the south bank of a. You may march at dawn. An enemy field force of 25,000 men is thought to be in the vicinity.

(i) What action do you take?
(ii) Assuming the enemy force breaks out of A to the West how would you secure your lines and siege operations?

6. It is evening. You command force V at E which you wish to pass to A to rein­force the garrison. An enemy force VI is in the area. How do you direct your march?

7. You command force VI blockading the south side of A. How do you dispose your force to prevent succour reaching A?

(i) By day.
(ii) By night.

8. You command force III at G and wish to cover the passage of a convoy from A to B before retiring on B. A superior enemy force (IV) is at E. It is dawn and you wish to hold the enemy off as long as possible - preferably indefinitely. What action do you take?

9. You command force IV at E. It is dawn and you wish to march on B. A is neutral. Enemy troops are reported at K and L; he is believed to have a force of 25,000 men in the neighbourhood of F. What action do you take?

10. Write a set of tactical rules for Horse and Musket period warfare on the back of a postcard (standard size).
Send your solutions by last day of the month of publication to:-

Neil Cogswell,

I regret that I cannot enter into individual correspondence on this competition but a selection of answers will be published later.

Miniature Figurines have most kindly offered a prize to the successful applicant, who will also be entitled to call himself "Marshal of Mini-Figs 1969".



Neil Cogswell was a regular contributor to Wargamer’s Newsletter and wrote the fondly remembered War of the Bombar Succession campaign series. This competition was published in November 1969, and an assessment of the entries submitted appeared in a later issue. This article will be posted here in due course, leaving enough time for you to consider these problems yourself if you would like.

Gerard de Gre

Bob Cordery recently raised the question of the identity of the wargamer shown below on his Wargaming Miscellany blog. Bob's interest was originally raised by the use of squared terrain.

Below is the original newspaper clipping used by Don Featherstone in Wargamer's Newsletter 85 in April 1969. From the notices of Women's Institutes and weddings on the reverse, it is clear this is from an Ontario newspaper.

Two further pictures show items from Professor de Gre's collections, taken from Wargamer's Newsletters 93 and 99, and the third is a scan of a typed carbon list of Alymer 20mm General Staff figure groups from Spain. These figures were "small" 20mm (ho/oo) and hand painted. Further information is available under "others" on Vintage 20mil.