Die Handlung an Elouges am 24 August 1914

[pierre the shy]

Generalleutnant Hidebrandt, commander the German 8th Infantry Division studied the terrain around Elouges though his binoculars as the sun rose.



Last night he had been summoned to the headquarters of General der Infanterie von Armin, Commanding IV Corps, to plan the next days continued pursuit of the Tommies, who were retreating once more after making a stand around the Belgian mining town of Mons the previous day. The Corps commander's words still rang in his ears "You must press them hard Hildebrandt – Don't let them break contact". Hildebrandt had two complete infantry regiments at his disposal, plus two entire artillery abteilung and even some heavy 150mm guns from IV Corps. German Intelligence suggested he was facing part of the British 5th Division.

Hildebrant deployed one regiment, each supported by an Abteilung of artillery, on each half the board. On the left was Oberst Von Zehman's Infantry Regiment 72, with IR 93, under the command of Oberst Von Arnim on the right flank. Each Regiment had 3 battalions, supported by a single Regimental MG company.

The Regiments would take their time deploying, with one unit at a time deploying against whatever enemy that they encountered. I/IR72 and I/IR93 deployed first, along the field artillery. I/IR72 found itself opposed by the 18th Hussars, who were waiting mounted on their horses just west of Elouges, While I/IR93 was faced by two complete battalions of infantry deployed along the narrow gauge mineral railway track that ran perpendicularly across the battlefield. These units were the 1st battalions of the Royal Norfolk Regiment and Cheshire Regiment respectively, part of the British 15th Infantry Brigade. All four German units advanced confidently, the infantry closing with the Tommies while the artillery unlimbered although on some field exercise. (A lot of German cards came up first). Everything seemed to be going to plan, till the Tommies opened fire!

"Mein Gott" thought Hildebrant as infantrymen and gunners alike were scythed down like so many stalks of chaff by the withering fire of the British troops. (Paul's dice rolling, unlike mine, was almost embarrassingly good, one company rolling three 6's and a 5 against the 1/24th Artillery on 4 dice).

"Are they all armed with machine guns?" Hildebrant asked his Chief of Staff. "Nein Herr General, they have their new Lee Enfield .303 SMLE rifles, reputed to fire up to 10 rounds per minute" was the reply.
"Well we must maintain the advance. Have II/IR72 attack the rail line and II/IR93 advance on Audregnies – Marche Schnell !!"

Meanwhile the first wave was in desperate hand to hand combat with the Hussars and Cheshires. Somehow they succeeded in driving back one Hussar squadron and taking a company of Cheshires in the flank, which made them retreat some distance to the rear.

The I/24th Artillery Abteilung floundered at the heavy losses they had suffered and withdrew from the fight (They were forced to withdraw due to high accumulated losses) and II/24th Artillery could only stand as fire from a British 18pdr battery (119 Bty RFA) fell around its guns. But then suddenly the fire slackened. "Hah the Tommies must be having a quick brew-up" thought Hildebrandt (The second tea break card finally arrived).

Hildebrandt's next emotion was hope as the next wave of his infantry arrived at the double and his heavy 150mm guns deployed along the Mons to Valenciennes highway, well back from the front lines (outside rifle range!). "This should give them something to think about" he muttered softly. (The German Blind card was first up that turn).



II/IR72 charged forward to engage the East Anglican battalion all along their positions along the rail line. The 7th company did well and took their objective, but the tough Tommie yeomen were in no mood to give much ground and saw off the rest of the German battalion. Even with the supporting fire from the newly arrived heavies was not enough to shift the Norfolks, though they were looking depleted themselves by the end of the fight.



II/IR93 advanced against the Cheshires and another dismounted cavalry regiment, the 9th Lancers which was deployed in and around Audregnies. But things on the right flank didn't go much better for the Germans. Repulsed and bombarded by British 13pdrs from L Battery RHA II/IR93 was also much reduced in strength in a short period of time.



The afternoon came and went on, III/IR72 and III/IR93 arrived along the MG companies , but these troops appeared deeply affected by the terrible losses suffered by their comrades as well as by intermittent fire from the Tommies, who now started to withdraw from the battlefield (The second tea break card came up early for the last two turns).

Hildebrandt sighed, his men had given their all and had, when called upon fought well enough, but he wasn't looking forward to reporting to his Corps Commander that evening at HQ. The British rear-guard had slipped away after giving 8th Infantry Division a very bloody nose. If he had learnt anything that day it was respect for the BEF and their "mad minutes" of rifle fire. Battlefield luck had not graced Hildebrandt's command today (My dice-rolling was borderline shocking!).

"Oh well, at least it will be all over soon and we will all be home by Christmas" was the Divisional Commanders final thought.

The German victory conditions called for them to exit 3 battalions above 50% off the south edge of the table. We finished by 3pm as there was no way that I could meet that target 

Thanks to Paul for being a willing yet wily opponent as usual  One day I might get to win one of my own scenarios...maybe 

For the record all the troops, walls and hedges are from Pendraken. The buildings are all Pauls apart from the two windmills which are from Leven Miniatures 6mm range.

[paulr]

Thanks again for a really interesting scenario

My dice rolling was consistent all weekend, as Peter says almost embarrassingly good 
I was also fortunate that when the Germans did have success it was right in front of the reserve infantry companies

The battle wasn't quite as one sided as Generalleutnant Hidebrandt felt and the British had a several tense moments
The 18^th Hussars and 1^st Norfolks both suffered heavy casualties and would have been cut off if the Germans had been able to press on

I'll be posting a report on the weekend

[paulr]

While you are waiting for my report here are some pictures of one of the other demonstration games







A 28mm refight of Wagram using Blackpowder I lost count at 18 6x4 tables

You can see one of the three trade stands at the convention in the back of the first two pictures

[toxicpixie]

Blimey, that's a big Wagram! (no snickering at the back!). Did it come to a conclusion?!

Also, your game sounds a dam' close run thing.  Very nice looking, sounds like plenty of interesting tactical decisions?

[Steve J]

Thanks for the pics. Wagram looks impressive, but I much prefer your game as I feel it's something we could all achieve.

[Roy]

top stuff, chaps. and nice photos.

As said, Wagram is impressive. But I sometimes wonder if huge games really do themselves justice, as there's too much to take in, or with the need of the big gap in the U-shaped table layout whether it just looks a bit odd to have a big battlefield (or two connecting small ones) which have a huge hole in the middle?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

  Superb looking games!

[paulr]

The Wagram game ran for two full days and from what I could see when we left near the end of day 2 they still had a way to go to reach a conclusion

The shape of the table fits the historic deployment at Wagram and also makes it physically possible to reach all the figures. They used the darker green table as a staging post for French reserves and probably any troops moving across the gap.

Definitely a massive undertaking that they have been working towards for years. The terrain alone took months to make. I believe it will be reused for an ACW game at some point

[paulr]

Action at Elouges – 24th August 1914 – Battle of Mons, day 2

1st Royal Norfolk Regiment and the 1st Cheshires with 119th Battery RFA, the force commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel CR Ballard of the Norfolks, had been moved forward from Divisional reserve. The infantry formed a line along part of the Elouges-Quiévrain railway and the hedges leading to the outskirts of Audregnies. The artillery deployed south of the Audregnies-Elouges road in support.

The 2nd Cavalry Brigade, Brigadier-General de L'Isle, had also been ordered to the same area. The 18th Hussars were advancing North West of Elouges. The 4th Dragoon Guards had arrived in Audregnies. L Battery RHA and 9th Lancers deployed along the Audregnies-Elouges road.

Two battalions of Germans attacked boldly from the north. One catching the 18th Hussars still mounted. The other attacked the right of the Cheshires. They were accompanied by two batteries of field guns which both unlimbered in close support.

The 18th Hussars rapidly dismounted, sought the cover of the nearby hedges and walls and opened fire on the advancing Germans. The right two companies of the Cheshires and the left company of the Norfolks fired on the other German battalion. The other two companies of the Norfolks poured rapid fire into the German gunners as they unlimbered only 600 yards away! 119th Battery RFA delivered effective fire against this battery destroying several guns and inflicting further heavy casualties. The German gunners desperately withdrew their surviving guns.



On the right the German infantry battalion assaulted the dismounted 18th Hussars, two of the three attacking companies were repulsed. However the left squadron and the MG section were forced to withdraw opening a gap between the 18th Hussars and the Norfolks.

In the centre another German battalion advanced and opened fire on the Norfolks. Behind them a battery of heavy guns unlimbered.

On the left the German infantry battalion, supported by field guns, assaulted the left company of the Norfolks and the right company of the Cheshires. The Norfolks held the line but the Cheshires company was forced to give ground. The Norfolks inflicted significant casualties on the retiring Germans and the reserve company of the Cheshires counter attacked to restore the line. 119th Battery RFA engaged the German field guns.

On the extreme left another German infantry battalion advanced past the Sugar factory down the road to Audregnies.



On the right half of the newly arrived German battalion was firing on the 18th Hussars and casualties were mounting on. Their left squadron and MGs were providing some supporting fire from the Audregnies-Elouges road but were unable to advance to restore the line.

In the centre the other half of the newly arrived German battalion assaulted two companies of the Norfolks. Both managed to repulse the German attacks but the centre company suffered further heavy casualties.

On the left the German field guns continued to fire on the Cheshires while 119th Battery RFA continued to provide counter battery fire. The German infantry battalion swung to its left to engage the Cheshires. L Battery RHA prepared to open fire.

Pressure was mounting all along the line and Lt-Colonel Ballard ordered both infantry battalions to withdraw south of the Audregnies-Elouges road. 119th Battery RFA was warned to prepare to withdraw. HQ 2nd Cavalry Brigade was trying to get orders through to 18th Hussars to also withdraw but the rapidly approaching German infantry and congestion along the Audregnies-Elouges road delayed these orders. (The HQ 2nd Cavalry Brigade card was not drawn for a couple of turns.)



On the right the isolated 18th Hussars had suffered almost 50% casualties and were now faced with the arrival of a German machine gun company.

In the centre the fire on the forward companies of the Norfolks was so heavy that they were pinned down unable to withdraw across the hedges and walls to their rear. They fired at the Germans to their front as best they could. The acting battalion commander disobeyed his orders to withdraw and directed the fire of the reserve company to provide as much assistance as possible. (The "Spunk" of the British units was good enough to allow local 'counter attacks'.)

On the left the counter battery fire by 119th Battery RFA forced the German field guns to withdraw. The German heavy guns opened fire on the Cheshires as the German infantry pressed on. The Cheshires withdrew in good order as L Battery RHA and the 4th Dragoon Guards open fired on the advancing German infantry.



At this point the Germans withdrew due to their heavy casualties. The British also withdrew, covered by the 9th Lancers, to new positions around Montignies having very successfully blunted the German advance.

Thanks again to Peter for a fascinating scenario and apologies for my embarrassingly good dice rolling.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

The miracle of Mons continues. Great report old chap, thank you.

[Techno]

 

...And some really impressive piccies !

Cheers - Phil