OK burning midngiht oil but here is a AAR that I wrote up after our fictional game on Saturday from the British point of view. Its a bit tongue in cheek but it hopefully reflects the nature of the game.
Thanks to Paul R and Roy for their support on my ITLSU journey.
The newly promoted commander of the 26th (Mixed) Brigade, Brigadier Bertie Bowler (late of the Loyal North London Regiment), regarded his officers as they gathered round the table in his temporary Brigade HQ in the small town of Arretez.
"Slightly different routine tomorrow, gentlemen" he smiled, waving the fresh orders just in from GHQ. "26th Brigade is to stand fast here round Arretez for a while, to enable the rest of IV Corps to break contact with the Boche and continue the retirement towards Paris"
Lt Col Lilywhyte, CO of the 3rd (Tottenham Volunteers) Battalion, Loyal North London Regiment spoke first "My lads are keen to see action Sir, will you need us to defend the town itself?"
"Yes Lilywhyte, great minds think alike" grinned the Brigadier "but I'd like one company of the Loyals with an MG section out at La Vache Farm to support the Gunners".
"I think you might have a job getting many of the Tottenham lads to support the Gunners back home Sir" observed Captain Scarlett dryly. The jovial X Battery RHA commander's unit was normally based at Woolwitch Arsenal in peacetime. "But out here, they'll be most welcome".
"I'm sure they'll get on alright when it comes to fighting the enemy, Scarlett" nodded the Brigadier.
He turned his attention to the tall and immaculately turned out figure of Lt Col Carter, CO of the 19th Lancers, the other regular unit in the brigade. "Now the 19th will be bivvyed to the south of the town, that way you can cover either road from the North when the time comes tomorrow. I shall need you to make sure that our line of retirement to the bridge over the River Grotty is kept open till the rest of the brigade can withdraw".
"Understood, Sir" replied Carter "the Lancers won't let you down"
"Well then Gentlemen, I think that about covers things" said the Brigadier, bringing his orders group to a close "The very best of luck tomorrow to you all, it's sure to be an eventual day".
-------
The Brigade stood to early the next morning. The watery sun rose into a clear sky, but a heavy mist obscured the landscape completely. In his HQ Brigadier Bowler paced patiently, drinking several steaming mugs of tea produced at regular intervals by his batman, but if the enemy was out there in the mist they were not obvious. Then around 9am the mist lifted quickly and suddenly runners were in all at once – from the Loyals "Uhlans and Jagers to the north of the town"; from Lt Col Carter's Lancers "enemy cavalry regiment spotted making for the bridge". Bowler ordered the Loyals to hold the town and engage the enemy to the north while the Lancers were to move against the enemy cavalry they had spotted to the east of the town. They were to counter-attack locally if required to keep the road open for the later withdrawal of the brigade.
The Loyals bought the dismounted Uhlans under fire, while to the west X Battery RHA and the detached D Coy of the Loyals opened up on the Jagers advancing through a large cornfield to their front, decimating the front ranks and forcing them to retire. The Loyal's Maxim MG section cutting large gaps in the ranks of the unfortunate Germans. To the east Lt Col Carter wheeled A and B Squadrons of his regiment round to the east to tackle the German cavalry, now identified by their uniforms to be a Cuirassier regiment. After a desultory exchange of long range fire it was clear that rifle fire alone would not deter the Germans from their intent of capturing the bridge over the River Grotty.
"Bugler sound 'mount' " ordered Carter crisply.
While C Squadron held to protect the eastern edge of the town the other two squadrons closed rapidly with the Cuirassiers, some of whom who could be seenwheeling to meet the onrushing British cavalry, while one squadron galloped on, determined to cut off the Englanders line of retreat. "Sound the charge" bawled the Colonel just before the two forces collided. On the left B squadron swept all before them, shocked German survivors riding out of the action as fast as their mounts could go. On the right however A squadron met its match, the proud Cuirassiers forcing them back.
Brigadier Bowler now considered his position carefully. The Germans had been held off by the Loyals some distance from the town itself, and seemed content to exchange fire. In the west the Jagers were beginning to show some aggression after their early drubbing , while the Lancers were fully engaged with the enemy to the east of the town. He decided that he had met his orders to hold the town. IV Corps had its good head start and now, with his line of retreat threatened, it was time to begin withdrawing his brigade. He located Lt Col Lilywhyte and gave the order to begin vacating Arretez. He also ordered his signallers to get through to X battery and D Coy of the Loyals at La Vache Farm with the order to retire as well.
To the north, German units, constricted by the limited road network, continued to arrive as the action went on. A newly arrived artillery battery pummelled the 19th Lancers unmercifully as they attempted to rally, leaving Lt Col Carter with barely a single squadron of horsemen fit for action.The German Jagers now also advanced boldly to the edge of the cornfield and bought X Battery under a withering fire, forcing the RHA gunners to quickly limber up and retire, leaving one gun damaged and abandoned.
The Loyals quickly formed up in extended formation outside Arretez and proceeded down the road to the south with Brigadier Bowler and his brigade HQ in their midst. Blocking their way was the remaining squadron of German Cuirassiers. Not to be easily dissuaded Lt Col Lilywhyte halted his battalion and ordered "10 rounds rapid fire". The virtually intact Loyals opened fire on the enemy with a hail of rifle and MG fire as if they were a regular regiment, destroying the hapless German unit in minutes.
The line of retirement for 26th Brigade lay open to the south. Brigadier Bowler was satisfied that he had carried out his orders, and his men had more than done their duty. He decided to allow himself something a bit stronger than tea to drink wherever the Brigade bivvyed that night.
Very nice. Only pictures would have improved it (hint, hint) :)
Seconded. ;)
Cheers - Phil
Quote from: Ithoriel on 26 May 2014, 01:23:27 PM
Very nice. Only pictures would have improved it (hint, hint) :)
This was a game to test the rules before we invested in the figures using cardboard cut outs, with some very well done graphics, so pictures would not be up to our normal standard
Quote from: pierre the shy on 26 May 2014, 12:14:11 PM
Thanks to Paul R and Roy for their support on my ITLSU journey.
Your very welcome, it looks as though it is going to be a very enjoyable journey in a period I had previously written off :)
Great AAR although the Germans saw it slightly differrently :)
They caught the British rearguard off balance and forced it out of Arretz with heavy loss ;D
Some pictures of last Saturdays game as requested.
This was a test game so just using card counters at this stage.....to be replaced by proper figures sooner than later.
Game next Saturday will be Palestine 1917.
Nice pics - easier to picture the action now.
Cheers
You might want a few walls and hedges in there, guys. Give the troops something to hide behind. :)
Quote from: Hertsblue on 29 May 2014, 08:07:25 AM
You might want a few walls and hedges in there, guys. Give the troops something to hide behind. :)
I KNEW someone would say that :D
after looking at the pics I have to agree that from what I have seen of Northern France that hedges/fences round the fields and maybe tree lined roads are needed.
Noted for next game.
Cheers
PTS
Great report, sounds spot on! 8)
Small hint for Bowler in future, British doctrine in 1914 was to dig in IN FRONT of buildings as the buildings were considered too easy a target! :)
Quote from: Hertsblue on 29 May 2014, 08:07:25 AM
You might want a few walls and hedges in there, guys. Give the troops something to hide behind. :)
We treated the fields as low cover. As it was a test game without figures we didn't worry too much about ascetics ;)
As Peter noted we will try harder next time we are in France :)
On to Palestine tomorrow night :D
You blokes really get around! ;)
Quote from: paulr on 29 May 2014, 07:58:42 PM
We treated the fields as low cover. As it was a test game without figures we didn't worry too much about ascetics ;)
As Peter noted we will try harder next time we are in France :)
On to Palestine tomorrow night :D
Good job there were no Tibetan monks involved then.
Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics ...
=O =O =O =O :-bd
looks like someone has a stuck keyboard......been typing MacBeth perhaps...
IanS
We can forgive the odd tpyo....
Quote from: paulr on 26 June 2014, 09:01:43 AM
Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics Aesthetics
Ohhhhh.....I thought you meant to say "we didn't worry too much about AZTECS".
I must get a new pair of glasses. :D
Cheers - Phil
You used the A word. Leon - bar him.
IanS
Were Aztec officers called centurions by any chance?
Only when they'd hit the hundredth run..... :D
I'm sticking pins in a lot of voodoo dolls....
Wondered why my back had cleared up, free acupuncture! :D
10mm voodoo dolls?