Editorial Contents

find that I must resort to Editorial 3 metaphor to convey what I’m Henry Hyde, UK feeling right now. How is it, I Seven Years’ War 250th Anniversary 4 Ihave asked myself many times, that a Bill Protz, USA woman can go through the agonies of Wargaming: how it all began 6 childbirth, the living hell that being Don Featherstone, UK the mother of a screaming newborn Marathon 490BC 10 is, enduring the sleepless nights, the Harry Pearson, UK snatched meals, the obliteration of Quick play Greeks v Persians rules 12 their social life for months, nay years Harry Pearson, UK at a time, only to put themselves A beginner’s guide to blogging 16 through it all again after what often Greg Horne, Australia seems like a cruelly short interval? Table Top Teaser: Pontoon 17 Don’t they remember what it was like? How can their brains suppress Brigadier(Ret’d) C S Grant, UK the memory of so much pain so quickly? The Wars of the Faltenian Succession 20 Well, let’s put it this way. Tomorrow morning, I’m having a baby. Henry Hyde, UK This first edition of Battlegames goes to press, where it will be Everything old is new again 22 introduced to the world via the midwife that is my favourite local Ross Macfarlane, Canada printers. It will emerge, blinking, in about ten days’ time, and then it Message in a battle 24 must make its own way. Phil Olley, UK Just like a new mother, I’ve not had much sleep lately! But it’s my Competition 26 own fault for having had this dream a long, long time ago. It was as Win yourself a JU52 if everything I’ve been doing up until now has led me to this point. The battle of Maldon AD991 27 And now there’s no turning back. Here it is. My baby. Battlegames. Dan Mersey, UK But, I have to tell you, it’s all been worth it. I’ve just put the To boldly go 31 finishing touches to my own Wars of the Faltenian Succession article, Guy Hancock, UK and for the first time, have been able to look up, take a breath, and Liebenau 1757 32 take in the view. Wow! I mean, if someone had told me six months Jim Purky (Der Alte Fritz), USA ago (because that’s all it was) that I would be putting the finishing Fog of War 34 touches to a magazine containing articles by Don Featherstone, CS Bob Barnetson, UK Grant, Mike Siggins, Stuart Asquith, Bill Protz, Jim Purky, Phil Olley, Brisk lads and by no means gummy: 37 Greg Horne, Ross Macfarlane, Al Birch, Guy Hancock, Dan Mersey, Alistair Birch, UK Bob Barnetson, Lee Hyde, Harry Pearson and me... Well,Sample the reply The file Charter Subscribers 40 would have been monosyllabic, wouldn’t it? A special ‘thank you’ from the Editor I hope you like my new baby. Like all babies, he’s learning to walk Forward Observer 41 and needs your help. He’s precocious, a bit cheeky, has a terrific Mike Siggins, UK sense of fun, doesn’t take himself too seriously, has quite a lot to say Recce 42 and a great spirit. The spirit of wargaming. Mike Siggins, Lee Hyde, Henry Hyde (all UK) Meanwhile, the hobby appears to be in rude health. We have more magazines than you can wave a stick at, with several of the best of them coming from mainland Europe; a plethora of figure scales and manufacturers from whom to purchase our wares; and the renaissance of simple, fun, ‘old school’ rules, bounce sticks, cannister Cover: Guy Hancock, normally to be found at the helm of pestilential hordes of cones and all. And now, here we are, the kind of wargaming magazine GW Skaven, sends roundshot ricocheting through the proud ranks of the Editor’s you never thought you’d see again, but always hoped you would. advancing army of Spencer-Smiths during a recent C18th encounter. Buikldings Finally, huge thanks to Steve, Guy, Mike, Stuart, Phil, Dave, scratch-built by the Editor. All of us at can be found ‘crossing the divide’ between Patrick, Bill and the guys at OSW for all your continuing support. historical, fantasy, fictitious, computer and board games at regular intervals, so And to my darling Annie for letting me be this mad. far without any ill effects! Photo by the Editor.

Battlegames magazine is a bi-monthly publication of Design, layout and typesetting by Henry Hyde in Adobe Fantasy & Sci-Fi Editor at 7 North Court, Hassocks, West Battlegames Ltd, 17 Granville Road, Hove BN3 1TG, East InDesign and Adobe Photoshop on Apple Mac G5 and G4. Sussex. Company No. 5616568. Set in Adobe Warnock Pro and Helvetica Neue. Sussex BN6 8JS Subscription enquiries should be addressed to the Editor or All content © Battlegames and its contributors. Strictly Photography by Henry Hyde using Fuji S7000 except where you can subscribe online. Current rates (as at October 2007) no reproduction without prior written consent. All rights otherwise credited. are £22.50 per annum post-free in the UK; EU £27.50; reserved. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the Rest of the World £34.50. individual authors concerned. Copy editing by Henry Hyde and Steve Gill All submissions and articles should initially be sent to the Editor: Henry Hyde, email [email protected], Printed originally by Litho Direct, Brighton. Editor and must be accompanied by an SAE if posted. We tel. 01273 323320 This PDF version is identical in all respects. recommend submission of articles via email. Battlegames takes no responsibility for unsolicited articles. Please apply Sub Editor: Steve Gill, email [email protected], Advertisers, contributors and businesses wishing to send for submission guidelines. We like to discuss your proposal tel. 01285 658483 samples for photography and review should contact the so that we can ensure your piece is suitable for inclusion. Editor. TRADE PLEASE NOTE: Battlegames does NOT ask Submission guidelines and technical specifications are also Fantasy & Sci-Fi Editor: Guy Hancock, its reviewers to contact companies direct unless by previous given on our website. [email protected], 01273 845164 arrangement authorised by the Editor in writing. Copyright for this PDF version © October 2007 Web: www.battlegames.co.uk All items relating to fantasy or sci-fi should be sent to our No resale or redistribution by any means.

Battlegames 3 Seven Years’ War 250th anniversary What shall we do to commemorate it?

frontage. By contrast, three ranks of twenty four Prussians stretch by Bill Protz out (at eight per rank) to 8” (200mm). This ⅓ extra for the bluecoats is a significant difference. Ought we not to simulate this? Other considerations involve a negative fire adjustment for the o you not know what time it is Sirs? You do not? Well then, it Austrians, because four-rank fire was more cumbersome than for is the 250th Anniversary of the Seven Years’ War. You know, three. On the other hand, a fourth rank might be an advantage in Frederick The Great, tricornered hats, linear battles, the age mêlée and in filling gaps in the first three ranks due to casualties. It ofD reason and all that. Though the SYW unofficially began in №rth might also receive greater fire losses. How can we simulate three and America in 1755, the official start was in August of the following four ranks lines? Here are three ways. year when Prussia invaded Saxony. Quickly escalating into a world 1. If you have BIG battalions of 32-60 individually-based war, the conflict ended seven years later. If we add 250 years to 1756- miniatures, form them into three ranks for the Prussians and four 1763, we arrive at our own time of 2006-2013. Let us therefore now for the Austrians. Easy. commemorate the era and prepare for new dynamics and products 2. If you have battalions in smaller numbers based in two ranks, to energize our hobby. There is not a minute to lose. simply merge two white-coated battalions as one battalion in Anniversaries are remembrances and opportunities to four ranks for the Austrians. For the Prussians, more creativity is contemplate and commemorate significant bygone events. In needed. Leaving them in two ranks claiming two equals three with our case for the SYW we might also consider adding changes an appropriate frontage extension is one possibility. Another is to and improvements in our war-games. If we go back three to four add a third rank from some single-rank units you may have, perhaps decades, we discover an initial impulse to immerse the hobby in the from any army of the era. A final option is to paint up additional SYW. At that time Brigadier Peter Young’s and Lieutenant Colonel miniatures basing them in one rank, perhaps temporarily posting James Lawford’s Charge! or How To Play War Games awakened us them to the third rank. to a charming and visually appealing means to conduct battlegames 3. If you have units based in single ranks, merge several units of the mid-late 18th century. Charles Grant, Sr. further reinforced together so a three and four rank deep line will look right. Converged this offensive by means of his classic The War Game with additional battalions of this type might look their best if there are twenty-four appealing systems. Thanks to their groundbreaking, thought- to thirty-six miniatures in them. provoking and charming prose, supplemented by inspiring visual Returning to the question of frontage, we might benefit from images and entertaining personalities, generations since continue the following deeper analytical comparison. In this case, let us to wargame this era. As their descendants, perhaps we should use contemplatively base five infantry battalions, each of twenty four the 250th anniversary of the SYW to explore new possibilities. For a individual miniatures, on ¾”x ¾ ” (20mm x 20mm) bases. moment, let’s do that now. Then you can take it from here. It’s your Five Austrian battalions in four ranks with a 1” (25mm) interval commemoration, after all. Sampleper filebattalion occupy 26.5” (673mm). Five Prussian battalions in three ranks with a 1” (25mm) interval (A) BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ, 1st OCTOBER 1756/2006 per battalion occupy 34” (864mm). This was the first major battle of the European war. In an attempt to For the moment, we leave the individual wargamer and rules relieve the besieged Saxon Army at Pirna, the Austrians lured the smithy with these interesting and somewhat tormenting historical Prussians to battle so that a relief column, using legerdemain, could issues. But let not your hearts be troubled. It is only something new break through to the Saxons to help their escape. This affaire de la to try. Be energized with the history of it and with what you can now guerre offers possibilities and a new (perhaps shocking) historical do. Try it. Commemorate it. But, what else can we do? dynamic for us to simulate. First, engage yourselves in the appealing history of the era if you need it. Second, uncover orders of battle, terrain and circumstances of this small and therefore doable campaign. Third, fight various portions of the battle of Lobositz with an extra ‘what if’ little battle involving the relief column fighting its way through to Pirna while the Saxons try to break out. Now for the new and perhaps shocking historical dynamic to try. Some may flinch, but Sirs, it is an historical fact not to be casually cast away, if you please. While it is perhaps widely known that from 1740-42 Prussian infantry battalions formed three ranks deep, it is generally not known that Austrians deployed in four. Not until 1757-1758 did they adopt three-rank lines. Even then, the Austrian three-deep line was not universally accepted. There was switching back and forth, apparently until 1759. A four-rank line is therefore something new to try. If we contemplate the mathematics of battalion frontage using a simple 1” (25mm) per miniature, an Austrian battalion of twenty Potsdam Garde Grenadiers and IR#1 Winterfeldt on parade. Bill often four miniatures four ranks deep (six per rank) needs a 6” (150mm) renames them The Protzdam Garde Grenadiers and IR von Bungle.

4 Battlegames (B) BATTLES YEAR BY YEAR 1756-1763/2006-2013 THE authority on the SYW, Duffy’s works will add new details, lustre Each year until 2013 recreate historical battles and/or ‘what if’ and dynamics to flavour our battlegames with the unique spice of the engagements. There are plenty to inspire us. In 1757 alone, Prussian era. His works about Austria, Prussia, Russia, sieges and the time- players will no doubt be especially inspired by the outstanding period in general offer an enormity of data that no one dreamed of victories of Rossbach then Leuthen. However, those on the having decades ago. Indeed, he has rewritten and added to his major historically defeated side need not be disconsolate. Let’s give them works about Austria and Prussia in recent years. More is to come. cause for hope, offering some offsetting advantages, so their doom Earlier I referred to three and four ranks of infantry in the is not inevitable. Austrian and Prussian service. I hesitate to say it, but the Russian For example, let us imagine that Spörcken’s Brigade of English drill manual of December 1755 allowed both to be used. The French and Hanoverian battalions at Minden might be more hotly engaged maintained three ranks, as did the English. However, in North by French artillery on their way to overturn the massive enemy America redcoat ranks were reduced from three to two in 1759 and cavalry force posted in the center of the French line of battle in 1759. 1760. Frederick would reduce infantry to two ranks when he had In a more weakened state, they might not be so invincible. Perhaps manpower shortages, reverting back to three as fast as he could. we could ignore Spörcken completely and let de Broglie launch his Cavalry presents similar issues. British and French cavalry plus aborted attack on the Allied left flank instead. Prussian hussars used two ranks. Austrian, Prussian and Russian Another ‘what if’ would be to let the Russians actually do medium and heavy horse used three ranks. The Austrians and something when temporarily allied to the Prussians for two months Prussians would drop down to two if there were shortages. in 1762. Still, there is plenty of history to simulate whether in the This all leads to the perhaps troubling thought that some of our Old World or New. Do we not find preparing for such war-games more abstract organizational structures are not as historical or energizing? flexible as they could be. How can we simulate two, three or four ranks without some sort of change? (C) CONVENTION AND SHOW THEMES Reorganization might be the answer. This would allow Conventions and shows might consider featuring the SYW as a opportunities for two, three or even four ranks. For some, this will prominent portion of programming. Thematic battles year by year increase table size. For example, a battalion of twelve 15mm infantry as suggested earlier might be just the thing. Otherwise, a painting now one rank deep might utilize a 6” (150mm) frontage. Add only contest might ask participants to enter competition for the most twelve more miniatures for a total of twenty-four and deploy in three striking wargame unit, diorama or structure by scale. Suitable awards ranks. Frontage reduces from 6” (150mm) to 4” (100mm). You get from vendors might sweeten the arrangement. All would enhance more beautiful miniatures that look historically correct, can do more wargamer enthusiasm because it is something new to do. There will historical evolutions and, in a way, you acquire an extra ⅓ in table be mercantile benefits too. space because of frontage reductions. Not bad. A last thing is a hope someone will republish these classic books (D) NEW SYW MINIATURES? in original format for the 250th: Charge! or How To Play War Games; Manufacturers should use the 250th Anniversary to improve and The War Game; and Sir Reginald Savory’s His Britannic Majesty’s expand lines of SYW miniatures. Business owners can tap into Army In Germany During The Seven Years’ War. production and marketing possibilities so they can commemorate the SYW in their own special ways too. CONCLUSION I have long thought sculptors might consider researchingSample drill Well, file Sirs, the opportunity to commemorate the SYW during the books of the era to find new and more accurate poses. For just one next seven years is up to you. Whether you do nothing or something example, French battalion officers below the rank of lieutenant is your call as it should be. No one ought to criticize you if you elect colonel began carrying muskets sometime in 1758; earlier in North to soldier on sans change, just as no one should hold back others America. The official pose was to carry the musket straight up and who want to cross and explore new frontiers. A renaissance in this down on the left side of the body with the left arm fully extended fascinating period is hopefully in the offing. There are so many down with the hand on the lock. advantages to be obtained, even if it is to only put a new coat of Strange, inhuman, stout, pumpkin-headed and inaccurate poses paint on old, battered uniforms. New contemplations, dynamics, should be retired in favour of better ones. I am thinking first of the miniatures, systems and so forth will hopefully arise to energize gorgeous Front Rank 28mm French guards infantryman who should wargamers, conventions, retailers and manufacturers. It’s really all not be at ‘shoulder arms’ with the trigger guard facing the foe. It up to us. should be reversed. Regarding Prussian tricornered hats, Professor Christopher Duffy remarks several times in recent writings that the Books by Christopher Duffy front should rise at 45 degrees to the peak and not almost straight up Instrument of War, Vol 1: The Austrian Army in the Seven Years War as is so fashionable among manufacturers. I say, lop off their heads Prussia’s Glory: Rossbach and Leuthen and put accurate hats on them! Russia’s Military Way to the West Seven Years’ War re-enactors very familiar with period drill The Army of Frederick the Great, 2nd edition manuals would be a good source for historical poses. Another is the The Military Experience in the Age of Reason striking mounted officer pose of the Prince August 40mm range. The Military Life of Frederick the Great His sword is pointed straight forward as he looks directly back at Osprey Publishing Company his men. He is all business and ought to be made in smaller scales. Search their website for booklets too numerous to list for battle and Though we all love the advancing pose with muskets poised forward campaign histories, garments, gear and organization. at a forty-five degree angle, ‘march attack’ was, in reality, de rigueur. Seven Years’ War Association Two journals annually, many books for sale and the annual (E) NEW SYW DYNAMICS convention. Rulesmiths are very fortunate to have numerous and highly detailed Main website: www.sevenyearswarassociation.com/ historical books by Professor Christopher Duffy to mine. Considered Also for the UK: www.philmac.demon.co.uk/sywa.html

Battlegames 5 Wargaming: how it all began Fond memories of the early days of the modern hobby

classical contributions to the art of hand-typed and duplicated journal with by Donald Featherstone remaining young despite one’s years! separate photographs stuck in each copy. No longer did my armies of Britain’s I can recall sitting up in bed reading it 54mm soldiers mill around on the floor until my wife rebelled, then waking at argaming, that bloodless in semi-purposeless conflict. Now the dawn to continue in the early light of but inspiring military Battle of Hook’s Farm was fought, first day! Such enthusiasm might be hard to preoccupation, has caused to Wells’ rules and then, for the first imagine now, but both Tony and I became Wthe years to pass so rapidly that often I time, I began adapting and amending increasingly restless as the time came ask myself, “what on earth would I have someone else’s rules to suit my own round for our copies of Wargames Digest done with my life if I had not discovered temperament and inclinations. That to fall through the letterbox and phones wargaming?’” Certainly, there would be first adventure was perhaps the greatest rang between us anxiously enquiring a grave shortage of warm and humorous stimulus of my wargaming career; since if there was any news. Even today, re- memories, an undoubted dearth of good then, there have been others, mainly reading those tattered old magazines is friends and acquaintances, and an existence personality stimuli in the form of other both stimulating and helpful, many of far less full and colourful than has been wargamers, early pioneers who, whilst the ideas and suggestions put forward the case. Counting childhood floor games raising the hobby from a childish by its worldwide handful of wargaming with Britain’s 54mm soldiers and not pastime, gladly gave much of themselves subscribers continue to hold merit. cheating by including those years when, in the form of help, experience and As the hobby got into its stride, other in uniform, I participated in the greatest knowledge to their fellow-hobbyist. journals began to appear and it is an wargame of them all, I have been fighting High on the list was American Jack interesting reflection that there were battles with model soldiers for more than Scruby, whose home-produced magazine as many purely wargaming magazines three-quarters of my life. Looking back Wargames Digest reincarnated thirty circulating in those days as exist today. on it all, undoubtedly the pioneer days years later those same thrills experienced When Jack Scruby ceased producing of more than 50 years ago were the most when first discovering the book Little Wargames Digest from America, Tony interesting, yet the greatest stimulus wars. This occurred at the same time as Bath and I coedited it in this country, while occurred some 25 years before that – and I encountered my very first wargames Jack put out another journal Tabletop it is doubtful if today’s wargamers can opponent – Tony Bath (who sadly died Talk. Then came my own Wargamers ever achieve anything so exciting and in 2000, a great loss to the hobby and Newsletter, beginning in April 1962 and momentous as those schoolboy discoveries to those who knew him). He lent me published regularly each month without in the local library when first encountering the first four copies of this wonderful a single omission for 18 years until, in H.G. Wells’ classic book Little Sample file January 1980, when it was being Wars, and Robert Louis Stevenson’s published by Tradition of London, Yallobelly Times, later immortalized it fell victim to rising costs of by Lloyd Osbourne’s Stevenson at production and inadequate Play, first published in Scribner’s support from the people for Magazine in December 1898. whom it was written. It is an These two great British writers indication of changing attitudes were a pair of eternal boys who, that, in the early days, the majority back in the misty realms of of wargamers supported these nostalgically peaceful days more magazines by both subscribing than 100 years ago, pioneered to them and contributing regular games of battles with model articles – some of them being soldiers, controlled by ingenious the truly classical literature of rules to which practically every the hobby (remember “At the set of rules since conceived owes Colonel’s Table”?). But later, something. Quickly realising that when there came rushing into Wells had answered most of my the hobby enthusiasts lacking the miniature battlefield problems, ‘traditional’ background, there was his book became my Bible: the a marked disinclination to spend immense thrill of discovering it cash on anything but actual model perhaps only matched by that of soldiers! My own son represented later years when I realised there this group – he never once read was another sex called girls and a copy of Wargamers Newsletter that they were different to boys. nor a single one of my many At the time, I did not realise that published wargaming books! these literary efforts represented, At first, the very scarcity of so far as I am concerned, The late Jack Scruby of California, veteran American wargamer fellow wargamers – only the

6 Battlegames most fortunate possessed a local and a fine large table in a opponent – made friends of us huge attic at the top of his all, so that men from many walks gracious house in Dover. of life and of all conceivable types As I write, I can still sense the and temperaments gladly gave excitement, the glow of pleasure advice by letter or telephone, at those wonderful weekends, loaned books, and made models when we wargamed – and argued for the less skilful. When a – with Charles and his son, with gathering was planned, every one Peter Young at his house near of the known wargamers broke the Royal Military College at blood vessels to be present and, Camberley, where he headed at the very first ever Wargames the History Department. He Convention held in my house was noted for his huge table, so (luckily, a large Victorian one large that it was not physically then) in Southampton in about possible to reach the middle, so 1960, I think every known there was a hatch which opened wargamer (except Ed Saunders Don wargaming with Brigadier Peter Young up in the centre of the table and from Taunton, who was a bit of a troops moved thus. I can picture loner) attended. Some travelled down from held at which prizes were given for such Peter’s round, white-moustached face Yorkshire, others from the West Country, stimulating things as those wives who appearing like a pantomime demon from the late Charles Grant Snr. came from regularly wargamed with their husbands beneath the table, and one had to watch Kent, and others from London, to compete – and a special prize for any wife who out for his sharp practice of disturbing in a ‘Pairs Wargame Championship’ when had beaten her husband (there was one formations and replacing them – to his Stan Aspinall from Huddersfield and myself – I think it was Mary Bath). The London opponent’s invariable disadvantage! defeated Charlie Grant and Bill Mell in Wargames Club won the trophy and the Brigadier Young was a benevolent the final. It was marked by the presence custom originated of the winners hosting autocrat who liked to win and amid his of one of the real veteran wargamers, the following year’s Championships. ploys was the use of frequent drinks to who had been fighting tabletop battles A most stimulating practice that holds bemuse his opponents; it seemed the rules before World War Two – evidently they nostalgic memories was the way the few were made up as the battle progressed, paid off, because Brigadier Peter Young existing wargamers travelled up and invariably ton his advantage. One DSO, MC, etc., became a world-famous down Britain to stay with each other for occasion remains in my memory, when commando leader and perhaps Britain’s wargaming weekends. Because only a lucky he umpired a battle in which I fought a most decorated soldier of the Second few had so far found local opponents, these pair of Territorial Army lads, who stood World War. I had read of him and here he visits represented the only real personal to attention whenever addressed by Peter. was, wargaming on my table and eating in contact with others of like interests, Unfortunately, my lack of similar deference my house. Oh, what a glow it all produced! often men who had been at it longer, or seemed to fuel the umpire’s venom towards The following year, we branched out and possessedSample specific talents so file that talking me and my protests were met with a bland: held a small convention at a local hotel. to them usually revolutionised one’s whole “If you wish to appeal, make it in an official About 20 came, including Ted Suren (later approach to the hobby. Visiting – or having manner.” On each and every occasion, of ‘Willie’ figures); David Chandler; Peter a guest – kindled enthusiasm resembling the answer was: “Appeal dismissed! Carry Young; the late Charles Grant and his son those of supporters of Manchester on as before!” It was a large and very (now a Brigadier and contributor to this United. For weeks we corresponded and impressive wargame, using vast quantities magazine); plus about four of us in the area. exchanged maps, plans and details of the of terrain materials, etc., borrowed from The talks were good and informative, the forthcoming battle; although we worked Sandhurst, with a cunning narrative that wargaming stimulating; the social features on the principle that it was fought under forced me to employ half my 18th century included a recreation of Wells’ famous the host’s house rules, often they were army rescuing the Captain-General’s Battle of Hook’s Farm, using photographs amended by mutual consent to suit the mistress from a castle behind enemy from his book Little Wars on an overhead conflict we had in mind. This was necessary lines and escorting her coach to safety! projector, while a background narrative was because it was absolutely essential that that One of the most gifted of the early read from the book. From what was learned particular wargame should be a success, wargamers was Ed Saunders, whose here originated the first ever National that it should not flop or fall short of our enthusiasm knew no bounds. So much so Wargames Championships Conventions, expectations – and rarely did they! that, desiring a wargames room and not where a silver salver presented by Airfix On the appointed day, one set off having one in his small Taunton house, Productions Ltd was fought for and, to drive to some distant place – 500 he burrowed beneath the foundations to I believe, is still the trophy annually miles round-trips in a weekend were dig a subterranean cavern with earthen contested. In point of fact, that salver was commonplace! Our army was carefully walls entered by a hole hacked in the placed in my custody and I suppose legally packed in a protective case, if it was to house brickwork at ground level! Fighting this is still the case – I wonder who has be a challenge game between his and down there was an indication of what it it now? Anyway, this affair was attended your forces, although I always found must have been like to be buried alive! by about a hundred wargamers from all it stimulating to play with the host’s Here I fought on the first sandtable of over the country and we took over the armies, for a change. This was particularly my acquaintance, that led to me making Cotswold Hotel in Southampton where applicable when visiting the late Charles one for myself, but they take a long time visitors stayed and where a dinner was Grant, who had large numbers of troops to set up and figures get lost in the sand,

Battlegames 7 so that machine-gunners of long-past slashing at us with sabres – arousing even face of difficulties, discouragement and battles tend to tun up in the middle more laughter. Unfortunately, it was all often downright sneering. The drive home of an Ancient or Napoleonic affair. too much for Bill, who glared at us before was made bearable by minds brimming At this time, an amusing incident firmly grasping the table and tipping it up over with new ideas for improving our occurred when another colourful character, so that soldiers, houses, trees, roads, rivers armies, our terrain, our rules and the Bill Gunson, built himself a sandtable. and so on and so forth, cascaded down hobby in general; and in bed that night, Home on leave from Kuwait where he upon peter and I in what we claim must be sleep came slowly despite fatigue, as our was in the oil business, Bill rented a house the only occasion when wargamers have overworked minds mulled over tactical on the seafront at a little Welsh village literally been ankle-deep in model soldiers! mistakes, controversial rule interpretations near Portmadoc and promptly annexed a I always enjoyed wargaming against and plans for the next meeting. first-floor bedroom as a wargames room. the late Peter Gilder, a shrewd general It could be that the sole common factor Knocking together a sturdy timber table, who deployed superbly modelled and existing between those far-gone days and he and a helper, using a bucket and a painted armies on the most breathtaking the present is the time one needs to take long rope, drew up countless buckets of terrain. For many years, when he lived in up with the hobby, because it truly seems sand from the beach below and heaped Norfolk, we had an annual wargaming that today’s wargamer only needs sufficient it onto the table, until ceasing wearily for date after I had done a stint of lecturing financial resources and he can build up lunch in the room below. Midway through athletics coaches at Loughborough wonderful armies of any scale, period and the meal, the ceiling above began to sag and made my devious way home via type. Early wargamers fought their battles through the weight of the table and its his house. The first of them was a large with an astonishing variety of figures and nine-inch depth of sand. Hastily thrown American Civil War game, using Airfix armies, few alike in any shape or form, the from the window whence it had arrived, figures but, as it was before they issued only basic resemblance being their small the sand returned to the beach much more their range for that war, Peter had done scale – and even so, we were often forced to quickly and easily than it had come up! some amazing conversions on hundreds mix figures of different sizes in somewhat What can be classed as one of of quite different types. A feature of the grotesque arrays. In the very beginning, wargaming’s legends occurred in that game was a magnificent terrain piece it was medieval battles using Tony Bath’s house, when Bill entertained Peter Gilder about two feet square – a harbour and 54mm figures, a scale used by few today, from Norfolk, Gibb McCall (a crime writer surrounding hills. I praised it and, with although Ken Brooks, a President of the on the Manchester Daily Mail) and myself typical generosity, Peter presented it to Wessex Military Society in the late 1970s, from Southampton. Driving about 275 me. I still use it and it has featured in carried out thoughtful tactical exercises miles to that place, I was conscripted into illustrations in some of my books. Always with exquisitely converted and painted a tabletop battle within minutes of arrival open-handed, Peter gave, or sold to me 54mm Napoleonics and British colonials. and was desperately trying to keep awake at ridiculously low prices, a number of Of course, Mike Blake, Ian Colwill and at about 3 a.m. when it was still going on. his beautifully painted regiments which the late Steve Curtis brought a completely Bemused by fatigue and the complexity of remain among my most favoured units. new dimension to those large-scale figures, the rules, cravenly I sought my converting them astonishingly bed by recklessly throwing my for their stimulating Individual entire army into a suicidal flank Sample file Skirmish Wargames – even sexy attack that I hoped would end the saloon girls emerged from a team game – the crazy rules ensured of Airfix 1:32 scale footballers! that I did, and we won! Next We battled with whatever we day there was an acrimonious could buy, swop or make and one rules discussion after breakfast wonders how many of today’s before beginning the huge battle wargamers actually make their planned, with Bill’s hundreds own figures. In the beginning, of Hinton Hunt Napoleonics, we slaved over hot stoves more plus those of Peter Gilder, who often than our wives, only partnered me against Bill and we were dangerously casting Gibb McCall. After many hours otherwise unobtainable figures of inconclusive combat, Bill in molten metal. There was an charged our Light Division (some immense satisfaction on prising 150 riflemen), snugly firing from from the mould a pristine silver behind a stone wall, with about casting, tempered somewhat 400 French cavalry – but alas, his on surveying the surrounding judgement of distance was at fault The first ever wargames convention, Southampton 1959 of flash that we knew had to be and he ended up with hordes of laboriously filed away before cuirassiers, chasseurs, lancers, dragoons Perhaps wargamers still visit each the figure could be painted. Most of us and hussars about half an inch from the other for enjoyable weekends, but it is made moulds out of Plaster of Paris (this wall. Subsequently, when he announced doubtful their trips mean as much to was before the boon of Silastomer) that that they were méléeing our riflemen, Peter them as ours did to us, when there were rapidly degenerated and crumbled so that and I howled with derision and pointed so few wargamers in the country that each successive casting bore an increased out that they had not reached the target. we all knew each other! More than just halo of surplus metal or flash. Attempts This did not deter Bill, who claimed they wargames, these occasions gave us heart to ‘patch’ the mould seldom worked. The were leaning over their horses’ heads, to soldier on in our own lonely way, in the more skilled also made their own original

8 Battlegames