Monday 27 April 2009

The Gurkhas..

You've probably heard about this, with Joanna Lumley fronting the campaign. You can register your support for the Gurkha's by visiting this Site..
http://www.gurkhajustice.org.uk/
"The Government decision of 25th April 2009 on Gurkha settlement rights is yet another huge betrayal of the Gurkhas who have served our country."

Saturday 25 April 2009

Peninsular DBN Game..

Here's a Peninsular DBN game we had a while ago. As always with DBN rules, it's an easy set up, and a quick playing and free flowing game was had. The British/Allies were defending and so set up first, mostly behind the ridge line out of sight, and the French set up to attack.

Over to the French right was a defile, and the French moved quickly to secure it, with a column of light cavalry and infantry..

Whilst the main French force waited to assault the hill in the centre, fronted by lots of Light Infantry supported by Muskets and Artillery.


The French plan was to deny the Left flank, secure that defile on the Right, and to move the Lights quickly up to the ridge line in the Centre, then to be supported by Muskets ..the plan went well to begin with..


Lack of space hampered the French, as did lack of movement pips..(excuses excuses eh!)..which delayed the not very supporting Muskets..
The Lights swiftly secured the Ridge, but were left unsupported by the Columns behind, as the British Light Division moved in to take them on.
A general firefight ensued, with the British taking the broken ground. Being Lights Elite, this wasn't a problem for them.

Over on the Right, a Light Cavalry unit was pushed forward to nag at the British, and took a hit from the Artillery. Ouch!

So they quickly set upon the Spanish Militia, expecting an easy victory. Wrong! They were thoroughly slapped and destroyed in Close Combat.

In the centre, the British Lights firepower was decisive, taking out several French elements, but only after the French Lights had taken out some British Guards. For need of Control the French General made his way forward, settling into some rough ground..with staff, picnic tables and so on..

Which was a big mistake as some Guerrillas popped up..(He had been warned that this could happen before the game started!)..and promptly robbed, kidnapped and horribly bumped him off.

On the Right, the French column, headed by Elites, went in against the Artillery and Spanish Militia, causing and taking casualties.

Though being Horse Artillery, they could easily withdraw and fire.

Back in the centre, things went from bad, to worse, to awful (for the French)..as British reinforcements moved up in the background, French Light Cavalry took on the British Heavies..

And got totally trounced.

Whilst of the French Lights, only one clung to the hill top.

The main French Army, having lost its General, could not get moving at all, and had to endure the taunts of the Guerrillas relating to their General's sordid and untimely death. Rough bunch, those Spanish peasants.

Needless to say, the French lost decisively due to elements lost.
The British Commander, General Testopops, released the following report..
"What a battle, in years to come historians will write about it and ask that intriguing question why?
Why, when all was in the balance, did that great and experienced Marshal of France ‘Le Peeler of Eastern Ayton’ boldly (some say contemptuously) move with all his headquarter staff through that treacherous broken, rocky terrain, knowing that at any moment the wild, unkept and somewhat smelly Spanish Guerrillas could leap out and attack him, and as all historians will note, …. they did. His saving attempt was some what feeble (and some would say fatalistic) and the rest is history, he died an inglorious death at the hands and feet of the local Smelly Brigade. But it must be said that it was to the great delight and relief of his opponent, that great, great conqueror of giants ‘The Lord of North Bay Marshal Alexander’.
Battle honours must go to the French Light division who stormed up hill, held the high ground and made a mess of the limp wristed British Guards. Also honours to the highly skilled British Light Division who made themselves very much at home amongst the rocky outcrops of the high ground. The British 33rd Foot who held their ground and destroyed two French Light Regiments, the British Heavy Cavalry who did the same and finally the Bold, highly motivated French Grenadiers who stoically advanced into British Canister fire pushing back and badly shaking the British Artillery. What a battle."
Well, indeed it was. Poor Peeler, with cries of 'Yehaa you lost' still burning in his ears, could only thank his host for such an entertaining game, retire to his local hostelry, and partake of strongish beer to console himself.

Thursday 23 April 2009

St George's Day Today

"There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word,which means more to me than any other.That word is ENGLAND." - Sir Winston Churchill.
Naturally, the Flag was raised above Peeler Manor...

Sadly, there wasn't much wind about, but hey, being English, there's just no need to be too overt, no need for mass demonstrations nor too much display..
And here's a picture of Her Majesty, just for good measure, which hangs in the Peeler Dinning/Gaming Room ..

Here's a Link to The Royal Society of St George, an admirable and lovely Society to be a member of..
http://www.royalsocietyofstgeorge.com/index2.htm
So.. Happy and Loyal St George's Day wishes to you all.
God Bless Elizabeth, England and St George!

Regards,
Peeler

Saturday 11 April 2009

Day Out At Eden Camp..


With the boys being off school, we had ourselves a day out at the nearby Eden Camp, between Pickering and Malton. It was originally built during WW2 as a POW Camp, and still has the original buildings. It is a good historical venue, tempered for a 'family day out', and I think they've got the mix just right.
Each Hut has a different theme, be it Blitz, India, d-Day etc, with information and artifacts. It's not too heavy, and local schools use it a lot, to give children a basic understanding of WW2. There's also some pretty good vehicles and tanks..and a rather good 'NAFFI' with Churchill Pie, Dambuster Pudding and so on..and a good selection of liquid refreshments..
Around the Huts, and some displays..
German above, and British below, shows the difference in National Mood rather nicely..


A shop display of the period..a necessity for me, preferably with the tea car nearby, with pies available..

One of the Huts was done out as the internals of a U-Boat.
Whilst another was displaying the 'Black Out' during the Blitz..this one shows MiniPeeler standing in the corner, you can just make out his trainers glowing..
Various Military vehicles etc on site, which I'm sure I don't need to label..I particularly liked the last one. Sadly you aren't allowed to 'play on them', (we never really grow up do we!), but they are all in good condition.
All in all, a good day out was had, and at a mere £5 a head, it was well worth the money. Even the NAFFI was reasonably priced, and the scoff could not be faulted. If you're ever up this way, I'd recommend a visit.
Oh, and Welcome to David, latest 'Follower', hope you enjoy the Blog, and look forward to any comments you'd like to post.

Wednesday 1 April 2009

GdB Game

We had a General de Brigade Peninsular bash a while ago, at Peeler Mansions, on a four foot square table, using TSS boards and hills, random trees, and Old Glory 10mm figures. We kept it relatively small..for the French, 8 Btns in two Brigades, 2 Regt of lancers (one veteran), and 3 Batteries, for the Allies, 3 Btns of British (one elite) and 4 Btns of Spanish Infantry (all militia), with 2 Regts of Spanish cavalry in one Brigade (militia Lights), and 1 Regt of British Heavies in another, one Spanish and two British Batteries, with the usual Generals and skirmishers. I think around 1500 figures on the table. Allies defending, as a reargurad, French attacking. The French had a definite Quality advantage!

The Allies set up, with the British to the Right, Spanish to the Left, each flanked by their respective Cavalry supports. .


The French set up, with ,(from the Allied perspective), Cavalry to the Left, and an infantry Brigade each in the Centre and Right, both supported by Artillery.




The French advanced along the line as the Allies waited, taking of tobacco and munchies. The action began with a cavalry fight on the left, with one Regt on each side failing 'To charge' morale and Faltering. Not good for the French, but worse for the Spanish, being mere Militia. In they went, for a hack and slash experience.

The larger French Lancer Regt pushed the weaker Spanish Dragoons back to the rear, worrying the nearby Spanish Btns into square, and forcing the accompanying battery to deploy to face them.
And surprisingly, the other Spanish Regt mixed it quite well with the Veteran Vistula Lancers, both achieving 'push backs' over the next few moves melee, which went one way then the other.
In the Centre, the British skirmishers took on their French counterparts, ahead of a Brigade
formed up in column of attack...
..whilst the British Btns formed into line along the ridge, supported by artillery.
British skirmishers forced to retire before the oncoming columns..not a problem..
And the same view from the French side..
Back on the Left, the Vistula Lancers retired for the day, taking no further part in the game, as did the Spanish Dragoons..
And a Spanish square took heavy casualties from the French artillery, causing it to retreat altogether. In fact, apart from deploying the artillery, this was the only movement by the Spanish..the CinC couldn't get them to move, nor the Brigade General either. Useless!!
Having seen off the Vistula Lancers, and feeling all bullish, the remaining Spanish took on the other French Regt..and got trounced, routed, and chased around the table until they were worn out. But at least it kept the French lancers busy for a while!
On the Right, the British Heavy cavalry moved out to threaten the French 2nd Brigade, which was also coming on in column. This did halt them and forced them into square, but as the Heavies stood there looking threatening, but not really wanting to take on a square, they were taking casualties from skirmish fire..
So in they went, with a large Hurrah! And then a large 'bounce off' as the square held, and a quick trot back to where they'd started. Hey ho!
Back to the Centre, and just as the French columns go in against the British Lines, their supporting artillery manage to Falter the British Elite Btn. Hmm....things were looking bleak..
..but only resulted in a Pushback, so not too bad really...(being Elite, and uphill, helped)..
...but then, the other Column forced the British Line into a Retreat, whilst the Battery got pummelled by skirmish and artillery fire and was Faltered...Hmm, looking even more bleak then...
..but next round, and the Elites recovered to push the French back down the hill...whilst the Retreating British Btn degenerated into a Rout...'Oh For Flips Sake'...causing a Brigade Morale test...
A view of the same scene, from the French side..Looking Good!..
The dice roll on the aforementioned Brigade Morale test...causing it to Break, and Retire, off the table..gone..like it was never there..Leaving the remnants of the Heavy cavalry to the Right, and the 'We ain't moving' Spanish on the Left...
Needless to say, the British cavalry retired from the field in good order, covering the 'somewhat confused' British infantry Brigade. The Spanish Brigade just legged it, headed for the hills, discarding arms and equipment as they went. Apart from the Artillery, which let of a few rounds toward the French.
A victorious French Btn occupies the hill previously vacated by the Brits,
And French General R. De'Lord waves his arms around and shouts about how easy it was, and so on, in a typically French manner. The British General Peeler, showing great restraint, merely sighed, rolled a fag, and put the kettle on.