The Friends of General Haig

FOGH Club Games – Saturday 24th February 2024

Three games, in three different scales, and three different periods this week.

54mm Mexican v. United States at The Alamo – “Come and take it!” rules from The Courier

A superb rendition of this classic battle, this time in 54mm. A full description of the armies, terrain and game is blogged here: https://jameswargamingweirdness.blogspot.com/2024/02/54mm-alamo-wargame-battle-report.html. In brief, two unsuccessful assaults were made by the Mexican besiegers that were both seen off by the Texan defenders, but only just. As game time ran out the Texans had to spike their guns and retire to the chapel, in effect sealing their fate. A game heartily enjoyed by all the players and a fabulous achievement getting the project successfully on to the table.

28mm English Civil War – Warlord Games Pike & Shotte

A first run out for a new collection. Set in 1643, in the North of England, with an army of Parliament holding a ridge and the road to Leeds. The Royalist army needed to cross the river in force to try to get to Leeds and support the Royalist garrison there besieged. A classic ECW encounter ensued with cavalry deployed on both flanks. As the Royalist army advanced, with the Newcastle Lambs at the centre, the Parliamentary forces took up a defensive position at a sunken road protecting the two routes to Leeds. Royalist attack stalled under a hail of musketry forcing the commander to commit the cavalry on both flanks . After the thunder of hooves, the dust settled, and to the surprise of everybody the superior Royalist cavalry are were more! Although the Parliamentary centre was broken, a blunder by the Lambs into the remaining Parliament musketry was too much for the Royalist army in its turn, who were forced to retreat back across the river leaving the defenders of Leeds to their fate.

15mm ‘Epic’ Scale Napoleonic French & Saxons v Prussians – Warlord Games Black Powder

The Saxons and French pushed against the Prussians during the War of Liberation and stopped them crossing the stream. The Saxon Guard Grenadiers led the charge but were shattered by plucky Prussian reserve infantry.

FOGH Club Games – Saturday 10th February 2024

Once again, three games at club that spanned the globe and centuries.

28mm American Civil War – Black Powder with Glory Hallelujah by Warlord Games

Many thanks to Andy L for the full battle run-down …

The boys from Louisiana came forward to catch the federals on the hop. Hoping to catch the Federals by advancing through the cover of the woods, their position was given away when their artillery, rather then moved forward and unlimber, instead lost control after a blunder and rushed forward finishing just in front the hastily formed Federal defensive line. On the other flank the boys from Texas took up a defensive position at the edge of the woods.

The brigade from Louisiana but up a brave fight taking on 2 Federal brigades. The Confederate Commander tried to get the Texans to advance but after 4 rounds the Texan brigade remained at the tree line with their reserve moving back after another blunder. They obviously did not like the look the Federal defensive line led by the a large regiment from the Iron Brigade.

It was then everything changed with Louisiana on the verge of breaking with two whipped regiments the Texans finally advanced and after a storm of lead over 2 rounds of shooting the Iron Brigade broke followed by the rest of the Federal troops in the brigade. The entire flank moved back after becoming whipped . The Texans advanced into the exposed flank of the remaining Federal troops forcing all the whipped troops back at the same time.

The Federal force was broken with their force leaving the field in quick time.
The confederate battery that gave the game away in turn 2 after the blunder remained on the field all game despite being whipped and disordered the brave gunners from the South still managed to get off some supporting fire.

20mm Waterloo – Napoleonic Wargaming by Neil Thomas

A classic, large Napoleonic battle, like Waterloo, is no issue when you have an epic number of plastic in 20mms – that’s 1/72nd scale in old money! A nip and tuck game was finally won by the allies with a special mention to the Black Brunswickers who led the final breakthrough in routing the dreaded Imperial army.

15mm Hydaspes, Porus v. Alexander – Hail Caesar by Warlord Games

A newly completed Alexandrian Macedonian army was the impetus for this classic ancient refight, phalanx v. elephants, chariots and bow-fire. The Hail Caesar rules were heavily modified, as an experiment, by grafting on the movement system from Mortem et Gloriam.

The game followed the actual battle’s deployment with Porus’ son leading a command of chariots and cavalry ahead of the main Indian battle line. Things went badly for the Indians from the start when the Macedonian phalanx quickly pinned the Indian cavalry command which then masked the massed pikes from the Indian infantry’s bow-fire. It all ended messily for the Indians but at least gave a historical results for the battle.

FOGH Club Games – Saturday 27th January 2024

Three more exciting games at the club on this meet. The games spanned the globe with action coming from: the woodlands of America, the quiet countryside near Walmington-on-Sea, and all the way to the far flung hills of the Khyber Pass.

28mm American Cicil War – Black Powder with Glory Hallelujah from Warlord Games

This game refought the battle of Lula 1862, taken from (page 136 for those following along at home!) of the Glory Hallelujah supplement for Black Powder. After 7 turns the Confederate army of the West remained in charge of the cross roads and so scored a victory. A very nice looking game that included just about every tree that the club could muster! I’m sure the Federals will be back seeking their revenge.

28mm Fallschirmjäger v. Home Guard 1940 – Bolt Action from Warlord Games

The residents of Walmington-on-Sea were expecting just another quiet day in their quiet town. The daring men of the German Fallschirmjäger had other ideas as a glider born attack landed in the fields just outside the town. To the rescue sprung the men of Walmington-on-Sea’s Home Guard led by none other than Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson.

The Home Guard struggled to hold off the Fallschirmjäger and there were some entertaining incidents like a German spy disguised as a nun attempting to assassinate private Pike and being machine gunned for ‘her’ trouble. Private Fraser, the sniper, only managed to hit one target all afternoon and eventually the Germans dropped a mortar bomb on his head (it was suspected that Fraser’s poor aim was due to being on dry land – he needs the motion of the waves to improve his aim!).

However the high point of the game was when the Germans went into hand to hand combat with Pike and Jones. The brave duo (“Don’t Panic, Pike!”) were both given near fatal wounds, but recovered when administered to by Godfrey, and then went on to capture the whole German squad! Sadly Captain Square was not so lucky; he took a direct hit from the Fallschirmjäger flame thrower. Even Godfrey’s lavender water couldn’t save him.

28mm Empire Forces v. Irregular Afghan Tribes – The Men Who Would Be Kings by Osprey Games.

The 1930s, somewhere up the Khyber Pass. A biplane carrying British secret agent Bertie Worcester, and his gentleman’s gentleman Jeeves, has gone down with engine trouble in territory controlled by the Khazi of Kalabar, sworn enemy of the British Empire. Luckily for Bertie and Jeeves, a small force of Empire troops is travelling along the Pass and has received an urgent radio message that they must rescue the agent, or at least recover his body.

A vert tense game ensued as the Empire troops attempted to rush to the rescue of the downed biplane’s crew, avoiding the angry and well armed tribesmen on the way. Bertie and Jeeves managed to make it from the wreck (along with the biplane’s Lewis gun) to a nearby compound. Unfortunately a unit of the tribesmen gave chase and stormed the compound. After holding back the Afghan swordsmen with the Lewis Gun for a while, Jeeves was put out of action when the Afghans got in to melee. Bertie bravely fought on and his imposing figure at the top of the compound’s stairway (some may say, almost Gordon like) held off the Afghans with sheer pluck, and a very stiff upper lip, for a few turns. It was not enough though, and the rescue force just couldn’t make it through to him in time. Bertie went down in a flurry of blades. With the agents both “back in the pavilion before tea”, this innings was given to the Khasi.

We look forward to the next match in this small corner of the Great Game!

Bertie and Jeeves escape from the wreck of the Biplane to a nearby compound.

FOGH Club Games – Saturday 13th January 2024

After over a month off from clubs games, for the Christmas holidays, it was great to get back around the table, to shove some lead, and to throw some dice. We started the year with a bevy of Black Powder games.

28mm French v Russian – Black Powder with Clash of Eagles

The Napoleonic fans started the year with a game that seemed to have as many nations taking part as possible. There were French, Italians and Poles against Russians and Russo/German Legion. A great example of just how varied and colourful this period can be.

The game was set with a village, full of supplies, held by the Vistula legion. The allies objective was to take the village before it was relieved by a force of French and Italians. The allied cavalry forced opposing infantry on both flanks into square, but their infantry in the centre failed to take the village, and the French retained their much needed supplies.

French Hussars ride forward to defend the village.

28mm American Civil War – Black Powder with Glory Hallelujah

Last year (2023) saw the club get back in to ACW after an absence of many years, and it looks like 2024 will similarly be echoing to Rebel yells and Union thunder.

Eight Federal regiments slowly pushed five rebels regiment out of a farm complex, but couldn’t clear them off the table. Both sides agreed at the end of the day that it was a tactical draw.

Federal skirmishers advance to cover the main line.

10mm August 1914, World War 1 – Black Powder with club amendments (Sheffield Steel)

A return to the late summer of 1914 with the Imperial German army sweeping through Northern France, pitted against the British Expeditionary Force and the Republic’s army.

This two scenario game started with a BEF rear guard trying to hold off a much, much larger force of Germans, while a French force tried to retreat across a river to establish a new defensive line. The second scenario then pitted the allied troops, that had managed to escape across the river, against the subsequent German attack, with more BEF troops coming up in support.

A British company caught manoeuvring as a massive German column appears.

FOGH Club – End of Year Game – Saturday 9th December 2023

Each year, at the last club meeting before Christmas, the Friends of General Haig have a ‘big game’. This is typically a single game in which we can get every player at the meeting involved, perhaps bringing together several collections of figures.

28mm Napoleonics, Russian v. French – Black Powder with Clash of Eagles.

An epic clash of mighty empires in which both sides had many highs and lows. There were exciting moments of squares being formed too late (that rare double 1 when charged by cavalry!), batteries caught in the flank, cuirassiers running amok, and daring cossack charges.

The game set up, with Russo-Prussian Legion in the foreground.

FOGH End of Year Awards – 2023

Following the game, the Friends retired to a local hostelry for a slap-up Christmas meal, washed down with lashings of fizzy-pop (or something like that!). At the end of the Christmas meal, as has become custom, the annual FOGH awards are voted on.

The Pete Howe Memorial Trophy for the Most Spectacularly Disastrous Cavalry Charge

This year the Pete Howe trophy went to Bruce, by popular acclaim, for his audacious but ultimately utterly futile Cossack cavalry charge that managed to attract fire from almost the entire enemy army and resulted in the Cossacks all being lost before they made contact. Well done, Bruce!

The Friends of General Haig Best Game of the Year

There were some very high quality nominations this year with the Friends having put on games at Salute, and Warlord’s open day, as well as many fabulous regular club games. Ultimately though the Friends are always impressed by size, so it was unanimously agreed that the 54mm ACW extravaganza, put on by Mike and Clive, was officially “the best game of the year”. Well done chaps!

FOGH Hobby Resolutions for 2024

With stomachs full, and through the optimistic haze of many pints of beer, plus several bottles of wine, the Friends made their hobby resolutions for the following year.

Pete was perhaps the most audacious with commitments to put on a game at least every month, as well as building new collections for The War in Afghanistan 1935, and also a Mongols in the Snow project. Good luck, sir!

Andy 2 is going to build on 2023 in which he has conjured from nothing a mighty Napoleonic Russian army, by building in 2024 an exquisitely pretty (but perhaps not very mighty) Napoleonic Spanish army. He will also write an article for Wargames Illustrated. We salute you!

Paul will perhaps go beyond any other project, and get married in 2024. He may also do some Bolt Action. Good luck!

John is going to break the habit of a lifetime and build some tricorne forces with a new AWI project on the blocks. He’s also going to add to his Jannissary ortas. Sublime plans!

Andy 1 is going to build an Ottoman army to contest the East with his existing Polish army, as well as also writing an article for Wargames Illustrated. He may finally get around to starting that book he’s been banging on about as well. The mad impetuous fool!

We look forward to revisiting this list at the FOGH 2024 Christmas Meal.

(There may well have been other hasty promises made, but this reporter’s writing skills were impaired, probably due to an unripe sprout, and so these are all the resolutions noted down.)

FOGH Club Games – Saturday 25th November 2023

28mm Soviets v German – Bolt Action 2

A classic WW2 Eastern Front match up with Germans fending off a Soviet attack. Despite the ‘encouragement’ of the Soviet Commissar it was a hard won victory for the Germans.

Ant Attack! – Home-brew Rules

A game based on the classic movie ‘Them’ from the 1950s. Three scenarios were played, and the ants won two of them, consuming many civilians as well as military personnel. The ants even managed to take out a Sherman – much was made of their ANTi-tank abilities!

The ant queen directs the attack of her soldiers.

28mm Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth v Sweden – Pike & Shotte

A last run out of the year for the boys from the Baltic in the third game of on ongoing fictional campaign set in the late 1620s in which Sweden has invaded the Commonwealth territory of Prussia. The scenario saw the Poles attacking a Swedish camp, with the objective of taking a dominant hill with a dawn attack. The small Swedish force defending the hill were reinforced over the day.

The battle for the hill was hard fought with attack and counter attack seeing the hill change hands several times. The Swedish Yellow Regiment, who were initially defending the hill, fought bravely but were eventually overwhelmed by Polish cavalry charges. A third win for the Poles!

FOGH Club Games – Saturday 11th November 2023

54mm ACW – Home Brew rules based on Neil Thomas Napoleonics

Another 54mm games was the main attraction at club.

FOGH Club Games – Saturday 28th October 2023

28mm Peninsula – Valour & Fortitude

While the rules were still fresh in our minds from the previous club meeting, we decided to have another run out with V&F, this time with lots of cavalry. Ther game moved along a bit quicker this time as we are getting the hang of the rules.

An exciting and close game which ended with the British holding their position after the 18th Hussars had put in a stunning charge to throw back a French breakthrough.

A brigade of French Dragoons threaten the British centre.

28mm ACW – Black Powder

Another run out for the club’s new ‘big thing’ 28mm ACW.

Union troops prepare to advance under the cover of their guns.

54mm ACW – Home Grown Rules

The club’s other really, really big new thing, 54mm! Two collections brought out for a mega 54mm ACW game. Looked awesome!

FOGH Club Games – Saturday 14th October

28mm Peninsula – Valour & Fortitude

With the recent release of v2.0 of the rules in the latest Wargames Illustrated we were tempted to see what had changed since our last outing with the rules, about 6 months ago.

We actually played v2.2 as the Perry’s website already has a new version available since the WI release. We were pleased that some of the rough edges we noticed in the last game were nicely sorted and this was without additional complexities. The rules still have the potential to be quick – although we did spend a lot for time reading the rules as we hadn’t played for so long!

We had fiddled with the troop stats a bit as we wanted to reflect the propensity in the Peninsula for both sides to form battalions from combined lights and/or grenadiers. The combined formations are great but you have to live with the downside of battalions robbed of their strength etc.

After a somewhat clunky game, caused by unfamiliarity with the rules, it was a British victory after a couple of rounds of pretty tense melees. Players’ feelings were mixed with not everyone happy with the troop interactions, but others liking the rules. Hope we can play again soon while the rules are still fresh in our minds!

French combined Grenadiers advance behind combined lights in open order.

54mm ACW – Neil Thomas rules (modified)

The 54mm craze, sweeping the club at the moment, continues! This time it was ACW using Neil Thomas’ Napoleonic rules modified for the clash of Union and Confederates.

The game ended with Johnny Reb chasing the Blue Bellies all the way to Washington – or something like that!

FOGH Club Games – Saturday 30th September

28mm ACW – Black Powder – Glory Hallelujah!

It is a long time since we played American Civil War (ACW) at club, and I’m not sure we’ve ever played it in 28mm before. However, for a number of the Friends, this year has been the year of 28mm ACW. This game was the first outing for many of the evolving armies, some of which have been in the “piles of opportunity” for 30+ years!

For this first outing, what better scenario than the first scenario in the Glory Hallelujah! (GH) supplement, Wilson’s Creek 1861. An ideal scenario as the players were mostly as green as most of the troops in the battle. We used some of the GH special rules, but not all of them, while we got used to the ‘feel’ of ACW games.

The scenario worked really well. Despite most people owning the supplement we hadn’t read this scenario and so most people were surprised by the twists of fate the scenario sets up. (Perhaps don’t read the picture caption if you want to avoid spoilers!) The battle resulted in a convincing victory for the Federal force.

Everyone enjoyed the game. It was great to see new collections on the table including fabulous classic sculpts from the Dixons and Redoubt ranges. The special rules worked well with the fighting degenerating in to prolonged fire fights, and ‘whipped troops’ general getting in the way. Those with more figures to paint went away enthused to get more Johnny Rebs and Billy Yanks finished asap!