Tommy's Game-Naseby 1645.

On the 24th June 2013,our good friend and fellow wargamer,Tommy McClelland died from cancer,and we promised his daughter that we would honour his memory,every year,as near to the date of his death as we could by having a wargame dedicated to him.Well,this year we couldn't have a club game,so I thought it would still be okay for me to have a solo game to remember this character of a man, and I picked the battle of Naseby 1645 (14th June)

My source material-it is such a well known battle,that I'm sure there's not many wargamers who haven't fought it!

Top photo shows historical dispositions,bottom photo shows my dispositions(using my 15mm figs.)

As Rupert's cavalry advance they are shot on by dis-mounted dragoons located behind the Sulby hedges-unfortunately very little damage was done!-On the other flank Cromwell's cavalry have advanced and contacted the Royalist cavalry stationed there.I fought this battle as a wargame and not a re-fight,hoping to reverse history.

Top shows the cavalry action on the Parliamentarians right flank-the units were getting fragmented,some wins,some losses!!-Meanwhile the infantry are getting closer-it must be said at this point that the artillery on both sided was ineffective to say the least!!-On the far flank,the Royalist cavalry are pushing the Parliamentarians back-as per history!

The infantry are at it!! as the cavalry still battle it out,push of pike is getting nearer and nearer!

Cromwell's cavalry are pushing the Royalist cavalry back,forcing the King to send infantry to guard his,now,vulnerable flank-on the other flank,Rupert's cavalry are suffering!!-this is not in the script!!

Top photo shows the plight of Rupert's  horse-bottom shows the long awaited push of pike-this was the highlight of the game,for me,neither side could claim a decisive victory,and the melee went on for three moves,swaying this way and that!

Eventually,the Parliamentarians started to win the infantry tussle and push the Royalists back.
On the far flank,one unit of Rupert's cavalry have thundered off the table looking for the baggage,leaving the other units to rout off the table!! on this flank Cromwell's cavalry have beaten their opponents,so both flanks are now secure,and the Royalist infantry are looking in dire straits(not the geordie group!)

Last two shots showing the state of the Royalists-leaving the field in panic-you can see the number of units that have left the table at the right hand edge of the playing mat!!
A well-deserved victory for the Parliamentarians,and a fitting game for Tommy!!
Although the game was tinged with sadness,I enjoyed it,and I'm sure Tommy would have enjoyed too.
As a club we've discussed the possibility of meeting up,after July 4th, observing social distancing and other guidelines(masks) to at least talk all things wargaming,show off what we've been painting and planning etc. but at the moment it's just in the "talking" stage,so watch this space!!