Battle of Kelso 1715.

I have played this game earlier this week,and found the research/history attached to the period fascinating,confusing and intriguing,but very playable and enjoyable.........................

Top photo is the terrain map and orders for each side,because of my Scottish roots(or should that be hoots!) I decided that I would "support" the Jacobite Scots. Middle photo is the "made-up" scenario-no battle was fought in Kelso. bottom photo is a reproduction of a Claymore sword,a real flint-lock pistol,and a real 3lb cannon ball(very likely from the period!)

Top shows the Scots moving into position,bottom shows the English "camp"(a scene of great slaughter as the game progressed!)

The "inevitable" reinforcements are shown in the top photo,the Swiss contingent in the bottom(they did not give a great show,it must be said!!)

In the top photo the Scots are just about to begin their attack-the cavalry,supported by a clan each chased the English dragoons back to the camp,and the remaining clan was cannistered and volley-fired to bits!! The bottom photo shows the English and Swiss (who,it must be said,didn't give a great show!) facing each other across the plain.Note the Dragoons placed on the English right flank-they did stirling work against the attacking Scots,who you can just see in the background(column) about to advance on the central English position!

The fight for Kelso begins-the Scots were determined and after taking heavy casualties,got into a melee with the defenders,lost the first round,recovered themselves,got back into the fight,broke into Kelso,and then the defenders recovered themselves and threw them back out again-thrilling stuff,and great wargaming!!

Two more photo's of the "Kelso action"-top shows the Scots gaining access(!!) bottom shows them being ejaculated(!!!!)-the defenders suffered massive casualties in the process,but remained in charge of the town for the rest of the game-hurrah!

It was now the turn of the English left to get into serious action-top shows the Scots attacking the centre,being fired on by artillery,and the awaiting English infantry showed no signs of fear from the famous Scots charge-this might be bloody!
Bottom shows the English and Swiss(who,it must be said,didn't give a great show of it!) firing at each other.By this move the whole table was ablaze with action-another hurrah!!

Back at the camp area things are not going very well for the English(understatement of the year!)-the Dragoons are about to flee and the supporting clans are about to attack the infantry defending the camp-BUT,and this is a big but,the English Foot Guards,have been sent from the centre,and are about to fire into the flank of the Scots-crucially!!!!

Top shows the Scots advancing into a hail of musket balls and cannister fire,whilst the Dragoons can be seen moving onto their flank-this is not going to end well-as you can see from the bottom photo!-But what of the Swiss? Well,they decided that the were missing the ticking of their cuckoo clocks and the holes in their bloody awful cheese,and took to their heels(I told you they didn't give a great show of it!)

Top-Swiss on their way home,bottom-Scots on their way home!-but what of the camp?

Ah well,the dragoons are well and truly beaten,but the Foot Guards have driven off  a clan,leaving the flank wide open,and actually saving the position-yet another hurrah!
With all the Clans retiring (it's good being retired!) the game had been won by the English.

Top photo shows the position at the end of the game-bottom photo shows a bloated English commander "gloating" over his victory!!
My next "foray" into history will be a Viking vs Viking game!

NO COMMENT!!

Busy,Busy,Busy-solo games.

I have had enough of painting for a while,but am playing solo games like the're coming into fashion!!
Over the past week I have played the following..................................

Treasure Island skirmish game-a good laugh!

World War 1 "Dog fight"

WW2 "Dam Buster" type game.

Plains Indians vs Wagon Train-this was a really interesting game-the woman in the centre of the wagons won the day by killing the Sioux Chief!!

A very big 7YW game-exhausting to say the least!

An ECW game-my favourite period-colouful and exciting.........................................

Action all the way,infantry blazing away at each other and cavalry galore!

I am in the planning stages of a "Jacobite" game from the 1715 rebellion,and will post the details asap.

Keep smiling.

Wow,this is moronic!

Will the person(?) who keeps posting the following in my "comments" box,STOP!
You are wasting your time and mine! I would never open such an obvious SCAM as this,so why don't you do something positive with your life,like get a job,or a wash or even a girlfriend(that's probably beyond the possibility of this person!!)

Is any other "blogger" getting this message??

Solo games,Colonial,Medieval.

I have been filling in my time,in between gardening,tidying and queuing for food(which,in my book,includes RUM!!) by having a few solo wargames- I have mentioned before that I enjoy these games but miss the club games and the social contact,daft banter,devious tactics and,dare I say it, the "boys".
I am posting a selection of photo's from the last two games I have had,with just a minimal text(the noun not the verb!!)

These three photo's show the Colonial scenario,the British left and right flanks-quite a formidable force,but so was the opposition!!

Oh dear,there's quite a few of them! and they're getting closer!!!

Surely artillery fire and volley fire would stop them! My plan for the British depended on my Lancers beating the Haddendowah Camel unit-they didn't,and my whole battle plan fell apart!!
It would now depend on British "pluck" and some lucky dice throws!!

Dragoon Guards are seen beating the Dervish Cavalry-this put the enemy left flank in real trouble,and saved the game for the British-hurrah!

On the British left flank,even the Egyptians got involved(after the Gatling jammed!!)
Eventually the Bija/Haddendowah troops had to retire(it's good being retired!)  and a British victory was declared(but really too close for comfort!)

"Dead" figures litter the ground,showing the high tide of the Haddendowah advance-this was another thrilling but mentally exhausting game.
The next game,Crusaders vs Saracens,employed virtually the same terrain and scenario-well,I was mentally exhausted!!!

Scenario,Crusaders leaving the Castle and Saracens advancing to form up.

All formed up,horse archers and crossbowmen skirmishing-this might be bloody!!

Top photo shows the view that the crossbowmen had,bottom photo shows the view the Mameluke contingent had-they had two units-both lost their officers in the first round of melee!!

With an almost audible "crash!" both flanks of heavy cavalry charged into each other-this looked spectacular!

For three rounds of melee,neither side could claim an outright advantage-then the dreaded morale test kicked in,and in proper wargaming twists and turns,units on both sides decided they had had enough..................................

Both lines have become fragmented,with units fleeing the field,being chased and chaos reigns!
It was now that the Saracen horse archers could decide the day-if they could break through the crossbowmen,they could swing left and right and destroy the Crusaders-but could they do it??

YES!!! they could and did,winning the game for the Saracens.
Another good game,full of twists and turns,good and bad dice throws-exactly what a wargame should be(?)
I haven't thought what my next game will be(I just wish it could be a club game!)