I had intended to cover the show and the game with separate posts...but as I have the day off work I am going to give you the whole thing in one go...
So lots of pictures of a very enjoyable day...
First off are some shots of the other games that I managed to get a look at...
A very nice Jacobite game by Graham Cumming...
There is a bit more stuff on his blog...
http://scotiaalbion.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/more-troops-for-partizan.html
His fine range of miniatures can be found here...
http://cranntaraminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/
Some nice Wars of the Roses action from Dave Imrie and Jack Glanville...
More of Dave's stuff can be found here...
http://saxondog.blogspot.co.uk/
I am not sure what this game was or who put it on ... but its out and out weirdness made me smile.
A Setting the East Ablaze game... By Caliver Books and the League of Extraordinary Kriegspielers I believe... that was a very big plane.
James Morris's Crete 1941 game...
This was a game put on by the Society of Ancients using 'Flats' from Tony Bath's collection that were featured in Donald Featherstone's book War Games... I well remember as a lad staring longingly at those old black and white images... it was a real joy to see them in colour in the flesh... Old School Gold...
Some lovely WW2 terrain... by Blitzkrieg Miniatures.
This was another nice table... again I am not sure who by...
An American war of Independence game... Germantown by Alan and Michael Perry...
This was a Command and Colours game...by Simon Walther I believe... This really ticks a lot of boxes for me ...
A Suez game from Colin Jack... I love the planes...
A lovely Grand Alliance game from those lovely League of Augsburg people...
There is a bit more on their blog...
http://leagueofaugsburg.blogspot.co.uk/#!/2018/05/partizan-debrief.html
Now... This is where I have to make an apology ... actually it should be my phone making the apology , but it is an inanimate object and basically stupid... which is why it ran out of power before I had a chance to take some decent shots of The Earlswood Wargames Group's rather wonderful Stalingrad Game ... the only two I got had to many hands and such in the way so not worth showing.
THEY WON THE BEST OF SHOW...
Fortunately you can see the build of the table here...
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=99176.0
And Phil from News from the Front took some rather nice pictures...
http://newsfromthefront-phil.blogspot.co.uk/
It was a well deserved win...
My purchases ... Is there such a thing as book addiction?
I need them all ....
La Gorgue Airfield...
Our friends Adrian and Jock took the part of the Forces of Darkness while Dave and I played the plucky British and the brave Portuguese.
Adrian Shepherd ran the game using Setting the East Ablaze. (shouting out unit activations like a world class bingo caller)
There are quite a few pictures...
The area around the Hangers where most of Mark Hargreaves beautiful vignettes were placed... they drew a lot of attention...
British and Portuguese troops move into defensive positions...
An over view from the airfield end of the table
The British mortars with refugees moving passed in the background ...
More refugees and stragglers... that painting looks familiar .
Lorries heading to the airfield ...
A view from the dark side of the table...
The Forces of Darkness arrive...
The Honourable Adrian Shepherd in conversation with fellow officers... there is something a bit dodgy about him...
More scenes of activity around the airfield
The Brave Brits push forward...
Soldier Millions makes his appearance along with the wounded Scottish officer... Who for various reasons was christened Dr Finlay...
German cavalry move forward...
A staff officer starts to make his way out off the airfield... The Honourable Adrian Shepherd also makes his way out...
British and Portuguese cavalry make their appearance...
As do hordes of Germans
Portuguese infantry brace themselves reinforced by Soldier Millions...
More shots of the Cavalry...
The refugees are directed away from the airfield gate...
British troops moving up...
German storm troopers ... storm forwards...
Obliterating most of the defenders... Soldier Millions stands alone...
Cavalry and Scots move into the town...
More storming Storm Troopers...
The Honourable Adrian Shepherd has noticed something...
Ah!
Soldier Millions holds his own...
An act of cigarette based kindness in a harsh world...
Soldier Millions and Dr Finley make their escape...
A lot of storming...
Dismounted cavalry move into the town...
The Military Police form the stranglers into a composite unit...and The Honourable Adrian Shepherd appears to have found his quarry ...
It looks a bit like he is high jacking the staff officers car...
Soldier Millions and Dr Finley continue to make their way to safety ...
A last look back at home...
He is Loading the painting into the car...
Evidence of beastliness...
After some very good dice throws the flame thrower explodes... well if you play with fire...
Another wave of Storm Troopers...
Adrian heads off with his 'Prize'..
And we also got a prize... Best Demonstration Game... Hurrah!
We had a great game and day...
Soldier Millions rescued Dr Finley...
The airfield was evacuated...
The fog cleared...
The aircraft took off...
With the second wave of troops the Germans would take the airfield...
And the Honourable Adrian Shepherd.... enough said about him.
Adrian sent me his own possibly dubious version of events...
Here is the news
Despite heavy losses an RAF airfield was successfully evacuated of all personal and aircraft before occupation by elements of the German 6th Army. Bustle the popular squadron dog was flown out to safety in one of the last aircraft to leave .
The priceless painting of the Madonna with the big boobies along with other items has disappeared during the German offensive. The Museum curator Msr Objadar had hired a carter, Msr Steppied to remove many of the most valuable items from the Museum in Arras where the painting had be on display. It is believed that the painting has fallen into German hands Attempts are being made to contact German authorities to seek to secure the safety of this most valuable of cultural objects missing and in particular the Madonna with the big boobies
In other news ....Col Monty Titchmarsh the officer in command of the 11th cycle Battalion is reported safe after single handily fighting off a German stormtrooper detachment The renown Gardner and former captain of the Nottinghamshire first 11 Is said to be recovering from wounds in Hospital He has been mentioned in despatches and is widely believed to be the recipient of the MC for his conduct in a gallant action in which he was the only survivor of his entire command.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the success of Portuguese troops in heroically holding up the progress of the German attack which bought vital time for the evacuation ofLa Gorgue Airfield where led by what is freely translated from Portuguese as the “ “ “ million dollar soldier “ according to an Account from a British Officer Doc Finley of the
34th field hospital “the wee lad is legend” Doc Finley had been on leave an enjoying a long lunch when the Germans arrived in complete surprised “I dunney remember much it must a been me wound ya ken but the wee lad whisked me away te safety “ he continued , ‘Me only regret was te see them damm Hum heading for the wine cellar that I had tried in vain to hold...dirty fecking hun bas.....”
Finally concern grows for the whereabouts of Adrian Shepherd RNAS who has not been seen since he personally saw to the safety and removal from danger of many civilian victims of the brutish Hun onslaught , Msr Steppied a carter from Arras said “ I saw im elp d women children an old folk to escape from the dangier “ What e done was truly amazing “ Sgt Winfield of the RMP said it is incredible one minute he was there organising the evacuation and then he simply disappeared.”
Boobie Davies WRAF herself a brave gal who gave her all in the action said simply...
“he's a Bally hero “
“he's a Bally hero “
That is the news for now
The last sighting of The Honourable Adrian Shepherd RNAS...
I am sure Dave will join me in saying many thanks to Adrian and Jock for playing the Forces of darkness and a big thanks to Adrian Shepherd for running the game so well...
A thank you also to Mark Hargreaves for all the work on the vignettes hopefully you will make it to the game next time... and there will be a next time.
It was great to see and chat to everyone who came to look at the game...
I am now going to paint something that isn't Field Grey, Khaki or Horizon Blue...
All the best Aly
