On campaign - fortifications

 Having decided on a Victorian campaign, based on the war scares of the 1860's, the action moves to Kent - and Chatham, and possibly Dover.  The 'Chatham Lines' were originally developed as a Napoleonic defensive position, but by mid century they were the site of extensive sapping and mining exercises.  Earlier, they had staged large mock battles - as described by Charles Dickens in the Pickwick Papers.  

So, it was time to play around with some forts - which is indeed time never wasted ...

Mark 1 - redoubt

And a ground view from the besiegers baseline/trenches.

The view including the besiegers HQ

The Chatham Lines will need to expand to include a Redan and some serious obstacles, and the besiegers will need to make full use of the depth positions - the flower bed and pigsty.  

All to play for!

On campaign - prelude

 The last couple of months have been spent sorting out some projects - such as completing the Paris Commune armies with sappers, gunners and staff.  Other projects - long on hold - have been dusted down.  But, the key question has been what the main campaign should be for the summer?  FLW HQ is now able to host its first game, so what better than a siege.

The seat of Mars is on the eastern flank of Wales, in a town on the border.  About here 

                                                                                                                ⛛                                                 

I am very fortunate to have a very small walled garden, that is perfect for a 100+ sized army, or a more extended smaller campaign.  There is also a Cider House (shed) that fits a good sized table.

The campaign is going to be Victorian, and initially I had thought of the Commune or Crimea.  But, as it is the first game here it really should be truly Wellsian, pacifist and imaginary - so it will be a Sappers and Miners, and Rifle Volunteers exercise in the 1860's.

This is the first attempt at looking at the shape and size of the siege.   

Ready, be ready against the storm!

Riflemen, Riflemen, Riflemen form!

Tennyson

Paris, siege and Commune, 1870/1871 - Barricades

 The month of May has been dedicated to a refreshing of the 1870 figures, with a particular nod to the Communards and Versailles armies.  It is hoped that the new season will give them an outing in a mini campaign.  1871 remains the 'terrible year', and HG's novel 'The sleeper awakes' has echoes of the Commune.

Barricades are an icon of the battles in the 'bloody week' in May, 1871,

But first, the aim is to rework the Nineteenth Century FLW rules and try out some new ideas.  

Paris, siege and Commune, 1871 - the artillery and sappers

 A number of projects have been 'in progress' during this winter quarters.  Most activity has been focussed around the rewrite of the Campaign edition of FLW, which is now available.

Sieges continue to fascinate, and I have been doing some work on completing the 1870/71 armies.  The inspiration has been August Raffet's magnificent work;

Costumes militaires sous les deux sièges de Paris

available online here:

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b52505837g.r=

To begin, the artillery and sappers.

The toy soldiers are mostly the early, and excellent Barzso ACW figures - painted here at 1870/1871 French.  

Garden Campaigns - at last! Available now.

 

Garden Campaigns is now available from; 

Garden Campaigns

Garden Campaigns is the second volume of Funny Little Wars.  It continues the story of HG Wells classic toy soldier wargames book, 'Little Wars' and provides a system for playing HG's Kriegsspiel suggestions and annotations.  It also explores the extraordinary Edwardian novelist, William Le Queux and his book,  'The Invasion of 1910.'  A series of campaign games is developed from this truly Wellsian, and Little Wars, 'shocker'.   Zeppelins, forts and many new rules are included.   

The book will also be available at Tradition, Stockholm and the Armoury of St James in London.  

Garden Campaigns - proof reading and contents

 Things continue to move forward with the Garden Campaigns, and the proof reading is nearly 50% completed.

The new edition aims to recreate HG's amplifications at the end of Little Wars, and it is also a homage to William le Queux's 'The Invasion of 1910.'  This is a remarkably Little Wars type of book!

 

 

 

 

                                                

 

Garden Campaigns - coming soon

 Wishing everyone a very happy New Year!

Garden Campaigns, coming soon ...