This years game was a Black Powder Battle of Balaclava, there were 11 of us playing all together and a good time was had by all.
Below are some pictures and a AAR of my flank of the battle and what I saw happening else where, I was in command of one Division of the Russian Army on the Right Flank, and the Army Reserve ...
Chas lays out the events for the day and deploys forces to the appropriate generals
Chas explains to the British higher command their system of giving commands for the day, gets complicated and messy!!!
General Clive sorting his Divisions out, more Vodka!!!
The British Light and Heavy Brigades of JJ and Vince still snoozing, having not had their early morning tea delivered and their uniforms ironed...
The Russians arrive turn 1, my Division having crossed the river further up stream advance ahead of the main body who have yet to cross the river, this was done tardily, with Andy only getting low scores for his command only moving one move for most of his units, blocking the way for the following Divisions and my support, Mike's cavalry Division...
Andy's Russians slowly crosses the river... with the other Divisions in tow... Clive's Division arrived on the board and then stopped, top of picture, more Vodka!!!
View from my side of the river looking back at the advancing Russian forces...
My lead Division surging up the valley taking fire from the Turkish guns on the heights, my flank was to have been covered by the cavalry but these were held up at the river crossing...
Finally under way...
My division went all the way down the valley and took the heights at the far right of the Russian flank, intending to hold up any Brits coming down their Left.
Hurrah the advance begins in earnest...
Poised ready to strike... defending the right!!!
Clive and Andy's Divisions attacking the Turkish Guns...
The British Heavy & Light Cavalry Brigades and the Royal Horse Artillery organising themselves in the valley opposite my end of the board...
French cavalry arrive opposite my Division on the hill...
A view down the valley from the advancing French column of cavalry...
Clive's troops take the first Bastion on top the steep hill, they thought the Turks were hoarding vodka there...
There was nothing to do but advance, I saw the chance to bottle up the heights and give the Frenchies a bloody nose, so at it my boys went, Hurrah!!! This was assisted by my opposite number Nick not being able to rouse his French infantry Division from their beds and then not being able to form them up. They did look very smart when they did finally arrive later in the day...
The reserve and the cavalry advance through the valley under fire from the remaining Turk guns, and unfortunately I have exposed my flank to the RHA battery who deployed on the heights to my left, damn sneaky...
Andy's fantastic dice rolling... 1's were not required!!!!
Ahhh, I think I may be in trouble at this stage, the arrival of Mike's Guards Division pulled Nick out of the poo... but dropped me right in it... but we took their fire like good Russians...
The heavy Brigade advancing down the opposite valley heading for Andy and Clive...
My Russians taking fire from the Guards... hold the line boys, hold.... I couldn't withdraw as they were disorganised and couldn't be ordered...
Nick and Mike looking on as the Guards lay it in and Mikes other Division arrives at the other end of the bluff, Nick's Frenchy's just arriving behind them in very, very pressed uniforms....
Still taking more fire and not moving, how these boys held...
Meantime at the other end of the field of battle, the other Russian commanders are making a meal of taking the Turks out and now the Heavy Brigade have arrived to annoy them...
Taking of the heights from the Turks, this should have been easy so our general in chief told us at the beginning of the day, ha...
After the first melee with the Heavies, they clear the heights but are driven back themselves, A hole in the line appears, who will be the first to take advantage of it...
My Division still holding against the Guards, but the Brits other Division is forming on my left, my reserve Cossacks advance to annoy the RHA on the hill...
Cossacks facing off against the RHA and the Light Brigade cavalry form up on the opposite side of the hill.
Cavalry Division supporting the final infantry push on the heights...
Russian Cavalry forming up for support...
My Division finally is able to withdraw back up to the back right to defend the flank attack forming up with 2 British divisions and the French Infantry and cavalry joining in too...
It starts getting tense in the centre and the far left flank, JJ's cavalry and Steve's attacks are causing havoc and causing concern, just look at the concentration on those faces...
Our glorious general pausing for thought, Clive's still looking for more vodka, but cant see any even with his camera...
The British thin red line advances towards me on the heights with the French supporting and the Guards still on the hill...
After extracting my Division back to the hill for defence purposes, my illustrious commander orders me forward again to attack!!! So I follow my commands and charge the British Red Line...
The Guards still on the hill, even my taunting could not bring them down, didn't want to get there uniforms dirty?
The glorious Russian Charge, Huzzah!!!!
And the thin red line breaks!!! We throw the first British unit back in the melee, Victory!!??
JJ doing his household duties, where was the frilly apron though?
In the heat of battle we follow through with the charge and hit the freshly manicured and very well dressed French Zouaves, hoping to smash them as we did the British...
Unfortunately, having being fighting all day on the right flank the charge was just too much and the fresh French managed to push my column back...
The final throws on the far left, the British cavalry commanders hovering on our tired out commander, its starting to look a bit tight over there... not enough infantry was the decision, high command had just not sent enough...
After fighting like dogs all day My Russian Right flank Division crumbled under the might of two Brit Divisions and the French Division, my units facing the advance and the Guards eventually came off the heights and deployed on my flank to lay in devastating enfilading fire...
The end was nigh... we decided to withdraw what forces we had left and allow the British to have a victorious day, however their command structure was in absolute chaos and some of the commanders would be questioning the higher command back at Horse Guards after the amount of 11's and 12's rolled for higher command activation causing many a blunder, What What!!
My thanks to Clive and Chas for organising the event and to all the chaps on both sides for a very enjoyable day yet again... Next I believe its the Crusades maybe...
Great write up Nathan, from the other side of the hill. As the Duke of Wellington once said, "battles are like attending balls, you know there was a lot of dancing, but you only know what went on in your corner of the ball room". JJ
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