Stumpy's Wargame Blog: 2017

Quatre Bras Game using GDA turns 6 to 9

I thought I had lost the photos, but they turned up on my pc after an update, bizarre... so here they are, the images are of the battle, the game was quite intense but fun, there was a considerable amount of firing and fighting going on by this stage with allied reserves arriving and French Infantry columns and cavalry arriving latter stages... Its a few weeks ago this took place so will try to give as mush info as I can remember.

Turn 6

Picton's Highlanders arrive into the line just in time to assist the beleaguered Dutch Belgian Line

French columns thrown back just enough to give breathing space...

Right of the line, looks like its going to get sticky here with Dutch HA

Dutch Light Dragoons Bounce and run from hitting a French Column...

No this is not a British Column in trouble with cavalry hitting its flank on the move...

these are the brave Dutch Cumberland Hussars running away after bouncing from a French Column...

Turn 7

French reserve's arrive with Cuirassiers moving to the right...

The Allied line becomes thicker with the arrival of Pack, filling in behind the crumbling DB Line...

The Allied line mid point of the line, highlander's advancing down the crest to meet the oncoming Frenchies...

Allied left trying to form up before the Frenchies arrive in columns and the cuirassiers appear in the background... 95th Rifles out in front and formed up in front of guns...

Turn 8

View from the French side...

Duke of Brunswick has arrived with his forces... Onwards..,. onwards...

Give them some fire on the flank...

Advance to contact...

Images from the French side with battle casualties mounting and fatigue setting in it became a bit of a slog for both sides...

Turn 9

Looking stronger on the right...

And with the Allied Brigade arriving through Bossu Wood this would start to flank the French and force them to retire and match this advance, which was slow through the rough ground...

French advance and retire across the board, the right flank starts to crumble for the Brits and the French bring up more cavalry but don't have enough infantry on right to support...

Allied centre holds and face off French advances...

Allied Left is hemmed in but strong with French skirmishers harassing the square and line, strong columns advancing and cuirassiers lurking in background...

French commander ordering two beers...

More French arrive...

it was at this point we stopped play with both commands thoroughly knackered with learning new rules and having such large forces to play, always gotta get the figures out when you can I say, also had to pack away as grand kids were coming the following weekend, could imagine my two years face if he saw this laid out for him, Ohhhhh toys.....

My thanks to Panjo, Andy and Jason for a great game played over a couple of weeks...

As per last blog which was on the layout and available troops for the game setting the scene we have started the games as seen in the images below, all the lads turned up before 10am tea and biscuits were had with a quick review of the game and briefing on the rules we went straight into the game...

Panjo and myself are the Allied forces, whilst Andy and Jason being the Frenchies, game set up were that Bijlandts Brigade was deployed up to 36inches on the table and could have one regiment in the Gemincourt Farmhouse, these lucky soles were the DB Line...

Turn 1

Dutch Belgians spread across the fields very thinly...

Van Merlen's Cavalry arrive, Hoorah!!!

Now the French arrive en force, Tissot's Brigade assaulting the farmhouse immediately in the fore ground, with Campi and Husson's Brigade advancing through the wheat fields and to the bridge in the distance on the French left...

Both sides exchanging desultory skirmish fire initially on the left...

Tissot's Brigade assaults with supports and in first round of combat where 3 casualties each it was looking dodgy for the French resulted in another round of fighting where the Frenchies battered the D/B's 3-0 so aggregate was 6-3 causing the D/B's to retire out of the farm and across the stream with another casualty... bad French!!

Turn 2

Large French skirmish screen starts piling fire across the stream where poor dice rolls causing fire discipline hence the smoke marker, Andy starts deploying Tissot's brigade out around the farmhouse and opens up across the stream from the farm with devastating fire, he is a dice demon!!

The French left slowly pushes the skirmish screen in, Panjo managed to get a double six with the artillery with his first shot, which caused good hits on one of the columns but they passed discipline test and had no effect on destiny roll. And the D/B Militia again manage to fail fire discipline

Exchanging shots...

Van Merlen gets to the top of the ridge to see the massed columns coming onwards, will the infantry hold them??

Prince of Orange offering advice to Perponcher.... this really helps thankyou sir...

Ohhh look at my columns...

Andy on left and Jason on right reviewing turn 2...

Turn 3

Picton arrives with Wellington and the lead Brigade of Kempt trailing off to the left...

Van Merlen's Brigade is hesitant and cannot advance closer to enemy so the horse artillery are still at the cross roads!!

DB line forms up on the right, with two of the 3 Militia looking good... note to self they might look pretty but they don't fight...

Massed mixed formation French advance on the DB line, this looks dodgy...

Don't worry lads, they are only skirmishers ahead!!!

Look at the bloody casualties they had inflicted on us in three turns, Andy and his bleeding demon dice!!!

Militia looking shaky... they disperse at 10 casualties!!

And the line had 9 and they disperse at 12 casualties, mmm time for a rethink...

Jason looking pleased with his performance as they should, Andy psyching himself up for more demon dice rolling!!

Turn 4

Pack's Brigade arrives and Kempt goes hesitant damned dice!!

After the French attack the line the DB Militia have retreated and fallen back with the French column breaking the line... and the DB Militia on the left dispersing from the devastating French fire power... Van Merlen sends his Hussars to try and save the left???

The French coming across the bridge and swamp to attack the DB Jaegers and the skirmishers trying to cover their rear as columns come past them on the right this is going to be close...

The right flank looking a bit loose and open!!!

Where are the Brunswickers, not able to get them on the table we have failed getting ADC's to bring on the reserves!!!

Gulp!!! view from the french left and centre...

French right flank, Tissot is storming across the ford and heading towards the open left flank of the DB line...

Myself on the left and Panjo "Lord Wellington" on the right...

Turn 5

Kempt moving off to the left, I suppose he knows where he is going... Picton is pointing left whilst Wellington to his right??

Pack heading up to the centre ridgeline under artillery fire on his march columns...

DB Hussars in the middle trying to hold back the French...

Van Merlens Light dragoons tried to charge a French column to stem the advance but bounced badly and fled 21" back to base edge, and French skirmishers move up and harass the horse artillery...

Meanwhile the remainder of the DB Brigade was faltering they were forced to withdraw back 12" to the base of the ridgeline, and the French columns surged forward chasing them at this stage the DB line are on 11 casualties, hold boys hold!! the British are nearly here...

Van Merlen's DB light dragoons cowering in the rear licking their wounds, columns are good against cavalry!!! must beat them with dice rolls... else it will end badly...