A Very British Civil War - Battle for Ryton Grange

[Luddite]

Sorry chaps, i know its in the beastly 28mm scale but i really thought you'd like a look at what's currently on our table...(originally posted on GWP3)

So following a long hiatus over the summer (we delved into other games for a while), the war in Durham has reignited with our first 'big battle'.

We've been toying with various rules and settled on the excellent 'Rules of Engagement' from Great Eascape Games.

OK, now to the fun!  
We're still in the midst of the battle so this'll be a 'to be continued...' report for the moment.

+++

The North East is abuzz with rumours that the King's brother is visiting the area for a spot of shooting with the local nobility; indeed the local newspapers are even reporting these as fact, which is rather convenient since he is indeed in the area, lodging at Ryton Grange.

Lord Percy has provided Tenantry forces from his northern army to ensure the security of the king's brother.  However, such a valuable prize has attracted a great deal of attention from various factions and on the balmy morning of the first shooting party, trouble arrives at Ryton Grange in droves.

From the south, a large force of Chopwell Communists have mobilised, bringing as many assets to bear as they can, intent on capturing the royal person as a bargaining chip.

Unfortunately they won't have things all their own way.  From the road to Newcastle (north east), a BUF contingent is seen skulking through the woods towards the Grange.

To everyone's surprise, the marvellously liveried troops of Lord Lambton also arrive from the east.

The tense stand-off breaks into violence aplenty...

South of Ryton Grange, the Communist 'Red Hats' militia muster ready for the assault.


They make good progress towards the gatehouse of the Grange.




However, Percy's troops have other ideas, flooding out to meet the damn Bolshies head on.





In a fierce exchange across the road, including a few lobbed mills bombs, one or two Communists are mortally wounded but otherwise both sides are entrenched, hurling insults and trying to outdo each other with renditions of 'the Internationale' and 'God Save the King'.

The Communist armoured Lancia screams up the road, halts and sprays Percy's armoured car with Lewis gun fire.



With bullets spanging off the front of their car, the crew of the armoured car bail out and flee up the road towards the safety of the Grange, sprinting past PC McGarrick who had already felt the need to find a pressing engagement anywhere but at the roadblock.




Meanwhile, over to the east, the Communist civil defence brigade (civilian levies for the most part) were holding the escape route to the south.



They even brought up a friendly contingent of coppers, mostly it has to be said, to stop the troops raiding the local pub.



Lambton's Hounds form an advancing gun line and giving disciplined fire into the Communists, start popping off a few comrades.  The red brigade returns fire without much effect and so the commissars order the assault section forwards.

Armed with SMGs and molotov cocktails, the Chopwell comrades given out great cheers as the heroes rush forwards spraying Lambton's Dog Soldiers with lead and lighting their firebombs ready for the big show.

However, the Lambton regulars had other ideas, and in a frankly beastly display of good tactics caught these mad Reds in a crossfire...



Vicious massed fire cut down the brave lads and forced the survivors to the ground.  Vodka and petrol spilled everywhere, and the cheering stopped.



Just north of this action, the BUF armoured car's HMG ran low on ammunition as is sprayed the Communisit positions down the road without effect, while BUF attack troops skulked west towards the Grange...

+++

Will Lord Percy's troops be able to defend the king's brother?

Will Chopwell claim their prize?

Will Lambton's Hounds achieve their goals?

And just what are the BUF actually up to?

To be continued...

[Luddite]

And so to week 2 of the Battle of Ryton Grange. 

To recap, the Kings brother's hunting party, ready to take to the field find themselves under attack from the south by traitorous forces of the Chopwell Communists, but feel secure behind the wall of steel of Lord Percy's Tenantry.




Over to the north east, coming down the road from Newcastle, a small force BUF troops are threading their way through the woods, while engaging the communist citizen militia holding the crossroads. 




Also coming from the east are the splendidly liveried forces of Lord Lambton.



And the battle resumes as the brave (foolhardy) Communist assault militia are cut to pieces in a crossfire by Lambton's Hounds.  Having despatched their foe, Lambton's troops flood into the village looking for booty.





The communist militia try to resist; and effort not helped by their chaps with Molotov cocktails having a tendency to blow themselves up...



Thre pressure begins to tell, and despite some fearsome disapproving glares (and a healthy dose of SMG fire) from the matriarchal commissars forcing some of the more honourable estate militia out of the village...




...Lambton's caddish and all-round bad egg 'freebooters' get the jobe done in the lanes with some vicious and most unsporting competent assault work.




The Chopwell citizens, taking heavy losses, retreat from the horror, seeking cover as their morale fails in the terrifying close combat along the hedgerows.




Things look bad for the Chopwell forces over to the east, but their security force attack on Ryton Grange fairs a little better.

A tennantry LMG team presents a problem, blocking their advance.  and so the Cossacks spur their horses on past the terrace to deal with these troublesome chaps.



This to the amazement of the waiting army HMG crew who quickly recovered from their astonishment to open fire on the mounted communists.



Fire discipline failed them however and not only did they spray the area with ineffectual fire, they also exhausted most of their ammunition doing it.  The nearby officers blared angrily at their behaviour...

The cavalry chopped down the LMG crew with their sabres, before retreating behind the terrace.



The way across the road was now open and as the army infantry also retreated back to the Grange...



... the communist infantry flooded forwards deserate to capture the King's brother!

This seemes to have been a dastardly ruse though and as the Chopwell Cossacks moved up to support their infantry, Lord Percy's cavalry counterattacked!



In a swirling melee, the brave but inexperienced Cossacks were cut apart.  The survivors fled...



...hotly pursued by the army mounted troops.



Rather unfortunate for them, the Chopwell infantry nearby turned their rifles on the horsemen, felling man and beast alike; and with that both side's cavalry were spent.



As the battle dragged on, the BUF flying column in the north threaded its way over to the Grange largely unmolested.



Elsewhere, losses were mounting.  the Chopwell communists had lost a lot of good people, and the bitter fighting had also taken a toll on Lambton's irregulars.

Percy's Tennantry were taking a few losses but their position remained secure, and when the crew of their armoured car finally pulled themselves together and started pouring HMG fire into the attacking Reds, things looked bleak for the attackers and very good for the army...



...then...

...over the airwaves of the various wireless sets in the hands of the faction commands, the following BBC broadcast crackled through.

+++...rep..ts of heavy fig..ing underway right now in ... area of Ryton Grange.  A gover..ent spokesman has assured us that the king's brother, the Earl of Inverness, currently residing at Ryton Hall one mile to the west of Ryton Grange, is in no danger...  +++

As the news filtered through to the various factions, the fighting ceased and the troops left the area to lick their wounds.

The communists would not have their prize today.

Lambton's Hounds would not recover the money own to their lord by the king's brother and his gambling debts.

The BUF and Lord Percy's Tennantry were successful in their actions. 

The toffs assembled at Ryton Grange for a jolly bit of grouse shooting were suitably bemused at the whole blessed show...



A cracking, hard fought battle and an excellent success for our new rules of choice 'Rules of Engagement'.

[Pruneau]

Lovely table you have there!  Particularly like your bocage, those look exactly like I want them.  I was first introduced to this 'period' only last weekend, and was immediately charmed.  If not for my to do list longer than a telephone book, I'd be more than tempted to give it a go straight away.  Also the ruleset was interesting.  Simple rules, very intuitive.  Definitely good stuff!

Oh, and I love that die shaped dice box!

[sixsideddice]

So hot you could iron your shirt with it.

Really nice batrep and photos.


Six 

[Luddite]

In the days following, rumours and unconfirmed news reports flood the airwaves and local papers...

+++

The Kings Brother has been captured by the Newcastle Anglican League!

Sources have stated that they are planning to crown him King within the week.

Just as soon as the Bishop of Durham can be found, rumoured to be at his hunting lodge in Weardale, and together with the Bishop of Newcastle they believe they have the right to crown him king.

To counter this, the King has prepared a writ of Habeas Corpus which has been served on the Anglican League to force them to hand over his brother.

+++

These statements are highly disputed.


+++Durham Chronicle+++

Following the news yesterday concerning the Anglican League in Newcastle, most areas of the north east have reported unrest.

Unconfirmed rumours have emerged from Chopwell that at least seven local vicars have been heinously murdered.  At Langley Park for example, Father Martin Allen and his rector are rumoured to have been killed by an angry Communist mob whilst bravely defending the lych-gate of their  church yard.

Banner-bearing Communists disgracefully rioted through Barnard Castle, causing damage to many high street shop fronts.

John Harding, the self-appointed ‘leader’ of the Chopwell Duma has refused to make a statement concerning this anti-church violence within his territory.



+++BBC outside radio broadcast+++

*crackle*…I’m here at t.......in Tow Law, and speaking with a local lady who… I’ll simpl…all Edna.  So Mrs Br..haw can you tell me what happened here y…erday?

Aye, it were terrible.  Them Reds came up here just after m…ing service and had a go at the ..urch over there.  They was shoutin’ and carryin’ on, and one of them thrown a fire bomb.  It b..nced off the stained glass though and nearly hit poor Mrs Hartley.  Then they dr…ed Father Westerby out into the stree….ver there and set about him with sticks.

They beat him in the street?

Yes.  It were terri… to see and some of the local lads tried to stop ..em.  the big fellow with the red scarf and the bright green coat pointed a pistol at them though so there weren’t mu….ey could do.

Is Father Westerby alright?

Not really I heard.  …over in the rectory with Dr Gar…. Maisy in the bakers said they broke both his legs.  I mean it’s terrible isn’t it?


So there you ha…….oof that the rum……ar….*crackle*




+++Press release+++

John Harding, Chopwell Duma.

Following the recent rumours concerning civil unrest and violence towards local Anglican priest and congregations within the borders of the Chopwell collective, I can categorically deny any official involvement in this trouble.

The outrageous actions of the Newcastle Anglican League will obviously cause tension, but we do not condone violence against unarmed citizens.  Our security forces, in liaison with the local independent police are investigating every allegation of violence and we give our assurances that anyone found to have perpetrated such a crime will be prosecuted to the extent of the law.

[Luddite]

Well after a summer of bashing about the table with chaps in skirts wielding pointy sticks, or 10mm wierdness and loveliness, its back to the joyous madness of the A Very British Civil War (28mm i'm afraid, but it may inspire you chaps onto 10mm greatness), this time with a set of homebrewed rules that seem to work surprisingly well!


So, here goes...

Following the debacle with the fight for the king's brother that wasn't, the authorities at Chopwell have become increasingly frustrated with the successes that the forces of Lord Lambton seem to be having, particularly in handing out six of the best to the Chopwell forces.


So the Communists turn their attention to forging a road into Lambton's territory around Durham and the attack comes down the road from Broompark, through the Stonebridge junction and up Lowe's Barn Bank.  The intention is to take the crossroads on the hill, just south of the site of the Wars of the Roses Battle of Neville's Cross.



Unfortunately, Lambton's pickets on the ridge, have spotted the advancing Communists and hastily called up their reserves camped on the other side of the ridge down Potter's Bank.

So the battle begins with Lambton's Hounds pouring down the hill at the Communists mustering around the Stonebridge Inn...

The Hounds take up position...



Including one of Lambton's prices Rolls Royces blocking the road...



The Chopwell forces muster at Stonebridge, well supported with their dashing 'Cossacks' and treasured Mk.II armour.



They push forwards to the Stonebridge Inn and across the river.







Meanwhile, up at the top of Lowe's Barn Bank, Lambton's armoured car suffers a bit of a mishap, probably from the low quality deisel, and sputters to an undignified halt.

Emboldened, the Chopwell militia storm forwards to unleash a shower of Molotov Cocktails onto the stricken vehicle...forgetting that the machinegun was still operational.  The results were predictable!



Struggling through the fields, both sides made little headway, and the Chopwell Cossack cavalry charge , supported by 'Red Hat' infantry was cut down, despite the Communist tank, lurking behind the Stonebridge Inn attempting to 'soften up' Lambton's mercenaries and estate militia (its caution was well founded as Lambton's forces had an elephant gun in their line ready to take down the armoured behemoth).





As the ammunition ran out, the battle petered to a halt and both sides withdrew to lick their wounds...a definate stalemate.  Chopwell will need to find another way into Durham...

Another jolly fun and very British game, characterised by mechanical breakdowns, ammunition shortages, inept troops pot-shotting each other through hedgerows, and a disastrous cavalry charge!

[Steve J]

Very nice. I particularly like the names of some of the units, it certainly adds some nice character .

[Luddite]

Aye, character is the essence of AVBCW, and its what any rules/figure scale needs to have in my humble opinion.

'This is my Socialist militia'... ...doesn't really cut it.

'These chaps are from the Budleigh Salterton Widget-turner's Union, come to lend a hand to the Socialist cause'...

Hehe...

In the game above for example, the Chopwell CinC was Capt. Arthur Foster (Ret.), a WWI veteran who joined the communists out of sheer bloody-mindedness for the King bringing war to Britain when he'd gone through so much in 'The war to end all war'.

Doesn't affect the game (unless you play him as a cautious veteran) but its so much more AVBCW than 'Communist CinC'...


I'm still considering moving to 10mm for this of course...

[Steve J]

10mm was work so well for this, especially with the new AVBCW range plus naturally all the other periods that can contribute figures, AFVs etc.

I've just borrowed a book from the local library on the history of Hanham, which is where I live. From a quick read through, it looks to be perfect for giving some nice detail as well as names of locals for the essential background fluff for future games .

[Luddite]

Excellent!  Welcome to the madness Steve!

And you've taken the best approach too...set it in the area around you, do a bit of local history research to find inspiration for a wierd or interesting faction and go for it!

[Luddite]

A day or two after the Battle at Stonebridge, the forces of Chopwell and Lambton lock horns again. 

For weeks both sides have been building up their forces around the Stanley/Chester-le-Street area and finally two strong patrols meet in the area of Pelton Fell.



Both sides are looking to sieze control of key transport locations like crossroads and despite their orders the Chopwell patrol, supported by the Acorn Street Irregular militia from High Hold to the west decide to make a stand and capture these crossroads.



Lambton's platoon on foot patrol take up the challenge and the impromptu battle is joined.

The battle opens with the Chopwell motor patrol storming forwards to take possession of the crossroads.  The comrades spill out of the armoured lorry and take up defensive positions along the road.





To the south, the Acorn St. Irregulars push forwards, supported by 'Polly' the armoured car from Stanley.



Lambton's regulars in the area ripple with panic.  they're only a light patrol and don't have anything with them that could take down this monster...



...but they dig deep, knuckle down, and prepare to sell their likes dearly against the hated Reds.

They don't have to wait long as the Communist militia storm into their positions lobbing Molotov cocktails and trying to winkle out the Lambton Hounds with the butts of their rifles and a good bit of fisticuffs.





The eager militia didn't count on the disciplined defence of Lambton's men though and some vicious close quarter fighting finished off a good few of the Lefties.  So brutal was the fighting that the citizen militia abandoned their assault and surrendered!



They're unlikely to receive good treatment from Lambton's men that's for sure.

Over to the north of the crossroads it was Lambton's turn on the attack and they pushed forwards through the raking lanes of Lewis gun fire from the armoured lorry.



The regular Chopwell troops here saw both sides bog down in an exchange of disciplined fire across the hedgerows.

Lambton's men got the better of it though and soon the Communists were thinned out of the roadway.



As the light faded and supplies ran low, the Communists still held the crossroads and Lambton's Hounds retreated back towards Chester-le-Street.

Severely mauled, the Cmmunists feared a reinforced attack that night and so gave up their ground and limped back to High Hold.

Another bitter draw between the two forces.

Something's certain...a big battle is brewing between the Durham Toff and the Red Flags of Chopwell...

[Aart Brouwer]

Eeuww dear.. that's not cricket, is it? But it looks like huge fun!

Nice going, Luddite. Marvelous piccies, very dynamic. Love the model of the village bobby, unperturbed by the anarchic goings on. "'Mind yer step, lads, don't walk on the grass."

Cheers,
Aart