Bloodbath at Bullock’s Mill

Time off work for half term last week, so I managed to squeeze in a day’s gaming at Giles’, with Roo turning up too! As I had yet to field my Welsh Nationalist force, I decided to write a scenario based on the no doubt immanent Royalist advance on Welsh-held Kington, and wrote a blurb accordingly:-

With Titley Junction finally cleared of the Welsh invaders, the local forces of Government are looking westward to Kington. If the troubled border region is to be properly secured, then the Welsh Nationalists must be ejected from this small market town.
 The most logical route from Titley is to follow the railway line, which negates the need to get tangled up in the narrow and twisting country roads. However following the railway has it’s own perils, for it runs along the steep-banked valley of the River Arrow.
 It is for certain that the retreating Welsh will throw forward defences somewhere across this valley, most probably near the disused Bullock’s Mill, where the railway crosses the Arrow twice in quick succession, and where there is a crossing point for the road from Lyonshall village.
 The valley is steep and flanked by woodland, and no Government convoy could advance without having to force the crossing points or clear the valley slopes. Yet this is what they must do.
 Hearing news that a platoon of Welsh Nationalists is throwing up defence works in the area, two Government platoons have been dispatched to see them off and reclaim the crossings for the King. However it is rumoured that Welsh reinforcements are hurrying from Kington to shore up the defences.
 A show-down is imminent. Will the Arrow valley echo with the sound of ‘Land of My Fathers’, or ‘Long Live the King’?

The table was set up to represent the area around Bullock’s Mill, with farm buildings representing this edifice and the River Arrow running diagonally along the length. At either end of the table were the two crossing points (a road and rail bridge respectively) that the Welsh were obliged to defend.

Bullock's Mill and environs

So my Welsh were the defenders, with approx. one and a half platoons, while Roo (Hereford Regiment TA) and Giles (local militia) fielded a platoon each for the attack. I was allowed to deploy some of my force in or around the mill and at the road bridge. The rest were to come on along the table edge, the opposite side of which the Royalists deployed.

Welsh Irregular cavalry

Now before I start this report, I will state here and now that I was very, very lucky! Firstly, when rolling for my troops’ training, I rolled high almost every time, giving me a force of largely regular and veteran nationalists. Secondly, Roo, when rolling for Giles’ militia, rolled low, giving his comrade a force of poorly-trained irregulars. Lastly, my dice rolling and card drawing was uncannily good throughout the game, with the Welsh winning the initiative and scoring direct hits more often than not.

The bulk of my Welsh Nationalist force

So no, I won’t be complaining about my dice rolls this time!

I deployed my troops: an anti-tank rifle team covering the road bridge, and a section of veteran militia hiding in one of the mill buildings (which I had ringed with ranging poles in the hope that this would put the Royalists off from investigating the mill too closely).

Welsh guarding the bridge

The rest of the force came on – L-R irregular cavalry, veteran militia, anti-tank team, regular Hotchkiss HMG team, regular ‘Mountain Goat’ hill fighters, artillery piece and medical back-up, irregular uniformed infantry and HQ, veteran militia and an irregular steam tank.

Giles' Royalist militia

The Royalists then deployed, with Giles’ militia on the hills facing my right flank, including a mortar and ‘Croydon Crusher’ quad bike and Roo’s TA, with artillery piece and toffee apple mortar, stretching from opposite my cavalry on my left to the mill in the centre.

Roo's Territorials

So two mortars and a big gun. Any passive defence on my part would see me blown to bits once they came into range, so, although outnumbered; I had to go on the offensive!

Demonstrating on the left

My Welsh moved forward. On my left the cavalry trotted up to within range of an advancing TA section. As in the previous game their job was to fire and withdraw repeatedly in order to keep this flank occupied. Up the road alongside them marched a section of veteran militia (since the early days of VBCW gaming, Welsh militiamen had assisted the Anglican League, thus earning their veteran status).

Advance in the centre

In the centre my HMG, hill fighters and uniformed militia (eager, but untrained volunteers from the Celtic diaspora) climbed the hills on my side and dipped down towards the river (fordable in one move to infantry). Also crowning the hill were the artillery spotters, who with an elevated view were able to call down fire on a sizeable portion of the battlefield.

My right flank

On my right the anti-tank rifle prepared to face whatever vehicles came their way, while the steam tank and veteran militia moved up to the woodland on my far right flank. Meanwhile in the mill, the final section of militia kept quiet. If the ranging poles kept the Royalists away then they would have room to emerge at a pertinent time and fire on them from the rear. Otherwise they would stay put until such times as they were needed.

Royalist quad bike attacks!

On my left the cavalry and militia soon came under fire from the TA, lining the hedges and fences on the opposite side of the river. On the other flank the Royalist mortar began to fire at my steam tank while their quad bike roared along the road in an attempt to rake my militia with MG fire before they could tangle with the irregular Royalists entering the wood on the other side.

Royalist mincemeat

In the centre, a section of Royalists militia advanced down the lane towards the river and the Welsh positions. As they came to a T-junction they were seen by my spotters. Flags were waved and signals passed… ‘Boom!’ went the artillery! ‘Argh!’ went the Royalists as the entire section, fitting nicely under the template, was blown to smithereens!

Roadkill!

My militia turned on the advancing Royalist quad bike, which quickly slammed on it’s brakes and went into reverse, but not before a shot from my anti-tank rifle ripped through it and oil, bike parts and bits of rider splattered across the road.

Wary Territorials

On the left, Roo’s TA were warily edging around the mill, cautious of the ranging poles and unsure of their exact purpose (unlike Giles’ militia, who happily uprooted them as they passed). The TA entered the mill grounds and a section sheltered behind the buildings, but did not go in – yet…

Hill fighters move up

Fire from the TA on my left was proving to be rather hot, so I temporarily pulled back the cavalry and militia, whose return fire had been less effective. In the centre the hill fighters had waded the river and snaked around high hedges as they moved forward to tackle another section of Royalist militia.

Militias tangle in the woods

On my right the Welsh militia advanced through the woods to engage their opposite numbers, giving them both barrels of their shotguns every-other turn and relying on their few rifles and an SMG as they reloaded. My steam tank and the Royalist mortar exchanged fire, with the mortar clipping the tank and immobilising it.

English brutality writ large (and in blood!)

By now my HMG team had hauled their Hotchkiss over the hill and down to a hedge near the riverbank. They were seen by the TA’s spotters and an artillery shell duly appeared above them… BOOM! As the dust settled the HMG team dusted themselves off, unhurt, but, horror of horrors the Welsh doctor and his nurses lay in stricken in the ground! English perfidy at its worst! This callous shelling of non-combatant medical staff, bearing the sacred Red Cross, will go down in the annals of atrocity.

Fighting over the mill

Hiding in the mill, the militia veterans did their best to keep quiet, but right on the other side of the door the TA were lurking, debating whether to enter the building. Time to act! Bursting open every available door and window the militia opened up on the startled TA. Alas the result wasn’t as severe as I had hoped, and the Territorials soon recovered and charged into the building. It took us a while to work out how to proceed rule-wise, and in the end, to make things clearer, we queued up the defenders on the open ground outside the building, and added one extra attacker to each queue for every victorious round of melee that went to the Royalists.

Anyone fancy a kebab?

In the centre the hill fighters fired at the Royalist militia as my untrained uniformed infantry crossed the river to support them. However, thanks to a chance event card (one of the perils of getting the highest initiative card is that you run the risk of triggering a random event) they had discovered a stash of beer barrels en-route and were by now well and truly plastered! With negative modifiers on both movement and an already rubbish to-hit score, these irregulars were now pretty useless.

Steam tank, tanked out!

In the woods on my right, my militia were slowly gaining the upper hand and were outflanking Giles’ troops. However the Royalists were selling every inch dearly, and to cap it all their mortar, which had held steady under my steam tank’s MG fire, now scored a direct hit and knocked the poor old girl out of action.

Back for another crack at the flank

From left to right then: my increasingly flaky cavalry section was trotting back and forth, shooting and getting shot at. My militia was duking it out in the mill, while another section warily advanced up the road in the teeth of TA fire. The uniformed mob was drunk and staggering towards the mill while the hill fighters stalked the Royalist militia. The HMG and artillery fired at targets whenever they presented themselves and the anti-tank rifle and militia section moved through the woods past my stricken steam tank.

I hope there's a loo in here!

The territorial’s artillery blasted forth once again, landing a round near my drunken uniformed infantry. Shaken, but largely intact, they took refuge in the unoccupied mill cottage, kept in order by the Welsh morale officer.

At the T-junction of death

The hill fighters had by now cleared the tall hedges and crossed the ‘T-junction of death’, boots crunching over pieces of Royalist militia in pursuit of the other section, who were carrying out a fighting withdrawal.

Turning the Royalists' flank

The Welsh militia eventually cleared the woods on the right, and with the anti-tank rifle acting as a glorified sniper, began to shoot at the Royalist mortar and HQ teams. The mortar was soon silenced and the Royalist standard bearer felled.

Moving the gun forward

To my surprise, my advance was doing rather well, even if I was paying a heavy price for it. Deciding that it was time to bring up the big guns, I limbered my artillery piece up to my caterpillar tractor and crossed the river – the spotting team advancing before it.

TA artillery suffers

There then followed a couple of rounds of counter-battery fire between the Welsh and the TA, with the TA coming off worse. Soon my HMG team had felled their spotters, enabling me to blast away with relative impunity, taking out a hefty chunk of the TA section that had finally won the firefight with my cavalry and was now advancing to the centre.

Pressure mounts at the mill

In the mill, my rapidly dwindling militia section was being soundly roughed up by the TA, but their fellows had advanced to a nearby hedge and were shooting at the TA mortar team, which, after being inactive for most of the game, was now lobbing toffee apples at them.

Hill fighters push on

On the right and centre, Giles’ Royalists were largely at the mercy of the hill fighters and militia, and were also being fired at from behind by the drunken Welsh in the mill cottage.

Closing scenes

With nowhere to retreat to, the militia in the mill had fought to the last man, but the TA eventually secured the building. While the Royalist’s left was crumbling, the TA on their right was bloodied but unbowed, and still enjoyed the support of their mortar and a battered but intact artillery piece.

Closing scenes

For my part, the Welsh could claim to have held the vital crossing points and dealt the Royalists a very bloody nose, but had also taken a beating for their trouble. My artillery and HMG was largely untouched and effective, and my hill fighters still going strong, but the rest of my force was either too far away on the flank, too depleted or just too drunk to be of much use!

Closing scenes 

A pyrrhic victory for the Welsh. The railway line to Kington remained blocked, but only temporarily as the Welsh would not be able to muster enough reinforcements in time to defend against a further push by the Royalists. The route to Kington is open.

Perhaps I shouldn't have posted a militia section in the mill, as being holed up in there meant that they were largely wasted, and perhaps I should have done more with the uniformed infantry before they got drunk – questions will be asked in the Senedd!

Giles' account of proceedings is in four parts, starting here.

In conclusion: a very enjoyable game against two worthy and honourable opponents!

Tantrums and Tiaras - Race For Life

A quick break from the VBCW silliness (more soon, promise!)

My eldest daughter (6) and her primary school chums (plus their mums, including of course my good lady wife) are doing Race For Life this year, in aid of Cancer Research.

Their team name is Tantrums and Tiaras!

If anyone would like to sponsor her, you can do so by visiting her Just Giving site here.

Thanks for reading!

Tanc Bustio!

Two BUF tank-busters have gone over to the Welsh!

Way back in December 2011 I converted four Wargames Foundry WW1 British trench raiders into tank-busters for my BUF. I was never really happy with how I did two of them. One was carrying a large wooden beam (to lever off tank tracks) which would have taken several men to carry in real life, while another had two sticky bombs which could be mistaken for party balloons.

Realising that I hadn’t any uniformed tank-busters for my Welsh nationalists, I decided to re-model/paint this pair for that faction. The chap with the piece of wood now has a more manageable crowbar, whilst the other chap, now sporting an Adrian helmet thanks to a head-swap, wields two less balloony sticky bombs.

Quick, bish-bash remodelling, but they haven’t turned out too badly. English tanks beware!

’38 Fest 2015 – Duel for a Jewel

The story so far:- Communist agitators have raided the Tower of London. Whilst the attack was easily beaten off, it was enough to rattle the King, who, without consulting Prime Minister Mosley, has ordered that the Crown Jewels be split up and sent by diverse routes to his residence in Madresfield. Alas many of these packages have become lost on the way, causing factions throughout the country to seek, locate and squabble over the contents.

Within spitting distance of Madresfield, a portion of the Crown Jewels has been discovered near the Malverns in Herefordshire. Their location has been narrowed down to three farms (see earlier post) and the Malvern Hills Conservators, eager to show their loyalty to the King, have decided to retrieve them. However the local chapter of Blackshorts, keen to enhance their prestige, are also searching for the jewels. Thus these hypothetical allies renew their rivalry and clash once more…

Bottom to top: Brookfield Farm, Grange Farm, Bridge Farm

We set the table up in a rough approximation of the map given in the ’38 Fest briefing, and were initially to field a platoon each (the standard force size in the ‘Went The Day Well?’rules). However considering the size of the table we decided to add an extra section each.

A portion of the Blackshort platoon

My Blackshorts (‘red’ force) consisted of the HQ (including a medic and standard bearer), three infantry sections (the regular Marches section, the less well-trained Metropolitan section and the elite Sidcup Highlanders), two cavalry sections (‘Iron Hoof’ BUF cavalry and a squad of local militia), and HMG team, two tank hunters and two improvised armoured vans (‘Eulalie’, with a small calibre gun, and ‘Madeline’, with an anti-tank rifle).

Some of the Malvern Hills Conservators

Giles fielded a force of Malvern Hills Conservators (‘blue’ force), including infantry, a mortar team, armoured cars and shotgun-toting farmers. Both platoons deployed along the long side of the table, and began to advance…

The Blackshort line

We had three objectives – the three farms. Deciding that I couldn’t fight for and/or hold all three, I decided to concentrate on the nearest two, trusting to luck that the jewels would be found within one of them.

Brookfield Farm occupied

The bulk of my force therefore headed for Grange Farm, in the middle of the board, possession of which I predicted the bulk of the fighting would take place. The Iron Hooves, with their greater mobility, raced for Brookfield Farm on my right, followed by the Irregular Metropolitan Blackshorts, who were to occupy the farm and hold the flank, while the Iron Hooves moved forward to support the fighting in the middle.

Irregular cavalry demonstrating

On my left, the irregular militia cavalry were ordered to demonstrate in front of the stone walled Bridge Farm, keeping out of harm’s way but hopefully distracting the MHC sections who were sure to occupy the farm (the track leading to it being near their deployment zone).

Advance into Grange Farm

With the armoured vans, followed by the tank hunters, keeping to the road, the rest of my force duly clambered through the hedges to reach Grange Farm. The Sidcup Highlanders quickly occupied the barn, while the Marches Blackshorts made short work of the rough terrain along the side. The HMG team slowly dragged their Vickers machinegun towards the nearest farm building.

When vans attack!

Crump! The retort of a light cannon shot out! Facing my armoured vans was a similar vehicle in the green livery of the MHC, which fired at ‘Eulalie’ and scored a direct hit, taking out her own cannon, damaging her drive and rattling the crew. ‘Madeline’ duly returned fire with her anti-tank rifle, but failed to make an impression.

MHC advance into Grange Farm...

Meanwhile the remaining MHC moved, with a section of militia rushing into Grange Farm from the opposite side, skirting the windowless rear wall of the main building and racing up the side stairs before the Highlanders in the barn across the courtyard could draw a bead on them. Grange Farm was thus in 50/50 possession.

...and also Bridge Farm

Stone walled Bridge Farm was quickly occupied by another MHC militia section, supported by a Lanchester armoured car and a veteran section who lined the hedgerow-lined track to the farm.

Mortar fire causes havoc

Boom! Another loud bang! Plumes of smoke and splinters of wood erupted from the trees by Grange Farm. An MHC spotter team had zeroed in on my advancing Marches section, signalling for their mortar to drop a round on them. One direct hit later and a handful of men, including the Lewis gunner and platoon standard bearer, lay dead. My CO, advancing alongside, was lucky not to be killed too…

Iron Hooves trot out

This mortar would have to be dealt with, so, leaving Brookfield Farm, the Iron Hooves, supported by the Metropolitan section, cantered out into the open on the MHC’s left flank. With any luck their infantry would be busy fighting for Grange Farm, leaving the BUF cavalry relatively free to swoop in on their rear, sabre the pesky mortar team and hopefully pounce on their HQ.

Keep 'em guessing!

In order to succeed in this, I needed the MHC on the other flank to stay put, so the militia cavalry trotted on, keeping the MHC at Bridge Farm guessing.

Exchanging fire

With ‘Madeline’ duelling with the MHC armoured van, and neither doing much damage, the tank hunters moved forward under cover of the otherwise useless ‘Eulalie’. Meanwhile my HMG team had reached Grange Farm in the centre and set up in the cottage alongside the Sidcup Highlanders in the barn, who had been exchanging fire across the courtyard with the MHC militia in the larger building.

Farmers leap forward

I admit to being surprised at the MHC’s next move, for they rushed their section of shotgun-toting farmers into the courtyard and along the windowless flank of the barn, hoping to take the Highlanders from the rear. Knowing full well how devastating a short-range volley of double-barrel shotgun fire would be, the Highlanders broke off their firefight and rushed out of the barn to meet them, their automatic weaponry stopping this audacious move in it’s tracks and sending the devastated survivors racing back to their lines.

Lurking around Bridge Farm

A random event card forced the MHC mortar to fire every other turn. This encouraged the Marches and Metropolitan sections cautiously moved forward, whittling down a militia section and forcing the MHC spotters to pull back. At Bridge Farm the MHC were reaching the stone walls facing my militia cavalry. Desultory fire was exchanged but the horsemen withdrew slightly before the MHC’s automatic weapons could be brought up – no charges into the valley of death on this flank!

Attempting to turn the flank

On my left, all that stood between the Iron Hooves and the MHC’s rear was a lone Lewis gunner, defending a fallen tree. Before he could set up the black-clad horsemen charged and the threat was neutralised. Realising the seriousness of the situation, the MHC pulled their veteran section from the track leading to Bridge Farm and raced them along to plug the gap.

Scarper!

Having suffered casualties in their advance, it was the Metropolitan section’s turn to suffer mortar fire, which again landed a round into their number with uncanny accuracy. These inexperienced Londoners, fed up with traipsing through smelly and muddy Herefordshire farmland, turned and fled back to Brookfield Farm, followed by a loudly cursing NCO.

MHC whittled down

Despite this setback, the situation was looking grim for the MHC. Their flank had been turned by the Iron Hooves, and their militia in Grange Farm was close to breaking point after being raked by HMG fire, in addition to the machinegun fire and grenades courtesy of the Sidcup Highlanders. (At this point it’s worth pointing out that we had tweaked the morale rules a little, so that sections could only benefit from any HQ morale modifier if they were within line of sight, which these guys were not!)

"What the..?"

By now ‘Madeline’ had finally scored a hit on her opposite number, disabling it’s weapon. Emboldened, she trundled forward to engage the MHC Lanchester which, after floundering in the mud at Bridge Farm for most of the game, was coming back to support the MHC’s defence. Turning a corner on Bridge Farm lane, ‘Madeline’s’ crew were surprised to see the Lanchester bearing straight at them!

"Reverse thrusters!"

In an audacious move on Giles’ part, both MHC armoured cars had been ordered to ram their counterparts in order to gain vehicular superiority. ‘Madeline’s’ crew failed a morale test and opted to hurriedly reverse, backing across the road and straight into a gate, becoming well and truly bogged down.

MHC reinforcements

This, in my opinion, was the turning point where my almost-certain victory began to change into probable defeat, for the dice gods suddenly abandoned me and I began to roll some terrible results.

"Attention, this vehicle is reversing..."

After some head-scratching on how to resolve a head-on ram, The Lanchester smashed into ‘Madeline’, driving her home-made front plate into the engine and forcing the crew to leg it. The MHC’s armoured van performed a similar move on ‘Eulalie’, which also opted to get the hell out of the way, reversing through the militia cavalry which had galloped back to support my waning attack.

"ARRRGH!"

Sensing my chance, the remaining tank buster (his mate being felled my MG fire from the advancing Lanchester) was ordered to run up and pop a grenade up the enemy’s exhaust, only for him to fail a morale test too! He paid for his cowardice (or good sense) by being run over by the MHC’s van.

HMGs final moments 

At Grange Farm, combined fire from the HMG and the Highlanders was as hot as ever, but my to-hit rolls were suddenly becoming dreadful, allowing the rattled militiamen in the opposite building to concentrate on the HMG and wipe out the crew.

Counter-attack!

My bold flanking move was also running out of steam. While the Blackshorts had managed to shoot up the mortar crew and put pay to that nuisance, their mounted allies suddenly found themselves on the receiving end of an infantry charge from the newly-arrived MHC veterans. Again I rolled abysmally and the Iron Hooves fell back.

And again!

Barely stopping for breath, the MHC veterans then charged the remainder of the Marches Blackshorts, who also fell back! At least by now the Metropolitan section had rallied, but with the end of the game in sight (cue increasingly chilly texts from Her Indoors) opted to stay at Brookfield Farm and search for jewels.

Counter-counter-attack!

With the MHC veterans cutting a swathe through the Marches section, the Iron Hooves settled their nerves and counter charged into their rear, only for their target to turn around and, thanks to some more bloody awful dice rolling, force them back again!

Cementing my position

The initiative had well and truly passed to the MHC, who had weathered the Blackshort storm and, thanks to some admirable audacity, struck back to gain the upper hand. All I could do was consolidate my half of Grange Farm by sending in the militia cavalry and, with Brookfield Farm in my possession, hope that the Crown Jewels would be discovered in my half of the battlefield.

Giles, having being declared the victor, rolled a D6, revealing the Crown Jewels to be in…

…Bridge Farm – the farm that throughout the entire game had been in MHC hands!

A very disappointing end to the game for me, made worse by my sudden reversal in fortunes. On the plus side I was very happy with my tactics. I had managed to tie down two sections of enemy infantry and an armoured car by simply trotting the poorly-trained militia cavalry back-and-forth. I also came within a deuce of forcing the MHC out of Grange Farm, after practically wiping out two other militia sections. In addition my flanking move had come within an inch of succeeding, but hats off to Giles for pulling off some brave and ultimately successful counter-attacks – bravo!

We had a fantastic game in which the advantage really see-sawed between us. It’s all too easy to blame the dice (a bad workman and all that), but this time around I really think that, had I rolled a little better, I might have weathered Giles’ applaudable charges a little more, and perhaps that final die would have landed the jewels into Blackshort hands.

In conclusion, does anyone know where I can buy some luckier D10s?

Giles' side of the story can be found here, here, here, here and here.

Oh, this weekend I also played the Songs of Blades and Heroes fantasy skirmish rules for the first time, with my six year old daughter. She really enjoyed her first wargame - happy days lie ahead.

Ladies Day

‘Clickclickclick’ – Mrs. Norris knitted, as she did habitually, the sound echoing through the village hall – all patriotic bunting and memorials to the fallen. “Well, it’s for the jumble sale” she would say when challenged.

“Well it’s very annoying!” snorted Miss Prendergast, drawing herself up in haughty dowager indignation. “Lady Deirdre Ffaines-Muir has called a special session of the Townswomen’s Guild and all you can do is clatter those confounded needles!”

“It’s for the jumble!” retorted Mrs. Norris.

Mrs. Williams sighed. “Will you two please stop bickering for once? It’s so, well, provincial… Lady Deirdre, please continue.”

“Thank-you,” said Lady Deirdre, ignoring the interruption with practised grace and studied indifference. “In our last meeting, as you know, we agreed that desperate times need desperate measures, and we voted unanimously to take up arms, should the village come under peril.”

“From Communists!” spat Miss Prendergast.

“From Fascists!” growled Mrs. Norris.

“Yes, quite,” continued Lady Deirdre. “You all volunteered to collect whatever weaponry you could find and, husbands notwithstanding, have brought a fine collection of shotguns.”

“Frank was most supportive,” Mrs. Williams said with a superior smile, knowing full well the battles her less sophisticated comrades had had with their other halves.

“And it’s to his credit Mavis. Now, for my part I have contacted a couple of friends in The City, who have sent me a couple of little presents…”

She turned to the table besides her, and removed the cloth covering it with a flourish, drawing a murmur of appreciation from her audience.

“Rifles?” asked Mrs. Williams. “Frank said he couldn't get one for love nor money! And machine guns!?”

The clicking stopped.

“I’ll have that big ‘un,” said Mrs. Norris, her jaw set with determination. “My Albert was a Lewis gunner during the war. Never said anything about it except in his sleep, and I spent enough years listening to him jabbering on to know what’s what.”

“Well if she’s having that thing, then I'm having the Tommy gun!” Miss Prendergast grabbed the weapon and peered down the barrel. “Can’t be too hard for an educated woman to operate.”

“That’s settled then,” said Lady Deirdre. “Alas there aren't enough to go around, but with the shotguns we’ll at least be able to mount proper patrols and, God forbid, take to the field if we are needed.

“Although Frank says that the LDV are more than capable of defending the village.”

“Huh! Does he now?” chuckled Mrs. Norris, slapping a drum magazine into its mounting and flicking up the rear sight in a single effortless motion. “That’s nice.”

Some lovely figures from Blind Beggar Miniatures - armed housewives!