Heavenfield 634

And so, the mighty army of Welsh scum crept from their sheep excrement filled lairs and came to fair Northumbria……

King Oswald’s vastly outnumbered met them on the field of Heavenfield, with Oswald on the right, briother Oswy holding the centre and Eanfrith the allegedly dead on the right. Something definitely didn’t look right with Eanfrith…..

All knew that this would be a hard battle of attrition, with the bulk of both armies being the hard-to-turn deep units of shieldwall and god knows what the Welsh were……warriors, spear or something else.  The liberal use of incorrect figures types was not helping…..

On the right Oswald’s cavalry seemed reluctant to do anything…..but then Saxons weren’t renowned for their use of cavalry. The Welsh sub-king code-named “Tony” manged to slip his light cavalry round the flank and even help kill a unit of Oswald’s cavalry. On the Northumbrian left Eanfrith “went defensive” whilst Oswy began to smite the Welsh centre commanded by Cadwallon. Light troops died but most deep units just absorbed their losses. Having slipped round Oswald’s flank Tony changed from his usual tactic of taking the camps to trying to attack in the rea. How Tony! How Welsh! I think he was scared of the Northumbrian peasants holding the camps.

Eventually deep units died on both sides, and Eanfrith was wounded. No problem for a semi-zombie. However the Welsh numbers began to tell. But as darkness began to fall the Welsh had not achieved their objective and they slunk off back to their dens of iniquity. Northumbria was saved and Oswald proved to be a mighty king!

Thanks to Phil for putting together an excellent historical scenario. It was nice to get my Saxons out on the table plus my Grand Manner hernia-inducing piece of terrain.

I am still highly dubious about the counters in play. It was appalling of Tony not to bring his sets so that we had to ask Colin to get his. And once again Tony had to borrow someone else’s fast play sheet!!!!

What a Tanker, France 1940

Well time for something a bit different! What a Tanker, France 1940. The line up being;

• Mal - Char B
• Chris - Renault R35 
• Tony- Hotchkiss H39 

• Eileen - Panzer II 
• Dave - Panzer 38(t) 
• Phil - Panzer III 

 The game was played across table corners. Game opened with Dave's Panzer 38 making a rapid dash for the bridge, backed up by Eileen's Panzer II, while Chris' R35 trundled up to oppose the attempted German bridge crossing.

On the French left flank, Tony's H39 and Phil's Panzer III advanced toward each other, the H39 banging off round after round, but unable to land a blow. The Panzer III cautiously advancing, but unable to locate and then hit the diminutive H39. At the bridge, the R35 went toe-to-toe with the Panzer 38, incredibly starting to getting the upper hand, when finally the Char B managed to rumble up in support. Dave's Panzer 38 was really under threat! Sensing victory, Tony's H39 attempted to swing around the right flank of the German tanks at the bridge, in the process unwisely exposing its flank to the Panzer III and sadly time was up for the plucky little H39, as the Panzer III landed a killing blow.

Back at the bridge, Eileen's Panzer II tried to take the pressure off Dave's Panzer 38, by flanking the French tanks, causing the Char B to reverse back down the road.

 By this time, the Panzer III had also crossed the stream and engaged the Char B head on, allowing Elieen's Panzer II to sandwich the little R35 on the bridge, but neither German tank could finish off the brave little R35. Finally, despairing of the 20mm autocannon's ability to finish the R35, Eileen decided to ram, but sadly, the little R35 was made of sterner stuff and the crew of the Panzer II were forced to bail out.

 So, victory went to the French, as they finished with more operational tanks within 12" of the bridge.

Wolves Walk the Wall, 2019 - Diary

Day 1: Thursday, 30th May. Advance party arrives at Shellbraes Farm, Northumberland and for the rest of the afternoon / evening stragglers arrive. Tony & Christine arrive last, having foolishly relied on Chris for confirmation of travel dates (allegedly).

Day 2: Friday, 31st May. The big one! 9.5 mile walk from Steel Rigg to Gilsland. Some attrition on route, losing one at the Milecastle Inn and two at the Roman Army Museum. Survivors reach vehicle park at Gilsland and then reassemble at the Roman Army museum, to collect stragglers and head home for mammoth Indian take-away.

Day 3: Saturday 1st June: This was supposed to be a ‘rest day’, but the weather witches predicted bad weather for the Sunday, so Walk 2 was brought forward 24 hours. This leg was supposed to be 8 miles, out to Brocolitia, but somehow we end up at Birdoswald first, arguing with a group of Roman re-enactors! Some order restored, and with numbers slightly depleted (due to sickness), Eileen kindly agrees to relay the walkers up to Steel Rigg. Yesterday’s disagreements over the size and number of vertical ascents / descents was beginning to cause even more grumbling in the ranks, so planned march cut back to 5 miles. However, upon reaching Housesteads Fort (only 3 miles) morale really starting to flag, due to ‘gap’ fatigue. Finally the sight of the support vehicles down in the car park below causes a mass breaking of the ranks and a flocking to the café / gift shop!? Treated to Australian lasagne in the evening!

Day 4: Sunday 2nd June: Open revolt! Break away group commandeers one vehicle and heads off for a ‘nice day’ looking round Cragside house / gardens and Belsay Hall. Two others barricade themselves in the house. However, the stalwarts assemble for duty and head off to Heavenfield Battlefield site (633/634) and then onto Corbridge Roman town. Eventually Mel is pulled away from the ruins (Roman, not Dave) and we head for Arbiea Roman Fort in South Shields, via Prudhoe Castle. The Roman garrison at Arbiea appears besieged by a local council estate, but the recreated gate is excellent. Visit, only slightly marred by some members “forgetting” to make a donation to this free museum. Team finally recovers back to base, via Aydon castle, for a feast of Tesco ‘yellow label’ pizzas, courtesy of Simon. Monday, 3rd June: Thoughts of travelling home restores morale and amazingly the team are ready to leave by 9am, but end up kicking heels until Vindolanda opened at 10am. A good look round and a quick raid of the museum and then home.

Overall a fine trip.