The Battle For Gassington, The Herman Invasion Of Redia

 Redia readied for a war with Crussia,; the latter had been sabre rattling and threatening the status-quo in the East so Redia had despatched the bulk of its fleet. Even so, the real threat had come from Hermany.

Redia had been supporting the Blusians in the recent war with Hermany and after defeating Blusia Hermany decided to teach the Redians a lesson. 

A thick fog hid the Herman landing craft as it headed for the coastal manufacturing town of Gassington. The landings had, miraculously, gone unopposed.

However, the people of Gassington had long been prepared for foreign invasion. Many invasion novels and articles had been written  over the previous ten years so the concept was not new. The hit novels, 'Riddle of the Swamp' and The Battle of Dork' had been extremely influential. It seemed that every town and biggish village had its militias and a number had regular troops housed there.

Fortunately for the Gassington people the lighthouse keeper had seen the distant lights of the invaders and warned the people. The Gassington, Post Office Rifles formed a skirmish line across the main road and messengers were sent to the military outpost at Barrington Green. The local unofficial militia took position in Pepper Museum. Many of them were veterans from the Zoohoo War and their commander was Horace Darvell, the great game hunter and crack shot. An old naval cannon had already been prepared for such a contingency. A handful of civilians also had bags of bombs ready to hurl at any invaders. These latter forces lay in wait for the attackers.

The Darvell Volunteers, in the Pepper Museum, man an old naval cannon from a hundred years ago. Others ail an assortment of hunting rifles. Retired big game hunter, Horace Darvell has his elephant gun. 

                                          Horace insists on wearing his topical hunting clothes.

      Elsewhere Penelope Picton, women's suffrage activist and random time traveller, and her companion, Georgina Puddington are determined to do their bit as they have loaded up with explosives, in the hope that playing man's game of war they can prove their eligibility for the vote. Once Penelope had interrupted the proceedings 0f the Redian parliament where she shouted at prime Minister Rupert Chuchwood. 'If I was your wife I would consume poison' to which the PM replied, 'And I should gladly drink it, madam!' 

                                     The public library, at right, housed a machinegun and its crew.

                                                          The Herman force at right

                                                       The Gassington Post Office Rifles

                                                                Herman forces advance.

                              The Rifles, when threatened by enemy lancers, had to change from their skirmish formation to battle line. They then began to sustain unacceptable casualties and so withdrew. However they eventually turned to face their pursuers and fired, emptying saddles.

                         A father smiles at his child as she feeds the ducks but in his bag are deadly bombs.

                             More civilian bombers lurk in the second floor of the lighthouse.

                                                               A proud civilian volunteer

      The Redian cavalry arrive but Redian fire power proves enough to vanquish the Hermans.

                                   General Collier with the newly arrived Guards and combined sailor and marine regiment. The Guards are actually on exchanged from the Duchy of Grand Fenwick (hence the Fenwick flag. Grand Fenwick's guards were trained by Redians and the very uniform was copied from the Redian).

                      The Hermans of Army Black poured some accurate fire into the guards but the latter held their ground and even pressed forward.

                          The Redian Royal Horse Artillery arrives but failed to hit a single target!

                                                         More Redian cavalry arrives.

                                      The Darvell Volunteers, after causing significant damage, especially with one shot from the antiquated cannon, suffereed significant casualties, climb out of the Museum windows and retreat.

                           The Rifle regiment enters an historical building and fire from the windows.

                                              Redian reserves march into the centre of town.

      After the Darvell Volunteers exit the museum some Herman lancers dismounted and entered the building. The Humpington Infantry moved up to the windows and fired in as a civilian bomber throws an infernal device into the building. The infantry later shoot down the fleeing lancers.

THE  GAME SET UP & OUTCOME

Mat played the Hermans (Army Black) and I was the Redians. We had similar strength armies except that the Redians were better shots and the Hermans had an extra machine gun. The Redians began with the civilian volunteers and Post office Rifles as well as the antique cannon and a machine gun. The Hermans began with a machine gun battery of two guns and an infantry regiment. Half the remaining army arrived in the next two moves with the balance present by move four. Redian relief forces could not be rolled for until move five with the foot guard and naval force arriving first.

The Redian holding force wiped out the enemy machine guns, a cannon and much of the cavalry and Herman guards before they could do damage.

The biggest loss for Redia was the guard unit which was wiped out by counter infantry fire. However, the vast bulk of the invasion force was eradicated.