Return to Poles 1919 -20

We are planning a decent sized Russo-Polish war game for April so I thought I better get a few more Poles completed.

Starting with these Greater Poland troops in German style uniforms, I already have a battalion of these but as I have a company for the second battalion already painted and based along with some loose painted figures its a head start on another battalion for the game.

These first two are Battle Honours 25mm World War One Germans with head swaps, a Woodbine Stelenhelm and Empress SCW bare head. Nice figures still but quite small. 

The next 4 are Great War Miniatures Germans, three late war Stormtroopers and an early War infantry man with a head swap for a Studio Minaitures Polish cap.

I've also managed to get some Poles in French Uniforms from Hallers "Blue Army" completed. These ones are a rifle regiment with the little green flashes on the collars.

These are mainly Woodbine miniatures from the Gallipoli range. All 4 below are Woodbine, they come with separate heads so really useful for adding variety with bare heads, bandaged heads etc.

This NCO on the left is also Woodbine but with a Studio Siberia Polish peaked cap, the NCO's had peaks, the other ranks were peakless. The right hand figure is a chunkier Brigade games Frenchman but again has a Woodbine head.

Lastly two Woodbine bombers to mix in with the rest of the units. Basic WW1 French Uniforms, I have painted a little white eagle on the Helmets which doesnt show up too well here.

Just to be clear these next are not Poles but Ukrainian Anarchists!

One of my factions for this period is Nestor Makhno's black army. Although the troops can all be used as generic Partisans as well.

The leaders are from 3 ranges, left to right we start with a Woodbine Miniatures Turkish officer as a Anarchist leader, the standard bearer is a Copplestone Bolshevik with a Studio Siberia Makhnovist flag and the right hand figure is an STP Miniatures Anarchist officer.  mix of Uniforms going on here with a good mix of Grey that may be the remnants of Uniforms from the German sponsored Ukranian forces of Hetman Skoropadsky 

Many Anarchists would have had civilian gear supplemented by bits of military kit. These Warlord WW2 Partisans have a few head swaps mixed in to give them a more Eastern European look. Mixed in with earlier figures they should fit in just fine.

Keeping things going leading up to our first game with the Poles, s bunch more Greater Poland Infantry, all Great War Miniatures, the two in Helmets are late War, the four in caps have had the Picklehaubs swapped for Polish caps from Studio Siberia.

These four Reds will finish another company for me taking the line infantry to 14 companies, for the game I will probably put them into two three company and two four company battalions.

The Officer at the back is a Warlord figure the other three all Copplestone.

Lastly, I wouldn't want to leave out the Whites, here is a Tsarist officer wth a slight variation on the uniform colour scheme, again Copplestone, the gun in the background is painted black as it will be for the Anarchists, I may scruffy it up with some khaki coming through the edges under the black outer coat.

Hopefully get a few more done ahead of the game next week, it is a bit tight and I dont want to do too much and hurt my gut again. Ideally an MG and crew for both the Poles and Anarchists, maybe a crew for the Anarchist gun and a few more Anarchist foot. Maybe even some Anarchist horse but lets not get carried away.

Decent progress anyway. Thanks for stopping by. 

1st Anglo Sikh Wars Aliwal Re-fight at Partizan

Today I joined the Boondock Sayntes to re-fight Harry Smiths "Battle without a mistake" Aliwal from the 1st Anglo Sikh War.

Ian who masterminded the game had it mind for some time and asked me to collaborate in October at the other Partizan and I didnt hesitate to agree. 

The Third Battle of the 1st Anglo Sikh Wars is very gameable and see's Harry Smiths reinforced division take on a force of some of the best and worst of the Sikh forces, the Company troops are outnumbered but a large part of the mass are unreliable irregulars stiffened by tough regulars and Avitables Compoo of elite Sikhs.

I provided a Brigade each of Company foot, Company horse and Sikh Regular foot..

Ian table was as usual littered with fabulous little details and vignette's. As might be expected there were lots of other great games of which I saw very little but I did get a few snaps of ours and will provide a very quick overview.

Behind the river Sikh rockets fire missiles in random directions. They do look good though!

Ian as usual has lots and lots of fabulous detail on table, the Sikh camp and baggage is a great example.

Ian also organised a pair of these posters to inform the punters about the historical background, nice touch.

This little command vignettes is one of my own with the commanders arguing over which way around the map goes no doubt.

In the centre my Sikh regulars supporting Ians troops, this one is the one I re-bought from ebay after selling it 26 years ago!

Love this Leapord lazing in a tree.

I should also point out all the limbers and crews had to be converted as nobody does them, love the dust under the wheels and hooves of the Bengal Horse artillery.

The Sikh infantry famously fought of the company cavalry by forming Triangles which Ian has modelled here, lovely looking piece.

Move one the British assault Aliwal village, winning a quick victory of the 32 pounder gun and crew.

Meanwhile the 19th Lancers charge the irregular foot and destroy two battalions in quick succession.

On the British left the Sikh regular Cavalry are unusually aggressive and charge the company irregulars. The Sikh Lancers are routed and the Currassier are pushed back.

Apologies a little out of order below is the charge that led to the above rout!

On the right the Company cavalry are sweeping all before them, the irregular foot brigade and the supporting Gorchurra cavalry have all been driven off and the cavalry can start to turn the flank of the Sikhs as they did historically.

In Aliwal itself the foot have pushed through and driven the Sikhs out completely..

The Company troops are advancing all along the line now and will need to dela with the tougher prospect of Sikh regular foot and guns.

After seeing off the cavalry on our left the company horse rally back, nothign to be gained by charging the best Sikh infantry in prepared squares.

Graham plays an event card to double move a brigade into the Sikh regulars.

The right flank cavalry see off two more rregular Campoos and the left is almost taken with supporting infantry rolling up the rest of the irregulars.

The cavalry can now reorganise and start to advance down the legnth of the tbale and roll up the Sikh line.

Right of centre Grahams brigade charges the Sikh regulars.

Not surprisingly its my favourite unti that get the chop, seen here fleeing through the river.

The British stop briefly for some light looting.

Left of centre its my British brigade going in. 

Unfortunately we get the worst of this one with three batteries and two battalions pouring in fire they break. The only Company unit to do so in the game (Typical)

The rest of the Brigade pour volleys into the Sikhs supported by the Bengal Horse artillery and the Sikh unit routs. The brigade that has just looted the camp engages the next Sikh battalion' honours being even we pull back the brigade to replace ti with a fresh brigade. 

The brigades from the right flank now turn left and roll down the length of the table anchored by the river. There is not a huge ammount left to stop them.

With the Sikh left gone and the centre beginning to crumble the day is lost for the Sikhs, they can however make an orderly retreat as they did historically across the Sutlej with their best troops.

A fabulous day out, great game with soem great company, thanks for inviting guys.