FRW French Dragoons Ride Out

Just off the painting desk is a regiment of French dragoons.  These are done as the 18th with pink lapels.

The figures are 28mm metal miniatures from Perry Miniatures.  They had very little flash on them, and were quite nice to paint.  Though, on reflection, I could have found a quicker and better way to do them.

These will see action as part of my French Revolutionary Wars collection.  Purists will probably be tearing their hair out... oh well!  Once they are on the table nobody knows or notices anyway.

I haven't got a clue what I'm going to paint next.  In a minute I'll wander down into the cellar of wargaming treasure and dig around until something catches my eye.

The Battle of Bosworth - AAR

Big Lee has been working hard on his War of the Roses Battle of Bosworth project and his recent hosting of the battle for the Rejects was a fitting tribute to his effort and attention to detail.

I will leave Lee's report: BigLee's 'Miniature Adventures': The Battle of Bosworth 1485 - A 6mm, Test of Resolve, Quick Strike Battle Report (blmablog.com) to discuss the background and armies.

Lee's armies are 6mm miniatures from Baccus.  The rules he used were Test of Resolve.

The Lancastrians were played by Steve and Stuart.   Poor Stuart was in charge of Stanley's troops so was compelled to wait before being able to act in the game.

The Yorkists were commanded by Ray (Richard III), Surjit (on the Yorkist right... I forget the name of the battle) and me on the left as Northumberland, who like Stanley was compelled to stand and wait.

A look down the battlefield.  The Yorkist on the left.

The knights of King Richard III

This is where the suckling pig is being turned on a spit.

The Lancastrians advanced quickly across the battlefield to deny the Yorkists space.

The centre of the two armies quickly face each other.

Meanwhile, Northumberland (closest to camera) and Stanley stand waiting for events to allow involvement.

Lancastrian and Yorkist centres collide.

The initial outcome is mixed, with routs, destruction and continuing melees.  Clearly, this is going to be a hard slog rather than a swift decision.

Looking down the line.  At last Northumberland's battle slowly lumbers forward.

All the action and attention is dominated by events in the centre as Steve and Ray continue to square up toe to toe like boxers.

As the centre resembles more like a rugby scrum, the battles on the far right flank of the Yorkist lines clash.

As both Lancastrian and Yorkist troops in the centre start to thin, Richard III decides to move in for the kill and disperse the opposing battle.

At last Stanley is permitted to move down from the hill...

... too late to effect the game.  Henry Tudor launches his knights at those of Richard III.  With incredible ease, the best of the king's knights are cut down.  Richard is captured.  No doubt a traitors fate awaits him!

If that wasn't enough, the Yorkist right collapsed leaving their flank wide open.

Final Words
From someone who played little part in the game, I can still say that the game was fun to watch.  The Test of Resolve rules worked really well.  There were no major rules queries or disagreements.  The only minor observation is that matters slowed when there were a large number melees to settle.  However, this could be said of many rulesets.

An excellent and entertaining game.  Kudos to Lee for executing an enjoyable day and a lovely looking table to match his well painted and based armies.

The Thrill of the Wargaming Heritage

The other day I finished reading a book that I've been working through for a little while now.  War and Society in Renaissance Europe by JR Hale is an informative, but not always an easy read.  This was never a study in the art of warfare during this period, but to continue improving my understanding of the context in which war was conducted.  In this case, the impact of war on society and government and the impact of society and government on war.

It was instructive.  However, it is a surprising hobby moment that I'd like to share.

Whilst reading the chapter entitled The Society of Soldiers: The Professionals, I came across this:

"... there is one [woodcut] showing him [Maximilian I] as a boy learning to joust with the aid of jointed wooden models.  Assisted by the publication of books containing diagrams of military formations, the model soldier became a more ambitious educational aid.  Do not bring up boys to play with wooden horses, dolls or toy carts, advised the old soldier Jean de Tavannes in the memoirs he concluded in 1596.  Order instead six thousand models (in wood or pottery) of horsemen, arquebusiers and pikemen, also model cannon, castles and towns. 'With these little models you can carry out and explain how to draw up companies, squadrons and main forces, and demonstrate the storming of breaches, charges, retreats, the posting of sentinels and watches... in such a way that by the age of ten... instead of having passed the time uselessly, they will have formed the habit of thinking of themselves as a soldiers or a captain.'  By the late sixteenth century metal toy soldiers were being moved about by veterans reliving past battles."

Don't you love it when you chance upon something that reinforces the historical value given to wargaming as an intellectual, and pleasurable, pursuit.