The Battle for Micklethwaite : VBCW Spring Offensive

With the Royalists winning the first battle in the Spring Offensive they have pushed forward from Crofton hall to the small settlement of Micklethwaite. The Albertine forces have regrouped and set up a defensive line and brought up an additional armoured car. Luckily the Royalists have been unable to mend the Vickers tank in time but the Prince Albert Air Corps have have to fly back to base to refuel and rest. The Royalist have brought up the Harraby Home Guard in the belief that all troops are better when they have been tested in battle. These are predominantly older gentlemen, retired or only part-time soldiers so of dubious quality

Albertine defensive line with imported Polish Armoured car

 We set up another Bolt Action scenario with the Albertines holding three objectives spread across their set up zone, these are represented by two sets of crates and the red truck.

The Allonby Miners have dug in behind a garden wall

Despite their age the Harraby Home Guard are at the front !

Under fire from the A9, the Wigton LDV dig in

Royalists push forward in force on the right flank

Fierce fighting around the farm house

The home guard are backed up by Regular infantry as well

Royalists have broken through on the right flank

The Miners are given strict orders to stay put and hold the objective

Despite heavy casualties the Royalists have reached the far objective

In the end the battle was a solid draw, the Albertine Miners holding the centre the Royalists had broken through on their right flank but the Infantry on the left had not reached the objective. This means the Royalist advance in this area has been held. Under cover of darkness they have pulled back to set up a defensive position around Crofton Hall and are installing Machine Gun emplacements and other defensive features. Lord Brisco is extremely unhappy that his ornamental lawns and prize vegetable gardens have been ruined, he remains worried that his house is now the front line and may see more action soon. In the meantime the Royalists are looking to probe again at the Albertine defenses. The trick is knowing where they will attack......and whether the rumoured Scottish reserves will arrive in time to bolster Prince Alberts forces.