Ambush at Glasson : VBCW

The alarm had now been raised that the Scottish Republicans were invading along the coast between Port Carlisle and Drumburgh. The Albertine Forces of West Cumberland have been hurriedly called to the Area to push back the invaders. As Major Montgomery galloped back towards Glasson he couldn’t understand why the Scots would choose to invade here, and then it dawned on him “the railway” damn it they were looking to cut the railway as this was the closest point it ran to the coast, they must have gotten wind that Colonel Barnaby Thrasington used the railway each morning to travel from his HQ to inspect the front line defences. This wasn’t an invasion but an attempt to kidnap the Colonel, who before the war was a close personal friend of Prince Albert. Who knew what concessions the Prince would have to give up to get his friend back. Shouting out his orders the Major galloped on “get to the railway....protect the Colonel”

(The scene set, due to bad weather our original plan was reduced somewhat, an a different opponent  stepped in, with slightly smaller forces the Scots would seek to cut the railway, the train would arrive randomly but we didn’t know from which direction, it would be forced to stop and take one turn for the side who stopped it to capture or rescue the Colonel, getting him back to safety or the boats. The Scots did have an offshore mortar which could target anywhere on the table)

Scottish Regular troops used to spearhead the assault

Supported by rough (is there any other sort) Scottish coal miners, they have managed to drag a heavy gun with them through the mud from the coast

The Albertine are initially only militia and local defence forces, they need to hold the line until regular troops arrive from other bases

The major looks on worried, he isn’t sure he has enough forces concentrated to defend the railway and he doesn’t know where the train will come from ?

Luckily the West Cumberland Constabulary have arrived in force including a mortar team who open up on the invaders

Units of Police and the Wigtown Local Defence Volunteers running down the Main Street of Glasson towards the road bridge which crosses the railway

The Scottish Rebulicans have also managed to bring wit them or capture an old armoured car which immediately drives up the road towards the bridge

Private Jackson with the WLDV await the enemy

Having come under fire they charge in armed with homemade but effect grenades unfortunately they bounce back unable to inflict any damage

But having brought it to a stop the Constabulary also charge in and miraculously one of their Molotov cocktails hits the open top blowing the car to pieces hoorah !!!!

Turn two and the Albertine Regulars arrive by BUS!

Slow progress from the Scots, the worry for both sides is if the train arrives they’ll miss it

The Scots surge forward, taking the pillbox by the first crossing

The major urges his forces forward but the Constabulary come under intense fire and are heavily pinned

Long range exchange of fire across the railway line

Finally B company of the St Andrews Regiment cuts the railway, but in the distance a unit of well armed ladies from the local ammunition factory in Silloth have also jumped onto the tracks and are coming this way !

Still no sign of the train so the Scots dig in, they are clear on their objective to capture the Colonel

The Silloth Ladies have been spotted by D Company who are looking to cut them off

The Constabulary held as long as they could but have been wiped out, Albertine Forces around the bridge are looking very thin

and some of the Scottish miners are charging over the bridge 

With callous disregard of any of the normal rules of engagement D Company open fire on the Silloth Ladies in the open on the railway

Meanwhile hand to hand fighting has broken out further down the track, the Albertines get the better of it whilst

C Company waste a turn being effected by one of our random rules which had them pinned down reading letters from home!😀

It hasn’t had much effect but some Fishermen have been firing mortars all game

With greater numbers the Scots have also made it onto the railway close to the bridge when suddenly a crash is heard from the other side of the village

The train has arrived from Drumburgh and been derailed, but the final Scottish unit looks isolated and may struggle to get away with the Colonel 

He is quickly man-handled off the train but it may be too late ?

Fraternising with the enemy, I don’t think so, a brutal combat sees the fine Ladies from Silloth wiped out to a Lady😢

But this is just the vengeful throw of the last dice by a beaten foe, as the Scottish unit holding the Colonel isolated and unprepared are charged and either killed or captured, “the Colonel is safe.......hooorah”

Now on the bridge Private Jackson has survived the day’s events and with his unit takes pot shots at the retreating Scots as they pull back to their boats.

Oh what a fun game (sorry Martin ☹️) thanks to Steve for stepping in. The Scots put in a tough attack and if it hadn’t been for a random event pinned a unit at a critical time they might have made it. There will be a reckoning as the brutal treatment of the Womenfolk of Silloth has caused shock amongst the West Cumberland population.