ECW Battlefields, Oxford and Partizan

Perhaps I need to spend some time painting and gaming, Rather than gallivanting about the country ? Such is the hard life of a retired war gamer.

The plan for the week was to visit some ECW Battlefields, then meet my wife in Oxford for a short break then head to see some friends before heading to Newark for Partizan show.

First up then. Trip to Naseby, the weather was lovely and I was really impressed by the battlefield, there is a local preservation society who have placed clear and well thought out information boards, the battlefield is also fairly unspoilt remaining mainly farmland, although of course more hedges and drainage than there would have been in 1645.

This is the Cromwell monument which roughly aligns with the centre of the Parliamentary line, Cromwell was probably further right in fact. This slight high ground gives a good view of the battlefield. This shot is actually looking NW diagonally across the battlefield.

By some random chance there were some re enactors on the battlefield these pretending to be Dragoons firing across the Sulby Hedges. A very fun visit all in all.

Next up I was staying in Cropredy Bridge and despite the slightly damp weather I set off on a walk around the Battlefield. Above the view across Silt Mill Ford, now a small bridge. Looking Waller took this route to cross to assault the Royalist, because of the gloom it looks further than it is but the road the King was taking runs up and over the low hills in the background.

A view from just below the road looking back down towards Silt Mill Ford

Cropredy Bridge itself with the only info board, the fields are where the Parliamentary Artillery setup having crossed but were then attacked by the Royalists. Cropredy Bridge is definitely on the list of battles to play when we can get into the shed and spreadout.

The weather improved in the afternoon so off to EdgeHill.

Having done a bit of research I knew this would likely be the most disappointing. Basically the majority of the battlefield is part of a large MOD ammunition storage facility and off limits it is actually pretty hard to access the battlefield. This shot is taken looking directly along the Royalist lines, the trees on high ground in the far distance is the far end of Edgehill. Because it is now wooded it is also hard to get a view from there either.

One nice surprise was Radway church

Where they have a nice little museum/display about the battle with some artefacts

The Battlefield monument marking the battlefield but actually placed off the edge of the battle itself. It’s a shame but a lot could be made of Edgehill if the land could be opened up.

Off then to the Kings Capital during the Civil war, we did loads of stuff but I’m only sharing the edited highlights.

castle and Prison, dating back to Saxons/Normans, used during Civil war and where Matilda escaped apparently during the anarchy. The prison is more Moderna and was used into the 1990’s !

The Ashmolean Museum. Free so worth a visit, this is the small gift giving by King Alfred.

Christ Church college headquarters of the king in the Civil war and the quadrangle was used for training and drilling troops, not allowed to even walk on the grass now !

Inside the church some regimental flags from the numerous Oxford regiments who fought in the Napoleonic wars.

This lovely/famous picture of Pavia was in the Ashmolean

I also managed a short (you don’t need that long) trip to the Soldiers of Oxford Musuem

One or two interesting artefacts but they don’t really make enough of the regimental history in my view

After a couple of days with friends I was off to Partizan. Many have already covered loads of the games, needless to say they was a lot of inspiration on view. It was also fantastic to meet a whole host of people and chat which made it a very pleasant day out. So just a couple of highlight battle picture from me.

Steve Jones AWI battle, I had a nice chat with him

Super Japanese battle, buildings and figures were lovely but they needed a bigger mat 

Gettysburg……lovely

Another AWI battle based on Bemis Heights I think

Seven years war I think

And another one

Lush indeed 😮 nice to see blankets the same as mine being used quite often around the show

Terrain heavy sub continent 

ACW if I recollect non historical but beautifully presented. These were the pick of the crop for me, notable by its absence were Napoleonic battles in 28mm perhaps next time there will be a flood of them ?

I did meet up with quite a lot of fellow bloggers and gamers and even remembered to take a selfie with Iain and Steve J we had a great chat about all things wargaming.

Loot you may ask, I wasn’t really in a spending mood but did pick up some stuff which I haven’t even unpacked yet so I will share that when I get a chance.

Hopefully some gaming next post ?

Thanks Matt ❤️

What a Tanker in Sicily : back in the North

After a week or so travelling I’m back in the North, and back to some hobby activity. Having been to Salute and seen some impressive ‘What a Tanker’ games it got me thinking about my Sicily collection. This coincided with me purchasing some extra American armour.

The table setup plenty of cover and blocking terrain, the Americans would advance from the this end the Germans from the far end.

The Americans arrive, 2 Sherman’s, an M10 (new) and a M5 Stuart 

The Germans have a PzIII a STug F8 and of course Tiger, 

Both sides jockey into position, the damaged buildings count as heavy cover but don’t block line of sight

The Stug starts firing at long range against the American M10 which finds itself slightly out of position by the far bridge

The M10 takes some damage reducing its speed slightly

Forced to turn to try and get out of the firing line the M10 takes another direct hit and is the first casualty

The Tiger advances but is struggling with poor command dice. It takes a couple of hits which bounce off its front armour…….

Until rolling 6 dice the Sherman gets a crazy 5 strike hits ! The Tiger fails to save a single strike causing it to immediate explode 😥

It was lunchtime and we allowed both sides to bring on some reserves. Both sides slug it out 

Eventually the Americans get the upper hand as they drive the PzIII back causing considerable damage. A fun game which we return to again in the future.

Some recent purchases saw their first action in this game.

I had been looking at getting an M10 for the Americans, but I found a hard to resist deal on eBay and ended up purchasing 3 these were painted quickly so they could take to the field immediately

I’ve also painted up some more 10mm Austrian Dragoons for the SYW

Also completed a couple of rather fancy heavy cannons for the ECW although I see these perhaps getting used in a future Thirty Years War battle ?

As mentioned I have been away for a few days. First in London……

British museum to see the Samurai exhibition

A lot of interesting history, plenty of armour so worth a visit

I visited the Household Cavalry Museum, quite small but really interesting with just a few lovely artefacts,  the stuff in this case from the Napoleonic era, the eagle is a replica, but the small bugle was one that sounded the charge of the heavy cavalry brigade at Waterloo !

A trip to the portrait gallery mainly looking at the historical portraits !

A trip to the Wallace museum, after a suggestion from Iain a fine collection of Armour 

I did like this one, my only criticism is the labelling is generally poor

After London I was out in the Home Counties. Belvoir Castle, spectacular but too heavily rebuilt for my liking

Berkhamstead Castle closer to London, the other extreme, although a fine fine example of a Motte and Bailey design

We had a trip to Bletchley Park which was pleasant but I gave up at the display which actually tried to explain how the codes were broken, way above my brain level

They do have a lot of enigma type machine and lots of interesting stories

Our final trip was a real surprise in a good way ! the Shuttleworth collection. An absolutely fantastic collection of early aircraft, all in working order, although we weren’t there on one of the special flying days the planes were still really impressive.

I am guessing but this may be the largest such collection in the World ?

As well as bi planes several working WW2 planes as well.

So many planes, they also do flying days which I might consider in the future ?

So some hobby time and a few busy days, somewhere in here I also visited Salute, a fun day, catching up with a few people, but I bought very little and took very few photos.

That’s it for now I have been painting some more stuff and more games planned for this week.

Thanks for checking in

Matt ❤️