Entry # 18 November 28th 1915
We left for Ailly-Ht-Clougher. This was a fairly decent sized town. and we had a pleasant time with the 12th Bde. Including a few route marches around the surrounding country, which was fine. It was here I took up my duties of Cyclist and consequently saw a good party of the country. We remained here for 12 days, leaving on the 10th of December.
Thursday 3 December 2015
Keep Smiling
Entry # 17 November 27th 1915
We left for Francequeville. We stopped there one night. But it was the night of my life. The cold was intense and I had no blanket. Besides being billeted in a barn, or two walls and half a roof to be exact. We lit a fire, and around this we sat praying for "Reveille" and trying to keep ourselves warm. However morning came and we were not at all sorry.
We left for Francequeville. We stopped there one night. But it was the night of my life. The cold was intense and I had no blanket. Besides being billeted in a barn, or two walls and half a roof to be exact. We lit a fire, and around this we sat praying for "Reveille" and trying to keep ourselves warm. However morning came and we were not at all sorry.
Keep Smiling
Entry #16 November 5th 1915
Arrived at Hallloy-Perois, a very small village. Our time here was mostly devoted to Bde. days.
Arrived at Hallloy-Perois, a very small village. Our time here was mostly devoted to Bde. days.
Keep Smiling
Entry #15 November 3rd 1915
We left once more for Beauval, but only stopped for 2 days. Left again on the 5th.
We left once more for Beauval, but only stopped for 2 days. Left again on the 5th.
Keep Smiling
Entry #14 November 2nd 1915
Back in rest camp at Coulin, where we had a "lightning bath". Sleeping in tents for the night.
Back in rest camp at Coulin, where we had a "lightning bath". Sleeping in tents for the night.
Tuesday 27 October 2015
Keep Smiling
Entry # 13 October 27th 1915
We left for the trenches at Foncequevillers. The trenches run right alongside the village which is badly shattered. |We were in for instruction and the 7th Warwicks were, at that time, holding the line. This was a very quiet spot, and we only had two wounded. But during my short time in I saw a fine air-fight by "The Mad Major". And "Jack" was a speciality in the way he traversed the top of the trenches with his machine gun. However we got on A1 for our first time in, after 6 days we left on November 2nd.
(all caught up)
We left for the trenches at Foncequevillers. The trenches run right alongside the village which is badly shattered. |We were in for instruction and the 7th Warwicks were, at that time, holding the line. This was a very quiet spot, and we only had two wounded. But during my short time in I saw a fine air-fight by "The Mad Major". And "Jack" was a speciality in the way he traversed the top of the trenches with his machine gun. However we got on A1 for our first time in, after 6 days we left on November 2nd.
(all caught up)
Keep Smiling
Entry # 12 October 26th 1915
In Courin, a rest camp on our way up to the trenches, where we rested for a night in tents.
(fifth catch up post)
In Courin, a rest camp on our way up to the trenches, where we rested for a night in tents.
(fifth catch up post)
Keep Smiling
Entry # 11 October 21st 1915
Marching over ploughed fields with full pack. "Oh! the joys of an infantry man!" Finally arriving in Beauval a distance of 12 miles. We were billeted in a barn here, and altogether had a fine time as it was large town, and possessed a fine soldiers recreation room. We remained here for five days and left on October 26th.
(fourth catch up post)
Marching over ploughed fields with full pack. "Oh! the joys of an infantry man!" Finally arriving in Beauval a distance of 12 miles. We were billeted in a barn here, and altogether had a fine time as it was large town, and possessed a fine soldiers recreation room. We remained here for five days and left on October 26th.
(fourth catch up post)
Keep Smiling
Entry # 10 October 6th 1915
We en-trained at Havre . There were 40 of us stuck into a cattle-wagon with full pack, there was scarcely room to breathe. We passed through some excellent country, and had one halt for some coffee after a very tedious journey of 13 hours. finally arriving in Amiens too cramped to walk. However managed to get to Poulanville, 3 miles out of Amiens. Arriving more dead than alive after tedious journeys, lack of food and sleep, on the 7th at 10:30 pm. our billet consisted of a cow-shed, but to us it was a mansion that night.
we remained here for a fort-night. It was a very small village, but we had a few route marches into Amiens, a fine big town and possessing a famous cathedral. We also and route marches into all the neighboring towns. Fruit is very plentiful in France, it can be had in large quantities growing on the roadside, consequently we were very rarely thirsty. We left this spot on October 21st.
(third catch up post)
We en-trained at Havre . There were 40 of us stuck into a cattle-wagon with full pack, there was scarcely room to breathe. We passed through some excellent country, and had one halt for some coffee after a very tedious journey of 13 hours. finally arriving in Amiens too cramped to walk. However managed to get to Poulanville, 3 miles out of Amiens. Arriving more dead than alive after tedious journeys, lack of food and sleep, on the 7th at 10:30 pm. our billet consisted of a cow-shed, but to us it was a mansion that night.
we remained here for a fort-night. It was a very small village, but we had a few route marches into Amiens, a fine big town and possessing a famous cathedral. We also and route marches into all the neighboring towns. Fruit is very plentiful in France, it can be had in large quantities growing on the roadside, consequently we were very rarely thirsty. We left this spot on October 21st.
(third catch up post)
Keep Smiling
Entry # 9 October 4th 1915
WE left for France, and after a fairly decent journey arrived in Havre at 3 am. Dawn was breaking and the town was in all its glory. We spent the night here sleeping in tents.
(second catch up post)
WE left for France, and after a fairly decent journey arrived in Havre at 3 am. Dawn was breaking and the town was in all its glory. We spent the night here sleeping in tents.
(second catch up post)
Keep Smiling
Entry # 8 October 3rd 1915
Arrived in Southampton, we remained here all night sleeping in the sheds the next day.
(first catch up post)
Arrived in Southampton, we remained here all night sleeping in the sheds the next day.
(first catch up post)
Thursday 10 September 2015
Keep Smiling
Entry # 7 September 4 1915
Arrived at Bramshott Camp, a fine spot n the well known Hants Commons. During my spare time I visited all the surrounding towns. And I was very sorry to leave Bramshott shich we did , after a fine send off of the ladies of the district, on October 3rd.
(another late post, I need to set reminders over the long breaks in the narrative)
Arrived at Bramshott Camp, a fine spot n the well known Hants Commons. During my spare time I visited all the surrounding towns. And I was very sorry to leave Bramshott shich we did , after a fine send off of the ladies of the district, on October 3rd.
(another late post, I need to set reminders over the long breaks in the narrative)
Tuesday 14 July 2015
Keep Smiling
Entry #6 July 6 1915
In Seaford, a fine little sea-side place on the south coast of England. we carried on with our training. We bathed here daily and had a fine time. My Saturdays and Sundays either being spent in Eastbourne or Brighton, two very fashionable sea-side resorts. We left here on September 4th.
(this was a late post, I mixed the dates up and thought it was next month)
In Seaford, a fine little sea-side place on the south coast of England. we carried on with our training. We bathed here daily and had a fine time. My Saturdays and Sundays either being spent in Eastbourne or Brighton, two very fashionable sea-side resorts. We left here on September 4th.
(this was a late post, I mixed the dates up and thought it was next month)
Friday 6 February 2015
A Final Victory
A few weeks ago, January 17th to be precise I took what my friend Wayne promised to be the final assault on those trenches at Ypres. Wayne will be running the scenario for Hotlead and I have been helping him play test it. So after a few tweaks for the last battle we try again.
I once again take the extra squad rather than the machine gun section. Meat shielding and mobility for the win.
Due to an overlooked rule about not allowing troops to run in the terrain I was forced to slow down. I could only take the maneuver option of 6" movement instead of running at 9". The up side was I could now fire at the trenches before assaulting them. The downside being the greater amount of time required to get there.
As it took much longer to get to the trenches I was taking more hits form the trenches. But bad luck for Wayne with poor shooting and gas affect rolls evened it out a little.
As the gas did its grim work the volume of defensive fire dropped off and I moved up for the assault.
Some bad luck for Wayne in the trench fighting led me to take it with a still sizable force left. Supporting fire from the squad left in the objective trench to the far right further whittled down his defending troops. By the time I had settled in to the trench and turned the defending machine gun against its former owners it was obvious he had little left to defend and prevent me from taking both objectives. Victory at last. I guess the old saying "At first you don't succeed, try try again." does apply sometimes. I'd like to claim tactical brilliance but in reality luck had more to do with it.
I once again take the extra squad rather than the machine gun section. Meat shielding and mobility for the win.
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| And in this corner |
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| Shell craters do not make good cover |
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| In the open and under fire |
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| The big push into bloody hand to hand |
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| my dead pile |
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| Wayne's dead, mostly from gas I think |
Thursday 22 January 2015
Keep Smiling
Keep smiling is the personal motto of my great grand uncle.
He was a signaler in the 14th Royal Irish Rifles B.E.F.
I was originally posting stuff in my other blog Dice of Doom. But I've decided to switch over to here as this blog is more wargaming focused I figured it was more appropriate.
My grandfather's uncle kept a diary of his experiences during the war. I have a copy of the typewritten transcript of his diary. I am intending to post on the hundredth anniversary to the day any of his diary entries. It's kind of an ambitious project but I look forward to it.
Entry #3 December 3, 1914
We were removed to Bundoran. Three companies were billeted in the G.N.R. hotel, but my company was billeted in houses. We were lucky enough to fall in with a fine little cottage with only one inhabitant- an old man - who gave us the entire run of the house. So we had every comfort, and was a bit of a change from having to patrol the tent at nights to try and keep it down. Just before Christmas my company moved into the hotel, as half of the battalion was on leave. We slept on the floor of the smoke room. It was there I had my first Christmas dinner in the Army. Our officers were very kind to us. We had a splendid dinner, after which we had sports. And as the weather was very Christmasy we spent an A1 holiday. We remained here and repaving every day until the 30th.
Entry #4 December 30, 1914
I left Bundoran for eight days leave in Belfast. Remaining in Belfast until 8 January.
Entry #5 January 8, 1915
I joined Battalion which had in the meantime moved to Randalstown. This camp was situated in Shanes's Park and was very muddy at first but improved through time. Here we continued our training. Including some fine group marches with full pack to Ballyscullion and Drumadarragh, distance is about 30 miles. We also had a recruiting March to and through Ballymena where we got a fine reception. My spare afternoons here were spent either in Antrim or in Mr Mooneys, a kindhearted old gent who always made me at home. As I had my bike here I visited most of the surrounding country, and altogether had an a one time. I was very sorry to leave Randalstown, which we did on July 6.
He was a signaler in the 14th Royal Irish Rifles B.E.F.
I was originally posting stuff in my other blog Dice of Doom. But I've decided to switch over to here as this blog is more wargaming focused I figured it was more appropriate.
My grandfather's uncle kept a diary of his experiences during the war. I have a copy of the typewritten transcript of his diary. I am intending to post on the hundredth anniversary to the day any of his diary entries. It's kind of an ambitious project but I look forward to it.
Entry #3 December 3, 1914
We were removed to Bundoran. Three companies were billeted in the G.N.R. hotel, but my company was billeted in houses. We were lucky enough to fall in with a fine little cottage with only one inhabitant- an old man - who gave us the entire run of the house. So we had every comfort, and was a bit of a change from having to patrol the tent at nights to try and keep it down. Just before Christmas my company moved into the hotel, as half of the battalion was on leave. We slept on the floor of the smoke room. It was there I had my first Christmas dinner in the Army. Our officers were very kind to us. We had a splendid dinner, after which we had sports. And as the weather was very Christmasy we spent an A1 holiday. We remained here and repaving every day until the 30th.
Entry #4 December 30, 1914
I left Bundoran for eight days leave in Belfast. Remaining in Belfast until 8 January.
Entry #5 January 8, 1915
I joined Battalion which had in the meantime moved to Randalstown. This camp was situated in Shanes's Park and was very muddy at first but improved through time. Here we continued our training. Including some fine group marches with full pack to Ballyscullion and Drumadarragh, distance is about 30 miles. We also had a recruiting March to and through Ballymena where we got a fine reception. My spare afternoons here were spent either in Antrim or in Mr Mooneys, a kindhearted old gent who always made me at home. As I had my bike here I visited most of the surrounding country, and altogether had an a one time. I was very sorry to leave Randalstown, which we did on July 6.
Another Kick At The Can
Disclaimer; this battle actually took place back in November 22, but as I haven't posted about it yet until now kindly disregard any facts that don't match. My memory is not great.
I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. I say this because yet again I attempted to take the Germans to victory in my friend Wayne's 1915 Ypres scenario.
Once again I've decided to dispense with the machine gun unit to have an extra squad. The range of the machine gun is awesome but it is slow and only four extra Dice (not counting the crew). As opposed to 10 extra guys which is in most situations 10 extra dice. The extra manpower is effectively a meat shield against the expected casualties and there's usually a lot of casualties with this system. The iron Ivan rules tend to be a little bit on the bloody side but still great fun.
Wayne has done a lot of research about the first world war. And it shows in his setup of the defending trenches. I can expect a lot of resistance from that direction. I can only hope that the gas does its work. My goal on this side is to breach at least one trench and do enough casualties to breakthrough beyond. Even with the gas it won't be easy.
My forces head off to the middle trench. I don't reach it before the gases swept past. And I lose a few of my men to defending fire. But not enough to stop the advance and I push on. It's quite hard to inflict casualties at range against units entrenched so I decide to put my trust in some hand-to-hand fighting.
The black markers represent those few lucky troops who have improvised a gas mask (in other words urinated on a handkerchief, yes really look it up) in the white markers denote soldiers who have picked up a Lee Enfield rifle to replace their somewhat deficient Ross rifle (the Ross rifle was issued to Canadian troops at the start of the war most were tossed away by frustrated troops after its tendency to jam). Between the gas and some lucky shots the entrenched troops are thinned down a little bit but have been reinforced from the flank trenches.
After some tense rounds of hand-to-hand fighting I take the position. When he moves up support troops and puts the trench under fire. The gas has already passed them and with the cover they prove resilient to my counter fire.
I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. I say this because yet again I attempted to take the Germans to victory in my friend Wayne's 1915 Ypres scenario.
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| The starting lineup |
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| The stalwart defenders |
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| Rushing towards the trench |
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| The grand melee |
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| This trench is now German territory |
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| Not as many as there was before |
Catching Up
I have fallen behind quite a bit on posting stuff. So here's my attempt at catching up. There will be a bunch of posts to fill in the last few months. The management apologizes for any conclusions as might've caused.
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