A Civic Holiday Excursion

    In Ontario, the first Monday in August is a provincial holiday referred to as "Civic Holiday" although it's called by different names in different areas of the province. It's not a federally mandated holiday so a number of stores are open, some with reduced hours. I think it's an excuse to have one more three-day holiday in the summer and I do like it.

    This past Monday was Civic Holiday in the London-St. Thomas area, and my friends, Andy and Barb invited Beth and I to come to their house in London to have a game on the back deck and a cookout. Another friend, Ralph, was invited as well. So off we went just before mid-day, bringing 7-Up, chips, and two kinds of dip to the party. Andy and Barb grilled sausages outside and also brought out the sauerkraut and potato salad with ice cream for dessert. We all thoroughly enjoyed the day.

    The game was of the War of Spanish Succession using Warfare in the Age of Reason rules and the Age of Marlborough supplement to those rules. Ralph ran the French/Bavarian/Allied side and I took the role of the commander of the Russian troops. I had a redoubt and I stayed in it until Ralph assaulted it and broke in once one of my cannon was lost.

(All photographs courtesy of Andy, and my wife, Beth.)

Such a nice day!

A good overview of the table, the figures, the players, and the wreckage of chips 'n' dip.

Ralph converses politely as the game heats up.

Your Humble Blogger attempts politeness
while watching the Franco-Bavarian hordes descend on Mother Russia

The figures are Wargames Factory WSS troops (not easy to find now since Wargame Factory was absorbed by another firm), all painted by Andy (save one unit). None of them had been on the table before so the "New Unit Curse" applied to all!

The red-coated troops are the Bavarian Leibgarde, the blue coats are the Bavarians,
while the grey coats are French (no matter where they were recruited.)

A fine looking force, I'd say.

I moved up my troops on either flank but left the troops in the redoubt where they stood.
One of the units there was the Preobrazhensky Guard Regiment.

The right flank has to clamber over a hedge. No big deal; it just slowed them down.

The starting position for almost all the Russians.
Were we going to stay in the redoubt? Count on it!

The Franco-Bavarian army continues it's advance. Had the table been a bit wider, it would've
been easier to deploy cavalry. Ralph's artillery also had to scuffle along.
(Medium guns moving like heavy cannon)

I had to pull a brigade "right face" with the cavalry brigade. The horse grenadiers (in green),
being a higher morale class, moved easier than the dragoons.

Lots of mind-blowing Bavarian flags and lots of Cerulean Blue

My cannon caused some casualties to Ralph's troops during his advance, but artillery is not all that powerful when it's spread out all over the board in the manner appropriate to the period. Musket range is very close so we both held our fire. The rule of thumb is "If you measure, you've fired" and that's a good way to waste your extra die for "first fire."

The only unit on the table that Andy didn't paint.
I did the Bavarian cuirassiers up for him a few years ago
and now they finally saw the field.

The Franco-Bavarians reached the redoubt with some losses and some morale issues but
they came over it where my cannon had be run off on the far left of the redoubt.
My left wing collapsed due to morale and that was the game.
It was also supper time.

Here you can see the French coming over the redoubt face.
The Bavarian Leibgarde were holding their own as tough grenadiers.
(The yellow things are plastic straws cut up by Andy for casualty caps.)

More of an overview of things as Ralph's troops emerge victorious... but not without some trouble!
None of our cavalry got into the fray. There was only so much room on the table.

Over dinner the discussion turned to science-fiction movies and TV shows, music, and such, as well as the taste of the sausages, sauerkraut, potato salad, and beer/cider. It was a great time with good friends, good food, and good conversation.

Maybe this is how I'd want summer to be.

One last view of the Russian right wing coming forward.

Colonel Talbot's Birthday

      On the weekend of July 17-18, a few of the members of Croghan's Company 17th Infantry (our reenacting group) took part in 250th Anniversary Celebration of the birth of Colonel Thomas Talbot. Talbot was instrumental in the colonial settling of this part of Ontario after the War of 1812, particularly with immigrants from Scotland and Ireland. He sold his commission in the Royal Army and bought land in what was then "Upper Canada" with the intent to sell it to settlers. An Irish Protestant himself, Talbot was... let's say "less than generous" in land sales to the Scots and the Catholic Irish. We kiddingly say there was plenty of swampland for all. Although considered "despotic" by some in this dealings with the settlers, it appears that Talbot was fairly just in his dealings with the local First Nations bands, although most had abandoned the area during the War of 1812. Whatever the case, Talbot is worth remembering. He was hunted by raiders and Canadian turncoats during the War, but was never captured. (Please forgive any misstatement regarding the Colonel here. I am not privy to all of the story.)

     He is buried across the street from St. Peter's Anglican Church in Tyrconnell, ON (near Wallacetown and just down the street from the Backus-Page House Museum.) This event was sponsored by the parish and reenactors from the Royal Scots Light Company, the Canadian Volunteers, the British Indian Department, and Croghan's Company, 17th US Infantry turned out and served as honour guard and firing party for the event. The Church's rector, the Venerable Canon George Nicholson ("Nick") Wells arranged and organized the event.

(Photographs courtesy of Steve Zronik, Jeff Brown, and Hometown St. Thomas Magazine.)

A display piece that helps explain the place.

Our friend, Linda with the banner near the church.

The placard for the Backus-Page House Museum

Dressing the line and preparing to march to the cemetery (Saturday)

Members of the Light Company of the Royal Scots advance at trail arms toward the cemetery gate on Saturday.

Sunday afternoon - the uniformed party moves to position.

Canon Nick dressed as Daniel Rapelje, a contemporary leader in the local settlement
prepares to pour out a libation on the Colonel's grave. (Saturday)

The libation of exquisite Irish Whisky is poured. (Saturday)

Tom, who is also a member of the Crown Forces Fife and Drum Corps
plays the lament. (Saturday)

Lyle of the 17th US Infantry does some work on his musket. (Sunday)
He and I turned out in the white cotton coatee or frock of the US Army summer uniform.

The party prepares to fire the salute. (Saturday)

"Make ready! Take aim or present! Fire!" (Saturday)
The commands are slightly different for the US and the Crown.
Marcus' musket insisted on misfiring so he fell back out of the line.

Three cheers! (Saturday)

Another view of the cheer. (Saturday)

Another view of Nick pouring the libation. (Sunday)

(I've noted different photos for Saturday and Sunday. First, some different people came out to join in the event each day. Second, Nick wore a different waist coat on the two days - black cashmere on Saturday, and a lighter linen on the hotter Sunday. Third, I had a horrible allergic reaction to some insect repellant made with Deet on Saturday evening.  I itched, broke out in hives, couldn't catch my breath, and left the tent to my wife and slept in the van. Actually, I didn't sleep that night. So my participation the next day was curtailed.)

The firing party retires. (Saturday)

 

Raiffe, kitted out as a Canadian Volunteer, and John of the Royal Scots joined us on Sunday.
The Canadian Volunteers were a small volunteer unit of the US Army, made up of Canadians
and served on the Niagara Frontier. 

Cole, looking quite professional, guards the cemetery gate. (Saturday)

Nick "inspects" the firing party on Sunday.

"Pinging the musket" to check how clean it is. (Sunday)
This is part of the safety inspection done before events where firing takes place.

Mark from the British Indian Department put on a fine display under his fly.

My wife, Beth, leads an impromptu session on the making of Dorset buttons
for some of the ladies who joined us on Sunday.

Nick relaxes in our camp with our daughter, Kaise in First Nations attire in the background.
(She shares Lenne Lenape ancestry through her mother.) (Saturday)

A few properly attired and grand ladies who visited on Sunday.

Your Humble Blogger has recovered nicely from the Deet and the Benadryl.

From the Painting Table

 I enjoy painting the figures I use in games. There was a time when I couldn't game much and I did painting for some friends. It was satisfying and fun. Still I enjoy both the painting and the playing. So here are some of my latest projects.

The Old Western Gunfight Skirmish Project

US Infantry in frontier/plains kit
(North Star Figures)

US Cavalry dismounted
(North Star Figures)

Wild West Seraphim
(North Star Figures - Dracula's America)
Beth like this figure so I needed to paint it up.
It really was a lot of fun to paint!

The here-to-for unannounced Dune Skirmish project

Frank Herbert's "Dune" fascinates me and I saw an opportunity for a small unit skirmish game. I'd hope to use the "5-Core" rules since most of the troops would be armed with blade weapons and slow projectile stunners rather than lasers or such. I wanted to find figures in hoods and robes (of a sort) as the Freman. Ninjas seemed to fill the bill for most of it.

Ninja from Iron Wind Miniatures serving as "Fremen" on Arrakis/Dune.
I wanted fighters with bladed weapons and hoods with face coverings.
Capes would have served me more and had I the patience and skill, I'd have added them.
I like the dust/sand colour with a heavy ink wash that picked out the details.

These guys should be armed with knives rather than spears and Katana-style swords.
Still, as a whole, I rather like how they turned out.

The Sardukar soldier-fanatics of the Padishaw Emperor, Shaddam IV proved to be a challenge. I wanted a sci-fi feel with bladed weapons but found that was too much to ask. So I ordered some Sci-fi troopers from Iron Wind Metals who look bulky, arrogant, and heavily armed. I can pretend they have knives.

These troops should be in black but I chose a more easily detailed uniform.
Big guns in hand... I like how they turned out. They may end up being used in some of my
Traveller campaign games.

I liked the rocket launcher on the left.
The unit officer is on the right, with the slight silver touches for insignia.

SteamPunk/Sci-fi/Fantasy Mixed Bag project

The Royal Family from West Wind's Gothic Horror range
They'd been sitting in the To-Be-Painted box for years and I got the urge to paint them up.
Probably Traveller fodder.

Various SteamPunk/Pulp figures
I don't know all the sources since some were bought at KEGSCON convention over the past
few years. On the far left is a Sergeant from Pulp Miniatures Gunga Din-ish offering.
Doctor sorta-Who is on the far right. The women are living dangerously in their arsenic-green dresses. 

Traders! Cultists! Musicians!
Bad Squido... Pulp Miniatures... Reaper... from left to right.
The Musician showed up in my recent Traveller game as DJ PB Smooth, the Scrunge-Rock 
guitarist. (Listening to Scrunge-Rock could lead to seizures or collapse... if it's heard wrong.)

Two Femme-Fatales from different eras.
On the left is Guinevere for Beth's Kings of War army. 

Space Dwarves from Wargames Atlantic
Fun to put together, even if you add heads and arms from other kits!

15mm Spanish Civil War project

These were originally done for Command Decision and were later rebased for Disposable Heroes. Now they're being resettled for Battlefront.

In the Nationalist service, an older model French "fast-firing" 75mm field gun.
For some reason, Spanish Regular Army artillerymen wore white belting.

Again in the Nationalist army, a later model 75mm field piece.
The difference? Rubber tires!

A Republican anti-tank gun.
International brigade crew? Maybe. The French "Adrian" helmets are a give-away.

US Troops in 15mm for Battlefront

The M1919 Browning medium machine gun with a competent crew.

An 81mm mortar ready to ruin my opponent's day

54mm (1/32) Spanish soldiers

Willed to me by my friend, Martin when he moved out of London, ON
3d-printed Spanish Napoleonic troops - a Spanish regiment and an Irish regiment.
The photo isn't too good and I haven't finished too many of these, so it's an on-going project.
Another on-going project.

Look who came to visit at Church this month!

A large cut-out from a past Vacation Bible School.
This was set up in a pew two weeks ago to surprise us all. 
Yesterday he/she had a surgical mask added.
Smart critter!