Vendee Rebellion book find

Great buy off FB market place this week, the three volume series by Jean-Francois Chappe of the history of the wars of the Vendee. All unread hardbacks in excellent condition, published in 1993 for the anniversary of the rebellion. 

 A bit of light reading for the next few weeks while I am on holiday, continuing my knowledge of the war. It will help I am sure with our Vendee battlefield tours, plus as  I continue to write my scenario series and Wargames rules for Vendee rebellion in western France.

Our Vendee Rebellion tour and Wargame is hereVendee rebellion tour

Salon de Guerre part IV

Today I started to add the Moloton (wall fabric underlay) and the 18th century reproduced fabric for the walls. Nessa commenced the restoration of the chandelier which was completed this afternoon.

Really happy with the 18th century reproduction fabric and how it looks with the gold and grey/white walls. Tomorrow I will erect the chandelier and complete the fabric on the 5x2 m wall.

Cheers
Matt

“Salon de Guerre” Wargames room part III

Yesterday I had my premier game in the partially finished “Salon de Guerre” with our week long holiday guest Chris Pringle   (Author of Bloody Big Battles) and his wife. A very delightful visit and a great rapid fire game to bless the room.

We decided to play a battalion of British paras with a support company holding the village to prevent the Germans from exiting the table. The Wehrmacht forces were two battalions of infantry, one stug and a recon light armoured car coy, plus a coy of recon mechanised infantry, commands by a RHQ.

Chris really used his battalion artillery well along with his mortars first to lay smoke to make his assault on the defending Brits, then to pound the paras until they were pinned. Eventually he assaulted the village after losing two companies pushed or destroyed the remaining Brits out capturing before the allotted 15 turns.

 

Cheers

Matt

French HYW MAA V

French Men at Arms HYW

Additions to my French army for the battles in the Anjou, Maine, Brittany and Normandy. Maine Chevaliers lead by Guillaume Blosset(Le Borgne or the One eye) knight Banneret, lord of Saint Pierre and Carouges, in the company of Pierre d'Alençon. At Baugé, la Brossinière, seat of Orleans. 28mm miniatures from Perry Miniatures.

Here

"Wargaming History"™ 

From Caesar to the Coldwar

Cheers

Matt

Sir John Landale, Scottish Schiltron

Sir John Landale of that ilk, seigneur de Laundeles, a Anglo Scot who fought for Edward until after Bannockburn, then was a supporter of Robert, a signatory to the Balliol roll. Schiltron for my Scottish war of Independence army. 28mm miniatures from Claymore and antediluvian  miniatures.

Salon de Guerre-Wargames room part two

Salon de Guerre

My “salon de Guerre“ Wargames room, will be the second one in France that I am aware of, the first of course is in Versailles palace, the other of course in in “l’hotel de Hercé” in sunny Mayenne!

I finally returned to work on the Wargames room restoration on the first floor this month after spending two months on the second floor renovations. We finally selected the colour combination after charging it from a darker scheme to a lighter putty colour and gold trim on the decorative wood work. The ceiling repair was a bit of work to get it 100%, I moved the communication cables and added the cat six cable in behind the skirting boards. The Exterior door repairs With some new glass and exterior waterproofing has to be done also. We opened up the fireplace again and it requires a little work before I fire can be lit in it again.

Overall very happy, still need to finish off the doors and some detail work, remove the heaters and paint behind them and put them back again (tomorrow’s job)  add the fabric to the large panel and the curtains (which Vanessa has made). The goal is to finish by next Wednesday.

A few photos of the progress

Cheers
Matt

Loire Vikings V

More Vikings, striking terror in the Loire!

The first raid in the Carolingian empire was on the monastery at the Île de Noirmoutier in 799. It became the most regular raided monastery in France. They raided up and down the Loire and its tributaries. Another two  28mm V & V miniatures. 

Cheers
Matt

French HYW MAA IIII

French Men at Arms HYW

French Armagnac MAA knights, squires and gentile men. Led by Jacques de Mathefelon, knight provost of Maine, lord of Lancheneil. Fought at la Brossinière, Le Mans, Fresnay, Laval and Verneuil. Part of my Hundred Years War men of Maine. The banner is also the current armorial for the city of Mayenne, Geoffrey de Mayenne used the arms when he fought for King John.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

Cheers
Matt

Aulerci Diablintes XII

Another unit completed over the weekend, the third of my clothed tribesmen. A few new combinations of plaid, pretty happy with my results on these Victrix miniatures. 46 figures to paint and I will of passed the 200 mark for the year of Gauls.

They will join my Aulerci Diablintes tribe and will be on the table in two weeks when we have a wargaming guest  one of our "walk the battlefield in the morning, Wargame in the afternoon" tours, visiting the Oppidum at Moulay, and the museum at Jublians, then wargaming in the completed "salon de Guerre ".

cheers

Matt

British Airborne C.L.E containers

Completed ten C.L.E containers last week, scratch built containers from two part putty and sprues that were cut to size and drilled out. Quite happy with them, the parachutes are from my own resin mold that was made 8 years ago or more. Be nice additions to my DDay and Arnhem table terrain bits.

My full article about British Airborne C.L.E containers is here.

Cheers
Matt

Sir Bernard Bruce, Scottish Wars of Independence

Sir Bernard Bruce, Lord of Connington and Exton died 1330, cousin of king. Robert. Another Schiltron for my Scottish war of Independence army. 28mm figures are a mix of Antediluvian miniatures and Claymore miniatures

Cheers
Matt

Irish Medieval Archers

Another addition to the Scottish wars of independence army, some Irish mercenary archers. 28mm Anteluvian  miniatures. Happy with the hunting tartans.

Cheers
Matt

Sir James Douglas, Black Douglas (the good)

The Black Douglas

Sir James Douglas (also known as Good Sir James and the Black Douglas) (c. 1286 – 25 August 1330, loyal companion of Robert de Bruce. Schiltron for my Scottish war of Independence army. Hand painted shield and standard, on the right flank is Kenneth Williamson, as a memory to my uncle Ken who passed this year. Miniatures are a mix of Claymore and Anteluvian miniatures.

Cheers Matt

100 Years War French Army III

French Mean at Arms HYW

French squires and gentile men led by Pierre Michel, squire banneret lord Le Plessis, Villiers, Saint-Gilles, Bossacourt and la Noe. Supplied 20MAA and 40 Archers for La Brossinière.
Additions to my French army for the battles in the Anjou, Maine, Brittany and Normandy.

"Wargaming History"

From Caesar to the Coldwar

Cheers
Matt

100 Year War English I

English Longbow HYW

Completed my first Perry English HYW archers for my post Agincourt English.

Note the yellow flowers, “planta genista” a common weed in Maine, Normandy, Brittany and Anjou. Some people may know this is how Geoffrey de Anjou gained the nickname “Plantagenet” due to his wild sowing of oats (children) throughout the region.

After Agincourt peace the English used their Chateau bases on the Normandy Maine border, Avaranches, Mortain, Domfront, Alençon, and Fresnay to raid into Maine and Brittany at will. Some of these raids were very successful but a turn around first at the battle of Baugé then la Brossinière, lead to a resurgent and confident western Armagnac French force to then blunder at Verneuil and suffer complete destruction of the western French and Scottish allied army.

Figures are 28mm from the Perry Miniatures Agincourt to Orleans range

"Wargaming History"™ 

From Caesar to the Cold War

cheers

Matt

100YW French Le Mans company

Next unit is a Archer company of crossbow and pavise men from the city of Le Mans, they fought at a number engagements in Maine and Anjou. Recorded at Baugé, La Brossinière, Fresnay, siege of Le Mans, Siege of Saint Suzanne, and Verneuil.

Figures are 28mm Perry Miniatures with hand painted Pavises and Banner.

Cheers

Matt

100 Years War French Army I

French 100 years war longbow

French longbow unit, the first of my Perry 28mm French 100YW army is completed for the local battles around our Maison that we conduct tours for Baugé, la Brossinière, Fresnay and Verneuil, plus skirmishes and the 70 odd sieges in Anjou, Maine, Normandy and Brittany .

These guys have been finished for weeks, but I had not based them, plus I am hand painting flags so that has slowed production, glad to say I have completed 18 banners today, so a flurry of posts over the next 20 odd days.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

Cheers
Matt