Battlegroup South

England is a nation of two halves, those who live above the traffic logjam of the West Midlands and those who live below it. Or so I pondered as I sat unmoving in a traffic jam just North of Birmingham. I was on my way to Bovington in Dorset for Battlegroup South, a major expedition for me, way beyond my normal area of operation. I had met the guys organising the show at Warfare, Reading, last year where they were presenting a huge, and impressive display of the fall of Berlin in 1945. After some discussion I promised that if at all possible I would make it down to report on the show for Wargames Forum.

T69 going through its paces

Eventually, I turned into the camp after a seven and a half hour journey, during which my son Richard had remained amazingly good humoured and had helped me retain my sanity and temper. Battlegroup South is unusual in that it provides a campsite for those attending, with a nominal charge of £1 made for the use of the facilities, including hot showers and toilet facilities. Being a military base there are regular army, MOD Police, and BGS security patrols, so our belongings were probably safer than if they had been left at home.

Southbourne's Pacific Assault

The show itself is held within the museum, amongst the exhibits, which creates some difficulties. First of all it is not possible to push a 20 tonne tank a couple of feet to one side to make a better fit for a display. So the games are slotted in where there is room, and often not to the best advantage, being difficult to access or suffering from poor lighting. Second the size of the museum, and its design means that there are pockets of games or stalls, or even isolated individuals which give an impression of sparseness. Third, the dominating presence of the armoured vehicles does detract somewhat from the spectacle of the game, and also lead you subconsciously to expect the games themselves to follow a post 1916 theme.

Age of Battles heroism

That said the museum itself is very impressive, even for someone like myself who si not great fan of things mechanical. I found the World War One displays extremely interesting, and, given the current Back of Beyond games, the range of post WW1 armour developments to hold a particular fascination.

And there were a whole range of very nice games to be seen over the weekend. I was particularly impressed by South East Essex Military Society, who were attempting to refight the whole Monmouth rebellion over the weekend. I had to set off home at lunchtime on Sunday so I am not sure whether they achieved their aim, but the games I saw were very nicely laid out, with well painted figures and modelled buildings. More importantly the players were able to explain the campaign and its background, as well as the mechanics of the wargame, fluently and interestingly. (click here for details of this game)

WWI in 1:1

I also had a wry smile at a 20mm Napoleonic Peninsular Game, presented by two gentlemen of mature years from Wessex Wargamers of Dorchester. The terrain was basically a sand table, with the sand replaced by a deep covering of modeller's flock, in various colours and texture. The result looked very good. The models used were, I think, all Airfix, and I looked with some rueful memories at the paint bare ankles on men and horses that I recall were the curse of such armies.

A Fistful of Dice

Nearby, Blandford Camp wargamers presented a portion of Operation Bluecoat, the British attempt at a Post D Day breakthrough. The heavily vegetated field boundaries of Normany were very well represented, and predictably were crawling with SS defenders, backed up by some very heavy armour. (click here for details of this game) Again a very well presented display with excellent models. More modern games were presented by Southbourne Tabletop and Boargames club with a pair of World War 2 games including US marines landing on a Japanese held island

Tunisia according to Ian and Ian

Mid Somerset Wargamers (www.mid-somersetwargames.org.uk) presented Band of Brothers, with the guys of Easy company up to their necks in it again. Very nice terrain though from grand manner and Realistic Terrain. I was also very impressed by the Tunisia, the End of the Afrika Korps game presented by Ian and Ian in association with 21st Panzer. The models on display in this game were of the highest standard, and the attention to detail in the terrain and buildings was first class.

Tiger in the Dust

Across the way "Moving House the Dark Ages Way" from Wangford Warriors, featured a large castle with a protected settlement, under attack from a bunch of Saxon like raiders. The game for me suffered from a lack of models outside the castle, where there was a large expanse of well made open fields but not much eye candy. I did witness the display being damaged by a rather thoughtless camera man who leant on the table to take a close up. His elbow rested on the village pond, and promptly pushed through the varnished surface. . Instead of apologising, or simply looking suitably embarrassed he pulled a sheet of paper over the damage and moved on. Accidents happen we all know, but perhaps we should all take a little more care of other people's property.

Its those Libyans again!

I enjoyed the World War One games that were on display at the beginning of the show. The, first was a neat little action from the Dorset Dragons using Renegade 28mm models in an early action of the war, where the colourful blue and red uniforms of the French infantry moving through green hedged countryside were in marked contrast with the shattered mud soaked trenches of Cambrai that featured in the neighbouring game presented by The Old Dirigibles of Cranwell.

Well almost, as no one from the club had managed to make the show, thanks to certain military exercises in the Middle East, and the display was presented by two noble affiliate members who drove down from Ripon to host the game. And very well they did too. As their's was one of the first games to be seen, and featured tanks they became a centre of attention from visitors to the museum with no usual interest in wargames. The father and son team presenting the game not only were able to keep the game going involving a number of youngsters as platoon commanders, but were also able to give a number of off the cuff lectures on the tactics, equipment, and course of the battle. Very impressive!

Old Dirigibles and Cambrai

A different sort of armour was in evidence in a few of the games, with the famous "Mr. Indefagitable ", Dave Lanchester and his colleagues from the Lance and Longbow Society presenting a medieval naval game on the Saturday and a very neat 10mm wars of the Roses action on the Sunday. Meanwhile, sandwiched between a group of AFVs the Levellers Wargames club of Weymouth presented a whole host of 100 Years War games using DBA. The battles that they present over the weekend included Crecy, Poiters, and Agincourt, amongst others, and the games, although small attracted interest because of the colourful supporting materials.

Levellers 100 Years war

It was good to bump into a number of overseas visitors including friends from New York, Italy, Canada and from Tin soldier of Antwerp. All of them seemed to be enjoying the show, and also the museum, which during the weekend had tank driving displays from a Matilda Mark1, Valentine, and T69 which drew appreciative comments, and even managed to tempt Richard and his new pals from the campsite away from the adventure playground.

Aylesbury's D Day terrain

The modern theme of the show kept popping up, hidden away in a corner the Aylesbury Wargames club were heavily involved in fighting a D Day game, and it was interesting to see groups of players huddled together for briefing sessions and receiving sitreps. In the Tamiya Hall Sussex Massif presented Bloody Aachen with masses of US armour advancing on a narrow front. There was also a smaller scale armour action with WW2 Italians getting a very bloody nose on a carpet tiled desert terrain.

An armoured traffic jam at Aachen

Richards favourite game though was Smudge's 54mm Streets of Glory Skirmish game with US Infantry clearing a ruined town of its SS defenders. Throughout the weekend this game attracted a host of players young and old, and all had a great time. Richard talked about how his squad had taken out the opposition with only one KIA, all the way home, so he has already mastered one aspect of wargaming. The key to success in this game was the hard work of Smudge and his son in helping and encouraging the players, and keeping a smile on their faces even when dopes like me kept asking the same question about the rules.

Smudge's Skirmish

I really liked the display from Deal wargames society, "Korea - a warning from history". This had a UN camp under sustained attack from a tidal wave of Communist troops. The rules were simple, and I noted a number of players throughout the weekend having a great time. And again the guys presenting the display were happy to answer questions and give briefings on all aspects of the display. (click here for more details of this game)

The Shedheads Seige

But it was not all tanks and big guns, The Shedheads from Newark had made the trek south and presented a rather superb dark age siege with immaculately produced figures and faultless terrain. While next door the weekend saw a repeated ancient DBA clash that drew a fair number of young gamers, obviously drawn by the opportunity to command a mob of Libyans. A further attraction in the corner was the Bring and buy, which was very sparsely covered with lots on offer, however the Complaints Section was being superbly staffed by little Hannah who was proudly showing off her own BGS sweatshirt, finished the night before by Mum, who seemed to also be responsible for the camp catering, and deserves a row of medals.

Any Complaints?

 

The game that was awarded the trophy for best of show though, was " A Fistful of Dice" a Western Gunfight presented by Mad Games (www.madgamers.org). I have to say that although the town consisted of some very well made buildings, and that the figures were well painted, I have seem better models at other shows. What made this game so very good, was the skill and enthusiasm of Denis Jackman, the guy who was umpiring. His patter was none stop, and amusing. He involved every player, no matter what their age or gaming experience. I think without exception the numerous players throughout the weekend had a great time, and this game was a very worthy winner.

Best Game of Show, gunslingers and friendly ladies

Members of Battlegroup South (which is an association of friends rather than a wargames club) hosted a number of games of a uniformly high standard (www.Battlegroup.co.uk). There was a superb Vietnam game with an air cavalry assault on a VC held village, some nice music in the background as well. I was also very taken by the huge Samurai, Age of Battles, game but the view of it was restricted by its location in the shadow of a massive piece of Nazi armour.

Age of Battles

There were a further collection of excellent games in the last hall, but for some reason, everytime I went down to check them out there was very little going on. And I am not sure why! The visitors can't have just disappeared, and if they were in the Tamiya Hall in strength why were they not then supporting the stall and games in the last hall? And it is a pity because the games down there were excellent, with Mailed Fist presenting their Target Germany bombing raid, with a host of fighters picking on a poor defenceless bomber.

'Nam

Penarth and District Wargamers presented a Victorian fantasy action with Royal navy steam tanks. The scenario had a force of dastardly Germans from the East Afrika Company supported by native contingents trespassing on a British colony. And while the Imperial powers play, the natives are restless. It looked good, and fun to play.

Steam Tanks

Cheltenham Wargamers had a fantasy chariot race which looked very interesting, but I did not see it in action; the same goes with an Indiana Jones style Egyptian adventure game, but again I did not see the game in play.

Which makes me think about the future development of the show. From a social point of view the event was superb. And it was truly a family affair, with kids having a great time around the campsite and playground, as well as the adventure of camping. A number of the wives present took off for the coast or sightseeing around the numerous attractions in the area. Then there was the barbeque….. oh yes the barbie, with so much food that even Homer Simpson would have bust a gut and all for less than a tenner. I can truly say that I have never been to a show that I have enjoyed more from a social angle, or that I would happily take my whole family to.

More steam driven armour

But, I am not at all sure that the traders will have found the show profitable, especially those who had travelled a long distance, such as Dave Thomas. Nor was it clear to me what proportion of visitors were wargamers, and how many were there to purely visit the show (I certainly heard some complaints from visitors who had come to see the tanks and found the show an unwelcome surprise). To be successful in future years I think BGS needs to attract a whole lot more gamers, and they in turn will make the traders happy by keeping their tills jingling. I wondered if the closeness of the Attack show at Devizes the following weekend may not have had a negative impact on attendance, (another show I keep meaning to get to).

More of the T69

I would welcome feedback from members of BGS on the show, and their own thoughts on how the show might be developed for next year. I will certainly try and make it down, and will do my best to encourage others to make the trip too, so make the diary entry now for 3/4th July 2004

Please remember to mention Wargames Forum when contacting traders!

Return to Wargames Forum Return to Around the Shows  Return to What's New