"This is the BBC World Service. News today of a British victory in France, as forces from the BEF blunt the advance of German Panzers in Northern France. Troops from 7th Panzer Division believed to be under the command of German General Irwin Rommel were stopped in their tracks by a determined BEF defence. Field Marshall John Vereker The Right Honorable The Viscount Gort spoke glowingly of the grit and determination of the British troops under his command as he met with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet today in Whitehall. "We gave Jerry a bloody nose today" he said."
Field Marshal The Right Honourable
The Viscount Gort
VC, GCB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, MVO, MC
Dark rings surrounded eyes, lines carrying days of grime streaked from the corners of mouths, as if hope had fled in the face of despair. The Brigadier scanned those same faces, seeking out signs of hope.
"I know this regiment has suffered losses. I am only too well aware of the fate of my predecessor. But I am not him. Retreat is a contagion that, once admitted, takes hold like an epidemic in a poor house. Gentlemen, we are here to exorcise those daemons. We are here to do a job. We have a nation looking to us, depending on us, praying for us. We must be the Drake to Spain's Phillip. We need to heed the cry 'They shall not pass'. We have a job to do. Now, let's be about our business. There is much to do this day. Frankly, I can think of nothing better to quote than Shakespeare's Henry IV:
"And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
Light and hope appeared on the faces that looked towards him, and the Brigadier smiled.
"Guns, we can't have the performances your boys gave before Arras. I want your guns up close and personal. Jerry is too strong to leave our boys unsupported."
"Sir, I have a battalion tasked to close support for 1 Battalion, and another from division allocated just for the regiment. My boys will be there, trust me."
"I do. Thank you. Tracks, your boys are allocated to 2 Battalion. I need you there, I need you mobile, they need you on form and ready to best Jerry. We must keep the German armour at bay. They cannot be left to wander at will amongst our infantry as they did three days ago at Arras."
"We have all available runners allocated, Sir. A mix of Matilda 1s and IIs, some straight from the workshops after their long march."
"Keep them hidden. James.. it's essential that you stay in close contact with Tracks. Don't be afraid to use them. Henry, you are our reserve. 3 Battalion must be ready to move instantly, no delays. I expect 2 Battalion to bear the brunt of the German attack. Your move may be the difference between their survival and their loss. I'll settle regimental HQ alongside you. Keep the battalion alert.. our whole future may ride on the swiftness of your move. "
"Sir, you can depend on us."
"Trust me, I am Henry. Right gentlemen, let's be about our work. I am sure Jerry will be here before the morning is more than a mere pup." They stood and hurried from the command tent, intent upon the job they had trained for.
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| The regiment in position, he expected line of German attack rom the east - the left of the photo |
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| The view from behind the regimental positions |
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| A German panzer battalion, complete with Gerpanzert infantry, attacks from the southeast, intent on a deep penetration of the BEF positions |
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| A German infantry battalion advances against 2 Battalion's position in the centre |
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| The 25pdr battery deployed (on table) in direct support of 1 Battalion. |
1 Battalion also had the regimental AA platoon (a 40mm Bofors battery) attached to it. In the absence of the Luftwaffe above the battlefield, this battery gave good service in direct support of 1 Battalion infantry before being destroyed by the German 150mm artillery battalion.
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| 2 Battalion in forward defence, with an attached Vickers company (3 platoons of Vickers) |
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| 2 Battalion commander had deployed 2 platoons across the river, awaiting a German flank attack |
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| The German infantry attack on their left flank directed against 2 Battalion. The SiG 33 platoon can be seen, and to its right is a towed 88mm battery,. This was caught limbered by fore form the Royal Artillery and eliminated - a major blow against the Germans |
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| The German right wing attack, two panzer battalions, sweeping around against the British right flank |
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| The panzers push deep |
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| Once the Panzers were sighted, 2 Battalion commander ordered his attached 7th RTR troops forward. across the river, to support the right wing of his battalion. The German armour must be stopped. |
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| The 2 Battalion 2pdr troop also moved forward in support of the tank regiment. |
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| Fire came down on the main attack against 2 Battalion. On Battalkion request, the RA 25pdr battery dropped smoke to cover the infantry from the SiG33 platoon spotted on the opposing heights |
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| However smoke cover was not complete, and one of the three Vickers platoons os destroyed in a flurry of accurate fire |
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| Now the German position is well covered with smoke |
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| However the infantry occupying the prominent knoll across the river ahead of the German attack are also eliminated |
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| German armour in the centre of the German attack advances towards the 2 Battalion flank |
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| And the German infantry battalion advances off the high ground to attack 2 Battalion |
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| The more advanced 2 Battalion platoons occupying the front slope withdraw in the face of some well coordinated German artillery and support fire. Two Vickers MMG platoons have now been destroyed. The British infantry will struggle to hold the forward slope positions against the weight of fire. |
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| The Matildas of the Independent Tank Brigade have now advanced, and begin to engage the German armour that has advanced too far. Here a Matilda 2 Platoon engages PzIIs and 38ts in the centre of the german attack |
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| The German advance against 2 Battalion gathers momentum |
The German infantry attack threatens, but heavy fire from the battalion carrier platoon, infantry platoons, and supporting artillery and mortars, creates havoc, eliminating several German platoons.
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| At this point the British regimental commander orders 1 Battalion forward across the river planning a right hook against the flank of the German infantry battalion. This is an aggressive British commander unwilling to cede the initiative to his enemy. |
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| The 1 Battalion counterattack develops |
In the meantime 3 Battalion, the regimental reserve, was ordered forward to support 2 Battalion.. the attacking german infantry now faced massive odds. The British artillery, and the battalion 3" mortar tubes from 1 and 2 Battalions, had taken a devastating toll on the German infantry. British 60pdrs tasked with counter battery missions destroyed the entire German battalion of 150mm guns that had taken a heavy toll on 2 Battalion's forward positions.
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| The RTR Matildas hold back the Pz38ts of the German right flank panzer battalion. A long range tank duel sees a platoon of PzIIs eliminated. The German armour pulls back, unable to deal with the British armour |
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| The German infantry Battalion SiG33 which appeared to be the only hope of holding the British counter attack against the German left flank |
The German advance was halted,. The attack across the river was in danger from the 1 Battalion counterattack which threatened its own left flank. The target of its attack, 2 Battalion, was now reinforced by 3 Battalion, leaving it facing overwhelming odds. The German Panzer attacks on their right were halted by the indomitable fighting from the 7th RTR Matildas, against which it was helpless. The German 88mm flak battery had been positioned in the wrong place to combat the RTR vehicles, and was eliminated early by the RSA 25pdr fire.
This was another excellent game fought with the Spearhead rules, using our 6mm armies. The vehicles and infantry were from Heroics and Ros, and the forces were developed using Keith McNelly's scenario generation system. Keith was attacking using his German force, and I was defending using my BEF force.
The game ended with a British victory. The BEF had 5 object points, the Germans 4. We had both used an Option A which reduced our totals by 1 each, while the British had a small manoeuvre battalion, the Divisional cavalry (MkVIs and Bren Carrier Platoons) uncommitted and off table at the end of the game. The Germans had one battalion (the 1500 mm off table artillery battalion) destroyed.
This was an outstanding evening of gaming, the battle lasting four hours before we 'called time'.
