Sunday 14 June 2015

Waterloo Festival Day at the NWS

The hall in preparation for a days gaming. 
The months of planning, painting, detailing, co-ordinating and negotiating were over.  The big day had arrived.  Would it be the success we were looking for?

Apologies for my hiatus from posting, both on this blog and my Pyjamas in the Desert one, as this particular day had been absorbing much of my free time for several months.

With the 200th anniversary of The Battle of Waterloo on offer it was, in our humble opinion, the duty of the Npaoleonic Wargaming Society of Western Australia, to put on a day that would be worthy of such a momentus historical occurrence.

So what were we setting out to do.

The day had to be much more than just another NWS get together on a Saturday.  It had to be a festival of the battle, wargaming and the entire Napoleonic period.  To do this we had to put on attractive games, provide some information to the public and if they came, entertain, inform and provide refreshments for them so they would stay and ask as many questions as possible to generate some more interest in our wonderful hobby.

The fence at Fitzgerald Street - busy section.

Corner of Charles Street and Scarborough Beach Road - Very busy intersection with notoriously slow lights.  Perfect!!

We set about informing the public of our planned day.  Two 2.1 x 1.6 metre signs were commissioned and printed at a "mates rates" discount by one of our event sponsors.  Scott is also a member of the North Perth Bowling Club and a great supporter of eccentrics. 
With the legend himself Eoin Cameron on ABC Radio promoting the day.

The next flurry of publicity was being invited to come in and talk about the 200th anniversary on air with Western Australia's number one radio show reaching out to over 800 000 people across our vast state every weekday morning.  I took in a few assorted 28mm Napoleonic figures to help visualise was we do and it was the right move as the all were fascinated by the level of detail in the figures.

The shows producers, Fleur and Brad mentioned that if he found you boring he would be nice to you and you would be in and out in a couple of minutes.  However if he liked the subject and yourself and felt he could develop some banter you may be on for up to five or six minutes.

All up with introductions and closing comments I think we were on for nearly eight minutes so Eoin obviously has excellent taste!  Thank you ABC 720 Perth.  The link to the audio is below so hopefully it works.

http://blogs.abc.net.au/wa/2015/06/the-battle-of-waterloo-in-miniature.html?site=perth&program=720_perth_breakfast

The plan for the day was as follows:

Club Treasurer and all round good guy Mark H was putting on the entire Battle of Waterloo using Napoleons Battle rules and his amazing terrain map.  For more details please visit his excellent blog as linked below:

Marks Napoleons Battle table - looking splendid.

http://onesidedminiaturewargamingdiscourse.blogspot.com.au/

We in turn was putting on a 28 mm battle using the excellent General De Brigade rules by Dave Brown spread across two 12 foot by 6 foot tables detailing D'Erlon's attack against the allied position incorporating La Haye Sainte.  For many additional details we are truly grateful to Barry Hilton from the League of Augsburg whose re-fight of this several years ago was a source of inspiration.  Barry is the publisher of the wonderful "Republic to Empire" rules.

The West Table with Marty H and Stephen Y in deep discussion.  Table aprons were a great success.  

Phil and Steve didn't quite get a chance to finish the terrain tiles but they looked the part.  Will look great when the final blending of colours is complete.

Raffle prizes on offer as well as a commissioned brochure.  Thanks to all our friends at Advance for the donation of time and artwork as a sponsor of the event.


Three French commanders, two of them woefully under-dressed, prepare for battle.
Kerry, Fiona, Chrissie and Julie working hard in the kitchen to keep the masses fed.  Their friendly dispositions and work helped make the day such a wonderful "community" style day.  Morning tea and a coffee for a gold coin donation was
 a god -send of an idea! 
Elements of Bylandts Dutch-Belgian  Brigade await the onslaught.


Another view of the Dutch Militia
Before the battle actually commenced the French Grand Battery were able to roll or his on Bylandts Brigade.  Here you can see the shells dropping around them!
Best's Hanoverians on the right flank.
Best's Brigade drawn up in formation.
The French advance on La Haye Sainte
Kempts Brigade
Part of the French Grand Battery.  There young commander would have highs and lows...but those double sixes were deadly!
French Old Guard 12 pounders.  Had these for years and this was their first outing.  Lovely.
Packs Brigade supporting the Dutch.

So here ends the first part of our event report.  More to follow later in the week including our official visit from the Government of France to help officially open proceedings.

Bye for now.

30 comments:

  1. Looks like a brilliant day and great games to commemorate the event. Looking forward to part 2

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    1. Thanks Graham - it was a brilliant day mate and it was similar to the club open days I remember we used to put on when I first joined the club some 35 years ago! Great fun ...but bloody tiring mate!

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  2. Excellent! Looks fantastic!

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    1. Thanks Rodger - it was a visual specatacle mate as far as we old buggers were concerned thats for sure. The public really enjoyed it.

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  3. A really fine report of a fabulous day Carlo.
    Some excellent photos of the 28 mm version too. Lovely!

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    1. Thanks Fish and it was great to see you enjoy yourself throughout the day. Loved our hug mate...sorry is always the hardest word :^)

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  4. Sounds and looks awesome. Looking forward to seeing more in part 2 though.

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    1. Thanks Stefan and very glad you likied it.

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  5. What a spectacle, I especially like the Old Guard 12lb battery, shame you don't use it more often.
    Have fun,
    Jeremy

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    1. Hi JJ. Yes I need to play more 1814 and have those Guard out more often.

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  6. It was a great day and special thanks go to you for making it happen.

    Your two tables made mine look tiny. It is interesting to note that your tables represented about the central four square foot of my table. In our game the French broke this part of the line wide open, although elements of the 2nd DB and 5th Divisions where still hanging on.

    Unfortunately we ran out of time.

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    1. Your game was an absolute peach Mark. Truly looked spectacular mate and teh fact the Pruissians even arrived showed you and teh lads go through a heck of a lot of fighting.

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  7. Well done for putting on such a spectacle for the public. Your La Haye Sainte table is very similar to what I have to start building in a week's time. Look forward to reading more, though I do sympathise, as you have seen I'm trying to blog our first refight in multiple parts too ;-)
    Chris
    http://notjustoldschool.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Thanks Chris. I always love your blog and am preparing myself now that time isnt quite as critical to prepare some limber teams and artillery paraphenalia inspired by your blog.

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  8. What a truly wonderful spectacle and great advertising around the whole event. The table aprons are wonderful.

    Many should be the awards for this event.

    I'm looking forward to the following post(s).

    Salute
    von Peter himself

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    1. Great to hear from you Peter and thanks for your lovely comments. Mate it was a truly fun event and awards will certainly be distributed in a later post on the day. The fact we had so many interested visitors was a highlight for me as it truly showed off all the wonderful aspects that our hobby has to offer.

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  9. Looked like a great day Carlo I hope you had plently of supporters through the door.

    Nathan

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    1. Only thing missing Ntahan was your good self! It was a great day and we estimated well over 250 visitors during the day which was great.

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  10. Impressive games, and at least as impressive is the publicity efforts and the non wargamer turnout that paid a visit. Bravo!

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    1. Thank you Peter. The non-gamer visitors were, to me anyway, a wonderful highlight. Lovely to present our wonderful and slightly unusual passions to a greater audience with 100% excellent feedback.

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  11. Wow! very impressive. It all looks well organised and professionally done. A great advert for our hobby and a wonderful way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Waterloo.

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    1. Thanks Pat - very kind words and greatly appreciated.

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  12. I wish that I could have been there to see the game in person. What a lovely spectacle.

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    1. Jim that would have been wonderful...and certainly good for your Flyer Miles considering your recent jet setting. It was a truly special day.

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  13. Wonderful stuff gentleman, done in the best style!

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    1. Thanks Mark - have been also very much admiring your game in Wellington as well btw. Sterling stuff!

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  14. Brilliant stuff!!

    I love it all but for me the standouts are the Cuirassiers standing vignette and the Union Brigade about to pile in.

    Darrell.

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    1. Thanks Darrell. The Scots Greys have a story to them too...

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  15. Absolutely amazing mate! Well done to all!

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    1. Thanks Sparker and great to see you pop by. Loved your report on your blog as well mate. So many wonderful figures!!

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