"To the Strongest" Hundred Years War Battle Report

The game is afoot lads - Knights v Longbow in one of history's great contests

Those who have been following the blog in the last few weeks have seen that the focus has very much been on preparing figures for a Hundred Years War battle using To the Strongest rules.  It would be the first time we had played a game in the medieval period as well as the first time my old mates Paul's English would have been re-based and on the table against their old adversary, my Museum Miniatures French.

The plan had been to use Guidos 15mm custom battle mat with 10cm squares for the battle however a dose of the dreaded lurgy had him laid low on the very morning of the battle.  At some point the game was cancelled, despite my whirling dervish like activities of re-basing over the weekend.

Then a thought.

I asked my son Ben, mid-year uni break well in hand, to send me some photos of my mat surface at home.

Not a great shot but you get the picture of what an IPhone can do in the hands of a disinterested student

Then a few favours called in at work and "Hey Presto" a quick gridded 4 foot by 3 foot mat on bond paper for tonight.  Disposable, cheap and a god-end for some keen wargamers.

Not ideal however it will be fine as a one off tonight - just don't rest a pint of beer on it!

Now that a field was set - to the game.

It was decided that as I had all the figures  would put together both lists.  The English would be 200 points and the French 205 because...well...I was playing the French and I wanted that unit of French Bowmen on the table.   Stop asking questions as I will not feel guilt...well past that.  Anyway...

The two English commands on the right flank and centre

Central command and partial left flank

The Irish and the Billmen made up the extreme left flank

Looking down the table to give an overview of the terrain and general layout

A slightly blurry image of some of Paul's lovely painting

The English baggage flowing with ill-gotten gold, spare ammunition and sheep!

A close up of the Irish lights and the billmen

French right flank with dismounted knights, crossbowmen with pavise and archers

The English adversaries - Martin and Steve look on.  From the French view point they seem very spread with no depth in their archers and stakes yet to be deployed.  Quick and decisive action from the knights is required!

Jeff commanded the extreme French left with aplomb.  Knights, Voulgiers and Bidets.

The requirement for the French would be to gain as many early maneuver activation's as possible and close with the long bowmen before they could mow us down with arrows as historically was the case so often.

Deployed archers but the stakes remain un-deployed

Spread out units provide some opportunity

Jeff's knights advance with great purpose - really need to fix some of that chipped paint.

In the centre the Dauphin leads the lads forward with spearmen and Genoese crossbow to the fore

Keep those lance chits handy lads.

The French activation's early were not too bad.  Quickly closing to range of the English whose early fire was ineffectual.

Ineffectual archers...just in case you were wondering what they looked like

Stakes deployed here - and they would prove vital to this unit

Dismounted French knights advance as fast as their plate armour will allow

Voulgiers and French Crossbow painted over 28 years ago.  Better eyes in those days.

Clash on the French left goes well for Jeff and the knights

Generally this is ill-advised, however the archers were shooting abysmally and we were not about to sit back and allow them to find their range

Cross bow and longbow exchange greeting cards at range

The English commander on their right Martin decides a bold flanking move may be in order.  All those French were painted by myself back in 1991 and 92.  Many hours over those heraldic designs and bright colours but very much worthwhile when you see them like this again on the table top.

The early stages of the battle went the French way however the death of the Dauphin and a unit of knights in the centre followed by a loss of knights in Jeff's command tilted the table decidedly to the English very quickly.

"Don't just stand their mouth agape looking like you've just seen the hand of God!"  French Knights about to be dispatched by English men-at arms in a keenly drilled flank charge.  The longbow that were there before have already been destroyed.

Action in the centre as the English correctly using stakes kill the Dauphin and prepare to destroy the knights of his Household Guard

The attack continues across the left and centre

All about to end in tears for the King

Both Steve and Martin look intently to their right...

...hoping that this flank charge can do the trick...however drawing 1's and 2's to hit is proving frustrating for them.

Slightly blurry but the French can be seen rushing forth on their right flank

Though not really visible here each dismounted Knight has a matching mounted figure in the same livery

Remember those French archers that took me to 205 points?  Doing sweet stuff all over here on the right

Have I mentioned how tough English archers behind stakes are?

Action intensifies on the French left as mighty enthusiastic peasant mobs launch a surprise attack against their long term oppressors.

Bidet light infantry and Voulgiers assault the English foot

At this stage the French have started to work their way well on top.  Poor chit drawing from the English and slightly improved missile fire has helped them but they are now in some strife.

Having destroyed the long bow the knights turnaround and the Voulgiers look for new targets as the archers to their front have also been dispatched.

The French Knights are still hanging on and need to turn soon

The advance continues on the right

The French Knights have finally turned and the peasants are about to be run down from the rear as history requires!

Looking poorly for the English almost everywhere

French spearmen positioning for the coup de grace.

The final photo taken as the French win the day

What a great night of gaming.  It was very different using 15mm figures as opposed to our normal 28mm games. However it was wonderful to have figures on the table that I hold such fond memories of.  The only thing missing was having "Youngy" on the other side of the battlefield exchanging witty quips.  I might need to get him back to the club for another run with his old lads very soon.