BIG Billhooks Weekend Tewkesbury AAR

 

-The Battle of Tewkesbury -Batrep-

The Battle of Tewksbury was one of the most decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses, putting an end to Lancastrian hopes and securing the throne for Edward IV. The Lancastrian heir to the throne Prince Edward, was either killed in the battle or executed shortly afterwards, and the imprisoned Henry VI “died of misery,” yeh -right, two weeks later, on the same day as Edward returned to London.

It was fought on May 4^th 1471, a day still celebrated as Star Wars Day for some inexplicable reason, just a short way from the town of Tewkesbury and as result of the Lancastrians making another bid for the Crown, by restoring the imprisoned Henry VI to the Throne. This seemingly impossible task was known as the Readeption, a word created perhaps, to lend legitimacy to the cause or simply to cause confusion as no one knew what it meant. Margert of Anjou, the “French She-wolf” and wife of Henry had been raising an army in her home country and had plotted with the traitorous Kingmaker, Warwick, for the overthrow of Edward.

The Lancastrian host landed at Weymouth on the same day as Warwick died in the fog at Barnet. This blow did not daunt the She-wolf however, and having met up with the Duke of Somerset and the army he had raised, she began the long trek through Dorset, Somerset, and Gloucestershire to rendezvous in Wales with the forces of Jasper Tudor.

The Lancastrians gathered men and arms as well as Gonnes from Bristol and thanks to a ruse from the crafty Duke of Somerset stayed well ahead of their enemies. He made as if to deploy his army at Old Sodbury, forcing Edward to also deploy and so gained them a day’s march.

However, Edward realised the Lancastrian plan was to cross the Severn at Gloucester so he sent swift-riding messengers on fast steeds ahead of the army to warn the Mayor of Gloucester to close the gates and resist any attempt to cross the river.

Finding the passage at Gloucester closed to her Margeret had no choice but to force her tired troops on, aiming for the crossing at Upton on Severn several miles North of Tewkesbury, however, it was not to be, some prodigious marching from Edwards army, 31 miles in one day, resulted in the two armies meeting just South of the town.

The Lancastrians assumed a strong defensive position on the upper slopes of Gups Hill, deployed the few Gonnes they had and waited for the assault. Somerset, the probable CiC, deployed on the right flank, Wenlock commanded the centre ward and the inexperienced Devon, the Left flank.

Somerset would be difficult to assault as immediately before his position was an area of broken ground, dykes, lanes, and deep hollows described in the Arrivall as a “Right evil place.”  

Edward’s army was very similar to the one that had defeated Warwick at Barnet, however, at this battle Edward had Gloucester take the left flank and Hastings deployed on the right. Edward kept the faithless Clarence with him in the main ward.

To prevent any “Bushment,” that is an Ambush, Edward commanded two hundred Spaers, the “Plump” to secret themselves in a nearby wooded park some quarter of a mile from his left flank with orders to “Employ themselves in best wise they could” These were most likely the light cavalry referred to as Prickers

The Yorkist Gonnes and many hand gonnes kept up an incessant fire upon Somerset’s position forcing the hot-headed Beaufort to quit his position and charge! However, many of his troops became disorganised in the “Evil Lanes” and as Gloucester’s troops moved to assist Edward, the Plump arrived on Somerset’s flank forcing his ward to turn and fight, many of them gave up the unequal struggle and ran away.

The battle was lost, fleeing Lancastrians were overtaken and hacked down by the triumphant Yorkists or perished trying to cross the nearby river. It was at this time, so legend has it, that a furious Somerset rode to Wenlock and brained him with a battle axe for failing to support his advance.

Among the leading Lancastrians who died on the field were Somerset's younger brother John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset, and the Earl of Devon. The Prince of Wales was slain on the field during the retreat.

Somerset, Hugh Courtenay and John Langstrother, Prior of the order of the Knights of St John sought sanctuary in Tewkesbury Abbey but were dragged from there two days later on the orders of the king and executed in the town square.

Anyways, Mark Taylor and I have always wanted refight this battle and so we drummed up some support from our friends and made it happen.

-Tewkesbury- The Wargame-

Our Tewkesbury Generals

Standing… Leigh Parslow -Gloucester, Mark Taylor-Somerset, Pete Nethercott-Wenlock, Steve Blease-Hastings, Ben Mallet-King Edward IV, Chris May-Devon

Kneeling Lloyd Lewis-Prince Edward, Mike Peters -Umpire, Simon Wilde -Bourchier

We played at Bristol Independent Gaming on a 16 x 6-foot table, it was huge! You could have played a round of golf on it! Between us we had about 1700 figures and over several months we had worked out a plan on how best to represent and play this humongous battle

This was to be a Wargame rather than a reenactment although the set-up and Special Rules should reflect the circumstances of the Battle and influence the game in the direction of the historical result and to this end there were also to be themed scenario specific Special Events cards and Player Specific Briefs for each Battle.

The briefs were designed to make the players assume the role of the General they were playing and act in a similar manner, I used the Carrot of Bonuses and the Stick of morale coins deducted as incentives…surprisingly, considering the rebellious nature of gamers, this actually worked.

And the Yorkists...

 These were delivered by a breathless rider in crème manilla envelopes sealed with red wax with the seal of the heralds!

The Battlefield at Tewkesbury had far more interesting terrain then Barnet with several important features. First there was Gupshill itself, the battle was fought across an ascending ridge of the hill, with the flanks of both armies on the flatter land each side of the ridge and the central wards on top the ridge opposing each other with the Lancastrians uphill. The hill is not particularly high nor steep.

 We represented the hill with lots of XPS which eventually covered an area 8 foot wide by 6 foot across, every 12” there was a 1 cm step so that the ridge stood only 4cm high at its highest point. It was probably the flattest, shallowest representation of a large hill to ever grace a wargames table and does not really show in the pics but was obvious enough to us when we were playing…

Then there was the matter of “the Right Evil Place” with its “foul lanes and deep dykes” … I used a piece of grass matting 3 foot by a foot and sprinkled it with green shrubby scatter and wrote a special rule A Right Evil Place- The Tangled Terrain in front of Somerset’s position will cause one Disarray per move and limit movement to one action only.

There was strip about 3 foot by 1 foot on the right of the Lancastrian line where we planted two dozen trees to represent the wood that the Plump would supposedly emerge from…

Then there was Margeret’s Camp. This may have been an old Iron Age fort however we decide that Margeret had camped there and left in a hurry! This area was strewn with the detritus of a hastily departed army and was considered Hard Going that provide no cover.

Lastly there was Gupshill Manor, now a pub, which we represented with two of Oshiro’s beautiful houses and a stone wall- another area of Hard Going.

I knocked up a couple of dozen “white flags” made from paper freezer labels folded around a 6” length of 1mm plasti-rod and fixed to a 2p with green stuff to use as morale test markers. I thought they would stand out more clearly in such a large game.

The table as covered in four large fleeces provide by BIG and liberally strewn with green flock

-The Special Rules-

There was no manoeuvre phase.

Dummy Card was a Wild Card and players could use it as a Perk, Forfeit or Reroll card

All LC units had an attached Dolt who activated when his card was turned up

All Leaders were be Level 2 with the exception of Edward, and Somerset who were Heroes

Tidy table There was to be nothing on the table but the figures in play and the dice

Command Range was 12” to compensate for the longer units, movement and ranges stayed the same

There would be a Special event every turn drawn by the Umpire. I reasoned that such a large game with in essence three separate battles featuring six armies could deal with this and so it proved. As Umpire, I could of course choose an appropriate event when the time came rather than drawing one randomly… Did I actually do this? I could not possibly say…

-The Special Events-

Somerset Blows His Top-Angry Somerset, loses his rag and attacks his nearest Leader

D6 1-3 they are wounded 4+ they are too frightened to do anything and miss their next activation

Local Knowledge- Somerset’s men find a farmer with local knowledge who can lead one unit through the Evil Place with no Disarray

Wenlock Sits on the Fence- No unit in Wenlock’s command may move forward this turn

Wenlock engages his Curate in an Interesting Conversation on the Purpose of the Battles of Men in God’s Almighty Plan-Wenlock can issue no orders this Turn; his Leaders may still be used as normal.

Send in the Reserves! You may activate your Reserves!

I deliberately kept any information about the Plump a secret, I wanted their appearance to be surprise, in fact, I did not know myself when or where they would appear or even how strong they would be…I would make the decision at the time and use a force appropriate to the situation in the battle.

-Turn the First -

“What happens if Edward and Richard both die?” 

The deployment! This pic is looking from the Yorkist left flank. Richard is deployed foreground Right and Somerset on the left behind the “Right Evil Place”

From the opposite end of the table, Hastings on the left and Devon on the right. In the centre of the picture Margarets Camp can be seen

Gupshill Manor. 

The Royal Heralds, in the event of a tie, their decision will be final

The Yorkist lines from Gloucesters position Leigh Parslow “Gloucester's cannon prepping for the Tewkesbury turkey shoot”

the other flank, Hasting’s men

 “Stop me and buy one!” A Perry wagon given a very distinctive twist by the ingenious Ben Mallet

Well, it’s one way to keep score

Somerset’s position Leigh Parslow “First round of cannon fire resulted in four hits on the advancing Lancastrians” Four sixes from six dice, followed by distinct groaning from Somerset

Gloucester sends forth his skirmishers with which he was well endowed

Looking from Gloucesters position to the centre where the royal household troops have deployed…

…they push forward full mightily

Lloyd Lewis “The first engagement of the battle saw the Lancastrian light horse on the left flank change the Yorkists, who counter-charges. The Lancastrians won the fight 6 to 3 but their leader was killed and the Yorkist miraculously passed their morale test.”

        -Turn the Second -

          “Where is the Queen? Did anybody bring the Queen?”

Advancing his skirmishers Somerset advances in to the “Right Evil Place” t’was only a Yorkist joke that he would feel right at home there!

In the centre the King pushes forward…

…on both sides of the manor

Ben Mallet “These Lancastrian skirmishers proved a menace for the whole game in the rough ground of the camp, holding up Devereaux for most of the time”

Hastings ward charges across the open ground eager to come to grips with Devon’s men

-Turn the Third -

The Tewkesbury Turkey Shoot

Somerset’s men braving the hail of fire from Gloucesters cannon and small arms fire reach the end of the Evil Place

 Looking along the table -the Royal troops are closing on Wenlock’s position

-Turn the Fourth-

Things Are About to get Jiggy!

Leigh Parslow “Yorkist and Lancastrian skirmishers exchanging volleys whilst the cannon continue to hinder the Lancastrian advance”

Hastings charges home. Lloyd Lewis “This should have been an even fight after the Yorkists had charged but Chris’ (Devon) dice were awful. He took 10 hits causing 9 casualties and only inflicted 3 back. Crucially the line passed their morale test.”

“Things are about to get Jiggy,” said someone

Ben Mallet “Edward was delayed due to his card being bottom of the pile, but he was waiting to pounce”

 

The Hastings Devon scrap was as bloody as Billhooks gets with great slaughter on both sides.

 Devon felt the worst of it and was soon down to no coins in the cup

Somerset benefitted from the Special Event “Local Guide” and this friendly pointy fingered curate,who looks alot like Sir John Langstrother, showed his Men at Arms a sneakity short cut through the “Right Evil Place”

Devon digs deep! These guys are clinging on

 The Devon Hastings scrap intensifies as both sides commit their last intact units

In the centre ground, Edward, after a slight hitch, pushes on.

Wenlock, true to form and obeying his brief stands and watches things unfold.

 Ben Mallet “The De Lyne block (centre) softening up the enemy with some good ol’ arrows”

Edward was reckoned to have had more than the usual number of hand-gonners at Tewkesbury

I think this pic conveys something of the scale of this game with literally hundresd of figures and the flags going off smaller and smaller into the distance

-Turn the Fifth-

Treachery!  “The glee in Mark Taylor’s eye as he placed this card down…”

The Devon Hastings fight descends into chaos…

Local lord John de Barre, one of Hastings lords, rolls the eyes of the serpent…

In the centre one of the king’s own household units suddenly declares for the Lancastrians. They would have fought against their own king, however, they were out of command range of any Lancastrian commanders and merely showed their disaffection by standing and doing nothing for the rest of the battle…early conscientious objectors?

And then the Plump arrived. Two units of light cavalry. This one just behind the woods…

…and this one, right behind the Lancastrian centre.

the insanity of 1700 figures on a table…

Some of the Plump charge a ragged unit of Somerset's archers…

…it doesn’t last long

the other light cavalry head directly for Prince Edwards unit

Lloyd Lewis A “one-off” perk given to Wenlock allowed the formation of bow and MAA to turn 45’ and avoid a flank charge...

 …then then won the combat but not decisively.

Somerset’s Men at Arms are out of the Evil Place and lumbering towards Gloucester’s position looking for some payback

Meanwhile, on the other flank…

…in typical Billhooks fashion, Devon had stood his ground with no coins in his purse and watched as Hastings spent all of his …plus one. Hastings Ward routs in a body, quitting the field.

looking from the centre across to Gloucesters position

 -Turn the Sixth-

The charge of the King!

Ben Mallet “Edward recreating Barnet and being a murder machine”

The position in the centre

Leigh Parslow “Somerset finally managed to charge Gloucester’s left flank, although by this point a combined bill and bow block proved too much for his retinue”

-Turn the Seventh-

“And then it all went wrong…”

With no foe to fight, Devon’s ward turns toward the battle, with no coins in their purse they cannot last long…a Yorkist victory is on the cards

more Lancastrian woe in Somerset’s ward…

…his Men at Arms daunt this bow and bill unit but they do not break

…and Bourchier’s rampaging light cavalry crash into the Rear of his ward…

If the King wins this melee… and he does outnumber Wenlock’s Men at Arms...then it will all be over for the Lancastrians…

…however before that, it’s the end of the turn…and the King’s unit being at less than half strength must test their morale…

…oh poot!

  But he is the King AND a Hero, he can Reroll 1’s in a morale test…

… Lloyd Lewis “Edward IV thought it was all over until someone pointed out that it was not. One die was re-rolled …it’s all over now. The look on Ben’s face was priceless”

Ben Mallet “The King, moments from victory, ran away…”

Pete Nethercott “I was busy removing a broken unit off the table, and did not really see what happened. Then basically the shout went up "The King has fallen". Everyone got swept up in the excitement!!!” 

Mark Taylor..."Heheheheheheheheeeeee!"

-History is written by the Victors-

And so, the course of history was changed! Richard Duke of Gloucester was killed in the rout of the Yorkists, George Duke of Clarence was drowned in a barrel of malmsey this time by the Duke of Somerset who personally held him under, Wenlock went on to become one of the foremost clerics of the age and had a university named after him.

Henry VI did not die and on his release forgave everyone involved and held a second Love Day which reconciled the Houses of York and Lancaster. He fathered a line of benevolent wise and successful kings, founded an International school of diplomacy, invented the Eurovision Song Contest and created a Peace in the land that lasted for thousand years…

 Far away a lowly individual named Henry Tudor joined a monastery in a far flung cold and remote corner of Wales and when he passed away, after a long and painful wasting disease associated with caring for sheep, the name of Tudor died with him…all because of a dice roll.

-Thoughts-

It was great experience though I would probably recommend not playing two such huge games on consecutive days. It was a massive undertaking and we could only do it by pooling resources, much thanks to my lovely wargaming friends for being patient and understanding and going along with a totally mad scheme.

We had 1700 figures on the table, there were probably 10-11,000 in the real battle of Tewkesbury so a ratio of about 6.5 :1, which makes me think- if we tripled the size of the double units and increased the depth of the units to 8 figures to reduce the required frontage, so all we need is a 24 foot table, that’s easy just six tables side by side we could then do these fights on a one to one scale, and we only need another 9,300 figures which means if we all start painting now, we could put it on some time in 2044!

Lads……

Lads….

Lads…