Friday Night Games Pinkie Week #2

Friday 26th September saw the conclusion of our refight of the Battle of Pinkie using Pikeman's Lament rules.  Commanders were the same as Week one, except that Nigel was able to join the English crew and lend his weight to their Command line.

Mike W's command advance towards Pinkie Clough

Fighting picked up where it had left off last week with the Scots left wing continuing to assault hte Churchyard and deny this position to the English. Ultimately Steve's Highland command destroyed the English flank commanded by Mark, whilst Mike W's command advanced to the botton of the slopes of Pinkie Clough its-self.

 

Steve's Highlander's finally clear the St. Michael's Churchyard Hill of English defenders and then set about battering the survivors.

In the centre the Scots pike blocks are met by the combined forces of Nigel & Dave who break a second block with fire power before the remaining block enters a titanic struggle with mercenary German Landsknechts fighting in the pay of the English. This struggle went on the duration of the game and was not resolved when the umpire called time!

Mike N's Scots Pike v Landsknechts as they advance up Pinkie |Clough

Meanwhile of the English left, Mat finally unleashed his horse and disrupted Rupert's Scots battle lines.

Rupert's forces engage with Mat's forces on the Scots right.

Ultimately the umpire called time on the game, declaring a 'winning' draw to the English - the Scots having taken and held St Michael's Churchyard and the English having secured their left flank having battered Rupert's forces. The English line in the centre being too strong to be forced with the remaining enemy forces available before darkness fell.

Rupert's Scots Trotters

Scottish Billmen

Rupert's forces cross the Tweed only to be push back forcefully

English and Spanish (mercenary) horse line up upon the Scot's Billmen

English horse force forwards again

Off the Workbench - Albertine Royalist Infantry

Its been a couple of weeks since I posted any of my Off the Workbench items, I'm afraid real life has got in the way!

As a quick filler here us a platoon of Albertine Royalists with their transport. The truck is a Lledo model, pretty much out the box albeit with a coat of matt varnish apples and fixed to a base.

The infantry are a mix of mostly Wargames Atlantic and Perry Zulu War / Sudan British infantry with a variety of Wargames Atlantic WW1 arms, weapons and heads swapped,  there is also Warlord Games pieces in the mix as well.

I opted for a dark grey unform with purple trim to represent their Royalist affinations.

Friday Night Games - The Battle of Pinkie, 1547

Friday 18th September saw the start of a two week game recreating the Battle of Pinkie, 1547, using figures from the collection of John & Mike W.

Fighting for the Scots were Rupert, Mike N, Mike W and Steve, whilst the English side was commanded by Dave, Matt & Mark. John provided sterling service as the umpire, we used the Pikeman's Lament rule system, which we have found produces results, has simple mechanisms and is playable - albeit somewhat controversial at times with those players that prefer more traditional rulesets.

St. Michael's Churchyard on the Scots' left, which would be hotly fought over.

Highland troops from Steve's command cross the River Esk and head towards St Michael's Church.

Close-up of highlanders from the collections of John & Mike W

Leading Highland units cross the Esk and to their right flank is a Galloper Gun from Mike W's command, heading for the same hill.

Mike W's command of Pike, Archers and Galloper Gun

In the centre, Mike N's attack across the bridge develops,
supported on his right by Rupert's command.

Close-up of Mike N's command, prior to attempting to cross the bridge

Trotters from Mark's English command round the flank of hill upon which St. Michael's Church stands, about to engage Highland foes.

The hotly contested St. Michaels Churchyard, a Scots Galloper Gun deploys whilst Highlanders attempt to force their way into the church. Meanwhile the church has been occupied by English archers and a unit of English Billmen cross the churchyard to attack the gun.

Mike N's pike blocks begin to cross the Esk at the bridge but come under artillery fire.

The English forces arrayed upon Pinkie Clough, awaiting the Scot's attack.

English Trotters engage with the highlanders whilst the Billmen take on the Artillery position

More of Mike N's forces get to cross the Esk

Out on the extreme right flank of the Scots lines, Rupert's forces advance, whilst Mat holds back with his superior mounted force looking for the right chance to strike.

Mike N's forces are largely across the Esk and begin their assault up the hill taking withering fire from the English lines.

First engagements between Mat & Rupert's forces begin

Return to see what happens in Week 2....