The Butler Did It -Billhooks

 

Here’s a side for a game of Billhooks Hibernia, the Butlers of Ormond. I wrote Hibernia for Andy Callan’s Billhooks Deluxe back in '24. Today Butler of Ormond has squared off against Fitzgerald of Kildare. Great Earls both. Butler mounted top of the page, and afoot below.

Fitzgerald of Kildare and his close affinity.

In a real life encounter Fitzgerald was down, injured and defeated. As the victorious Butlers carried him off the field they jeered at him, saying “ You are where you should be now.” Kildare agreed saying “Yes, still on the backs of the Butlers.” He hoped to live to oppress them further. It was that sort of relationship.

Note the Butlers. They are accompanied by a Nugent and two Fitz Patricks. The Nugent's were proper Anglo-Normans. The Fitz Patricks were formerly the Mac Giolla Padraig Kings of Ossory. They were passing for Anglo-Normans.  

Anglo-Norman is a misleading description for the Normans, Bretons, Flemings and Welsh who comprised that class of fellow.  Still, it is the common designation. The later designation Old English can be explained as they held from the King of England. As indeed did the Great Earls.

Above and below the Butler Kern. Kern come in Bands of six figures.

If you have a Galloglass unit 2 such bands are required. Two per Gallowglass.

The Butler Galloglass carrying a flag with a Butler emblem (Wine Cups). Hence the name.

Next, Butler Spearmen maybe. In fact they are QRF Wars of the Roses Pikemen. Continentals then. Nice figures and I think they will pass as colonist spearmen.

Above, Butler Billmen, below Butler archers .  I have used a straight lines multi base for both. I had a couple lying about. I think they work well for the Billmen who I can imagine closing up for mutual support. 

The archers less so. They don't really do volleys. It is aimed shooting on an individual basis. They need to freely move about picking targets. I will add I'm a flat trajectory fellow when it comes to this period. My archers will be on a dispersed base.

A solid Retinue.

In other news I have a copy of David Grummitt's Wars of the Roses Volume 1 The Triumph of York. I'm a wiser man for it. Moreover it is a good read. I had the advantage of knowing little about the period so was maybe less troubled by the growing pile of shattered myths. Good stuff and there will be an Irish focus in volume 2. My order is in.

Warlord China to WW2 Chinese Soldiers - How the rules see them

Shortly, I can tell you where I have got to with the particular tactics of the Russian Civil War. I'm not doing too bad at all.  The inclusion of the “Chain” and the "Shield" for Russian infantry feels like real progress. Games test concepts.  China proves a bigger challenge.

The Chinese contribution to the allied victory in WW2 is yet to be fully recognised. Obviously, the Chinese know and so do the Japanese much less so in the West. The Russians kept a closer eye and eventually handed the China facing Imperial Japanese Army a fierce beating. Even so for Russia the Western Front was and is the focus.

Below, we will look at what our rule books say. Meantime here’s an observation from the C19th “The Chinese soldier runs away very easily and rallies very quickly”. This from either a British or French Officer I can’t recall which. The words that come to my mind are clever and tenacious. I’m considering an Event Card that when turned causes all retiring or retreating Chinese infantry to return to the fight.  A nice bit of uncertainty.

Chalfont of Iron Ivan notes “The rifle was the weapon that defended China in WW2.”

We must then major in infantry men with rifles.  Heavy Machine Guns were about. Less so Light Machine Guns. Artillery could be horse drawn. The dare to die tradition lingered.

To the rules then. Setting The East Ablaze (STEA) has something to say. Yes, I succumbed, second edition only. I was curious but not £30+pp curious. Having saved £15.00 I invested it in a copy of Red Dawn Rises, Revolution in Central Asia 1918-20. Vol. 1 STEA Scenarios. Someone should make me Chancellor somewhere.

For STEA the Warlord Chinese are absolutely lifting with Tanks, Armoured Cars and Armoured Trains. They are very numerous, equipped mostly with modern rifles and should be "unrelentingly awful".  

They can cheer themselves up with some White Russian Mercenaries who are rated better. As are the artillery and vehicle crews. One better quality Chinese Big Sword infantry unit is envisaged. STEA makes less good troops close up. What is often called "Bunching". This makes them better targets but more effective in melee. Interesting.

Iron Ivan takes a divergent view. There isn't much armour about at all. Artillery is likely to be horse drawn. Modern rifles could be in short supply. Some formations were still spear armed. The Big Sword/Dare to Die fellows are still about or are imitated.  These latter are prone to "flight to the front charges" if checked. A nice touch. These might prove infectious, inspiring more restrained comrades to the attack. 

Chinese formations might be poorly trained and capable of disappearing under pressure. Others might be veteran soldiers who had seen and seen off everything. The Big Swords might run to 3 units. Like STEA it envisages big (15 figures) units.

Setting The World Ablaze gives us a Warlord Chinese List. It provides for units armed with SMG and sword. Big Swords and familiar ground. It also has quite a few nice colour pic's. The List is fairly anodyne if you are looking for China specifics. Workable all the same. You can have White Russians too.

Out of all this I want to produce a Chinese equivalent of my Spanish Civil War rules. Naturally I have bought a 15mm Tiger.  I will keep you posted as I go. Next up will be the Events Table for China and an example or two of Chinese Companies.

On this page you can see my new Chinese units. 

By swapping flags out I can display Communists, Nationalists, and, eventually, Warlord units. 

The Chinese House has had a make over. I looked at colourised photos of late C19th China and took note. Resulting in this brighter building. More to do on it before it looks right. then I will finish the other one. Note the Bandit leaving, he's an Irregular Miniatures C19th Chechen. Obviously the gun is wrong but otherwise he will do.

My Japanese are done so we shall see them soon.

I watched (YOUTUBE) a Russian Film called White Sun of the Desert. It is set in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. Lots to interest Gamers, uniforms, multi ethic bandit groups, former Whites and buildings.  As the title would suggest it is an Eastern. Here is a link if it sounds like your sort of thing.

White sun of the desert | EASTERN | FULL MOVIE

Now I feel the need for some bandits to match the ones I saw in the film.  A plan develops. Could the lone Chechen above prove to be an outrider? Could Bandits become a new Event Card? We will see.

Go East Young Man!

 

Which rules for the Back of Beyond or the Russian Civil War? There was an overlap what with the Mad White Baron and simply geography. The hobby has reached the stage that a glossy set of rules exists for many a theatre.

So it is with this one. I have been eyeing up Setting the East Ablaze (STEA). Period specific and it has its fans. It has a few disappointed purchasers too. Following a final stroke of the chin I decided not. Unfairly a vision of Mad Dogs and Englishmen arose before me. No one ever said STEA was unplayable. Quite the opposite. It has devotees.

Thence to Setting The World Ablaze an Osprey offering. Full of good ideas this one. It also has mechanisms I like. Cards for example and random events. Lots of solid basic period info’ too. I got it pretty much half price and I’m pleased with it. I might even play it. Certainly it will solidly contribute to what I do play.

Also because Iron Ivan never disappoints I have a copy of Red Sun-Red Death. From Noble Knight who share that very trait. Here I struck gold, the authors really did their research and also know how to write a playable game. Published 20 years ago I note. My copy crossed the Atlantic to me.

Next time we will have a go at constructing a Chinese Company and how our rules provide for Chinese forces.  The Events Table is done, v1 anyhow.

Now to playing pieces. Yes, the toys. I am the bearer of glad tidings. Bow and Arrow Miniatures are now producing Irregular Miniatures in 15mm. Other scales too but here we do 15mm. Above we see Chinese Warlord Mongols, painted as Turcoman. Or just Mongols in red coats. The finished unit will have 12 figures.

Let us continue Horsey with some Chinese Regular Cavalry. I have another 4 of this unit to do. Another Chinese regular Cavalry unit here, four figures left to do.

 Below, Chinese Infantry.  I have a lot of these to do.

I bought a lot of Irregular Miniatures RCW and Back of Beyond 15mm from Bow and Arrow Miniatures. As I paint them they will be posted on this blog. I also have some Eureka WW2 Chinese.

Peter Pig is well represented too.

I increasing appreciate the PP style. Here's more. Note the Irregular figures below in the lighter shade of blue blending in nicely.

Let us not forget Minifigs have much to offer.

A lot of people are still looking for Irregular Miniatures. Here is how to get them: 

Google Irregular Miniatures and the old site will come up. Note down the codes you want. 

Work out how many you want and send your list to Jamie at Bow and Arrow Miniatures. He will tell you the price and the turnaround. 

Once they are cast you will be invoiced. The whole process took me a fortnight or so from order to receiving the goods.

I paid 70p per infantry figure and I got a 10% discount because I ordered rather a lot. So 63p then.

 My aim is to have both a Communist and a Nationalist Force. 

They can fight the Japanese or each other. I have discovered that my Japanese, you will see them soon, are from QRF. Based on Steve Shaw dollies I'm near sure.

I can also manage Chinese Warlord action. 

This Chinese House is nearly finished. It is one of two. It needs gates. We don't seem to have much Chinese terrain pieces on offer. I get the odd bit now and then.  Two irregular 15mm and ditto one Peter Pig for scale.

All in all a fair clip of progress. Happy Days! 

Everything is coming up Wars Of The Roses

 

Interests can lie dormant and then spring up demanding time and attention. This time it is the War of the Roses (WOTR). That’s in general and specifically the Fitzgerald v Ormond feud.

One thing invariably leads to another and I think on unit composition. A great bugbear of the WOTR. We don’t know enough to be sure. We do know enough to argue. 

My own take is that they were mixed. Especially if we are talking Billhooks or Rampant small battle stuff. Skirmish even.

Alright let’s get fiddly. Take a unit of 12 figures of which 4 are men at arms. There might be 8 Billmen. Or, 4 archers and 4 Billmen. Or 2 Men at arms and 10 Archers. I’ll stop there but you get the point.

When it comes to shooting 4 Archers shoot. When it comes to fighting each of our 3 types inflict hits at a different rate. Men at arms hit on a 3, Billmen on a 5 and Archers on a 6. How to do this expediently?

Use a different colour dice for each type and there you go.  I know, fiddly but it bespeaks of additional fun.

Unit cost? Each figure has a notional value, just do the sums. Two Men at Arms cost 2 points, 6 Billmen cost 2 points, 6 Archers cost 2 points. A 6 points a unit but doable.

Not only that but you get to make a decision on whether your unit excels at shooting or the close up stuff. 

Of course you can just make them all of one type.  That's where we came in with Rampant and Billhooks. Pleasingly both are very flexible systems.

Anyhow, here are my new units. Top of the page the Earl of Kildare and his horsemen. Below, with his men on foot.

The Earl's Galloglass, McDonalds and a fairly new addition to the Earl's Power. They had been in the service of the O'Kelly but found themselves on the losing side. They headed east and learned to shout "Crom Abu!" The Earl's Battle Cry. 

Fairly recently it was suggested that that they were hired as expendables. That relies on a particular reading of the Chronicle of Howth. The Chronicle was written 50 years later amid very different circumstances and sentiments.  

I dismiss it, not least because the same McDonalds subsequently became the "Queen Majesties Galloglass". Queen Elizabeth was notoriously tight, only parting with coin in extreme need. Clearly, she valued them.

All the figures so far are QRF or Matchlock. The Flags are from Pete's Flags except that of the Earl's foot men. I'm not sure of its provenance. 

Now, the Earl will need a unit of archers and a unit or maybe two of Kern. Here are the archers.

Both Kern units are in hand. Then we must to Butler of Ormond who requires both Gallowglass and Kern and a mounted retinue. The rest of his force is already done.

With two sides complete we can feud. Not only that but I can use the Hibernia rules I wrote for Billhooks Deluxe.

Next week we are in the Highlands or Russia or China.  Depending on what gets finished first.

Red Roses For Me or Maybe White

 

This is a bit of an odd post. Bear with me and we will get there.

When Andy Callan's Never Mind the Billhooks arrived I was impressed. I reviewed it here. You can see that if you click the Billhooks tag. At about the same time QRF launched a WOTR range that you see on this page. 

Currently I cannot access my WOTR Collection because of decorating. I can access the photos of it.  That's good because I'm about to expand it. I need to know what I have got.  This is an audit and a project plan. Above Percy (2 figs) and (12) Billmen.

Percy Currors (8) from QRF.

Another Percy with (6) Men at Arms and (5) Billmen and a lad with a drum. QRF fig's.

Here we have (12) Percy Bowmen in correct livery colours and crescent badge. Peter Pig fig's.  We are going to need some Neville's. It's all Percy so far.

Butler of Ormond (2 figs) and his (12) Billmen.  QRF figures.  Now it happens that Butler could also access Galloglaich and Kern. I have some to do. Result.

More Butler Billmen (12) from QRF.

Butler Archers (12) from QRF.  What we need is FitzGerald of Kildare and his fellows.  That too can be done.

Yorkist Men at Arms (3) on foot and (9) Billmen above. Banners flying and in livery Yorkist (10) cavalry below.  All from QRF.

Let's pause. First, all of the above are going to be rebased as singles. As Andy, and indeed Lion Rampant Dan, recommended . I'm a slow learner betimes, but I do get there.

In total I count 18 cavalry, 24 archers and 20 Men at Arms and 50 Billmen. To which we can add two Bombards and Crews, 5 Men at Arms, 60 Archers and 12 Billmen and 20 cavalry.  Also 24 Pikemen, actually the pikes can be called spears with no squinting required.  All the foregoing are QRF.

Out of this I want to create a Tudor Contingent, a Neville one and a FitzGerald one. Then two units of Galloglaich and two of Kern.  The latter for Ormond and Kildare. Doable I think. In fact I might double those numbers.

I preparation for all this I bought some of Pete's Flags. One set (Ormond) I wanted wasn't available in 15mm. Pete very kindly made it so and at the same price. Good man.

Next week we will see the Fitzgerald Earl of Kildare's Retinue or most of it. I'm having a Kern compatibility problem. Above, his nibs with his horsemen. I'm pleased with the look of this bunch. All the same I have to tell you that even the Great Earls in Ireland preferred a mail shirt to full plate when serious fighting was required. A mobility thing I think.

Painting an Irish Army – The War of Three Kingdoms

 

I’m putting together an Irish Army for the War of Three Kingdoms-often called the English Civil War. There are two challenges to this.

First, the majority of Irish soldiers were Gaels and they wore trews not breeches and hose.  Khurasan Miniatures gets it right and I’m using their figures.

Second, there is the issue of clothing colours. Irish clothing colours were muted. This was new and a consequence of the overthrow of Gaelic Ireland at the end of the Nine Years War.  There were less resources to go around and it showed.

Some Clans had been dispersed. Others waited for the inevitable dispossession of their ancestral lands. The land was full of men ready to soldier. They lacked arms and training. Once these were available armies formed. The new soldiers went to war in what the stood up in. Uniforms were not provided.

At the top of the page is Eoghan Ruadh O’Neill back from Spanish Flanders. I have chosen to paint "Red Owen" in red, replete with Red Hand flag of his clan. He wears a traditional fringed Brat cloak to remind the boys what they are fighting for. Otherwise he is dressed like a Spanish soldier as is his companion. Many of the Irish officers had seen foreign service and were attired as such.

The rank and file soldiers and junior officers wore Irish clothing. I find a set of WW2 paints come in very handy here. The subdued colours lend themselves nicely to this army.

 

Above we see a Command Stand of an Irish regiment. In reality the kinsmen of the commander would be grouped around him. The man himself has a buff coat, his clothes are colourful. He has a morion helmet, perhaps hidden for decades. Or maybe newly acquired.  The drummer is well dressed in good quality trews and a coloured coat.  The piper is more simply attired.

His pikemen will repay scrutiny. Two are wearing expensive plaid trews requiring much time and labour to make. Robust wear for campaigning. Otherwise one has a sword and two have a scían (Long Knife).  The scian was handier for pike fighting but the sword carried more prestige. The flag is that of the Irish Confederation that claimed the allegiance of Gaels and Old English both. This is a Wargames Designs Flag.

Above we see a close up of Seán O' Brógáín's painting of an Irish pike man. Note the buttoned sleeves allowing them to be opened. An old trait of Irish clothing. We also see part of the scían. The latter was pointed, single edged and, in this period, 21 inches long. Image from Helion's Raw General's and Green Soldiers.

We often read that the Irish preferred a ratio of 1 to 1 for Pike and Shot. That they fielded such regiments is clear. Whether it was by choice is something I intend to pursue.  That is for another day. However, I can tell you now it was not the practice in the Spanish Army where so many of the Irish had served.

Let us look at an Irish cavalry trooper and consider his armament. 

He is clearly more expensively dressed than the ordinary foot soldiers. Plaid trews and a brightly coloured jacket and hat. Note he wears shoes. His armament is sword and lance. Initially, before Eoghan Ruadh, it had been the sword alone. These fellows were the gentry of Gaelic Ireland. Post successful actions helmets and other kit could be acquired.

So armed, the Irish cavaliers struggled to cope with the sword and pistol armed Scots cavalry.  Sometimes a Scots horsemen might have 5 pistols. Meaning he had 5 chances to down the Irish opponent before swords crossed. 

The Irish couldn't cope and demanded armour. We easily follow the military logic. They were happy to fight the Scots but didn't want to die before they got a chance to do so.

Eoghan had little armour to give them. Instead he trained them as charging cavalry and gave them lances. It worked. 

Pistol armed Scots resented being skewered beyond sword reach and Scots Lancers could be met on equal terms. 

Khurasan are making Irish cavalry based on the above.  I'm delighted and will be buying many of them. 

We finish with an Irish Musketeer. Note the muted clothing colours and the longer version of the scían. 

We will return to this subject when I have more to show you. More immediately as part of our Victory without Quarter series we will look at Montrose's Irish Regulars or possibly the Highlanders.