Nugget 290

One of the things that I have to deal with as a priority now that I am back from my latest cruise is to get the next issue of THE NUGGET to the printer. The editor completed it and sent it to me whilst I was away, and in order to maintain the publishing schedule we set at the beginning of the subscription year, this issue should be out by the end of the month. It is my intention to check it over the weekend and take to printed original to the printer on Monday. I should then be able collect it later that week and to get it out in the post to members of Wargame Developments by May Day.

IMPORTANT: Please note that this is the eighth issue of THE NUGGET to be published for the 2015-2016 subscription year, and that members who have not already re-subscribed can still do so if they want to. This can be done by visiting the relevant page on the Wargame Developments website. A printed reminder was sent out with THE NUGGET 283 to all subscribers who had not yet re-subscribed.

Did you miss me? I doubt it ...

Sue and I arrived home from our latest cruise just under two hours ago. We had cruised to, from, and around the Western Mediterranean, and visited a mixture of places we have never been to before, places we have been to once or twice, and places we have frequently visited.

We have already begun unpacking ... and the pile of post that was awaiting us (both email and snail-mail) is huge and will take some to to sort through. As soon as we have, I will upload a blog entry about our cruise. It may take a few days for me to get around to it, but I hope that my regular blog readers will find it interesting when it does appear.

Major Neville Chrisopherson MC, Royal Artillery

After transcribing the War Diary of the 140th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, I must admit to wanting to know a bit more about the man who wrote the report of the unit's final battle during the 1940 campaign. I mentioned this to my wife – who happens to be a genealogist – and within a few hours she had done quite a bit of research about him.

Neville (or as it is sometimes written, Nevill) Christopherson was born on 8th February 1894 in Bickley, Kent, and was the son of Percy Christopherson* (31st March 1866 – 4th May 1921). Like his father – and his father's nine brothers(!)# – he was a great sportsman. Neville played both cricket and rugby, and was involved in both until he died.

By 1901 Neville's father was a headmaster (he had formerly been Assistant-Master at Wellington College for eleven years), and the family was living at Locker's Park Preparatory School, Hemel Hempsted.

Locker's School.

Neville attended Winchester School, and when the First World War broke out he joined the Royal Field Artillery. He was commissioned in early 1915, and by the end of the war he had reached the rank of Major (Acting). He was awarded the 1915 Star, the Victory Medal, and the British War Medal, and they were sent to his home address in Folkestone.

In 1923 Neville married Nina Geraldine Bird in Bromley, Kent, and was working as a Lloyds underwriter.

By 1939 Neville was a Captain (later Major) in the Territorial Army and became second-in-command of 140th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. He took over command of the regiment when the CO was wounded, but was himself wounded and captured on 29th May, 1940. He became a prisoner of war, and was released from captivity when the war ended. He was awarded the Military Cross and was mentioned in the 25th October 1945 issue of the London Gazette, where it stated that:

'The King has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: —


Royal Regiment of Artillery
Maj. N. Christopherson, M.C. (20865)'

On reaching the age of fifty five Neville retired from the Territorial Army with the rank of Major, but he remained very active, visiting Brazil several times between 1952 and 1959~ in his capacity as a Lloyds underwriter.

A rugby team photograph. Neville Christopherson is standing on the right of the photograph and is wearing a suit.

Neville Christopherson died on 31st December 1972 in Maidstone, Kent. His obituary in Wisden stated:

'CHRISTOPHERSON, NEVILL, who died on December 31, aged 78, did not gain a place in the XI at Winchester. From 1950 to 1959 he was secretary and manager of Kent and became the county President in 1962. He was one of ten brothers in a notable Kentish sporting family. His father, Percy, gained two England Rugby International caps in 1891 when a Blackheath player and an uncle, Stanley, became President of the M.C.C. Nevill was for a time honorary secretary of Blackheath R.F.C.'

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* Percy Christopherson played Rugby Union for Blackheath, Oxford University, Kent, The Barbarians, and England, and cricket for Oxford University, Kent, Berkshire, Shropshire, and the Gentlemen of England. When he died his estate was estimated to be £47,800.

The Barbarians team in April 1891. Percy Christopherson is third from the left on the middle row.

# The whole family once played as a team - known as 'The Christophersons' - against Blackheath Cricket Club on 8th September 1888 on The Rectory Field, Blackheath. The team comprised:

• Stanley Christopherson (11th November 1861 – 6th April 1949) [He also played cricket for Kent and England, was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club between 1939 and 1946, and from 1943 to 1945 he was also the temporary chairman of the Midland Bank.]
• Percy Christopherson (31st March 1866 – 4th May 1921)
• Kenneth Christopherson (First quarter 1865 – ?)
• Sidney Christopherson (First quarter 1864 – 28th September 1916)
• Cecil Christopherson (Fourth quarter 1862 – 11th May 1925)
• Malcolm Christopherson (Fourth quarter 1870 –?)
• Douglas Christopherson (1869 – 5th March 1944)
• Derman Christopherson (6th August 1835 – First quarter 1907)
• Horace Christopherson (2nd June 1872 –?)
• Derman Christopherson (Jnr.) (24th March 1875 –?)

There were ten player per side and five balls per over ... and Blackheath won by 22 runs!

~ On 11th October 1952 he sailed to Rio de Janiero aboard the Alcantara. He returned from Buenos Aires on the same ship on 24th November 1952. He returned to Rio de Janeiro on the Alcantara on 20th March 1957, and returned to Plymouth on 21st February 1959 aboard the Antilles.

'I've a whip at the fore ...'

I have now painted the second of my two fleets of toy-like model ships. Like the first, this fleet comprises four battleships, two armoured cruisers, and three protected cruisers.

The War Diary of 140th (5th London) Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: Part 2: 24th May to 29th May, 1940

24th May
The Col. rejoined the Regt. at FORET DE NIEPPE at 0300 hrs. The Bty. was told to rendezvous in a small wood which was found to be a hopeless place and the Bty. did not stay there but returned to the FORET DE NIEPPE. At about 0600 hrs. the C.O. and myself went off to recce. position near MERVILLE (H 4039) and at about 0900 hrs we were ordered to join an advanced guard and march through CAESTRE (H 3852) to CASSEL (H 3057) with a view to ceasing the town before the enemy could reach it. The adv. guard and ourselves arrived by noon. CASSEL was heavily bombed but the Regt. suffered no casualties. 1 Tp. of the Bty. went into action about H 319578, 1 Tp. about H 314572 and a third Tp. about H 319572 and Regtl. H.Q. in the chateau in a wood about H 316572. The Regt. was now grouped under 5 R.H.A. who had one Tp. in action about H 316576. I do not know where the other Tp. was. Lt. Col. A.A.M. Durand, M.C. commanded the two Field Regts. As far as I can recollect the zones allotted to the Tps. were North Tp. from about 270° Northwards and the two Southern Tps. shared from 270° Southwards.

25th May
From R.H.Q. we could see much shelling and bombing activity in HAZEBROUCH (H 3348). CASSEL was again heavily bombed. At the same time there was a big battle going on to the South. I can not remember any movement of enemy Inf. and Tanks being reported during the day in the CASSEL area.

26th May
This was a peaceful day. There were some deserted French 75 mm. guns in CASSEL for some reasons unknown.

27th May
In the morning the enemy attacked all along the front and broke through South of the Regt. posns. About 0900 I personally was proceeding to EECKE (H 3754) where our wagon lines were situated but had only gone 200 yds. when I was turned back with the information that enemy tanks were further down the road. On our front line the 2nd Glosters and 4th Ox Bucks repulsed the morning attack. Owing to a breakdown in communications and doubt as to where our troops were, we missed some fine targets although we did do a fair amount of shooting. Pressure was kept up all day by the enemy and at one time the enemy reached within 50 yds. of the kind of wall that surrounds |CASSEL. At 1400 hrs. I found R.H.Q. was in the F.D.Ls. and I had to form a post on the main CAESTRE road just outside the R.H.Q. with one 18-pr covering the road A/T. defence and six A/T rifles and Lewis Guns covering nearly 180°. About 1800 hrs. the Westernmost Tp. and Boyes Rifles between them knocked out five tanks. The enemy entered the Tp. Officers' Mess and took away the wireless, but although this was only 100 yds. to the flank of the guns they did not attack. Other parties from R.H.Q. formed a defensive line and helped the Bty. to drive off an enemy Inf. attack. During this day the Tp. North of the wood* could not fire on the attack as CASSEL Hill intervened and there was no enemy attack from the North-West so the Tp. Comdr. went to assist the other two Tp. Comdrs. in their C.Ps. At 2100 hrs. R.H.Q. and the two Tps. South of the wood* moved into CASSEL itself as the Inf. could no longer provide any protection for the guns, and A/T. positions were taken up in CASSEL for all round defence. During the morning three enemy Tanks reached the W.L. at EECKE and dispersed R.H.Q. transport.

28th May
The enemy carried out no attacks during this day. The Northernmost Tp. fired continuously on enemy Tps. seen digging in mortars N.W. of CASSEL. There was no other enemy movement seen during the day. The Commanding Officer, Lieut. Col. C.J. Odling, T.D., had been wounded about midnight 27th/28th May and I was therefore now in comd. of the Regt. and I spent most of the day with the Brigade Comdr., 145 Bde.

29th May
An enemy attack was repulsed to the west of CASSEL by the Inf. without the gunners being called upon for assistance. I was at Brigade H.Q. 145 Bde. and was informed that a Signal Sergt. from 48th Div. Signals had arrived telling the Brigadier that the CASSEL garrison was to retire at once to BERGUES (H 2776) and that this message should have reached him during the night 28th/29th May. The Brig. decided that owing to the enemy having nearly surrounded his force he would not make the attempt until darkness. About 1030 hrs. the Brig. asked me to harass the enemy mortars to the N.W. of CASSEL as they were giving the Inf. an unpleasant time. I pointed out to the Brig. that although I was quite prepared to help any firing done by the Regt. would bring down unpleasant consequences to his immediate surroundings but he pointed out that it would be a good thing to raise the tails of the Inf. a bit higher. I therefore took one gun with its detachment and fired on the mortars over open sights. Just as the gun had got the range other enemy mortars got the range of the gun and began plastering us. The result was that two of the detachment were killed and I was knocked unconscious.

The above is the end of my diary as far as I am able to give. The following are points which I think would be of use:-

1. At no time throughout the operations was the Regt. short of food and ammn.

2. I understand that on the afternoon of 29th the Brig. ordered that all guns and equipment be destroyed and the dismounted Regt. to march with his Brigade. Most of them were killed or captured on the 30th.

N. Christopherson (Signature)

Major, R.A.

20th June 1945

* The wood referred to above is the Wood covering MT. DES RECOLLETS (H 3157).

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It is worth noting that the breakout by 145 Brigade resulted in the death or capture of most of the men in its ranks. The Brigadier (Brigadier N.F. Somerset) was captured on 29th May. The MOD (Army) website includes the following extract in a history of the brigade:

Despite attempts to hold a number of defensive lines over the next few days, the Brigade was pushed back to Nomain by 24 May. Although it had been hoped that the Brigade could be evacuated through Calais this idea was abandoned on 24 May and the Brigade was ordered to hold defensive positions at Cassel and Hazebrouck at all costs, to protect the withdrawal of the rest of the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.). 1 Bucks were attacked in earnest on 27-28 May and suffered so many casualties that they had ceased to be an effective fighting force. Their Battalion HQ and HQ Coy were surrounded and eventually overrun on the evening of the 28th. 4 Ox & Bucks and 2 Glosters were also being subjected to enemy attacks at Cassel from 27 May until 29 May, by which time the town was surrounded and the Germans were penetrating the area. Withdrawal in daylight was impossible, but an evacuation during the evening of 29-30 May was attempted. However, increasing difficulties in keeping contact during the night and continuing enemy attacks resulted in the majority of the remaining personnel being captured or killed before reaching Dunkirk.

The War Diary of 140th (5th London) Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: Part 1: 10th May to 23rd May, 1940

In the middle of March Sue and I paid a visit to the National Archives, Kew. During our visit I managed to read the War Diary of the unit my maternal grandfather served with during the early part of the Second World War.

My grandfather – Arthur Jackson – had been a member of the Territorial Army before the war, and in 1939 his unit – 366th Field Battery, Royal Artillery – was mobilised.

My maternal grandfather, Arthur Jackson.

Along with the 367th Battery it formed the 140th (5th London) Army Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. It was equipped with 18-pounder Field Guns, and its role as part of the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) was to provide extra firepower to formations that required it. It was not allocated to a particular Division, but was under the control of GHQ.

After the invasion of France and Belgium the Regiment was used to try to stem the enemy's advance. As a result the War Diary stopped being a general record of information about training exercises, troop movements, and personnel changes, and became a record of the fighting the unit was involved in. It is worth noting that the final entry in the War Diary (which I have transcribed below) was written in 1945 after the acting Commanding Officer was released from a POW camp!

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Interview with Major N. Christopherson M.C., R.A., who was 2 i/c of 140th A.Fld.Regt.

The Regt. consisted of 366 and 367 Btys. and was an 18-pdr regt.

The following is an account of what happened between 10th May and 29th May, 1940.

10th May
On the morning of May 10th the Regt. was in a training area at TOUTENCOURT (N 27). We heard on the wireless at 7 a.m. that Belgium and Holland were being invaded so we cancelled our field day and packed up ready to move. The Regt. was at this time under comd. of the C.C.M.A. I Corps. Under Plan D we were to come under 1st Div. At 14.30 hrs. we started marching via ARRAS and DOUAY to FAUMONT (H 71) arriving about 21.30 hrs. and left for the river Dyle leaving the Regt. there and taking recce. groups to join the 19th Fd Regt. under whom we were grouped, at the Frontier. I was in comd. of the recce. group, so I cannot say when the Regt. left.

11th May
The group crossed the frontier at 0100 hrs. passed through BRUSSELS at 0500 hrs. and started my recce. on the west of the river Dyle around HULDENBRG (J 74).

12th May
Continued reconnaissance.

13th May
The Regt. arrived and went into action, between HULDENBERG (J 74) and OVERYSSCHE (J 74) during the night 13th/14th May.

14th May
First contact was made with the enemy in the evening.

15th May
At 1900 hrs. The Regt. opened a heavy bombardment on enemy Inf. Concentrations on the East side of the R. Dyle.

16th May
In the afternoon I was sent to report to the C.R.A. 1 Div. And on arrival was told that we were required to withdraw and defend the West of BRUSSELS. At 2000 hrs. the Regt. opened fire in answer to an S.O.S. and at 2100 hrs. the Regt. withdrew from their positions.

17th May
At 0300 hrs. the Regt. arrived at VEER BERGEN (J 4247). The Regt. had been delayed coming through BRUSSELS. The Regt. did not go into action. At 1930 hrs. I was sent off to recce. an area around STEENHOUT (J 3848). I returned to the Regt. and at 2200 hrs. the Regt. moved off and arrived at 2359 hrs' and went into action in the area between STEENHOUT (J 3848) and the main road ENGHIEN (J3839) - NINOVE (J3854). The Regt. did no firing and touch could not be made with either the enemy or our own Inf.

18th May
At 0930 hrs. the Regt. again withdrew and went into action near PEPERENDAAL (J 2150) with wagon line in BREUCQ (J 1848), some time during the day. The task of the Regt. was to cover the approaches to GRAMMONT (J 2848). I remained during the day at the wagon lines. About 1800 hrs' I went forward to the gun line to bring the Regt. out of action as we had been ordered to retire through TOURNAI (H 9232). The Regt. moved off at 2115 hrs. and marched all night. TOURNAI was in flames and many bridges had been blown and the city had three lines of traffic in the main road.

19th May
At 0200 hrs. the Regt. arrived at WANNEHAIN (H 8328) and bivouacked. At 0800 hrs. I was sent to a recce. position for the Regt. in the area East of ERE (H 9029). The Regt. followed later during the day and went into action as follows:- 366 Bty. about H 913288 and 367 Bty. about H 913292 with H.Q. in a farm about H 912291.

20th May
A quiet day was spent.

21st May
During the day the Regt. went into action. The enemy heavily shelled the gun line and 1 Tp. of 366 Bty. had 1 man killed and 3 wounded and 3 guns put out of action.

22nd May
The morning was very quiet. I was away all day recce. a new wagon line area and I do not know what actually happened. At about 1730 hrs. I reproted to H.Q. 42 Div. and received orders to recce. positions in the area SAIGHIN EN MELANTOIS (N 7530).

23rd May
About 0100 hrs. the Regt. arrived in SAIGHIN EN MELANTOIS (N 7530) and went into action as follows:- 366 Bty. in front of the wood about H 779307 and 367 Bty. about H 764312 with Regtl. H.Q. in the village. No contact was made with the enemy during the day. Late in the afternoon R.H.Q. and 367 Bty. were ordered to join MACFORCE. 367 Bty. was chossen because it had 11 guns in action and 366 Bty. had only 9 guns and their position was better than 367 Bty. At 1930 hrs. I led the Regt. and the Colonel left for ORCHIES (H 8117) to report to Gen. MASON MACFARLANE. R.H.Q. and 367 Bty. marched through LILLE - ARMENTIERS (luckily we were not bombed), and arrived at FORET DE NIEPPE at 2300 hrs.

Battle: A wargame played on a chessboard: Part 2: How to play the game

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

EXAMPLES
Of the various Marching and Attacking Moves, together with the method of recording same, if desired.

Consider the Chess-board as a battlefield 8 miles long x 8 wide. Consider it marked as shown for the purposes either of explaining or recording the battle fought. Notice that the same units lie in line from south to north, and the same tens from west to east, so as to aid in mentally locating and grasping a move when quoted;

General (G), and also Ammunition (A).

EXAMPLE 1. Place White’s General in position on No.33 square. He can never attack; but he may march the one mile, as marked thereon, in any one of the eight radial directions, as likewise marked thereon, say to 44. And if desired, we may record such march a G33 to 44; but being White’s piece we must prefix it with W, thus reading WG33-44. And so likewise with the Ammunition.

Infantry (I).

EXAMPLE 2. Place White’s Infantry at 33, and Black’s Cavalry at 55; record it as WI33, BC55. White may either march say to 63, or other intermediate position; or else he may attack Black’s Cavalry by moving into action. The record of the one would read: WI33-63, and the other WI33-44. No need to express more, for the very direction from 33 to 63 implies the one to be a march, and the other 33-44 to be an attack, in which BC55 is taken. Had another piece of either side been stationed at 44, there would have been no room to get into action at 44, consequently no attack.

Gun-Battery (GB).

EXAMPLE 3. Place WGB33, BC53, BSB63, BI73. Either WGB33 may march say to 44, thus: WGB33-44; or else, by moving a mile into action, he may attack, and so sweep all three Blacks off the field, thus: WGB33-43.

EXAMPLE 4. Repeat last example, but substitute WSB63 for BSB63. WGB is now masked by the presence of WSB63, and cannot fire.

EXAMPLE 5. Repeat example 3, and add any other piece at 43. WGB33 cannot move into action, and therefore cannot fire.

EXAMPLE 6. Place WGB33, BI63, BGB83. It probably would not pay WGB33 to fire into BI63; since then, being at 43, it would be in range and at the mercy of BGB83 in return.

Shell-Battery (SB).

EXAMPLE 7. Place WSB43, BC63, BI73. White may march either say to 54, or say 65, thus: WSB43-65; or else he may attack, thus: WSB43-53, taking both pieces.

EXAMPLE 8. Place WSB43, BI63, BC73, DGB83. If White attacks both Infantry and Cavalry, thus: WSB43-53, he will be in range and at the mercy of BGB83. It will be wiser therefore to fire only on Cavalry as the greater value, leaving Black’s Infantry to mask its own Gun-Battery with; and record that fact in full, thus: WSB43-53 (BI63), signifying that BI is spared; but if White had GB instead of SB, he could have taken the lot.

EXAMPLE 9. Place WSB42, BI44, BC45, BI65. WSB42 may attack BI44 and BC45 thus: WSB42-43; but in that position – 43, it would then be attacked by BI65, thus: BI65-54.

EXAMPLE 10. Place WSB26, WGB46, BC56, BGB76. Now White’s GB cannot attack, but is in danger from Cavalry attack next move. True, his SB can attack Cavalry, but Black’s GB would then take both in return. On the other hand if WGB retires to, say 35, to save such disaster, Cavalry would follow up and probably capture WGB or WSB; unless White had say Infantry at 12 and at 63 to support his guns with, then he would be safe.

Cavalry (C).

EXAMPLE 11. Place WC16, WSB15, WGB23, BA28. Cavalry marches to 38. Ammunition is lost; for if it moves either to 17 or 18, SB fires on it; if on it; or if it remains where it is, or moves to 37, then Cavalry charges it.

EXAMPLE 12. Place WC21, BGB35, BSB64. Let WC21-54, BSB64-46, WC54-36, BGB35-44, WC36-46 thus capturing SB, but BGB44-45, and takes C.

Practice alone will show the power of an organised attack or defence, the value of caution as well as skill

Battle: A wargame played on a chessboard: Part 1: The rules

I am always on the look out for bits of what I refer to as 'wargaming archaeology' ... and recently I came across a set of rules that were designed to be used with a chessboard. The rules were entitled BATTLE, and they came with a box of special playing pieces from a company called 'BROOKS & CO., SPICEAL STREET, BIRMINGHAM'.

I have yet to try out the rules, but they are sufficiently unlike chess to make them different from that game. In fact, in some ways it is much more like the original POLEMOS in that units or pieces are taken or destroyed by tactical movement and/or placement on the 'battlefield'.

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RULES FOR PLAYING BATTLE
1. BOARD: The Chessboard represents the Battlefield of eight miles long by eight miles wide, each square being spoken of as one mile.

2. ARMY: Each Army of 2 Gun-batteries, 2 Shell-batteries, 2 bodies of Cavalry, 8 of Infantry, together with the General’s Staff and Ammunition, faces each other from the extreme far sides of the field, as shown, and with the General to the left of his Ammunition, thus:

3. PIECES: All except the General and the Ammunition are Fighting Pieces, each representing, not an individual, but a body of men and material; and each having its top surface marked, the lines thereon indicate the direction in which pieces march, the numbers how many squares may be marched at a time, for example, thus:

meaning that it is a Gun-battery capable of marching one mile in any one of four directions, N.E., S.E., .W., N.W., as marked thereon; or else of attacking, as explained in Rule 10.

4. OBJECT: To win is to capture the General. To capture the Ammunition is half the battle, since without it the enemy’s Batteries and Infantries are paralysed, and can neither fight nor march, even when in danger of being taken. To lose both the Cavalries besides the Ammunition means defeat for want of real Fighting Pieces. But when the Ammunition and one piece only of Cavalry are captured, it may yet be possible to effect a drawn battle, provided that the surviving Cavalry can make ten moves in all, thereby covering a General’s retreat. Moreover, there is just the possibility of such Cavalry winning the day.

5. DISTANCE: Whether a distance be a march or a range of attack, it counts as from (but not including) the position occupied previous to moving.

6. VALUES:

7. MOVING: In moving, and where possible so to choose, it is optional whether to march or to attack, but one cannot do both in the same move.

8. MARCHING: Any piece can march, but only over unoccupied ground, and in the direction as indicated by the lines on each piece, and to or within a distance marked thereon; and only in one of its four directions if it be a fighting piece, or of its eight directions in case of the General and Ammunition. (See Rule 6.)

9. RANGE: The range of attack, whether it be a Cavalry charge or a Firing-range, is the fighting value less its marching value; for example, for a Shell-battery 5, less marching power 2 leaving a fighting range of 3.

10. ATTACKING: Attacking, capturing or taking is the same thing; it is to capture one or more pieces as the case may be. But only fighting pieces can attack, and only when such attack can be delivered without hurt to one’s own side; otherwise guns so directed are said to be masked and cannot fire, likewise only when the enemy is within range and line of fire, which line is in a diagonal direction to that of a march, or in other words, in the opposite direction to which it marches. Such attack consists of a one mile forward movement into action, along that line of fire, and on to unoccupied ground; except that the very Cavalry-charge itself sweeps the enemy out of the way as it takes up its new position. But the Infantry and Battery-fires reach beyond the attacking move of one mile, so that all pieces lying within range (See Rules 5, 6 & 9) and line of fire are lost, except that the Shell-battery may attack at, or within, its full range; and is of especial value in attacking under cover, for being of the Mortar or Howitzer type, it may fire over a piece of either side if desired, or right into one or other or both of its enemy’s pieces lying within range, taking care when possible, and when in danger of drawing the enemy’s fire in return, to leave one such opponent piece standing between them in order to mask such guns with.

11. PASSIVES: Neither the General nor the Ammunition can approach either one of its rivals without leaving a clear mile space between. And. Moreover, these are the only pieces, though only capable of marching one mile, which have the choice of any one of eight directions, as shown.

12. STARTING, &c.: The rivals draw for colour, which colour is exchanged after each battle. Whites always moving first followed by Blacks each round in succession. Moreover, should a piece be moved and released, such move being possible, it cannot be withdrawn; but if challenged there and then as impossible, it must be corrected, either by moving that or some other piece.

13. TWO A SIDE: One player as Officer takes command of Infantries in front; the other, of all the rest in the rear; White’s Infantry leading off first, and so opening out a way for the Rear Officer to immediately follow. In like manner Black’s follow in turn, thus completing a White and White, then Black and Black clockwise order of play, which must never vary round after round in succession.

Moreover, should the Infantry Officer lose all his pieces, he retires absolutely from the battle. So also he retires should the Ammunition be lost; in which case he leaves his pieces standing where they are, and at the mercy of the enemy (see Rule 4), But should he only be hemmed in, unable to move any piece, he may, if possible, either move the General or Ammunition in lieu thereof; failing which he, in like manner, retires. Such a movement of General or Ammunition will in noways prevent the Rear Line Officer moving same pieces in turn, if he so desires.

14. ONE AGAINST TWO A SIDE: By falling back on Rule 13 an equally fair and interesting game is possible for three players only, where the single player plays his two moves in succession, always starting with Infantry, thus satisfying the White and White, to be followed by Black and Black method.

Finally, the White and White, then Black and Black method makes for the best and most skilful play, even between single players; although White and Black is, perhaps, quicker to learn.

The Admiral's Broom

Legend has it that during the Anglo-Dutch Wars the Dutch Admiral Maarten Tromp had a broom tied to his flagship's masthead to signify that he had swept the British fleet from the seas. In response the British Admiral Robert Blake (one of Cromwell's 'Generals at Sea') had a whip tied to his ship's masthead when he had defeated Tromp's fleet to show that he had whipped the Dutch.

This legend inspired the song THE ADMIRAL'S BROOM. The music was written by Frederick Bevan and the lyrics by Frederic E Weatherly, and it was made famous when it was sung by the Australian baritone Peter Dawson. The original lyrics were:

Von Tromp was an Admiral brave and bold,
The Dutchman's pride was he,
And he cried "I'll reign on the rolling main,
As I do on the Zuyder Zee!
As I do on the Zuyder Zee!"
And as he paced his quarter deck,
And looked o'er the misty tide,
He saw old England like a speck,
And he shook his fist and cried,
And he shook his fist and cried:
"I've a broom at the mast!" said he,
"For a broom is the sign for me,
That the world may know, wherever I go,
I sweep the might sea!"
"I've a broom at the mast!" said he,
"For a broom is the sign for me,
That the world may know, wherever I go,
I sweep the might sea!"

Now Blake was an Admiral true as gold,
And he walked by the English sea;
And when he was told of that Dutchman bold,
A merry laugh laughed he,
A merry laugh laughed he.
He cried, "Come here, you Dutchman queer,
Today you must fight with me;
For while I ride on the rolling tide,
I'll be second to none!" said he,
"I'll be second to none!" said he.
"I've a whip at the fore, you see!
For a whip is the sign for me,
That the world may know, wherever we go,
We ride and rule the sea!"
"I've a whip at the fore, you see!
For a whip is the sign for me,
That the world may know, wherever we go,
We ride and rule the sea!"

'I've a broom at the mast ...'

I have managed to paint the first of my two fleets of toy-like model ships. The fleet comprises four battleships, two armoured cruisers, and three protected cruisers.

The fleet sails into action. The three protected cruisers are in the van, followed by the two armoured cruisers, and finally the four battleships.

I think that they look quite menacing in their mid grey colour scheme, and have turned out to look even better than I had hoped that they would.

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The title of this blog entry comes from a long-forgotten song that was sung by the Australian baritone, Peter Dawson. The song was entitled THE ADMIRAL'S BROOM.