Saved By The (Dinner) Bell

Last Saturday I once again attended the Hinton Hut to refight a scaled down Waterloo. I played Wellington and Ian was Napoleon. Umpiring was left in the capable hands of Charles, who also played a significant role when pre-game he presented Ian with a splendidly painted Congreve rocket and crew.

The role of the "Nebelwerfer" was considerable. 

Victory conditions was for Ian to occupy both Hougoumont and La Haye Saint plus have one infantry unit on the ridge. 

British line looking towards the farmhouse

A lot of Frenchies

Who begin to advance immediately on Hougoumont

The Nebelwerfer, saviour of the Allied army.

First contact and Hougoumont falls. Not a good start for the Coldstreams.

While the Allied infantry on the left flank withdraw behind the ridge the 95th Rifles deploy the other side of the farmhouse in anticipation of the major assault forming on my right.

The French advance on my right.

The poor old Belgians who were not allowed to move from their exposed position until turn 2 were absorbing casualties from the massed artillery facing my left.

The Coldstreams reform and retake Hougoumont.

The French columns are taking casualties everywhere as the advance.

And then the French columns and light cavalry start advancing on my left.

The French heavies move up behind the depleted columns attacking my right.

The British cavalry move up to stop the French cavalry.

The only British cavalry victory of the whole game. The Blues beating the French Chasseurs. 

That is a lot of cavalry, they made excellent targets from nearly everything.

The French are still however causing casualties among the Coldstreams.

The Allied cavalry go in on the right...

...and the left

They fight left...

...and right

And lose every single round. The Brunswickers could not even beat a disordered French infantry who had lost their colonel. Ponsonby dies rallying them to prevent a rout.

Oh dear...

In better news the KGL in the farmhouse and the Nebelwerfer cause sufficient casualties to rebuff the attack on the farmhouse by two Old Guard infantry units. Huzzah!

The rout of the British cavalry on the left.

With the Middle Guard preparing another assault on the farmhouse.

The French columns are finally stopped with heavy casualties before they could occupy the ridge.

The British infantry in square - most units did not receive a single casualty.

The Coldstreams make one last gallant stand at Hougoumont, the casualties were so high the unit would be removed from play next turn leaving the objective empty.

And the Middle Guard eventually overpower the KGL in the farmhouse. Retreating columns can be seen at the back.

It was at this point (turn 7 of  a possible 8) that the dinner bell was heard, much to my relief. Also to my relief was the fact that I did not lose Picton which breaks my run of bad luck with him.

Both buildings would have been occupied by the dastardly French on turn 8 but the ridge was mine, so while I cannot in all fairness say that I won, it is the first time of my four visits that I have not lost!

An excellent game, great company, beautiful figures and legendary catering once more from Mrs S.