The Set Up
GERMAN 44AP
Left flank 18AP
GOC Fritz Zekatte
4 Rifles
1 MG
1 Sniper
1 Observation Balloon
1 Field Gun
Right Flank 18AP
2-i-C Helmut von Morrison
2 Rifles
2 Sturmtruppe
1 MG
1 Mortar
Reinforcements 8AP
2 Sturmtruppe
1 Rifle
BRITISH 56AP
Right Flank 19AP
GOC Sir Thomas Cholmondley-Smythe VC, CDM
4 Rifles
1 Trench Raiders
1 MG
1 Mortar
Left Flank 29AP
2-i-C Brigadier General Bunny Warren GCSE (Failed)
4 Rifles
1 MG
1 Trench Raider
1 FOO
1 Observation Balloon
3 Gas
2 Barrage
Reinforcements 8AP
4 Rifles
The Battle
Fritz took the first bound & rolled a 6 so his reinforcement column arrived straight away & was directed to the left to join his GOC
Tommy countered with a dash for the ruins on their right with support moving into the shell-pocked rough in front of the trenchline.
The British 2-i-C had charge of the Reserve Artillery & successfully called up a Barrage on the German 2-i-C's HQ in the trenches but von Morrison was made of stern stuff & weathered the storm. However, having read his Shakespeare, he preferred to discretely (but valourously) move his lodgings to the next section of trench. However the Barrage unerringly followed this movement causing a recoil further down the trench, dangerously crowding the German right.
Fortunately British fire here was just as ineffective as on the other flank.
On the British right it settled down to a firefight which was dominated by the Germans, firmly ensconced – as they would be for most of the battle – in their trenches. The German Field Gun was brought into action but made little impression on the British in their shell-holes. German reinforcements trudged towards the front line.
On the German right von Morrison was worried about the imminent assault so ordered his 2 Sturmtruppe companies to go over the top in an effort to outflank it. However a second British Barrage was called on in front of the wire which cut off such a manouevre.
Now in position, Tommy made coordinated attacks on the extreme flanks of the trenchline.
On their right they were repulsed with losses but on their left they managed to gain a foothold in the trench, although their supports were repulsed. (British reinforcements would be automatically brought on next bound) With his left secure, Fritz diverted his reinforcements to the right in an effort to stem the British advance while von Morrison sent his Sturmtruppe column to skirt around the Barrage & he left the trench to the rear to coordinate a counter-attack on the British there which succeeded, driving them out & retaking the line.
The success of the British Barrage kept the German defence piecemeal but when a second wave assaulted the trench it was repulsed.
British reinforcements deployed out in the centre with nothing between them & the unnocupied centre except the Sturmtruppe column skirting the Barrage. Von Morrison had persuaded the MG & Mortar to leave the trench to try to give flanking fire on the British assault but was soon in danger from both British Barrages.
Bunny Warren (his infantry emulating his monicker by digging in like rabbits) decided to unleash Gas, which was inconclusive on the German right but took out a MG on their left.
The British pulled back their stalled attack on their right, instead concentrating with the reinforcements against the Sturmtruppe in the centre. A Barrage took out the exposed Mortar while the Gas had no effect on the lone German company stubbornly holding on to the trenchline while reinforcements slowly made their way to their aid.
The German left edged towards the centre leaving 2 companies to hold against the Brits in the ruin & shell-holed ground. On the other flank the Germans finally dislodged the British foothold only to have a second British company descend on their rear but the fighting was inconclusive.
In the centre, the Sturmtruppe were outflanked & outnumbered in the open & destroyed & the Barrage took out the German MG also in the open.
A combination of a counter-attack & Gas dropping into their rear took out the second British foothold leaving the Germans in (sparse) possession of the trenchline while the British second line held in the shell holes to its front.
Finally, the Gas dispersed & British massed their attack on the undefended centre & pressed the right.
Fritz's left flank units moved along the trench to oppose the British attack while von Morrison tried to shore up their defences on the left.
The British forced entry into the centre trenches destroying all opposition & the Barrage intensified taking out the first of the reinforcements while an epic struggle ensued as Fritz Zekatte, the German GOC led a column against the 3rd British foothold, pushing it back along the trench while the German Field Gun thundered overhead.
Alas! too many Brits…. Trench Raiders moved up to engage & the Barrage crossed to trench to zone the reinforcing Sturmtruppe but, miraculously, the Germans won & continued to push the Brits along the trench but in doing so left a gap behind them which the British duly filled. The Trench Raiders destroyed the General's supporting Rifles but he kept on pushing his opponents along the trench.
However, mounting casualties pushed the Germans to 50% so they conceded the battle.
The Debrief
This was a hard fight & the outcome was in the balance several times. The Brits rolled better overall & managed to get elements where they were most needed. They took various parts of the trench several times (count `em) before overwhelming the defenders, whose reinforcements didn't really play any part in the battle due to indecision of where to place them whilst the British reinforcments made the centre assault, which took the game, possible. The heroic German Commander fought well but ultimately, his losses told.
Game took 3 hours to play but that included taking pictures & writing it up as the action developed.
GERMAN 44AP
Left flank 18AP
GOC Fritz Zekatte
4 Rifles
1 MG
1 Sniper
1 Observation Balloon
1 Field Gun
Right Flank 18AP
2-i-C Helmut von Morrison
2 Rifles
2 Sturmtruppe
1 MG
1 Mortar
Reinforcements 8AP
2 Sturmtruppe
1 Rifle
BRITISH 56AP
Right Flank 19AP
GOC Sir Thomas Cholmondley-Smythe VC, CDM
4 Rifles
1 Trench Raiders
1 MG
1 Mortar
Left Flank 29AP
2-i-C Brigadier General Bunny Warren GCSE (Failed)
4 Rifles
1 MG
1 Trench Raider
1 FOO
1 Observation Balloon
3 Gas
2 Barrage
Reinforcements 8AP
4 Rifles
The Battle
Fritz took the first bound & rolled a 6 so his reinforcement column arrived straight away & was directed to the left to join his GOC
Tommy countered with a dash for the ruins on their right with support moving into the shell-pocked rough in front of the trenchline.
1 British right moves into the ruin & shell-holes
The British 2-i-C had charge of the Reserve Artillery & successfully called up a Barrage on the German 2-i-C's HQ in the trenches but von Morrison was made of stern stuff & weathered the storm. However, having read his Shakespeare, he preferred to discretely (but valourously) move his lodgings to the next section of trench. However the Barrage unerringly followed this movement causing a recoil further down the trench, dangerously crowding the German right.
2 German Battalion HQ comes under fire
On the German right von Morrison was worried about the imminent assault so ordered his 2 Sturmtruppe companies to go over the top in an effort to outflank it. However a second British Barrage was called on in front of the wire which cut off such a manouevre.
3 Sturmtruppe go over the top but come under intense fire
Now in position, Tommy made coordinated attacks on the extreme flanks of the trenchline.
4 Assault on the German Left
5 Assault on the German Right
On their right they were repulsed with losses but on their left they managed to gain a foothold in the trench, although their supports were repulsed. (British reinforcements would be automatically brought on next bound) With his left secure, Fritz diverted his reinforcements to the right in an effort to stem the British advance while von Morrison sent his Sturmtruppe column to skirt around the Barrage & he left the trench to the rear to coordinate a counter-attack on the British there which succeeded, driving them out & retaking the line.
The success of the British Barrage kept the German defence piecemeal but when a second wave assaulted the trench it was repulsed.
6 German right under pressure
British reinforcements deployed out in the centre with nothing between them & the unnocupied centre except the Sturmtruppe column skirting the Barrage. Von Morrison had persuaded the MG & Mortar to leave the trench to try to give flanking fire on the British assault but was soon in danger from both British Barrages.
Bunny Warren (his infantry emulating his monicker by digging in like rabbits) decided to unleash Gas, which was inconclusive on the German right but took out a MG on their left.
7 An attack of Gas
8 This one worked
The Gas blew back towards the British lines & a counter-attack on the
trench was repulsed leaving a British company in possession. 
9 It's an ill wind....
The British pulled back their stalled attack on their right, instead concentrating with the reinforcements against the Sturmtruppe in the centre. A Barrage took out the exposed Mortar while the Gas had no effect on the lone German company stubbornly holding on to the trenchline while reinforcements slowly made their way to their aid.
The German left edged towards the centre leaving 2 companies to hold against the Brits in the ruin & shell-holed ground. On the other flank the Germans finally dislodged the British foothold only to have a second British company descend on their rear but the fighting was inconclusive.
In the centre, the Sturmtruppe were outflanked & outnumbered in the open & destroyed & the Barrage took out the German MG also in the open.
10 British reinforcements deploy to encircle Sturmtruppe
11Crunch time for the Sturmtruppe
A combination of a counter-attack & Gas dropping into their rear took out the second British foothold leaving the Germans in (sparse) possession of the trenchline while the British second line held in the shell holes to its front.
Finally, the Gas dispersed & British massed their attack on the undefended centre & pressed the right.
12 The centre cannot hold
12 The right's not doing so well either
Fritz's left flank units moved along the trench to oppose the British attack while von Morrison tried to shore up their defences on the left.
The British forced entry into the centre trenches destroying all opposition & the Barrage intensified taking out the first of the reinforcements while an epic struggle ensued as Fritz Zekatte, the German GOC led a column against the 3rd British foothold, pushing it back along the trench while the German Field Gun thundered overhead.
Alas! too many Brits…. Trench Raiders moved up to engage & the Barrage crossed to trench to zone the reinforcing Sturmtruppe but, miraculously, the Germans won & continued to push the Brits along the trench but in doing so left a gap behind them which the British duly filled. The Trench Raiders destroyed the General's supporting Rifles but he kept on pushing his opponents along the trench.
However, mounting casualties pushed the Germans to 50% so they conceded the battle.
14 Ok, enough's enough!
The Debrief
This was a hard fight & the outcome was in the balance several times. The Brits rolled better overall & managed to get elements where they were most needed. They took various parts of the trench several times (count `em) before overwhelming the defenders, whose reinforcements didn't really play any part in the battle due to indecision of where to place them whilst the British reinforcments made the centre assault, which took the game, possible. The heroic German Commander fought well but ultimately, his losses told.
Game took 3 hours to play but that included taking pictures & writing it up as the action developed.
