HITT German vs British - 1914

Well, here we go, our take on the 'Hordes in the Trenches' rules. The setting, Belgium 1914, the BEF is marching North & meets the Advance Guard of the German Army. The objective to take the crossroads, a mini 'Quatre Bras'.

To make things even, both sides had exactly the same element types. 2 Cavalry, 8 Rifles, 1 HMG & 1 Artillery. Each Rifle & HMG element being Company size, Cavalry a Squadron, Arty a Battery. Jack played the Germans & yours truly the British.

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Looking East across the Battlefield.

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The heroic the BEF advance rapidly.

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The Germans race for the crossroads too.

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The British HMG takes position at the Farm.

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PiPs are poor for Jack & the German Arty lags behind.

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Two companies of Scottish troops head to the British left flank.

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A British Rifle Company takes the crossroads & prepares for the German attack.

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AAhem.... The British Soldier & the Lee Enfield Rifle......

The Germans fall back.

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The British Guns deploy.... 'Ready Aim FIRE!!!!!'

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HA! HA! British Tommy vs Horrible Hun....

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Whoops... The British are sent packing!!

In HITT, units pursuit after winning melee combat.

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The poor Belgian farmer is having his day ruined....

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DAGGA DAGGA DAGGA - British HMG takes out some Germans.

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The German Cavalry race for the flank.

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OH NO!! The horrid Hun cuts down the tired British Rifle Company.

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Get Back! British firepower sends them reeling.

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Nice overview of the Battle at this point.

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BAH! The sneaky Hun tries to overrun the British Guns...

But they are forced back.

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The Cavalry forces engage, it would be back & forth for both sides.

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The HORRID HUN! German soldiers take pot shots at the pigs!

That's just not cricket Old Chap!

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Colonel Blimp leads his men forward, walking stick & all!

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Recoil Recoil Recoil

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Lots of open space on the British left.

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Another German casualty, though Jack lines up for another attack.

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Recoil Recoil Recoil

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Four versus Two, I like the match up!

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READY! AIM..........

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.....FIRE!!!!! The Hun is sent packing, 3 - 1 to the BEF.

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Overview at this point, the German line is buckling.

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It would be a lot tighter on this side of the battle.

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Jack pulls back his forces on this flank.

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The British HMG joins in the scrap.... DAGGA DAGGA DAGGA

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Up close to the fight.

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Leading the WAY!

Colonel Blimp gives the HUN a sound good thrashing.

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The BEF win the day, 4 -1.

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Final Positions, the German Advance is delayed.... For a short time!

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Three Cheers for the BEF... Hoorar! Hoorar! Hoorar!

A nice easy intro to Hordes in the Trenches, it went very well. PiPs were a bit of a killer though, as we had small groups all across the field. The game did flow & we both enjoyed it.

HITT is based on Hordes of the Things, the units we used today, Rifles = Shooters, HMG & Artillery = Artillery, Cavalry = Riders. Hopefully we'll get a few more unit types used in the next few games. Barrages = Gods, they need a 6 on the PiP dice to activate. Going to love to see how that one works!

I've really been struck by the First World War, fascinating but a very sad period of time in history. I've picked up a few copies of THE WAR ILLUSTRATED, which is collection of weekly newspaper reports from the First World War. Lots of pictures as well. Absolutely brilliant, if your interested in the period then I recommend them. I'll put up a few pics in future reports.

WW1 German (1914-16)

The mighty German Army now, complete with the infamous 'pickelhaube' helmet. These figures are Minifigs & they have been finished off with a brown varnish dip.

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The German horde poised for invasion.

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Artillery 150mm, Irregular Minis. Love the funky German Cam pattern!

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German Cavalry

WW1 British (BEF 1914)

Hitting the HUN where it hurts!!!!

Here's a 12 element WW1 Army for Hordes in the Trenches. This variant is based on Hordes of the Things and is available by joining the 'When Technology meets Tradition' Yahoo Group...... http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42879/*http://groups.yahoo.com/group/when_technology_meets_tradition

This Army is based on the British Expeditionary Force that left blighty to give the Hun 'a sound good thrashing' in 1914. It was based on the standing British Army of the time, although it was called 'that contemptible little army' by the Kaiser, it managed to hold it's own against the mighty German Army that invaded Belgium & France. In a fighting withdrawl Sir John French's BEF faced annihilation a few times but managed to fall back 200 miles keeping one step ahead of the Germans. Here's a link to the Battle of Mons, so you can read more about it. http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/mons.htm

Also you could try watching this cracking DVD about the BEF & the Battle of Mons. It's a Cromwell Productions DVD.

Most of the figures are Minifigs, some I think are Irregular as well. The Machine Gunners & Artillery crew are wearing steel helmets - sorry I know it's 1916 for them, but you an only go with what you have! We'll replace them when we can.

The British Expeditionary Force 1914

British Cavalry

Vickers Machine Gunners

British Artillery & Highland Infantry

DBA Boxer Reb.3 'General Nieh's Pursuit'

Back to the Boxer Rebellion & Part 3 of the Epic Saga that 'Bards will sing about.....' Ok I'm getting carried away again. Another scenario from the Colonial Campaigns Supplement, General Nieh's Pursuit. The remnants of Admiral Seymours Expedition are trying to make it back to Allied Lines along the Peiho River after their doomed train ride. Hordes of Boxers are in pursuit & to make matters worse, General Nieh's Imperial forces are now giving chase along a parrallel course.


This would be another one of our games with a difference. The Allied objective is to make it to the other side of the table & safety. The Chinese objective was to stop them. So simply legging across the table? No, of course not. The Allied 'withdrawl' must be an 'efficient & well thought out affair' with typical a Victorian attitude...


The Allied Army starts out holding the northern village, this they must hold for the first 6 turns then move onto the bridge, turns 7-12 & then onto the southern village, turns 13-16, finally exiting every unit off the map. The Allied player receives Victory points for holding these objectives. The Chinese player(s) would just have to prevent this, by taking an objective from the Allies OR destroy some Allied units. Obviously no points for an objective after the alloted Victory point time expires. We'll take it there's lots of Allied wounded & refugees making the way down the road, hence the orderley withdrawl. The visible Allied units being the combatants.


Jack would be the devious Chinese Imperial Armies, bloodthirsty Amy the Boxers & yours truly, the heroic Allies. The Chinese Imperials consisted of Cavalry, Mongol Light Horse, Kansu Braves Rifles, Tigermen Psiloi, Pike & an Artillery element - about 13 bases. The Boxers... Well Amy started with a few & EVERY turn was allowed an extra 1-6 reinforcements - no limit either! Talk about motivation to get moving across the board! The Major Powers had 11 elements including Artillery & an Machine Gun. German Light Horse & US Cavalry would hold the Road, they would be the boundary of the REST of the Allied Army. To qualify for the Victory points, one Allied element had to be at that location, this ruled out the US Cavalry for the majority of the game as they held the Exit point.

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The initial set-up & planned movement.

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The Northern Village

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The German Seebattalion would face the brunt of the Boxer attacks.

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The goal of the Major Powers Army.

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Dandy Chinese style Bridge.

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Oh Oh... Here comes the nasty Imperial Army.

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The German East Asia Brigade Light Horse, dashes ahead & relieves the French Marines.

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BOOM! Imperial Chinese Cannons take pot shots at the Royal Marines.

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Rat-atat-tat... The HMG takes out some Boxers.

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Chinamen everywhere!!

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Advance elements of the Imperial Army head for the wheatfields.

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Jacks Imperials stay out of range of the British Guns...

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The French Marines dash to hold the perimeter.

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Good PiPs & the Allies can get the Artillery across the River.

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Sneaky Amy puts the Boxer Jagers on the flank, they would take pot shots at the Germans.

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The Germans earn their pay.

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Jack threatens the flank with the Imperial Cavalry, but would he charge?

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The Chinese Imperials cross the river & head for the South Village.

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Boxers everywhere chanting away....... But PiPs eleude Amy.

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The Royal Marines are sent to reinforce the flank.

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With more units crossing the River, the German Light Horse are free to help ze French.

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First objective held, it's time to move on.....

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Those Germans better start moving... PiPs would be a nightmare for all Generals!!!!

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More Boxers fall to German firepower, now to withdraw.

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The British Artillery gets ready to cover the withdrawl.

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Nice overview of the Northern Village.

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Sacre Bleu! The French Marines get a shock from the Kansu Braves.....

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Admiral Seymour orders the Navy Lads, 'Give em a volley!'.....

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The German SeeBattalion is finally moving, now to get across the River.

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The HMG is across the River, a decent perimeter is set up.

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The Germans are scrapping all the way to the Bridge.

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The Kansu Braves are knocked back due to Allied firepower.

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Overview at his point, nearly halfway. Jack & Amy are screaming for decent PiP rolls!!!!!

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Some of the German are on the Bridge, the British would form the rearguard....Of Course!!!

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Nice view from the south looking north, action everywhere.

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Boxers charge into the British, Jack falters & just advances, he doesn't charge in.... A mistake?

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Rock Hard! The Royal Marines fight off the Boxer Hordes.

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It's going well for the Allies.......

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......but just when you least expect it. A lone Boxer element charges in & hacks the Germans to bits..... SHA! SHA! SHA! - The horrors are 'whooping' out loud.

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The British Naval Detachment manages to fight off the Boxers.

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Chinese Imperials race towards the Southern Village.

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'Come on guys!' The view from the US Cavalry on the Road Exit.

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'HA!' The French & Germans manage to gang up on the Kansu Braves....

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......but Brave by name Brave by nature & fight off the Foreign Devils.

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The Allies are moving through the village, the Chinese are so close......

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The Boxers advance through the Northern Village.

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The French Marines are in a mighty scrap, would Jack charge in the Tigermen?

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The Boxer Cannon gets into action.

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Now the Kansu Braves give the French a pounding!

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'GET THAT MACHINE GUN SET UP!!'

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Finally the Light Horse get back into position

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The Germans occupy a Village building & their firepower sends the Tigermen fleeing....

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The Enemy is at the Gates!!!

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The Boxer Jagers head for the River.

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The Germans turn their fire on the Kansu Braves.

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It's a tough scrap for the French, The Artillery takes an eternity moving.....

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Admiral Seymour takes charge of the French & Finally the Kansu Braves go down!

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Time for a Cavalry charge! Huzzah!!!!

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Typical!!!! Back they go.....

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Combined firepower sends the Kansu Braves back....

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Super PiPs!!!! Let's get moving....

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Part of the French Marines withdraw.

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RaHoooooo!!! Allied Units exit the board. The US Cavalry can now move.

Jack comments cynically 'Should the Colours be leaving the battle???'

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The Horrors can't believe it! Shocking PiPS.......

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The Royal Marines are the Rearguard!!!!!

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Hordes of Screaming Chinamen!!!!!!!

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Nearly there!!!!

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The East Asia Brigade bring up the rear.....

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HEROIC Allied Soldiers.... (I ignore the taunts of Jack & Amy to stand and fight)

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The Chinese Hordes finally cross the River.......

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The Allied force escapes.... But it was close, very close.

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Last view looking North.

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Superb! What a laugh, Jack & Amy are grumbling, but that was very close. I think both French Marine elements were on their last recoil. Shocking PiPs for the Boxers helped the Allied withdrawl. The Allied withdraw covered the necessary turns for Victory.

The game went better than we thought, we did agree that maybe a couple of extra Generals (PiP rolls!) would have made the game quicker - with a possible different result??? Who knows... Next Time - The last Boxer Game, a stand up fight between the Chinese & the Allies.