Category Archives: WW1

Salute 2023 – World at War

Kicking off the World War I and II coverage is a pseudo-historical game in Mark Copplestone’s ‘Little Soldiers’ inter-war setting, staged by the Cornwall Wargames Association. If I understood/remembered correctly, the rules used were an adaptation of the Memoir ’44 boardgame.

Moving on to the ‘real’ war, 1/72 Wargames recreated a section of the Kaiserschlacht 1918 with the 36th Ulster division under German attack.

The Zagory Rebellion by Cornwall Wargames Association
The Zagory Rebellion by Cornwall Wargames Association
Kaiserschlacht 1918 by 1/72 Wargames

Hugo’s Heroes created scenarios during World War II inspired by classic Airfix model sets from the 1960s, and brought some of the original plastics along as well.

Getting my Airfix by Hugo’s Heroes
Getting my Airfix by Hugo’s Heroes
Getting my Airfix by Hugo’s Heroes

The Retired Wargamers Reloaded had constructed a massive and beautiful board for a 15mm scale battle around Carentan 1944 using Rapid Fire rules.

Eagles and Lions at Carentan by Retired Wargamers Reloaded
Eagles and Lions at Carentan by Retired Wargamers Reloaded

The Lard Zone had its debut at Salute this year, and WWII was well represented by games of Chain of Command.

Saint Côme du Mont 1944 by Joe Bilton
Saint Côme du Mont 1944 by Joe Bilton
Holding Oosterbeek 1944 by Nick Skinner and Rich Clark

Salute 2018 – World War 1

The theme for Salute 2018 was World War 1 and there were a number of tables recreating events from its history.

Maidstone Wargames Society built the cruiser Vindictive and the mole for the raid on Zeebrugge in 1918.

Cruiser moored at a harbour wall
The Storming of Zeebrugge by Maidstone Wargames Society

View down the mole with its defence guns
The Storming of Zeebrugge by Maidstone Wargames Society

Gun crews on the cruiser
The Storming of Zeebrugge by Maidstone Wargames Society

Meanwhile, the Naval Wargames Society used a smaller scale to capture the ship action leading up to the landing.

Zeebrugge harbour entrance with war ships approaching
The Zeebrugge Raid by The Naval Wargames Society

Scarab Miniatures also set their scenario during the final year of the war, with the French and British engaging in a push against the German lines.

Tanks and infantry advancing onto trenches and barbed wire lines
1918 Zero Hour by Scarab Miniatures

Infantry emerging from ruined buildings past two burning tanks
1918 Zero Hour by Scarab Miniatures

1914 was the year of Great Escape Games’ battle between brigade sized forces on the plains of Holland (I assume, due to the windmill).

Cavalry and infantry advancing over open fields with a windmill in the foreground
1914 by Great Escape Games

A river running through fields with farmsteads occupied by soldiers
1914 by Great Escape Games

Southbourne Tabletop and Boardgamers (I believe, the records are sketchy) took the fighting to East Africa in 1914.

Small supply camp in tropical vegetation
East Africa 1914 by Southbourne Tabletop and Boardgamers

Ruined factory building in the jungle
East Africa 1914 by Southbourne Tabletop and Boardgamers

Lake Tanganika was the setting for several simultaneous naval battles fought out by Peterborough Wargames Society.

African houses on an outcrop of land by a large blue lake
Battles for Lake Tanganika by Peterborough Wargames Society

Wings of Glory Aerodrome UK meanwhile took to the skies with dogfights both in the WW1 and WW2 eras.

Aerial view of a battlefield with planes and air defence balloons amongst clouds
Wings of Glory Aerodrome UK

And finally, there was also a life sized World War 1 tank on display in the hall. I can’t tell the marks apart, so I shall just leave this here.

World War 1 tank
World War 1 tank

Interior of World War 1 tank
Interior of World War 1 tank

Salute 2014 – World War 1

With the centenary of the outbreak of World War 1 this year many of the clubs at Salute 2014 had chosen it as their theme.

South East Essex Military Society brought a large gaming table and a selection of background materials for their Race for the Sea.

Salute 2014 - The Race for the Sea by South East Essex Military Society

Salute 2014 - The Race for the Sea by South East Essex Military Society

Salute 2014 - The Race for the Sea by South East Essex Military Society

Salute 2014 - The Race for the Sea by South East Essex Military Society

Ypres was the setting for the Wigmore Warriors as they recreated World War 1 – From Start to Finish on two tables showing the same location, one lush green countryside in 1914, the other a bombed out wasteland in 1918.

Salute 2014 - From Start to Finish by Wigmore Warriors

Salute 2014 - From Start to Finish by Wigmore Warriors

Salute 2014 - From Start to Finish by Wigmore Warriors

Salute 2014 - From Start to Finish by Wigmore Warriors

The Maidstone Wargames Society built a town Somewhere in Belgium for a clash at a bridge during the early part of the war.

Salute 2014 - Somewhere in Belgium by Maidstone Wargames Society

Salute 2014 - Somewhere in Belgium by Maidstone Wargames Society

Salute 2014 - Somewhere in Belgium by Maidstone Wargames Society

The 10mm scale Action at Longlier by Oxford Wargames Society took the fight to brigade and division level.

Salute 2014 - Action at Longlier by Oxford Wargames Society

Salute 2014 - Action at Longlier by Oxford Wargames Society

Tin Soldiers of Antwerp had brought a wonderfully detailed board for A Noble Affair.

Salute 2014 - A Noble Affair by Tin Soldiers of Antwerp

A trench raid at night was the topic for Hornchurch Wargames Club.

Salute 2014 - Night Trench Raid by Hornchurch Wargames Club

Salute 2013 – Napoleonic, ACW & Mexican-American Wars

My knowledge and interest in the Napoleonic era usually extends only as far as watching episodes of Sharpe. I do however like the sheer spectacle of massed colourful infantry, charging cavalry and smoking cannons that a good Napoleonic display can provide.

And they don’t come much more spectacular than Waterloo 1815 by the Essex Gamesters Robert Browning and Ron Ringrose (of Corunna 1809 fame) at Salute 2013.

Salute 2013 - Waterloo by Essex Gamesters

Salute 2013 - Waterloo by Essex Gamesters

Salute 2013 - Waterloo by Essex Gamesters

Salute 2013 - Waterloo by Essex Gamesters

Salute 2013 - Waterloo by Essex Gamesters

Salute 2013 - Waterloo by Essex Gamesters

Wargames Illustrated presented the wonderfully naturalistic Battle of Little Big Top American Civil War display.

Salute 2013 - Battle of Little Big Top presented by Wargames Illustrated

Salute 2013 - Battle of Little Big Top presented by Wargames Illustrated

This early WW1 game based on the Miracle of the Marne 1914 was played using the Crush the Kaiser set of rules.

Salute 2013 - Miracle of the Marne 1914 by Crush the Kaiser

Salute 2013 - Miracle of the Marne 1914 by Crush the Kaiser

Unfortunately I don’t have details for the tables below, other that they are set during conflicts between the United States and Mexico. Hope you enjoy the pictures nonetheless.

Salute 2013 - Mexican-American Wars

Salute 2013 - Mexican-American Wars

Salute 2013 - Mexican-American Wars