Wappinshaw 2013
Glasgow & District Wargaming Society
Presents
Battle of Glasgow Green 1938
Introduction
The year is 1938 and
Scotland is a Republic in response to Edward VIII’s alliance with the British
Union of Fascists (BUF). However, the new government is struggling to keep
order as tensions between right and left intensify. No where is this more
apparent than in Glasgow, home of Red Clydeside - a city that had rejected Moseley
and provided men and material to the Republicans in Spain. As the Republic was
formed many in Glasgow believed their time was at hand. However, they soon discovered
that the new government was essentially conservative with little appetite for
social reform, let alone radical left wing politics.
Conflict stirs
In the
shipyards of the Clyde an idea is born. Glasgow, city of workers, a city for
the workers. The Red Clydesiders, supported by steelmen from the Calton Order
of the Starry Plough decide that Glasgow should be a Free Socialist City.
One sunny
morning, stormtroopers from the Clydeside militia take George Square, the
Chambers, the Post Office and the train stations. They seal off the roads into
the Square and raise the red flags. The response by the Scottish Government is
quick. Moving troops into the city centre, and calling up volunteers, they lay
siege to the defenders of George Square.
Stalemate!
Then news
comes through to the City Chambers. A relief force of Clydesiders and Starry
Ploughboys is gathering at Glasgow Green, ready to move up through the Tolbooth
and Merchant City to raise the siege. They have seized the People’s Palace! Government
troops and volunteers have to move smartly to nip this in the bud before it
becomes a threat. They rendezvous at the Green to discover that the Clydesiders
have dug in. Deploying and calling up armour, they move in to wipe out the
threat. Can the steelmen at Parkhead Forge finish mounting that naval Gun in
time to give the army boys a bit o’ a fleg?
The Battle
The
battle takes place at the front of the People’s Palace, occupied by the Red
Clydeside Brigade. The core of this force are two Communist platoons leavened with
Spanish Civil War veterans, plus sailors from warships in the Clyde when the
conflict broke out. They are supported by hastily trained workers militias from
a number of factories and shipyards in the city. They have some improvised
heavy weapons and a T26 tank, a solidarity gift from the workers of the Soviet
Union.
The
Government forces have the remnants of the badly equipped post war British
army. These are supplemented by volunteer units. The Covenanters, Boys Brigade
and even a unit of women raised by the Duchess of Argyll. They heavily
outnumber the Clydesiders, but there isn’t much cover in front of the People’s
Palace!
Further Information
The
basis for the game is the Very British Civil War concept. There are a series of
booklets, flags etc available from Solway Crafts and Miniatures. The figures
for this game are 28mm from a very wide variety of ranges. The People’s Palace
was built for the game by Iain of Flags of War, with MDF parts provided by
those splendid chaps at Warbases. The rules are Bolt Action with the addition
of some house rules and chance cards.
The battle was rather bloody in the end and we had to end the game pretty even. If it had continued it could have swung either way but with the dice our Covenanters side were throwing i wouldn't have counted on it.
I scratch built the Peoples Palace and although it wasn't 100% likness it was good enough for the game. Martin from Warbases done the main body of the building and i covered it in foams sheets and etched the brick work into it. It was my first time doing anything like that and i was happy with how it turned out and got alot of feedback on it which is always nice.
I picked up some good Bolt Action stuff and a load of Afghans cheeply on the bring and buy so a rather good day.
At todays club day we played a Public participation game that one of the guys is planning for next year. A lot of the stuff is still not painted which i keep getting on at George for seen as im one of them gamers with a phobia for unpainted minis but thankfully i let him off with it. The rules are a set that George has made using playing cards and poker chips and is really fun. We will no doubt get alot more games of this in.
There was 5 of us playing and won both games so i was rather happy with the outcomes even more so as i went piggy in the middle for the 2nd game and despite having gang wiped out it took enough wounds off the other four gangs to win by 1 point.
