The past year has been the busiest in recent club history. This post presents some of the highlights, and acknowledges the contributions of club members to a successful year of wargaming. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2025!
The club currently has 21 members (full, student or affiliate). In 2024, before the AGM on 22 November, 79 games had been played. This was an increase of 41% on the 56 games played before the AGM in 2023. Rob's introduction of monthly Wednesday and Sunday War Room games has been the reason for this rise. We have also played 13 Back of Beyond Campaign games this year (seven in 2023). By any measure, the club is thriving at the moment!
JANUARY
BoB Campaign: Battle of Samtredia (14 January)
The year kicked off with no less than four Back of Beyond battles at the War Room in January. My first game of the campaign ended in disappointment as Mark's Turks stood firm (and gave my Polish army a bloody nose) at Samtredia in Georgia. Alex, Patrick and Trevor could not rescue my impractical plan. Rob then re-ran the scenario with the Poles rolling up the Turkish right flank. Lessons would be learned...
Napoleonic skirmish: Sharp Practice (17 January)
Also in January, Alex P. made his hosting debut at the club with a Sharp Practice Napoleonic game at the War Room, co-umpired with Craig. This was a wry Peninsular War scenario with Alex instructing several players unfamiliar with the rules. These might well be used for another run out in 2025: when we promise to be on our best behaviour...
FEBRUARY
English Civil War: Battle of Selby (25 February)
Rob wanted to test out his ECW rules in an urban setting, and the game proved to be a visually spectacular and enjoyable one. Friday games at the club this month included Richard's modern game using Force on Force rules, and his entertaining WWII Coastal game, Cruel Seas, which was a bit like Miami Vice speedboats in the English Channel, without alligators...
Napoleonic naval (9 February)
Rob also hosted an evocative Napoleonic naval game, with some very nice models from the age of sail on show at the community centre. While I consider naval warfare 'technical' and it is not my cuppa tea, it is a heady brew for several club members, and I can make an exception for ships this splendid...
MARCH
French and Indian War (8 March)
As the year got into full swing, the variety of games hosted multiplied exponentially. Philip's French and Indian War game was well umpired (as usual from Philip), well attended, with some exquisite figures... besides being the second game of the year using the Lardies' Sharp Practice rules.
Napoleonics: Battle of Raszyn (10 March)
Alex, who has hosted four memorable games in his first year at the club, put on a 28mm Napoleonic game at the War Room using Grand Manner rules, and figures from his substantial collection, which looked magnificent. The victory of the Poles and Saxons was more down to John's knowledge of the rules than to my gameplay. The most important thing was that the Poles did win, of course...
Franco-Prussian War (13 March)
Also in March, Doug's new period - the Franco-Prussian War in 6mm - using Bloody Big Battles rules, was itself a highlight of the year. Doug has painted some lovely figures, and the rules were very promising according to player consensus. A satisfying Wednesday evening's play, with another from the hitherto neglected FPW being hosted in autumn at the Centre. This war is tactically idiosyncratic, and epic clashes such as Gravelotte are on the cards, I hope...
BoB Campaign: Battle of Nalchik Oil Wells (16 March)
My second BoB battle ended in the repulse of Philip's Bolsheviks by my Poles and Alex's Czechs, Doug also playing on our side. The picture above tells its own story, as Pete played on my team and launched the main attack, while Brian assisted Philip. Pete's Whites and Philip's Reds have fought six battles over Astrakhan in 2023-2024, including four in 2024 alone. Plaudits to Rob and Phil for again running a brilliant campaign this year...
APRIL
Thirty Years War (12 April)
In a seventeenth-century groove, I staged the Battle of Lutter (1626) in 6mm at the community centre on 12 April (Protestant Danes vs. Catholic Imperials). While only three players showed up, it made for a decent blog. More to come in 2025...
Salute Show (13 April) - the friendly Mark Backhouse umpiring his 2mm Ancients game 'Strength and Honour'
Another year, another Salute. Only a one-day show this year, the 51st, at Excel Centre, Docklands. We have been to the last two shows as a club group on the Elizabeth Line, this or last year including Philip, Rob, Alex, John, Craig, Doug, Mark, Patrick, Pete, Simon, Mal and myself. While some great-looking games were being put on by clubs and manufacturers, the show was notably sparser, while predominantly Sci-Fi heavy and aimed at "younger folk". Also, much of it was familiar, with fewer smaller (historical) manufacturers represented. It's still a good show but rather impersonal. I'm not sure that I will go next year, but unlike in 2024 I do want to go to Warfare again...
Modern (26 April)
Doug staged two Modern games this year. The first was a 1/300 Arab-Israeli game in April at the Centre. The scenario was unusual and the Israelis lost for a change, as Simon and Richard swapped sides in two separate encounters. Good figures and an interesting evening's play. Doug's other game was Eritrean War of Independence (1961-1991): Cold War kit in a conflict we hadn't bargained for!
November Uprising (28 April)
April also saw my second ever November Uprising game in 42mm at the War Room. A good turnout of five players, with Alex even complimenting the rules (for real). It's a period close to my Polish roots, and funnily enough I recently got an email to the club website from a gent who is also doing the same period in the same scale... Looks like our blogs are being read!
MAY
Trip to Ireland (May) - Ancients in play at Noel's War Room...
Phil, Rob and Brian visited Noel in Ireland this month, and had a good time playing a number of wargames at his home in Limerick. Before he moved to Ireland a few years ago, Noel was a prominent and knowledgeable member of Heston and Ealing Wargamers, and remains a well regarded occasional visitor and friend of the club.
Eighteenth Century in 2mm (24 May)
Having cobbled together some rules from Neil Thomas and my own additions, I staged three two-player 18th century games at the Centre this month. The result was a fun night, though we could try the rules again after I tweak them. The aim had been to introduce my 2mm figures to the club in a way that each player was fully involved. The figures are generic enough for the period 1700-1850s; a battle in a small box...
World War Two - D-Day Weekend (31 May-2 June)
Rob re-ran his exceptional Sword Beach D-Day game from 2022 at the War Room at the end of May. 11 out of 15 waves landed, with the Cod position eventually falling. This refight inspired Rob to ponder more Normandy games, and he put on two versions of the Pegasus Bridge battle later in the year. Sword Beach remains a special set-piece club game with outstanding figures and terrain, also bringing home the experience of D-Day to fellow wargamers...
JUNE
Sci-Fi: Star Wars (7 June)
Jonathan staged a 32mm Star Wars game at the Centre at the start of the month. It was fun and well umpired, as expected, with the figures bringing back childhood memories of half-remembered scenes from the films. Jonathan has a considerable Star Wars collection, which we'd like to see more often, though any game he puts on is generally well received (Jonners, that's a hint!)
WWI Air (21 June)
Phil's WWI aerial dogfighting game was promisingly revived in 2023 after a gap of several years. Since then we have tentatively embarked on a campaign with each player adopting a nation, aircraft, and suitably comical name. These games are good fun and demonstrate our Club President's experience and ingenuity with modelling and game design. More in 2025 please...
Colonial: Indian Mutiny (30 June)
And Phil rounded out the month with a memorable Indian Mutiny game at the War Room. In a good atmosphere we had an uncomplicated and very enjoyable day's play, with great 28mm figures and Phil umpiring using his own rules. Although my Mutineer side lost, the game makes it to number three in my top five games of the year!
JULY
American Civil War (12 July)
Kamall staged an ACW Railway game in early July - which he has pioneered since 2023. He also hosted a Napoleonic skirmish in October of this year, and a Car Wars game beckons for January 2025. Having played a significant part so far in the Back of Beyond campaign as a Bolshevik warlord in Central Asia with a penchant for marauding massed cavalry, it's very good to see Mal put on more games of his choice at the Centre, too...
We Have Ways Fest (19-21 July)
Several club members including Mark, Rob, Patrick, Alex, Craig, Pete, attended the We Have Ways Fest near Silverstone. Al Murray and James Holland's WWII podcast is very popular and the Fest brings together speakers, authors, reenactors and enthusiasts all fascinated by the war. Rob's blog on the Fest is available on the club website. Club members were able to meet and talk to Al and James, among other military history buffs. Suffice it to say that all had a great time and some are planning on going again next year... perhaps I will too (if Alex Churchill does).
Great Northern War: Battle of Holowczyn (19 July)
July was somewhat sparse for attendance, at least at my games! I did nevertheless stage a 6mm Napoleonic game, and another Great Northern War game in 15mm: Holowczyn. A good scenario in my view, which could have done with a few more players... but thumbs up to those who did attend. I'm pondering Poltava at the War Room in 2026...
AUGUST
BoB Campaign: 2nd Battle of Shardara (9-11 August)
This War Room mega battle involved over 50 brigades which equates to over 2,000 figures along with tanks, armoured cars and planes, fought over three days. It involved four armies. The White Russians under the command of Juan were supported by their allies the Warlord Chinese forces commanded by Richard. Opposing them were a Bolshevik army under Kamall and an army from the Emirate of Bukhara led by a guest appearance from Noel who travelled over from Ireland. Heavy casualties all round... but a real showcase for the campaign and the club. Shardara II is number one in this year's top five wargames!
Ancients: Second Punic War (25 August)
Alex again put on a great game, this time 28mm Ancients using Field of Glory III rules. In this scale his figures looked truly impressive, even with a medium sized battle, and the game wasn't bad either: making it to number two in my top five games of the year. Suddenly everyone started talking about 28mm Ancients, and this may have been the origin of Phil getting started on painting his Carthaginians recently. A mini viral trend right there!
World War Two: Pegasus Bridge (30 August)
Rob staged a Pegasus Bridge game at the Centre at the end of August, and another lasting a day at the War Room in November. As ever the models were fantastic, with history brought to life, but while the first game had 12 attendees, the War Room version deserved a bigger turnout... Ce sera (ca ira)! My question is: can we do Arnhem, please?
SEPTEMBER
Eastern Renaissance (13 September)
I was pleased to put on the Battle of Kłuszyn (1610) at the Centre with a good turnout, as the Polish Winged Hussars (aka Tiger Tanks said Doug) crushed the Muscovite army in style, despite strenuous umpiring impartiality. Hearty commiserations to the Muscovites, of course! Later in the year a Polish Ealing resident sold me lots more figures for this period, via Rob... it was an offer I couldn't refuse.
American War of Independence (29 September)
Another major highlight this month was Patrick's big AWI game at the War Room. The game itself was the afternoon action at the Battle of Monmouth (1778). The figures were great, and the action intense. We used British Grenadier rules, gaining further experience and familiarity with them. With several games hosted under his belt (not literally) Patrick has to his credit basically resurrected the splendid AWI period at the club in the past two years... Bravo!
OCTOBER
American Civil War (11 October)
Digging out my 1:72 scale ACW figures was a pleasure as I put on a refight of the action at Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg (1863). Turnout was better than expected, and the figures looked better too... Even Colonel Joshua Chamberlain put in an appearance... figuratively!
NOVEMBER
Ancients (1 November)
Philip's Dark Age game this month using Swordpoint rules was notable for the lovely 28mm figures and my slaying in miniature of Ostrogothic King Vitiges (personal, not business). I'd like to credit Philip with making a valuable contribution to the club this year. Philip always brings something different to the tabletop, besides having an infectious passion for the hobby, most impressively seen at the Newbury Historical Study Association...
Colonial (8 November)
Later in the month, bearing new figures purchased from Noel, Rob put on a fun Anglo-Zulu War game at the Centre. Apparently Rob has many more Zulus at the War Room (allegedly causing accommodation dilemmas) where a 1:1 scale Rorke's Drift game is now being considered, perhaps for 2025. A classic club game in the making?
DECEMBER
BoB Campaign: 3rd Battle of Shardara (1 December)
III Shardara at the War Room saw Richard's Chinese victorious over Mal's outgunned Bolsheviks. Alex's sublime charge of the Red Cavalry could not turn the tide of battle...
Wild West gunfight (13 December)
What a Cowboy rules for Wild West gunfights were twice tested this year by Philip, whose early December community centre game was visually striking as well as a lot of fun... unless you were 'Jose'.
Napoleonics: Battle of Lutzen (15 December)
Soon after, Richard, who put on a General D'Armee II Napoleonic campaign at his cabin this year (I especially enjoyed playing in the Battle of Weissenfels in October), hosted the Battle of Lutzen. Richard has hosted a variety of distinctive games this year including naval, 21st century Afghanistan skirmish, 1/300 Eastern Front tanks, besides winning the 3rd Battle of Shardara in some style. On a roll with unique projects, he now says that a 'Rome Total War' ancients campaign beckons... sign me up, Rich.
Conclusion
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So there we have it. These highlights have not mentioned all games nor all players, for instance Trevor, and his fun Star Trek game, nor all participants of the Back of Beyond campaign: Brian, Juan, Mark, Trevor, Jonathan, Pete, Mal, Richard, Doug, Patrick, Alex, Theo, and Neil and Noel. Nor the two Gregs! I did not attend all games (who can?), and only took photos at some of them. But thanks to everyone who's been involved this year.
2024 has been a fantastic year at Heston and Ealing Wargamers. As the number of games has increased, their quality has also gone up, partly due to mutual inspiration and rising participation. The important thing is that we have a vibrant, innovative and welcoming club with an abundance of periods, rules and scales represented, with practically all members taking an active part in some way. Thanks to Rob for again making the War Room available to us so generously, and to all club post-holders for their time. As I said at the AGM, coming to games is about having fun, but also about supporting each other throughout the year. If we keep doing both, H&E will continue to prosper. Roll on 2025...
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