Veni, Vidi… Caesar at Brentford (54 BC)

Paul B. put on his first club wargame on Friday 27 February. It was the crossing of the Thames at Brentford by Julius Caesar. The game was eagerly anticipated and we had a club record turn out – a full-house of 14 attendees (not all of whom actually played). Ironically, and perhaps unsurprisingly, we used Hail Caesar rules.

Julius Caesar is traditionally believed to have crossed the River Thames at Brentford in 54 BC during his second invasion of Britain. He fought the British chieftain Cassivellaunus there, facing, according to his reports, defensive wooden stakes in the river (later allegedly found there in the nineteenth century). The site of the alleged crossing is commemorated by the Brentford Monument, unveiled in 1909.

Paul’s preparations included a bespoke river Thames, and charming 1:72 old school Esci plastic Ancients figures, which decorated a full-length table. Rob lent some buildings to represent ‘Brentford’.

The Roman side consisted of Alex, Kamall, Philip and Paul S. They had 6 legionary cohorts, an allied warband, 4 light infantry units, 2 cavalry units, 4 light and 1 medium artillery pieces, and an elephant. Their mission was to cross to the other side of the river with at least half their units.

The Britons were Ian, Rob and Doug, with 6 warbands and 4 units of light infantry, besides chariots; tasked with… stopping the Romans!

The Britons set up behind the ford and pallisade, but with some warriors beyond the river.

Philip, channeling Julius Caesar, set off with three Roman cohorts (two of which were in testudo) towards the ford, while some light infantry further down river under Kamall moved up to cross over. Paul S. also moved his Roman cohorts towards the river.

The initial melees against the Britons on the riverbank were indecisive…

Doug and Rob moved up more warbands to the river. Doug charged Paul S.’s legionaries with his warriors

Alex began to ford the river further west with his Roman cavalry

By now the Romans were in full attack mode, but the stubborn Britons gave as good as they got (5 hits on each side in the second melee). However, Paul S. made more progress and routed the Britons facing him.

Eventually Philip’s legionaries broke the resistance of one of Doug’s warbands, but some of the Romans also had to retire!

The scrum had led to a big hole in the battlelines at the ford, with bodies bobbing and weaving in the purple water

Kamall’s Roman light infantry had crossed over however to the British side. Swimming with floating pigs’ bladders?

As Doug fed two more warbands into the fight against Paul S., Paul stood his ground and one unit of warriors was destroyed and the other fell back 6″. Philip pushed up two more cohorts to the right of Paul S., edging onto the riverbank.

Meanwhile Alex’s cavalry swam across the river

Ian’s warband now attacked Mal’s arriving light infantry, who being unable to evade, were destroyed!

Philip’s Roman light infantry were sparring with the British lights on the river. A unit of Roman slingers was broken as a result.

Back at the ford, Doug charged a warband into Paul S.’s Dalmatian infantry, who broke. The Britons charged on and made a sweeping advance. Tally-ho!

But cumulative Roman pressure was telling, and there were only 2 warbands and some light infantry left on the British side of the river…

Patrick arrived at this point and deployed 8 British chariots on the Roman side of the table. Could they make a difference?

The Romans had been delayed, but were not passive. Philip converged 6 legionary cohorts and a warband of British allies and advanced on the centre

Ian’s warband mounted the embankment pallisade. Was this the final stand of the courageous Britons?

Exchanges of slinger fire preceded the final Roman assault

The Romans charged across the river. Two of their cohorts were pushed back, but 4 more kept up their advance

Meanwhile Alex’s Roman cavalry was approaching Ian’s position

However, a heroic charge by Doug’s warband into the Romans destroyed two cohorts… roars of ‘Cassivellaunus! Cassivellaunus!’ could be heard from the Brentford terraces (er… embankment)

Although Alex scattered Ian’s warband with his cavalry… he lost 6 casualties to Ian’s 2 in his second charge against another British unit, and the Roman cavalry fled.

Philip, with the two remaining cohorts, turned to face Doug’s onrushing warband, which the disciplined Romans soon put to the sword. SPQR!

Elsewhere some British slingers routed, and Patrick’s chariots closed in on the river crossing. But the Romans had failed to cross the ford and had lost the game!

A case of ‘I came, I saw, I lost’, for poor old Julius Caesar on this occasion. Many thanks to Paul for putting this game together; a classic battle and local scenario that took place just a few miles from Northfields community centre (if it happened there at all!). The feel was decidedly old school in a good way with nicely painted plastic figures, some of which had been converted by Paul, and the battle was quite a spectacle. The river, made by Paul, looked great, and this was a successful night’s play (and banter) at the club – where he’s been warmly received! We look forward to seeing more of his 1:72 figures in action soon.

Ancients is now trending at the club, so I’d better start painting some of my dusty 6mm Chariot Wars Biblicals!