The Saxon Raid

 The club presented an all day campaign. A good turnout saw most members participating for at least some of the day's action.

The campaign was an invasion of a peninsular on the south coast of Britain by a large force of Saxons just after the Romans had withdrawn most of their field army, about 415 AD.

The Romano-British commander, Ambrosius, had pulled together almost 20 units. These were divided under one commander tasked with defending this part of the coast, a cavalry force brought back from the northern borders under Arturius and the bulk of the remaining army under Ambrosius himself in the nearby Roman town at the north of the map.

The Saxons had three seperate forces landing on different beaches around the peninsular and a force of cavalry moving along the coast roads from the Saxon enclave in Kent. All these Saxons had different (secret) objectives as well as an overall task to establish themselves on the peninsular.

As the Saxon boats came ashore the warning beacons were lit and the invasion had begun.

Map movement was overseen by the umpire with any information known to each side been displayed on the players' maps only when they became aware of it. The Romano-Brits had a reasonable map to start with and their own forces shown in their current positions, moving about as the day progressed. The Saxons however only had a rough idea of the landscape, knowing only the coast at the start and discovering the rest as they explored the land. Battles were fought out using the WAB rules and assaults on fortified towns using a "back of a postcard" set drawn up by the umpire - which seemed to work rather well. The figures were from the collections of Mike H & Mike W, mostly Gripping Beast with some older models from various manufacturers where required. Terrain was supplied by Mike H including his newly completed dark age fort.

The first of the Saxon forces to see action was in the east of the map. It came upon a fortified town which it decided not to assault, being unsure of its strength. Instead it headed to the south and stopped a Romano-British relief force at a ford, routing the cavalry and forcing the infantry back across the river. Leaving a covering force it then headed north to another ford on hearing that a larger force was heading its way. This turned out to be Ambrosius and Arturius with most of the Romano-British cavalry. Although the Saxons had been joined by their allied cavalry they were outflanked and defeated. The remnants of the force fled back to their boats and sailed away to safety. They had left behind many dead and their Atheling who was later ransomed for much more than they had taken in booty.

The other two Saxon forces came together in the south of the island and headed towards the east. All the Romano-British forces appeared to be fleeing from them leaving them to raid the surrounding coutryside at will. In fact the Romans ahead of them were those attacked at the ford (as described above). They reached the harbour town on the south east point of the peninsular to find the bridge defended by a small force. These men fled on the approach of the Saxon army.

Just then news of the defeat of the other Saxons further north reached their ears and the rumour that the Roman army was approaching along the road ahead of them caused them to retrace their route back to the west. They torched the town and the watchtower on the headland, ruined all the boats in the harbour before leaving with anything of value. They then sent their booty to the southern beach whilst the main force headed back westwards. When the booty arrived there was an outgoing tide which delayed the ships. Unfortunately before the booty could be loaded onto their ships it was recaptured by a Roman patrol.

Meanwhile the main Saxon force arrived at a fortified town that they had by passed in their march east. This time they launched an assault upon its walls and quickly captured it, easily overpowering the small garrison. They were still here when the main army under Ambrosius arrived a few hours later. With few supplies the Saxons were trapped in the town. Terms were negotiated and the majority of the Saxon force returned to their ships leaving behind a number of their chieftains to be released upon receipt of ransom later.

To the north the rest of the Saxon cavalry had raided a number of villages on the west coast of the peninsular. They were unmolested and free to return home to Kent with their booty.

The Roman infantry force, which had been sent south down the road on the western coast, had stopped at the first ford. Upon hearing rumours of the Saxon cavalry raid they had chosen to proceed no further and took no part in the actions of the campaign.

In all a very enjoyable days entertainment which had included two land battles and an assault. of a town.

For more photos click here.