The Battle That Never Was: Fishguard 1797

[Jemima Fawr]

The 'Battle' of Fishguard of 1797 represents that last time that the mainland UK was invaded by a foreign power and it also remains the only occasion for which a British Army unit  (the Pembroke Yeomanry) was awarded a Battle Honour for action within the UK.  However, the 'Battle' was almost completely bloodless and the actual events read like comic opera!  Nevertheless, there are plenty of 'what-if' options to consider, as well as wargaming possibilities!  For the want of a good meal and some decent troops, British, Welsh and French history could have been VERY different.

We took this game around the shows a few years back and it also appeared in 'British Grenadier' Scenario Book 3, but we've done a fair bit of research since than and I've recently started my own blog, so thought it was time to bring everything together into one place for those suffering from insomnia or with too much excitement in their lives...



The Battle That Never Was - Fishguard 22-25 February 1797: http://www.jemimafawr.co.uk/2018/04/22/the-battle-that-never-was-fishguard-1797/


French Forces at Fishguard: http://www.jemimafawr.co.uk/2018/04/23/french-forces-at-fishguard-1797/


British Forces at Fishguard (Part 1): http://www.jemimafawr.co.uk/2018/04/24/british-forces-at-fishguard-part-1/


British Forces at Fishguard (Part 2): http://www.jemimafawr.co.uk/2018/04/25/british-forces-at-fishguard-1797-part-2/


Fishguard 1797 Scenario No.1: http://www.jemimafawr.co.uk/2018/04/26/fishguard-1797-scenario-no-1-ambush-at-carnwnda-23-24-february/


Fishguard 1797 Scenario No.2: http://www.jemimafawr.co.uk/2018/04/27/fishguard-1797-scenario-no-2-the-french-attack-23-25-february/

[vodkafan]

I am going to take my time reading this! I had never heard of Fishguard before.

[Jemima Fawr]

Aha!  Success!!! 

One more article shortly to be added is a piece on all the units known to be marching to, or at least within relatively short range of Fishguard, should the French somehow win the mini-campaign and then go on to rampage across Wales...

I'll also probably add another article on the differences between Militia, Yeomanry, Fencibles, Volunteers, etc, as the question has popped up a few times recently.

[OSHIROmodels]

Very interesting 

I did have a very brief idea to do an American invasion of Whitehaven (up the road from my home town)but it never saw the light of day.

[Jemima Fawr]

Yes, I've often thought that an AWI raid would make a fun game, but never done it.

[vodkafan]

This was intensely interesting reading...have read the first two blog posts, still plenty left to read. I love the various figures that have been used especially the civilian ones, it adds a lot of fun.   

[Jemima Fawr]

Cheers VF, I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Yes, Martin is a VERY talented modeller and now does it professionally, making master models for various well-known manufacturers.  Those Welsh ladies were some of his very early work and in forthcoming articles you'll see some amazing stuff by him.  The 'Daughters of Rebecca' he did for my VBCW 1938 Welsh Nationalists are the stuff of legend... (being 1938 versions of the famous cross-dressing 1839 'Rebecca Rioters')

[carlos marighela]

Thank you! That was a most diverting little trip. I remember reading about Fishguard in an old Military Modelling edition, many, many moons ago. IIRC all the old saws about the French being panicked into surrender by the sight of Welsh women in red shawls were trotted out there. Really nice to see someone doing something obscure. In an odd waybitvhas given meva bit of impetus to further my Lower Canada Rebellion project.

[Jemima Fawr]

Yes, I remember that article mainly for the superb accompanying uniform plate by the late Rick Scollins (my favourite Osprey artist).  By a strange coincidence, Rick Scollins was one of my wife's best friends (I only found out when she saw his name on some of my Osprey books).