A Busmen's Holiday. VBCW battle report with pics.

[Trooper]

I am grateful to Pen and Sword publishers for their permission to reproduce the following extract from “The Civil War in East Anglia, Volume One-1938-1941” by Sutherland and Canwell, published 2009.

The Fight at Leiston Commune March 14th 1938.

Following the so far embarrassing performance of BUF forces in the Ipswich area and it's environs, including the abduction of Sir Roderick Spode, BUF Command in London despatched a force of BUF Legion and militia troops to Suffolk. Plans were laid for an offensive into the region controlled by the Orwell Socialist militia. Phase one of that operation called for an assault on the commune at Leiston. The commune had a vital role in the infrastructure of the area, supplying much of the food for the region. The commune had been established shortly before hostilities broke out in '38, and had soon established ties with the militant Socialists who took control of Felixstowe Port and the town. The BUF command reasoned that it would force the Socialists to extend their resources in order to defend Leiston as well as Felixstowe. Capturing Leiston would deny vital supplies to them as well, and would also bring those supplies into Ipswich to restore food stocks there. Accordingly the BUF Legion detachment with the Westminster BUF Militia, The Legion of St George (already based in Ipswich) and local BUF forces were assembled for the assault.

What the BUF command in Ipswich did not know, was that a group of the militant London busmen had chosen that weekend to pay a fraternal visit to Leiston and negotiate purchase of food supplies from the commune. A company of the Orwell Militia had been despatched to Leiston to assist with security during the visit and to meet with the Londoners in an effort to improve communications with anti BUF factions. The large BUF force leaving Ipswich in the early hours of Saturday morning had attracted the attention of Orwell sympathisers, who, using the still intact local telephone network, had alerted the commune of this development. The communards and the Orwell company set about preparing a defence on the outskirts of the town, hoping to delay their attackers until reinforcements could arrive. Barricades were set up around the town, guarding the main approaches. The Busmen elected to help in the defence, and took up positions at the granary, a former church. The defenders were also in possession of a T26 tank, and two armoured cars. One of the armoured cars was placed in the defence perimeter of Hollyhock Farm, and the other joined the busmen at the granary, the tank was held in reserve. Pickets were posted along the main approach routes to give warning of the BUF attack.

Shortly after 11.00 a force of BUF militia were spotted moving through the fields leading to Hollyhock Farm. The pickets opened fire on them, and an exchange of fire took place before the pickets were forced to retire to the main lines, having taken heavy casualties. However they had inflicted a serious delay on the BUF militia. The Militia were then taken under fire by the farm's defenders and a machine gun post in the church tower. This resulted in heavy BUF casualties, and pinned that unit in the hedges facing the farm. Meanwhile, another company of BUF militia appeared on the crest of Hollyhock Hill, and started to advance on the farm, on their right flank a third militia force had reached a copse adjacent to the Leiston Road. Firing erupted along the “Hollyhock line”, as it later became known. Because of their skilful positioning behind the front lines, other Socialist elements were able to give fire support to the farm's defenders. This support had a telling effect on the BUF advance, with snipers picking off attackers. The T26 tank joined in, and was soon firing on BUF Legion troops on Hollyhock Hill. The busmen in the granary were able to give enfilade fire on the BUF forces.

The BUF militia company in the fields had emerged from the hedgerows and formed up to advance on the farm. However the armoured car placed there opened up with its machine guns, and in combination with effective small arms fire, inflicted heavy casualties on that group, forcing them to retire. The troops on Hollyhock Hill moved onto the track and threatened the farm defence perimeter, despite fierce small arms and grenade fire. The BUF company on their right flank were subjected to galling fire from the group of defenders on the Leiston Road, including one brave communard armed with an extremely effective shotgun. This group were pinned down in the copse and made no further progress. The farm defenders were holding their ground well, and the Political Officer attached to the defenders had proved to be something of a crack shot with his pistol, accounting for several fascist militiamen.

The armoured car in the granary, had decided to leave as there was no immediate threat, and give fire support to the farm's defenders. It had reached the main road and was heading for the farm when a Vickers medium tank leading a BUF convoy appeared on that road. The Vickers tank had a clear shot at the rear of the armoured car and did not miss. The armoured car took a fatal hit, and slewed into a nearby cottage, burning ferociously. The busmen, from their position on the old church walls, opened fire on the convoy, and a brave, dynamite armed, busman attacked the tank, and although he failed to destroy it, he was able to suppress its fire. The T26 then engaged the Vickers and missed. The bus that the Londoners had travelled in was then driven across the road, blocking it. This enabled the communard reserves to amass to deal with this new threat. The BUF vehicles held the lead elements of the Legion of St George, the foreign fascist volunteers, known locally as Hessians. The plucky busmen maintained their fire on the convoy, killing the driver of the lead vehicle, and forcing it to crash into a low stone wall, stunning the occupants.

Near Hollyhock Farm, the BUF had forced their way through the hedgerows, but were not in sufficient numbers to press their assault. With the Hessian convoy's route well blocked, and the convoy under heavy fire, the Hessian commander ordered his force to withdraw and regroup. The BUF Legion commander also decide to withdraw his force to its vehicles to regroup and reinforce. Leiston had been held, for that day and the fascists given a very bloody nose, losing 30 men. The defenders losses were 5 men. They had bought the time needed to reinforce their defences, and settled down to await the next move.

[Trooper]

The pictures.

Leiston, looking up the Ipswich Road.



HollyHock Farm looking toward the fields.



The Old church, now a granary.




Defences along the Leiston Road.



The church grounds with the busmen in position.

[Red Orc]

Excellent! Great report and I love your terrain. Lovely all round.

If I wasn't so busy VSFing it up in Atlantis and Ruritania, I'd be feverishly painting the Jarrow Workers' Militia just so they could be inspired by the heroism of their comrades in Suffolk.

[Trooper]

More pics.

Hollyhock Farm and it's defenders.



BUF militia on Hollyhock Hill.



The crackshot Commisar and standard bearer.



The T26 gives fire support.



The demise of the armoured car.

[Trooper]

Credits.

Figures, vehicles and terrain by Trooper and Tadportly. Players: Trooper, Tadportly and Mr Dodo. Rules used were my cannibalised version of Necromunda.

An excellent game all round, especially as it was the inaugural game of the Suffolk branch of the LAF, although Mr Dodo and I had kicked things off with the Lost City of Fhagash. 

[commissarmoody]

Wow with how much the BUF seems to get its butt kicked, I am suprised that they still seem to find recruits

[Trooper]

Well it would be bad form to let the bad guys win.

[Silent Invader]

Lovely terrain and game.

the inaugural game of the Suffolk branch of the LAF

Is that the SLAF or the LAFS?

[Trooper]

I was thinking SLAGS, catchy eh?

[Silent Invader]

I was thinking SLAGS, catchy eh?

    And I was going to suggest LASes!!

[commissarmoody]

Well it would be bad form to let the bad guys win.

You are quite right in that respect, I am just saying that with their ability to catch bullets, I am surprised the civil war isn't over yet.

[TadPortly]

Lovely terrain and game.

Is that the SLAF or the LAFS?

Norfolk, Suffolk and what I insist is still Kent (Bromley)

[Mr.Dodo]

I guese we'd have to factor the men lost in our armoured car into the butcher's bill too.
 All in all an inspiring game that has gotten me hooked.

[eastern barbarian]

wow, that game sounds really good