What Ho!! Nazis.

[Trooper]

Just setting the scene for a BCW game to be played on Saturday 28th February.

“What Ho!! Nazis.”

An adventure of the British Civil War 1938.
(With apologies to PG Wodehouse.)


Bertie Wooster's usually placid state of mind had been completely thrown off balance since this bally nonsense with the King and that awful Mosley and his gang had started. Mosley was an utterly beastly oik, who had tried to make young Wooster's early school life a misery, with his bullying. It was a relieved Bertram when Mosley had finally left school. It came as no surprise to Wooster that Mosley had entered politics, no job for a true gentleman, and even less of a surprise when the ghastly fella had jumped ships and started up all that fascist nonsense. In true Wooster syle, Bertie had abstained from politics even into the current crisis. Although it had to be said that London life of late was much more tedious than before. The streets were teeming with blackshirted thugs, who did not have the same humorous outlook as the bobbies if you tried to swipe one of their silly hats. The bounders were quite inclined to take a potshot at a chap for a bit of harmless tomfoolery. To make matters worse, Jeeves had been keeping some odd hours since it all began, and had become very secretive indeed. His mood was not helped this morning when Jeeves handed him an envelope with his breakfast. He immediately recognised the handwriting on the envelope as his aunt Agatha's.

“Dear Bertie,

That damn fellow Spode has gone too far. His activities in Kent during the fighting have outraged us all”.

Bertie remembered vaguely, reading in the Times that Spode had commanded some troops during the recent Fascist campaign against the Anglicans in Canterbury. As far as he could remember there had been some unsavoury incidents during the attack on Bromley, which had earned Spode the soubriquet “The Beast of Bromley”. No details had been published, or what was more likely, they had been censored.  He read on,

“now it appears that he is to marry Madeline Bassett this weekend in Suffolk, at her uncle's estate. I have spoken to Jeeves, and we are agreed that the time has come to put a spanner in his plans once and for all.”

Bertie looked up at Jeeves' seemingly innocent face, “What exactly is the ancient relative going on about here.” Jeeves, with his usual solemnity said “Well sir, as you know, your aunt is a leading member of the Anglican League, and is aware that the sympathies of the Ganymede Club are also with the League. So we have decided to arrange for the capture of Sir Roderick Spode, and see that he stands trial for his crimes, as an example.” Bertie nearly choked on his tea  at that, “But dash it all Jeeves, how on earth is this going to happen, and why has she written to me about this?” Jeeves smiled his best reassuring smile and said, “Well actually sir, we were rather hoping that you would arrange travel papers for us all, and join us on the adventure.” Wooster spluttered “But, but..it will be bally dangerous and guns and well......” he ran out of steam at that point, and gratefully accepted the whisky and soda that Jeeves handed him. “I fear sir, that your aunt has already published the manifesto for the operation, and named you as it's leader, the manifesto is to be released to the newspapers on Sunday next, once the enterprise is concluded”. As Bertie succumbed to his fate, Jeeves calmly went over the details of the plan with him. Bertie was to arrange travel papers to Bassett Parva in Suffolk for Saturday, the pretext being an outing for the Ganymede Club. An omnibus had been obtained for the journey, and several of the more militant members of the Ganymede were ready to join the mission. It was made to clear to Wooster that as he knew the area well he would be best placed to advise on the best location for the job at hand. The bus had been secreted and loaded with weapons and ammunition. The rendezvous was set for 0800 on Saturday morning, allowing for a two hour journey to Suffolk.

Meanwhile at Bassett Hall, all the arrangements were under way for the wedding of Sir Roderick Spode and Miss Madeline Bassett. Spode had arrived on Friday evening with his entourage, including a detachment of the BUF Legion, who had taken up positions around the village for security purposes. Sir Watkin Bassett, recently appointed Magistrate for the area, and a keen supporter of the new regime had welcomed this alliance of his family and the new district commander for East Suffolk. On his arrival, Spode had gone with Sir Watkin to the library, accompanied by his best man, Colonel Franz Gluckheimer, commander of the Legion of St George, which was composed of international volunteers, in Britain to support King Edward and Sir Oswald Mosley. Once in the library, and only after ensuring that they were alone, Spode confided to Sir Watkin that the German military attache would be attending the wedding as a guest, but also to confer with Spode and Bassett later in the weekend. It was all very hush hush, but Spode had been entrusted with making arrangements to use Martlesham Aerodrome to bring in weapons and munitions from Germany, to support the cause.  Spode's campaign in Kent had gone a long way to ensuring his new found power and position. Unbeknown to the three men in the library, their conversation had been overheard by Sir Watkin's gardener. Later at a rendezvous in the Black Horse, the gardener passed the details of the meeting to his contact in the Orwell District People's Socialist Militia.

And so, the trail of events were set in motion for what would prove to be a memorable weekend in the country..........................................

[Trooper]

Some pictures of the layout, showing the events of Friday evening prior to the main action on Saturday.

Sir Roderick Spode's convoy approaches Bassett Manor.



Spode and his entourage are greeted by Sir Watkin Bassett.




A close up of the Beast of Bromley, and his best man.



The security arrangements are set in place.





All is in place, and the Bassetts and their guests retire for the night, little knowing of the plans afoot.

[commissarmoody]

Thrilling! What will happen next I wonder?

[Chairface]

What Ho! I think you've been channeling old PG splendidly, old chap.

[Arlequín]

Excellent setting and scenario... excellent pics too! Good work that man! 

[dodge]

brilliant stuff , another set of great minis and a hugely entertaining back story,

just love it

dodge

[paul c]

Tell us more about the Orwell District People's Socialist Militia; lead by Mr Eric Blair perhaps?

[cheetor]

Thats a really great table set-up.  I am sure that you wil have a briliant game on such inspiring terrain and with those beautifully painted figures.

Thans for sharing

[TadPortly]

lovely stuff

[Red Orc]

Oh, I say, I must have been scoffing a muffin when news of this came in! What dashed good fun - absolutely top-hole!

Beautifull painting, splendid story (terribly terribly exciting) and a lovely part of the country too...

Carry on old chap, you're doing a spiffing job!