"Waterloo" in Reverse Part 1

This was a game from 2020 where I used my Waterloo terrain but reversed the position of the armies. Apart from the terrain it intentionally bore no resemblance to the actual battle. It was however an opportunity to field my entire collection at the time, including some Spanish and Portuguese. I used my random deployment method for this game i.e. a roll of the dice determined where and when the unit/brigade entered the table. I think I may have given dispensation to some freshly painted French Dragoons which I wanted to defend La Haye Sainte.

Just a quick word on the terrain: heavily influenced by Siborne's larger model, I sculpted slopes from foam approximating the topography. For road texture and the sandpit I used railway model filler. All sections were first spray painted and then covered with scenic scatter. For the middle ground I used hex tiles, some reversed and sculpted with a cobbled road effect. All terrain made to fit my 7x5 ft table. 

I made no notes of the game at the time so hopefully the pictures will most of the story where my memory fails.

2nd Dragoons arrive at the gates of LHS. These are Clayton Hinton Hunt from 1997 except for a Kennington officer and the bugler (manufacturer unidentified). LHS dates from early 1970s, modified in accordance with a Terry Wise article in Airfix magazine. 

They'll soon dismount and be replaced by their alter egos.

Forces mass on the allied left. Newline 1st Life Guards and Kennington Light Dragoons in the foreground. Hinton Hunt Prussians to their right.

The Old Grumblers making an earlier than usual appearance at the crossroads

The Guard start to move forwards past "Wellington's tree" or should that be "l'Arbre de Napoleon" 

1st Life Guards 

A major Prussian assault on LHS about to be "worried" on their flank by the Guard. British cavalry on the left move towards the ridge.

Meanwhile in the centre of the field a British brigade moves steadily towards the French line.  Brunswick/Nassau troops to their rear are moving down the slope into the valley.

Newline 16th Light Dragoons in the foreground in their old style Tarleton helmets 

A line of Young Guard voltigeurs and tirailleurs wait for the British columns who are beginning to be threatened to the right of the picture by a column of Guard Grenadiers.

  

Dismounted dragoons defending LHS while Guard comrades march past to tackle the Prussians

 

The allied cavalry Brigade yet to press on to the ridge 

  

Over on the allied right the Union Brigade have reached the bottom of the slope but face Hussars and Chasseurs de Cheval (out of picture) 

In the centre, half of the British columns have veered off to the left to confront the Guard. The rest of the columns press on, now supported by the Brunswick/Nassau brigade

 Lancers and Empress dragoons (just visible) on the French left advance across ground recently vacated after the Union Brigade/Hussars melee (I can't recall how that action was resolved but there were probably withdrawals on both sides). Massed columns of line infantry follow on. (1st Lancers on the left are by Kennington)

More pics of the battle in the next post.