A Vicious Fight In Park Road - A Mean Streets Tabletop Game in 28mm.

                      A Vicious Fight In Park Road

As predicted political violence has once again erupted in Hobbs End, last week two Blackshirts were hospitalised by an unknown gang, the mystery of who they were is now over.

Trouble started when the local BUF decided to sell their ephemera on Park Road, their presence was noted and swiftly acted upon. 

Moving quickly through the park, the same gang as last week had one intention, cause as much disruption as possible and get out before the police arrive. However, the Blackshirt newspaper sellers had seen them coming and a plan was about to be enacted. Waiting in the next street was a van full of "1 Division" Blackshirts hoping their enemy would take the bait.

As soon as the gang entered Park Road the Blackshirt van drove around the corner and the fight was on! It was sharp and brutal, two Blackshirts hit the ground immediately, these men were professional fighters.

Even with superior numbers the Fascists were outclassed, several more of them were knocked out, and it seemed that soon they may have to beat a humiliating retreat!

With the wail of a siren the police arrived, and just in time too. They were confronted with a street full of black eyes, split lips and concussion. With the arrival of an ambulance the wounded were taken away, four Blackshirts and two Communists (mystery solved) were hospitalised, and two Blackshirts and two Communists  were arrested.

With the local election being recently called Mr Smollitt and the Communist Party don't need this kind of publicity, the Fascist Party are not putting a candidate up this time, they told us that will have to wait until next time. So far the only parties on the ballot sheet will be Labour, the Conservatives and the Communist Party.

The Siege Of Hobbs Street - A Tabletop Game In 28mm.

         ANARCHY IN HOBBS END!!

We all knew when the Skeleton Army declared a day of protest that Saturday was going to be rather trying, but, there was no way anyone could predict the tragic events to come. The police under the command of DI Bolton were there in force to maintain order and all seemed to be in hand.

Using the protest in the High Street as a distraction three Anarchists robbed the wages clerk at the factory gates in Drovers Road and made off with the wages down Drovers Road pursued by several locals. Meanwhile the police were still trying to diffuse tensions with the Skeleton Army.

Whilst being chased down Drovers Road one of the Anarchists open fire scattering the locals, the shot was heard by the police in the High Street and it wasn't long before they and the Skeleton Army forgot their differences and joined in the chase.

Seeing the pursuing crowd gaining in size and bravery despite shooting at them one of the Anarchists turned and fired another two times, unfortunately one of the shots severely wounded Mr Wicker the travel agent.

The chase continued for a while, but no one was injured, soon the Anarchists were run to ground at number 10 Hobbs Street, having been chased up Wells Street they gained entrance through the back door. The police quickly evacuated both Hobbs and Wells Streets and surrounded the building whilst under fire from the upstairs windows.

After many outrages in London recently it seemed the Anarchists were finally cornered, the enormity of this situation was soon made apparent when the Home Secretary himself, Mr Birchill, came down and ordered soldiers to be brought to the scene. 

Shots were being exchanged at an alarming rate, a soldier in Wells Street was wounded and both the police and military were saying they had shot an Anarchist, but by the sounds of it they were far from dead!

The house was being peppered with bullets and yet pistol shots were still being fired from the upstairs windows. It soon became apparent that this siege could not go on much longer as smoke started billowing out of the ground floor windows, the house was on fire!

With the flames licking higher the pistol shots from upstairs died away, a terrible end indeed, the soldiers were stood down and the fire brigade was called. So ended the siege of Hobbs Street.

A close call on Table Kop and Police assaulted in Hobbs Park - A table Top Game In 28mm

12th October 1901

 A close call in the Transvaal and Policemen attacked in Hobbs Park, arrests made.

In the Transvaal.

Our South African correspondent Tarquine Squears had a close call whilst out on the veldt with a detachment of Australian volunteers, a remarkable near death experience.

The Australians are a tough and brave breed, I was out with Major Sullivan, a no nonsense bushman from New South Wales, and his men on Table Kop.

Knowing there was a Boer commando out there somewhere we advanced in open order to flush them out and maybe 'bag' one or two. 

It was a very well executed ambush, as I watched the infantry moving forward, I heard the deadly crackle Mauser fire and the Aussies fell, some never to move again. Boer mounted commandos then rushed forward to finish off or capture those left standing, it was over in moments.

I hid where I could, the Boer horsemen scouring the veldt looking for survivors, one Aussie horseman escaped, the rest were dead or captured.

Knowing that the Royal Fusiliers were coming up behind us I had to warn them what had just happened to the Australians, and of the impending ambush. Luckily the British were not silent marching over the veldt and at the sound of a bugle the Boers retreated back to their lines and I was safe from discovery.

I didn't want to startle any advancing soldier as they were well armed and handy with the bayonet, so I gently called out the first typically English thing that popped into my head...'bangers and mash', not my finest moment but it worked.

I was presented to Major Faulks and told him what happened, we were soon joined by the errant Australian horseman and a plan was worked out, advance in open order!

The sound of gunfire and the cries of the men was deafening, men dropped on both sides but the superior number of British soldiers soon began to turn the tide of battle. The Boer line wavered then broke.

Once the Boer line broke the Fusiliers advanced very quickly making prisoner of several Boers and releasing the captured Australians, it was such a relief to see Major Sullivan once more.

This small action on Table Kop cost the lives of 5 Australians and 6 Fusiliers with 12 Boers killed, 11 Imperial troops were wounded.

 

Disturbance at Hobbs Park.

In a disgraceful display of violence Detective Inspector Bolton, Detective Sergeant Theakston and PC Dodd were set upon by a gang of ruffians.

With a few moments PC Dodd was felled by a flying bottle both Bolton and Theakstone were in the thick of it. A well meaning passer by ran to Drovers Yard Police Station and a body of mounted police were soon dispatched.

The detectives put up a spirited defence, but they were almost being overwhelmed, the parrying skills of the policemen were remarkable and the the bloody noses of their opponents were growing in number.

Soon the mounted section were close and the ruffians began to look worried, this attack did not look like it had gone to plan.

The thugs were on the run and heads were knocked, three men were arrested and will be charged to appear before the magistrates on Monday. DI Bolton was left with superficial wounds and a nasty razor slash that ruined his coat, DS Theakstone also sported some superficial bruises and PC Dodd was taken to hospital with concussion.

In conclusion we wish our boys in South Africa the best of luck and our policemen a speedy recovery.