Above. From left to right is the Eureka Stockade game, DBM medieval game, Napoleonic re-enactment group, Advanced Squad Leader board game and American War of Independence game.

EUREKA STOCKADE

2004 is the 150th anniversary of the miners' rebellion against oppression in the Eureka goldfields in central Victoria in Australia. Debate rages whether this event in 1854 should be classified as a battle or a skirmish, but it led to some important political changes in Australian history. Des Croke and Mark Chandler took time out from their normal Napoleonic battles to research and design the game.

DBM - ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL WARGAMING

Above. Anthony Winter (pictured) and Scott Nicholas displayed the popular DBM (De Bellis Multitudinus) rules for Ancient, Dark Age and Medieval wargaming. Scott won the Australian Ancient Wargaming Championship in Canberra at the beginning of 2004 and is web master of the acclaimed DBx section of the NWA website. Click here to go to the DBx home page.

Above. Ready for the charge.

Above. Colourful shields provide protection for the spearmen.

Above. Horse archers play a skirmish role to harass the enemy.

Above. Mounted troops ready for action.

Above. Spectacular head gear.

The battle played out on the table top was part of the campaign known by some as the last crusade. It is 1456 and the Hungarians sally forth from the key city of Belgrade to try and break the siege by the Ottoman Turks.

Above. Colourful clash as the armies collide.

Above. Camp protected by a barricade of wagons.

NAPOLEONIC RE-ENACTORS - FRENCH 21e REGIMENT

If you enjoy reliving the past, then take the King's shilling or the Emperor's sous & join the living history re-enactors. They bring the Napoleonic era (1799-1815) to life. Click the link to go to the Australian Napoleonic Association and find out about its member groups. Two keen members of the French 21eme Regiment d'Ligne of Napoleon displayed their wares at Games 2004 as seen below. The other two popular Napoleonic re-enactment groups in Victoria are the Scottish 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment 1815 of the British Army and the British 95th (Rifle) Regiment of Foot, 2nd Battalion.

ADVANCED SQUAD LEADER

Presented by Army Group South ASL Wargaming Group, Advanced Squad Leader is a highly detailed board game simulating land combat in World War II on a close tactical scale. Main units are squads of 8 to 16 men along with the myriad of support weapons and vehicles they would encounter.

The group meets in the Ashburton Public Library at 154 High Street in Ashburton (Melbourne) on the last Friday of each month at 7pm. The group has experienced players and an active new member group. If you have a burning ambition to command infantry troops or a Tiger tank contact Neil Andrews on Neil@pegacat.com or 0408 499 009.

AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

Above. Pondering the next move.

Above. The men from Maryland.

Above. There are always casualties in a battle.

Above. Peter Jenkins (left) and Charles Csabi hosted the battle.

The Battle of Guildford Courthouse took place in 1781 during the American War of Independence. The redcoats of the British General Cornwallis advanced on the courthouse being held by the American militia of General Greene as they fought for independance.

Historically the Battle of Guildford Courthouse proved to be extremely bloody. Although Cornwallis won, he lost a third of his force. He retreated to Wilmington, leaving behind his wounded.

The British Army was so crippled that Greene was able to retake South Carolina.

The troops and scenery were put together by Charles.

Above. Interesting aerial view shows how the battle on the table developed.