Pacifism (1) - The Peace Pledge Union and the VBCW

There was a significant pacifist movement in 1930's Britain, driven by the horrors and losses of the First World War and the fear that such might be repeated. In 1934, the Rev. Dick Shepherd, Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral, published a letter in the "Manchester Guardian" and other newspapers, inviting men (but not women, curiously) to send postcards to him pledging never to support war. Out of this initiative - for 135,000 men responded to the Canon's call - emerged the "Peace Pledge Union", which by 1936 had opened its ranks to women and was publishing a weekly newspaper, "Peace News". The Peace Pledge Union attracted a wide variety of members, including Christian pacifists, socialists, anarchists and in the words of a PPU member, Derek Savage, "an amorphous mass of ordinary well-meaning but fluffy peace-lovers". In 1937, the Peace Pledge Union merged with the No More War Movement, and George Lansbury, the Chairman of the NMW and former Leader of the Labour Party (and of the Opposition), became President of the PPU. As Labour leader, Lansbury had adopted a position of Christian pacifism, unilateral disarmament and the dismantling of the British Empire, publicly stating in late 1933: "I would close every recruiting station, disband the Army and disarm the Air Force. I would abolish the whole dreadful equipment of war and say to the world : 'Do your worst'". In the "alternative timeline" (of reality), the PPU opposed the Second World War and argued for a negotiated peace with Germany. PPU membership reached a peak of around 140,000 in 1940. In contrast, it seems that membership of the BUF peaked in 1934 at 40,000 (and arguably declined to about 9,000 by 1940) and that the Communist Party of Great Britain had only 17,756 members in July 1939. [note1]

Canon Dick Shepphard preaching

Rt.Hon. George Lansbury MP
Leader of the Labour Party and Opposition 1932-1935

The Canon advertising a Peace Pledge Union meeting (or "Mass Protest")
at which he and George Lansbury will be the principal speakers in
favour of the controversial(?) proposal "War - We Say No!"

Given the strong pacifist tendencies of Britain during the 1930s, together with Edward VIII's decision to refuse the prospect of Abdication, dismiss his Government and co-operate with Mosley's BUF, the first issue for VBCW gamers is: what would the PPU have done, not in fear of a general European war and repeat of WW1, but in the face of a Very British Civil War? [note2]

Note1: see the article by Andrew Thorpe of the University of Exeter HERE

Note2: a partial but immediate answer to this issue may perhaps be gleaned from Canon Dick Shepphard's 1931 proposal in response to the Sino-Japanese War, namely that a "Peace Army" of unarmed peacemakers should stand between the Chinese and Japanese armies in Shanghai.

Note3: this blogpost draws in part upon these sources: HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE

Herefordshire Lord Lieutenants and High Sheriffs (Part One)

Lord Lieutenants of Herefordshire 1660 - 1960

30 July 1660 – 22 March 1689 Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort

22 March 1689 – 31 May 1694 Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield

31 May 1694 – 15 June 1704 Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury

15 June 1704 – 18 November 1714 Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent

18 November 1714 – 11 September 1721 Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby

11 September 1721 – 16 July 1741 James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos

16 July 1741 – 5 June 1747 Charles Hanbury Williams

5 June 1747 – 2 March 1802 John Bateman, 2nd Viscount Bateman

20 March 1802 – 28 October 1817 George Capell-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex

28 October 1817 – 5 January 1841 John Somers Cocks, 1st Earl Somers

29 January 1841 – 22 July 1845 William Bateman, 1st Baron Bateman

6 August 1845 – 5 October 1852 John Somers Somers-Cocks 2nd Earl Somers

11 November 1852 – 30 November 1901 William Bateman Bateman-Hanbury,
                                                                                              2nd Baron Bateman

27 January 1902 – 5 December 1904 John Hungerford Arkwright

5 December 1904 – 27 July 1933 Sir John Cotterell, 4th Baronet

27 July 1933 – 14 July 1944 Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers

28 February 1945 – 12 July 1957 Sir Richard Cotterell, 5th Baronet

9 September 1957 – 13 July 1960 James Thomas, 1st Viscount Clicennin

(Note : there were only 18 Lord Lieutenants in 300 years)

High Sheriffs of Herefordshire, 1900 - 1960

Pre-WW1

1900 : John Wood, Ivington, Leominster

1901 : James Louis Alexander Hope, Whitney Court, Whitney

1902 : George William Marshall, Sarnesfield Court, Weobley

1903 : Sir Joseph Verdin, Bt. Garnstone Castle, Weobley

1904 : William Theodore Barneby, Saltmarshe Castle, Bromyard

1905 : Roger Charlton Parr, Stanton Park, Stanton-on-Arrow

1906 : Paul Henry Foley, Stoke Edith Park, Hereford

1907 : Charles James Paul Gwyer, Eywood, Kington

1908 : Thomas Davies Burlton, Eaton Hall, Leominster

1909 : Ralph Tichborne Hinckes, Foxley, Hereford

1910 : Captain Evans Mynde Allen, Manor House, Upton Bishop, Ross

1911 : Sir Herbert Archer Croft, Bt. Lugwardine Court, Hereford

1912 : Charles Thornton Pulley, Lower Eaton, Hereford

1913 : Sir Geoffrey Cornewall, Moccas Court, Hereford

1914 : George Ernest Wright, Puddlestone Court, Hereford

WW1

1915 : Lennox Bertram Lee, How Caple Court, Hereford

1916 : James Tudor Hereford, Sufton Court, Mordiford, Mordiford

1917 : Col John Dutton Hopton, Ledbury

1918 : Sir Richard Harington, Whitbourne Court, Worcester

Post WW1

1919 : Guy Rawson Trafford, Hill Court, Ross

1920 : Col Gilbert Charles Bourne, Cowarne Court, Ledbury

1921 : Col Peter Legh Clowes, CB, Burton Court, Eardisland

1922 : Lt-Col Edward Marten Dunne, Gatley Park, Kingsland

1923 : Capt. Laurence Nugent Hope, Whitney Court, Whitney

1924 : Major Stewart Robinson, The Ovals, Kington

1925 : Capt. Lionel Havercroft Green, MBE, The Whittern, Lyonshall

1926 : Charles Andrew Rouse Broughton-Knight, Downton Castle, Downton

1927 : Major George William Davey, Kinnersley Castle, Eardisley

1928 : Captain John Ralph Henry Harley, Brampton Bryan

1929 : Lt-Col. George Basil Heywood, Caradoc Court

1930 : Charles Anthony Benn, Moor Court, Kington

1931 : Col. Henry Evan Pateshall Pateshall DSO, Allensmore Court, Hereford

1932 : Herbert Ronald Pettit, Castle Weir, Lyonshall

1933 : Major Charles Jerome Vaughan, Courtfield, Ross

1934 : Mr E.F. Bulmer, "Adams Hill"  Breinton, Hereford

1935 : H.R. Jenkins, The Porch House, Westhide, Hereford

1936 : George Malcolm Kent, Garden House, Shobdon

"The VBCW ?"

1937 : The Rev. William Marshall, Sarnesfield Court, Hereford

1938 : Robert Holme Storey, Bishopswood, Ross on Wye

1939 : Lt-Gen Sir George Sidney Clive GCVO, KCB, CMG, DSO Perrystone Court, How Caple

WW2

1940 : Henry Howard Bulmer, Longmeadow, Hereford

1941 : Eric Carnegie Romilly, Broadfield Court, Bodenham, Hereford

1942 : Thomas Henry Foster, The Grange, Whitchurch

1943 : Major Owen George Scudamore Croft, Hephill, Lugwardine

1944 : Richard Saher de Quincy Quincy, The Vern, Bodenham

1945 : Vice-Admiral Frederick Parland Loder-Symonds, Waldrist, Ayleston Hill, Hereford

Post WW2

1946 : Colonel Cecil John Herbert Spence Colby, Donnington Hall, Ledbury

1947 : Major Henry Thomas Hamilton Foley MBE, Stoke Edith Park

1948 : Captain Edward Francis Herbert Evans, Whitbourne Hall, Herefordshire

1949 : Major John Lewes Davenport, Yarsop House, Mansel Lacey

1950 : Gerard Leigh Clay, Brockhampton Cottage

1951 : John Francis Maclean, Thatch Close, LLangrove, Ross

1952 : Thomas Philip Barneby, Saltmarsh  Castle, Bromyard

1953 : Brig. Gen. TRF Bats, Glenmonnow House, Garway

1954 : Brig. FAV Copland Griffiths, Bircher Hall, Leominster

1955 : Sir Frederick Burrows, Thrushes Nest, 37 Rope Walk, Ross on Wye

1956 : Henry Maysey Barneby, Brockington House, Bredenbury

1957 : Herbert Roy Rowlands, Brand Lodge, Colwall

1958 : Brigadier Robert Peel Walker DSO MC Wyastone Leys, Monmouth

1959 : Lt-Col JA Hill OBE, Orleton Manor Court, near Ludlow

1960 : Thomas John Hawkins OBE, Wilton Oaks, Tarrington 

(Note: as set out above, the office of Sheriff was an annual office only)

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2018 (PART FOUR - CONCLUSION)

"Our Brave Boys Go In" As Lt. Everard struggles on the left and centre, the Ludlow Expeditionary Force
launch their flank attack on the right. A crucifix waving Chaplain provides critical moral support as 3rd
Section, LEF, charge into the smoke.

"The Bear at Bay". Commandant Joubert has now taken refuge in "Stokkies House", taking frenzied potshots
 at the remaining elements of the Golden Valley Invincibles (top left) and screaming for his
 long awaited reinforcements to arrive. In the gardens to the right, the First Section of the Kings Colonials,
 still shrouded in smoke, somehow contrive to repluse two charges from the flanking (and far more
numerous) LEF,  but then begin to fall steadily as the LEF draw off, curse the
 "ridiculous charge rules" and resort to heavy and accurate gunfire.

"The Reinforcements Now Arrive" At last the D6 smiles upon Stokkies. Two full sections of the Kings Colonials
arrive, seemingly in the nick of time. The depleted First Section, KCol, withdraw from the gardens of
"Stokkies House" under cover of an HMG. Just visible against the rear wall of the house,
Stokkies AT Gun is being desperately manhandled towards the centre of the battlefield and the
marauding Vickers Mk.VI.

"The Queen of the Battlefield" Anglican spotters detect the arrival of Stokkies' reinforcements, and the
Ludlow artillery roars into action, firing carefully hoarded long range shells. The barrage (assisted
by lucky activation cards) is devestating......

"The Results of Accurate Fire"......as Stokkies' re-inforcements are "pulped" and "mashed" and generally thrown
about by the incoming shells. Their morale plummets, becoming "Jumpy" - or worse - and unable to move..

"An Isolated Commander"....leaving Commandant Stokkies and his batman completely isolated.
A special "snatch squad" of Ludlow veterans close assault "Stokkies House" as his reinforcements
look on, helpless. The batman falls. Firing two handed and screaming defiance, Stokkies takes on an
 entire LEF Section himself, killing two. But the odds are too great, even for the South African legend...

"Take him to the Bishop!"....a bruised Stokkies Jourbert is lead away into captivity. Learning of his
fellow commander's fate, and hard pressed both in the centre and on the left, Lt. Everard
decides to "live free and fight another day", slowly disengaging his forces from those of
the exhausted victors, and retreats in the direction of Hereford. He quickly scribbles some
despatches to Lord de Braose, a copy of which subsequently fell into Anglican hands
The Battle of Winforton Pontoons is finally over.

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2018 - THE TRUE STORY (PART THREE)

"The Climax of the Battle" As the Anglican Tank Brigade debouch from Sir Gilbert's completed pontoon
bridge, Lt. Everard concentrates his forces to meet the threat. Naval crewed Tank Destroyers
 (a reinforcement) hurry into action, only for one of them to be "brewed up" immediately. The BUF's
Heavy Artillery ("The Dominator") roars its continued defiance, as Lt Everard swings his left flank
tanks towards the west and the advancing Anglican armour.

"The Ace of Spades" A close up shot of the same incident. The Anglican armour leaves its "Death Card"
(the Ace of Spades) as one of HMG's Naval Tank Destroyers blows up spectacularly. (GRRRR...who
left those activation cards on the table!)

"Pastor Head's Assault" With the BUF armour diverted towards the centre of the battlefield, Pastor Head's
forces launch their long delayed infantry assault on the eastern flank. A decimated Wulfhere Section, BUF,
 contest the fenceline : in the nick of time, the Wormelow Wildcats (a reinforcement) arrive in support.

"The Golden Valley Womens Institute" The Anglicans advance all along the line. Here Sir Gilbert's last reserve,
the Women's Institute, charge into the fray in the centre. Behind them, in a fine example of inter allied
co-operation, Ludlow tanks debouch from Sir Gilbert's pontoon bridge. To the left, it appears that
the Anglican artillery are now firing non explosive tape measures (GRRRR!)

"Down, Rover!" The Women's Institute are met by a charge of ravenous, mouth foaming BUF attack dogs,
 and recoil. Support for the RSPCA will be first item on the agenda of their next meeting in Pontrilas. 

"The Centre cannot Hold?"  HMG extracts revenge for its lost Tank Destroyer, "brewing up" an Anglican
tank in return (left). Sir Gilbert's Steam Tank ploughs on, supported by two Ludlow tanks. On the right,
an Anglican Vickers Mk.VI embarks on a "general swan about" the battlefield, ready to threaten
the remaining HMG infantry. Lt Everard's valiant efforts can surely only delay the inevitable...

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2018 - THE TRUE STORY! (PART TWO)

"A Flank Attack in Preparation". 3rd Section, Loyal Ludlow Infantry, have worked their way around Stokkies'
flank. 2nd Section (with Standard) take advantage of a continuing smoke barrage. 1st Section advances from
the now complete Pontoon Bridge. Where are Stokkies reinforcements?

"The Courageous Self Sacrifice of the Invincibles". Sir Gilbert's men (and women) advance on a very broad front,
drawing fire from both Stokkies troops and those of Lt. Everard. It was the Invincibles' willingness to take
 huge casualties that enabled the Allied victory.

"Technical difficulties" On the right flank, spooked not by fire but by a sudden storm
 of thunder and lightning (chance card event), Pastor Head's engineers are too jumpy to finish
 building their Pontoon Bridge. A Ludlow tank waits in vain.
 It could only be the VBCW.

"The Tank Brigade will Advance!" Sir Gilbert's engineers complete the central Pontoon
Bridge, and Pastor Head diverts the Anglican Tank Brigade across it. For HMG, matters
are now looking blacker than a BUF uniform (at midnight).

TO BE CONTINUED......

AUTUMN BIG GAME 2018 - THE TRUE STORY! (PART ONE)

"And so, Commandant Joubert, we meet at last."

The Bishop of Ludlow stared at his bruised and manacled prisoner, surrounded by the triumphant veterans of the 1st Infantry Section, Loyal Ludlow Legion. It was late on the afternoon of the Battle of Winforton Pontoons, and all the reports spoke of a famous victory for the allied forces of the Anglican League and Sir Gilbert Hill's Golden Valley Invincibles.

"Joubert. Stokkies. I don't have a number. I'm not a regular. I fight for my King as a loyal volunteer." The captured commander of the famous "King's Colonials" stared back at the Bishop, uncowed. "And you'll get no more information out of me, dwankie. Geneva Convention."

"Dear, dear. 'My Lord Bishop' is more - ahem - conventional, dear chap." The Bishop of Ludlow smiled thinly. "You ought to know that I served in South Africa for a time. Enough time to pick up a smattering of Afrikaans slang [note 1]. And as for the Geneva Convention, I rather think it has no application to a civil war. At least, that's what I understand your Mr Mosley to have claimed."

"The Prime Minister....."

"An office to which he has no entitlement. Just plain Mr Mosley, if you please."

"Fok weet, Bishop. I'm a colonial. Ein Jan Allerman. You'll get nothing more out of me."

"I rather think we will, Commandant." A severe, straight backed figure materialised at the Bishop's shoulder. It was none other than "Big X", Chief of the Ecclesiastical Intelligence Service. "Not that we particularly need to, of course."

"Ah, Lethbridge-Stewart. I see you have one of your manilla folders on this ruffian." Still slightly unsettled by the Colonel's habit of appearing silently and without warning, the Bishop sniffed and nodded in approval. 

"Joubert, Stokkies." The Colonel began reading. "Great - nephew of Piet Joubert, late of Cape Colony...."

"The South African Republic, krimpie. Ne?"

"...and necessarily, therefore, a relation of Fritz Joubert Duquesne. We have rather a thick file on him, of course. Not that you've met for a while. Not since New York, I believe." The Colonel cleared his throat, flicking through the file. "Stokkies.....war service...volunteering slightly under age, I think....German South-West Africa, East Africa, junior ADC to Smuts....some special service for a period...1919 intervention, Murmansk....demobilisation....diamond mining...gold panning....great white hunter in Kenya, then gun running to South America....whisky smuggling into the States from 1928 or so....the Twenty-First Amendment must have been so disappointing for you, Commandant...back to South Africa....heavy drinking...the women (see additional filing cabinets, as indexed A-Z, cross-referenced geographically, ethnically and chronologically)....do I need to go on?"

"Fokkoff, moffie." The manacled Commandant bristled.

"Now, now, Commandant." The Bishop of Ludlow intervened. "The good Colonel is simply demonstrating that we already know all about you. It's just that he believes you privy to all of Lord de Braose's most secret plans, and we'd rather like to hear about them, don't you know? Not that we have anything like an Inquisition in Ludlow, you understand. None of that foreign stuff. No Iron Maidens, racks, red-hot pokers; no, I do believe that the Colonel's methods of extracting information are rather more subtle..."

"Joubert, Stokkies. No number. No more information."

"Of course it pains me, Commandant. But you may think differently after a few days of compulsory crocheting".

"Nee!" The stubborn Joubert staggered backward in shock.

"Just the threat of solitary confinement and enforced embroidery...."

"Nee!" Joubert had involuntarily collapsed to his knees, a bear of a man at bay.

"Jam-making? The full course of 26 lessons, all the while on a strict prison diet of nothing but ginger beer and iced fruit cakes? No braii for you, ever again....."

Joubert sagged lower, as if physically winded. Colonel Lethbridge Stewart took up the Bishop's theme enthusiastically.

"Four church services a day. Marched backwards and forwards to service and then your cell, deep beneath Ludlow Castle. Hymns, prayers, sermons, choir practice, silent personal contemplation, 'Signs of the Peace'...."

"Sies!"

"....and if you should somehow still resist, Commandant, the genteel horror that is Mandatory Morris Dancing. I'm told the local Morris troupes are always looking for new members, and are really rather dedicated..."

A sudden howl of utter despair, as Joubert contemplated his awful future as an unwilling be-belled participant in "(Very) Strictly Come Dancing - the Folk Edition", and with the interview over, the veterans of the Loyal Ludlow Legion dragged him from the Bishop's presence.

How had it come to this ?

The "Hurrah for Victory!" special edition of the "Illustrated Ludlow News" explained all to its joyful readership:

"Commandant Stokkies Joubert at the start of the Battle". The Kings Colonials Commander surveys the ground
from a wheatfield, his HQ Section supported by a Vickers Machine Gun. He is not to know that,
before the end of the day, he will be unwillingly introduced to "compulsory crocheting".

"The River Wye in spate - a substantial battlefield obstacle". A suspicious civilian fuel tanker commandeered
 from Pratts Garage in Winforton has been parked (rather too obviously) close to the water's edge.

"Allied Forces prepare for a contested crossing" The Bishop of Ludlow's forces (nearest
camera, with well known command flag) start moving their assault boats forwards. The Loyal
 Ludlow Artillery unlimber. Sir Gilbert's Golden Valley Invincibles
 (centre of camera, with mostly numbered assault boats) equally advance. To the right
of Sir Gilbert (out of shot), Pastor I.S. Head's Anglican Force
 similarly heads for the river's edge. A general attack along the Wye!

"Smoke, boys, smoke! Pour it on!" Sir Gilbert's special battery of smoke shell firing tanks commence fire.
The wind direction (south to north) provided a substantial advantage to the attacking allies, and did not
veer throughout the battle (notwithstanding D6 die rolls - EM-4 direction die (other brands are available)).

"A cunning ploy unmasked" Correctly anticipating a trap, the Ludlow Loyal Artillery blow up
the Pratts tanker. A flaming oil slick spills into the River Wye anyway, just as HMG
originally planned. Will it interfere with Ludlow's contested crossing of the Wye?

"Our Brave Engineers start a Pontoon" Undeterred by the flaming oil slick, work commences on the Ludlow
Pontoon Bridge. Downriver, Sir Gilbert and Pastor Head were equally busy constructing their own
 pontoons. In the background, Ludlow artillery, armoured observation vehicle and observation party.

"Assault Boats Ahoy!". A fleet of small grey boats fills the River Wye. To the bottom of
the photograph, the Bishop's forces steer carefully to avoid the oil slick. Pontoon bridge
building is interrupted. In the centre, Sir Gilbert's pontoon is making progress, although
one of his assault boats has fallen prey to counter-battery fire. At the top, Pastor Head
similarly pushes forward by boat and pontoon.

"The Battlefield from the East" A different view of the Allied dispositions, taken slightly earlier in the day.
 Pastor Head's assault boats are at the water's edge (bottom of photo). Sir Gilbert's smoke tank battery
(top centre left) lay down their first barrage as the Golden Valley Invicibles prepare their boats (centre). On the
road (left, centre/top) can be seen the massing Anglican Tank Brigade, ready and waiting for
a Pontoon Bridge to be satisfactorily erected. The Bishop's forces are at the very top
 of the photo, beyond the smoke tank battery.

"But 30 minutes later - mayhem" An aerial shot as Sir Gilbert's and Pastor Head's forces
cross the Wye under fire and under cover of a smoke barrage. Their pontoons are being
prepared for the Anglican Tank Brigade. The Bishop's forces are out of shot at the bottom.

"Defenders' Positions" A long shot of the north bank of the Wye. In the bottom right hand corner lies
 "Stokkies House", where the Commandant established his permanent HQ during the battle.
 The King's Colonials artillery battery and observers can be seen in the green field
 to the left of "Stokkies House". The area to the left again, covering the farm buildings
 and Winforton church, came under the command of the newly arrived
 Lieutenant Richard Everard. At the very top, by the church, a BUF Heavy Gun
 rolls into place. HMG Forces await re-inforcements eagerly....

"The Dominator" A closer shot of the BUF Heavy Gun next to Winforton Church.

"A gift from Signor Mussolini" Hard by the farm buildings, another Government
artillery piece opens up on the advancing Allies.

"Winforton Church through the Smoke Barrage" A view from the south bank of the Wye, the tower of
Winforton Church (top centre) appearing through the smoke. Pastor Head's and Sir Gilbert's pontoons
can both be seen as the Anglican Assault boats hit the north bank of the river. To the left, Ludlow tanks
lead the waiting Anglican Tank Brigade.

"Ashore at last" A panoramic shot as Sir Gilbert's Golden Valley Invincibles swarm off their assault boats
on to the north bank of the Wye. The prevailing winds (attributed by the Bishop of Ludlow
 to divine intervention) push the prevailing smoke helpfully forward....

"The gallant Pastor Head". On Sir Gilbert's right flank, Pastor Head's Anglican forces advance from their
beachhead. In the distance, Lt. Everard positions in opposition part of the BUF Tank Brigade
(a reinforcement) and the Wulfhere Section, BUF (along the fence line). These tanks
 were to vex the lightly armed forces of Pastor Head mightily, causing him to pray for
the completion of his Pontoon and re-inforcement from the
Anglican Tank Brigade as soon as possible.

"Forward Ludlow!" On Sir Gilbert's left flank, the Ludlow Expeditionary Force storm ashore.
 The Bishop's personal standard can be seen (right) as further smoke shells
 fall amongst the advance piquets of the embattled King's Colonials (left, top)

TO BE CONTINUED BY PART TWO.......

[Note One] To those less familiar with Afrikaans slang than the good Bishop, this information page may help (and provide some fun).