The Spring Big Game 2019 ("Shobdon:Cockpit of History") duly took place on Saturday, 23rd March 2019. Full reports will follow in the usual way, but our AVBCW historians would be remiss if they did not record immediately the written appeal cleverly made by Senior Captain Barrington Maynard (aka Alan), C-in-C Government Forces situated at Shobdon Court, to his Local Defence Volunteers immediately before the battle:
Confidential
To: Mr Grace (the Younger) FROM : Senior Captain
Barrington Maynard
Mr Hodges North West Regional Commander
Mr Jones HMG
Sir,
The moment of trial is upon us.
After months of peace under the benign rule of HM Government, Shobdon is about
to be invaded by foreign hordes. The Communist atheists have somehow inveigled
the unworldly and gullible Anglicans to join forces and attack Shobdon.
However, you may rest assured that His Majesty’s forces will defend your land
vigorously against this unwanted and unwarranted aggression, and as commander
of those forces I look to you to join me in this task.
I am aware that there has been a
certain amount of discord locally, regarding the Bateman claims. I do not
pretend to know what the outcome of this case will be, nor when it will be
decided. This unlooked for conflict has greatly disrupted all business,
including the law, as you well know. What I will say is that only His Majesty’s
High Court has the power and authority to pass judgement, not some collection
of leftward-leaning bishops, and certainly not the Communist Party. The Communist teaching is that ‘all property
is theft’, which means it would never be granted to any claimant. Indeed, anyone
claiming the estate would automatically be identified as a member of the
gentry, put up against the nearest wall, and shot! You should also beware of
any ‘offers’ from the invaders, as the following intercepted messages show.
TELEGRAM COMINTERN TO WINTERS
MOST IMMEDIATE+ATTACK SHOBDON AUTHORISED.
STOP+SEIZE SHOBDON COURT.STOP+DESTROY SHOBDON AIRFIELD. STOP+LIQUIDATE ALL
IN SHOBDON INSTRUCTIONAL CENTRE.STOP+ CAPTURE ALL CAPITALIST IMPERIALIST
PERSONS PROPERTY SHEEP AND SECRET DOCUMENTS. STOP.+ NO MERCY FOR
NON-PROLETARIANS.STOP+NO EXCUSES FOR FAILURE.STOP+LOCAL COMMISSAR PERSONAL
INITIATIVE AUTHORISED FOR TEMPORARY TRUCES OR ARRANGEMENTS WITH DECLARED
PROLES AS NECESSARY+ FORWARD THE REVOLUTION+ACKNOWLEDGE+ENDIT.
TELEGRAM WINTERS TO COMINTERN
TOP SECRET+ACKNOWLEDGED. STOP+ATTACK
SHOBDON AUTHORISED.STOP+NO EXCUSES FOR FAILURE.STOP+CONFIRM TEMPORARY TRUCES
OR ARRANGEMENTS AS NECESSARY WITH DECLARED PROLETARIANS. STOP+FORWARD THE
REVOLUTION COMRADES+ENDIT.
There are some slanderous tongues
that whisper the local LDV is reluctant to fight, or might seek some
opportunity to defect. The fate of the traitor Captain Morgan, and the
knowledge that any disloyalty to His Majesty would certainly disqualify any
claimant, should quash such rumours.
I am confident that you and your men will
fight valiantly for your land, and I wish you good luck in the coming ordeal.
Barrington Maynard
