As a child I remember the PGL Guide to Wargaming and its advice on army choice. Were you inclined to favour the dour legionaries expanding the Empire or else the freedom loving, tattooed proto-punk rockers, the Ancient British perhaps?

Well it started badly. Was Imperial Rome bringing civilisation to the unwashed? Was human sacrifice the same in the stone circle as in the Colloseum? Was the USA just as bad as Iran!!!!? We are never at home to “ what- about-ism!” Rome had a duty to uphold.

As punishment for such heresy, Doug was put on the Roman side to learn that order is always to favoured over chaos and that the duty of the heroic pagans is to subjugate the aboriginal peoples before they brought down the Old World!

Our chosen battle was Watling Street 61 A.D., the final clash between the Uranian Empire and the revolting ( sic) Telluric natives!

Roman governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus chose a restricted defensive site in which to stop the woad rage of the Britons. The rules used would be our favourite, To the Strongest by Simon Miller.

Boudica ( brilliantly played by Mike Lane) was not hanging around! The tribesmen came forward at a pace whilst the chariots sought an opening on the flanks.

But, it is on the Roman left that the action reaches a climax. Boudica herself smashes through the flank of the Roman cavalry, only for a following squadron to catch her. No poison is needed this time, it’s the Roman cavalry who claim vengeance for her despoiling of Southern England!

It had been a close run thing! Even the Romans had to concede that the forces of barbarian regression had put up a stiff fight. But in the end the aristocratic warrior ethos of Rome had triumphed!

Many thanks to Mike Lane for the use of his fantastic collection! See you soon as we visit the Eighteenth century with Lust: Simon Miller’s triumphant debut into the era of horse and musket.