So, Jay suggested a Jedburgh theme then? I needed some info so had a trawl - looks perfect for the event and looks like the drop cylinders may have a use again!
http://www.freewebs.com/operationjedburgh/index.htm
http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources ... /Lewis.asp
http://www.cuirass.co.uk/WW2/Jeds/Overview.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sp ... ons_in_WW2
http://cgi.ebay.com/D-Day-June-6-Operat ... 19004r9908
Some of us went back to the UK in January 1944, and landed up at Milton Hall with the Special Operations Executive (SOE). As soon as we got there a bunch of “medics†put us through a long medical test — a complete hoax organised by Colby (who later became Head of the CIA) of the American OSS!
During all this time I had not seen combat. We had been fully trained, including parachuting, in Palestine, but were put through the whole training again in England — some of it less good than in Palestine. I started saying so and, before long, the CO (Colonel Spooner) told me to pack up and report to somewhere in Baker St, London. I believed I was sacked, but when I got there I was interviewed by General Gubbins who got me to explain it all and then said something like, “Well, don’t do it again, and go back to Milton Hall!†- I was very grateful to him. Then they called for volunteers to go to Algiers and into the south of France. Captain Granier from France, Sgt Cornick (RTR) and I went with them as a team. The first of us went by air, then some more by sea. Our team was to drop in the Ardèche; our first attempt failed, as the pilot could not see any signal fires, but the second was successful. The timing was just right — it was just after the main landing in Normandy, so the Germans were too busy to rout us out: and some time before the southern landing, so that we had time to achieve something.
The operation did achieve a lot, in spite of two main difficulties. One was that we were under a Military Mission (a French Colonel and French/Canadian Major) who never got seriously to work against the Germans and did not want us. The other was that the Resistance was split between Communists and Non-Communists. The two halves did not help each other and the Communists were political rather than military. After some difficulties with the Mission we were able to help both halves, and encourage both to take action. We could not give orders — only make suggestions. But the Maquis were all eager to help — far more so than the Military Mission. There was little co-operation between the Military Mission and us which may have been caused by the struggle for power between different groups. However they counted for less and less as we got the Maquis to attack the Germans and a good deal was achieved.
We did get reinforcements from Algiers — some Americans with two 37mm guns. They were good but not properly used. My direct contact with them was attacking the Germans and their captured Russian troops who were moving north up the Rhone valley as fast as possible. The Germans were very efficient and we had some brushes with them at first, but later it was mainly Russian or Cossack units whom the Germans had made pretty effective too, though I don’t know how they did this. Some had a very bad reputation with the French. A whole battalion of Azerbaijanis under a Russian officer surrendered to us, but nobody complained about them.
We were with Communist Maquis, who were very young and untrained. They had these Americans attached, and we got them firing on the road and creating a hold-up. After a time things went quiet, and when I went round with their Commander to see how the sections placed in defence of the guns were getting on, they had all vanished. A little later we found ourselves surrounded, and had to hide in the undergrowth until dark — by then the Russians, under German officers, had retreated to the road and were moving again.
We would get messages from Algiers asking us to blow particular bridges but the French were unwilling to do this. When we tried to persuade the Maquis to do this, they would sometimes avoid doing it. I went with a non-Communist group and blew one bridge. The people on the ground were far more conscious than the staff in Algiers that bridges would be very useful again as soon as the Germans were gone. The non-Communists, especially the older and more experienced ones, were very ready to attack the Germans. At one ambush with them I chucked a bomb down on a small van — a front wheel flew up burning like a Catherine wheel. We took a Major prisoner, and killed two unfortunate troopers. (The training at Milton Hall to use a pistol was outstandingly good — by a Captain Fairbairn who had been with the Shanghai Police. He emphasised three points. The first was that you never sighted; second that you kept your right arm straight; and third that you always fired two shots as you brought your arm up. It was a very effective method, with practise.) The Major was handed over to their Intelligence Section, who were very well led by a French naval Commander.
Finally we were overrun by the French and American invasion in the south. We, like other SOE, were debriefed at Grenoble and then travelled to Paris and then back to England. However, I was on a charge for losing my .45 Webley automatic that had been stolen, I believed, by one of the Maquis during or just after an ambush, but I had no proof.
Jed teams start from different places, so have to rendezvous.
Could we persuade a local site member to be a resistance/Maquis bod (boring, so not a paying punter) holed up somewhere that the Jeds have to locate.
Lay explosives by roadway to disrupt German convoy.
Seems to be a big emphasis on radio communications so have to find radio set in cylinder drop. Use radio to call in further supplies (which would be intercepted by Germans of course).
Cut German telephone lines.
Mark out drop zone. That would be fecking awesome at night - waving torches for quarter of an hour to guide in drop.
Find hidden codes/instruction in dead letter boxes.
Germans:
Set up HQ - away from but near to tented area (suggest designated by ring of red cylumes so Jeds know it's a no-go zone) - send out patrols on a 'report back in one hour' sort of basis. Send out motorised convoys. If players don't report back anything then we feed in 'intelligence' anyway.
I'd like to have a look at the site before getting too into the game . Like the idea of midnight drops , plus we'll have to give a lot of thought as to how to keep 30 Germans happy though .
Pity both of you are off to some steam parade with Yith than coming to the E&E , TBH would make more sense , building tension into a weekends camping is difficult .
Heh, TBH I don't like that IED lot one bit - I evaded three teams for five hours wearing a white coat covering the entire site, even visited their camps. Siting six feet away from uber alley RM bods who thought they were real soldiers. 
Even Yith and Gadge for a weekend is preferable!
You are right, the German bit is the tricky bit - or it would be if they were expecting action for 24hrs. We will have to sell this carefully - it's going to be much more milsim, as in 'nothing much happening for most of the time'. I'm content with that and I'll keep them busy while you do the side commanding. I filled in so much time at Husky and the Brits loved it - long recces, planning, distribution of tasks.
But, but, but - as soon as Jay says yes to the site I want to get a date up with a game name and vague scene setting scenario ASAP, there isn't a day to lose on this. Chaps are need to get holidays booked and time slips away so quickly if we aren't careful.
So with this in mind I have thrown up stuff for us to look at and there is no reason why this can't be spot on to an actual operation, even down to the date in 1944!
LOL , the IED crew will be mainly out and about , evading or just ignoring the hunters , same as they did at Bryansk . Anyhoo I know what you mean , TBH I'm only doing this for our benefit , it's 12 months since I last did one, so hoping ot try a few things out . Get Mary to make you some blanco Butties for the weekend ...it'll be supa .
& no .....with hindsight ....I couldn't face a weekend of Gadge and Yith in Walting heaven ... 
Agree on the date thing though , have we any target dates , still looking at end August ? Bonk holiday would be ideal or perhaps the weekend after?
I was talking to S about this last week - whether Bank Holiday was a good idea or not and we came to the conclusion - not. Family types are busy and anyway, roads can be shocking, depending on where to/from.
I don't have any time booked but will be spending a week in Cornwall sometime in the school holiday 23rd July - 2nd September (for us)
Other events:
Saturday 8th, Sunday 9th - Crich weekend, several people may be at that.
29th 30th 31st - Summer bank holiday weekend
Seem to recal we've binned Bonk holiday before for much the same reason ...it makes sense . Wasn't Husky BHW ? Can't remember now .
Date wise then :-
1st /2nd Aug
8/9 - Crich ?
15/16
22/23
29/30/31 B/Holiday maybe
5/6 Sept - Reckon good , holidays out of way etc
12/13 Sept -Reckon good
I'm pretty much free as much as my dodgy personal circumstance dictate.
PS If you didn't get it - Tractor thing is gentle reference to Stalingrad on Agony Thread, just a teaser . .
Oh, I got it, subtlety was never your strong point.
Husky was the weekend after the bank holiday Monday.
5th/6th September sounds good to me.
Well you did say you knew little about the Eastern Front !
Anyway I'm far more subtle with people I think can warrant it ! 
I've watched Stalingrad and Enemy at the Gates, that's all I need to know by your reckoning!
LOL - more research than most on here will do
I'll lend you Beevor's book if you like , research aside, it's a very good read . You could use it as an exucse to wear your 1940's specs .
Heh, I have three pairs of specs now, I'll be like Professor Brainstorm!
Yep, 5/6th Sept is good for me too.
S
5 /6 Sept looking good - if it's cool with you Jay then reckon thats the date to aim at on Sunday if looks good ?
Are we thinking 24hrs 12pm - 12pm?
Yup or 10 till 10 .
10 till 10 is better IMHO , dawn attacks , end of event , the extra 2 hours are better used on the Saturday .
Except that the Sunday 'til 10 is a bit of a waste of time. Chaps will just be packing up kit and thinking of leaving.
Frankly, whether 10am or 12 noon, the Sunday will be the hardest part!
Also 10's an early start on Saturday for those that have to travel from up north....
Different game altoghter to Husky , plan to keep them on their toes all night as well as all day. By the time 10 am come they'll all be fucked. I will have Germans out patrolling during the night, the allies will have have at least 2 awake to keep watch , even if they decide not to put in an attack during the early hours. If they are smart during the day they'll lay up and sleep .
Remember Allies have no base to work from , no tents , nothing but what they can carry or scrounge . They won't want to piss about till 12 ,....hit the Germans , win or loose ...end ex.... 10 am will be ample .
It's not going to be getting pissed no Saturday night , dragging players out of bed Sunday, breifing and deploying ...this will be a weekend like no other... thats how it struck me the first time I did one at IED .
Oh yes and it'll be fecking WW2 authentic as well .
Players will love it or hate it , but I want to try it once .
Trust me ...my meds are powerful .
Also 10's an early start on Saturday for those that have to travel from up north....
We started CR at 12 ...& most players were on site by 9 and bored/wet by 12 ...people will travel down on the Friday .
