I would like to do a study of a different regiment of the British army each month, giving a background and some history to it, then picking one particular action and providing a scenario for it.  As there is a great emphasis (at least in my area) on the newly formed Yorkshire regiment, I propose to start with some of those regiments who have contributed most to the history of the United Kingdom.  Starting with perhaps on of the most illustrious regiments in the British army, the Green Howard’s. During the Crimean War, the regiment was awarded its first two Victoria Crosses. In terms of medals it is one of the most highly decorated regiments in the country, holding 18 Victoria crosses and 3 George Crosses (which ranks immediately behind the Victoria).
The Names and the People
	The Green Howard’s were raised on 20th of November 1688 from independent companies that existed in Devonshire by Colonel Francis Luttrell. The men fought for Prince William of Orange. In 1691 Thomas Erle took over command,  but also came by the colonelcy of another regiment. These being later amalgamated into a combined Regiment with the primary regiment taking the name of the 1st Battalion.
	In 1738 Charles Howard took command. At this time the regiments were known by the surnames of the Commanding Officer. Thus there was confusion between the men of the 19th and the men of another regiment who’s commanding officer was also called Howard. As the facings of the men’s uniforms were green it became natural for them to be called “the Green Howard’s” and the other regiment became “the Buff Howard’s”. It may be interesting to note that “the Buffs” are still a regiment to this day. The nickname "The Green Howard’s" stuck, and survived until 1920 when it became the official title of the regiment. 
	The regiment first became associated with, the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1782, when it was granted the title of "The 19th (First Yorkshire North Riding Regiment) of Foot". The title was given when the regiment returned from taking part in the American War of Independence (However, it wasn’t until 1873 when the regiment was based in Richmond, North Yorkshire). The regiment still has a museum there which is well worth a visit, it portrays much of the history of the regiment as well as having one of the finest collections of uniforms and medals in the country. 
	In 1875 the late Queen Alexandra, then Princess of Wales, presented the regiment with new colours to replace those which had been carried throughout the Crimean War. The regiment was then granted the title of "The Princess of Wales's Own". In 1881, on the introduction of the territorial system, the name of the regiment was again altered to become "The Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment". 
	Following the South African War, the word "Alexandra" was added. Finally, in 1920 the title of the Regiment became "The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment)". 

The Battles and the Wars
	The Regiment first saw service in 1690, fighting in the Battle of the Boyne. It was present at the siege of Namur in 1695 and fought through the Flanders campaign of 1707-1714 with the Duke of Marlborough, and paid a great cost in human life for it’s first battle honour at Malplaquet. In 1744 the regiment fought with Austria against France and Bavaria, and in1761 took part in many campaigns notably the Expeditions on Belle Isle in 1761, The American War of Independence (1775). It was besieged Ostend in 1794 and fought the campaigns in India against the Tippoo Sultan and the Mahratta Confederation, along with the many other rebellions (1796-1820).
	The regiment served in the Crimean War being present at the battles of Alma  and Inkerman as well as the siege of Sevastapol. The Battle of Alma became the first of many of the regiments awarded battle honours. As a result the anniversary of the Battle is particularly notable in the regiments calendar.
	During the action at the battle of Alma, the Regiment stormed and captured the Russian position consisting of strongly fortified earthworks and fourteen guns known as "The Great Redoubt". It was here that six drums were taken from the Russian Borodino, Minsk, and Vladimir regiments. These are still shown at the Green Howard’s museum in Richmond.
	At the end of the war in the Crimea the regiment were briefly returned to England before being shipped out to help in British India following the Indian Mutiny of 1857. The regiment stayed there until being recalled in 1871. In this time they took part in the Hazara Campaign in the Black mountains of the northwest frontier in India against various tribes. This was the first of many occasions that they fought alongside or under Winston Churchill who was then serving with the 4th (Queens Own) Hussars
	The regiment was in action in the Mahdist revolts in the Sudan where the young 

Winston Churchill was now serving with the 21st Lancers. For the battle of Ginnis they 

wore the scarlet tunic of the British infantry for the last time in combat.

By 1897 the regiment were back in India for the Tirah campaign on the North-West 

Frontier.
	For the next three years they fought in the South African war between 1899 and 

1902 where the regiment proudly won their third Victoria cross at the battle of Paadeberg.
	
	The arrival of the first world war saw the Green Howards raise 24 battalions with which the regiment fought in most of the major actions including the often over looked campaign in North Russia 1919. Over 65,000 men served in the ranks of the regiment during the great war and of these 7,500 were killed and a further 24,000 wounded. For this great sacrifice the regiment was awarded 12 Victoria Crosses.
	The inter-war period saw the regiment fighting in the third afghan war of 1919, the Waziristan operations of 1937-39 and the actions in Palestine in 1938. It also participated in many internal security duties such as those in Shanghai between 1927 and 1930.
	For the Second World War, twelve battalions were raised and with these the regiment saw service in Norway, North Africa, Burma, Sicily, Italy, France, Holland and Germany. Two of the battalions were among the first to land on D-Day in 1944. It was here that a member of the 6th battalion won the only Victoria Cross awarded for the actions on D-Day.
	Post World War 2 the regiment served “with great distinction” in the Malayan campaign (1949-1952) against the Chinese and Malayan Communist Terrorists. Since then the Regiment has been stationed in England, Austria, West Germany, Berlin, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Libya, Belize, Suez, and Afghanistan. It has also distinguished itself in Northern Ireland and one regimental officer was killed in action during the Falklands War “whilst serving with great gallantry”. Elements of the first battalion took part in the 1st Gulf War and now the regiment is being merged with the men of the Price of Wales Own and the Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding). Three distinct and historic units being merged into one. We can only hope that the Yorkshire Regiment will have as illustrious history in the future as the Green Howard’s.
A possible game involving the Green Howard’s
The Battle of Alma is not one of the most famous battles, it can hardly be compared with the likes of Hastings, Crecy or Waterloo. It is considered however the first battle of the Crimean War and one in which the Green Howard’s had their first claim to fame. I propose a small skirmish action around the Redoubt that the Green Howard’s (then the 19th Foot) fought so hard to take. The game should start with roughly 20 Russian figures and maybe 50 British infantry. Have them start off a good distance away, maybe 50-60 inches. Allowing a sensible movement, have the Russian player/s roll a d4 every turn and remove the corresponding number of figures starting with the closest to the “redoubt”, which, for the purposes of a small skirmish such as this might only be a stone wall. This allows for the cannon fire, alternatively, and if you have the rules for it, use proper cannon fire rules. However remember that the cannon at this stage were smooth bore.  Allow the British to fire twice a turn but make sure that the Russians have two saving rolls. The Russians however have one shot at the British but they have no saving roll. This reflects the British superior training and accuracy but the Russians defensive capabilities and terrain advantage. Personal weapons should be give a decent range bearing in mind the recent usage of the Minie bullet which significantly improved musketry. 
This is obviously only a rough guide to a possible scenario but I hope I have wetted your appetite for a Crimean or a Green Howard scenario. 
By Pete Scholey

Bibliography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Alma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchill
http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/
http://www.regiments.org/