Earlier this year one of the early Wargaming Pioneers Charlie Wesencraft passed away at the age of 97. 

I thought it would be a fitting tribute to get some of my former guests together and have them tell Charlies story and there memories of him. 

In between the various interview sections I read passages from his first book, written in 1974, Practical Wargaming. See if you can spot any phrases from those readings that still resonate today.

Charlies first book can still be obtained via amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charlie-Wesencrafts-Practical-Wargaming-Wesencraft-ebook/dp/B01H2UK96U?ie=UTF8&tag=mh0a9-21&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvexid={aceid}&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_7dy1f5hemb_e

Here is a link to Robbie Roddis' piece on his blog about Charlie

https://independentwargamesgroup.blogspot.com/2025/04/charlie-wesencraft-author-wargamer-and.html

And here is the piece about Pete Berry from Baccus6mm and his tribute to Charlie which has a link to the Blenheim Project

https://www.baccus6mm.com/news/28-06-2025/CharlesFWesencraft/

Thanks for listening and as always, please like subscribe and comment wherever you get this podcast to help the listenership grow.

My next guest will hopefully be Mark Strachan from New Zealand who runs the 1866 and all that blog, so I best get the Yarkshire Airline Pidgeon fed up for the trip.

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

Hello everyone and here's something for the weekend !

This is the hangover from Episode 74 when in the Brews in the Binyard Episode where we talked rubbish for that long we didn't get chance to cover the listener questions ! So here they are.

We spend an hour catching up as one or two things have happened between this episode and the last brews and then its into the questions.

As always for the professionally offended, this is a very loose form Podcast which contains the odd (and even) naughty word, I even mention edible knickers a couple of times (no, I don't know where it came from either) so if its not your ting skip on by and wait for the next episode.

Speaking of which I am putting together a Tribute Episode to the recently departed Charlie Wesencraft whose book Practical Wargaming was an introduction to the hobby for many of us. If you would like to include an audio tribute (minute of so long) to Charlie, send it to me at [email protected] 

Until next time Sithee

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

Hello everyone and welcome to the shows Diamond Jubilee.

Todays guest is Ken Hanning. Ken has a wonderful wargaming shed (its a lot better than a shed !) which is named The Perthshire War Room.

It is a wonderful spot and the envy of many when he shows the room off on his Big Wargames Website and YouTube Chanel.

Ken has many links with the Leeds Wargaming Scene and it was lovely to chat about old friends some of which are no longer with us, the joys of Yorkshire and the Pie based food of the area.

At the end of the show we try and tackle a difficult subject in a positive manner. Ken was diagnosed with Cancer some time ago and has gone through numerous rounds of treatment and surgery some of which only ended last week. Ken was keen to talk about how the hobby and people in it have been amazingly supportive. Other communities like the We Have Ways Podcast have also been key to Kens wellbeing and it was a joy to hear the positivity in his story. Thanks to Ken for being so open and honest.

Kens Big Wargames Website is here

Big Wargames

The YouTube Channel is here

https://youtube.com/@kenhanning57?si=KhP5Bf1Rf0i1U_eZ

Next episode will be the Brews in the Binyard Questions we missed at the end of episode 74

Until Next Time,

Sithee

Welcome to the Summer Edition of the Brews in the Binyard side Podcast within a Podcast.

Its the 9th time we have done one of these and they are very different to the usual shows, so after a run of 7 or 8 "normal" episodes I suppose I best warn newcomers that there may be a spot of bad language and you really don't want to play this with kids in the room.

Someone will no doubt be offended, but that's not the intention and I hope everyone takes the show in the tongue in cheek manner it is intended.

We start the show with a general catch up with some lively discussions about wargame magazine coverage and game complexity that develops nicely throughout the show.

Part 2 is the draw for the 1st and 2nd Rounds of the World Cup of Wargaming Pet Hates, we discuss the results of the Preliminary Votes and those who didn't make the cut before going onto the draw.

We delayed the usual 3rd part of listener questions, we were already over 3 hours in and thanks to the wonderful audience we had well over 70 questions, so we decided to come back and do a separate episode in a few weeks time.

So sit back and enjoy this episode and I'll see you again soon with either a guest or a bunch of questions.

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

Hi Everyone,

Welcome back and today in episode 73 we return to the fascinating events surrounding a potential German Raid on the radar station at St Lawrence on the Isle of Wight in August 1943.

My guest Paul Thompson has spent a lot of time and effort supported by others to greatly further the investigation into the "rumour" on the Island of a raid to a point where the evidence is really looking like there was one.

We have spoke to Paul a couple of times (Episode 43 and 63) about this event, but we've tried to make this a stand alone episode with an introduction before we get into the meat and gravy. By all means go back and listen to the other episodes if you fancy a deep dive.

I wont spoil it but there are some pretty juicy reveals in the Episode and I honestly think we have gone from it being hard to prove the Germans were on the Island in 1943, I think we are at a point now where its hard to prove they weren't. Listen and decide for yourself.

With the shorter episode length I've taken the opportunity to cover the recent Partizan show and also the new World Cup of Wargaming Pet Hates, the preliminary round is open for voting until 2nd June via the link below

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1394761557711606/permalink/2097032530817835/

Next episode will be the Summer Brews in the Binyard, if you have any questions for the panel of me, Alex and Iain please send them to [email protected]

Until next time Sithee

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

Welcome to the Show and today I have a couple of guests on the show who I have known for a few years via the Analogue Hobbies Winter Paint Challenge (see Episode 18 for more).

Ray Rousell and Big Lee Hadley have been around the hobby for many years, both running successful wargaming blogs, with Lee branching off into the world of the Utubes in recent years, having his popular question of the week videos every Sunday.

As usual we start with a bit of an introduction and general game chat before using the second part of the show to discuss the Posties Rejects group that both Ray and Lee belong to.

After the usual mayhem of the Quiz we get down to an in depth discussion of the recent Salute 52 Wargames Show down in that there London.

This is a really fun episode with a couple of great guys who have a similar outlook on the hobby to me, hope you enjoy it.

Rays blog is here

Don't Throw a 1

Lees is here

BigLee's 'Miniature Adventures'

I will be returning in a week or so with a further exciting update on the German Raid on the Isle of Wight in WW2 with Paul Thompson.

Looking forward to that.

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

Hello everyone and welcome once again to the Yarkshire Gamer Reet Big Wargames Podcast.

Today for the 71st episode I have three guests, Steve Bomford who runs the Company of Makers (CoM) Organisation which helps Veterans adapt to civilian life post service. Nick Denning who is a former British Army Infantry Officer who is developing a near future Wargame with the assistance of CoM and Conrad Steele - Benny, a 30 plus year RAF Veteran who is heavily involved in the organisation of CoM events.

Between us we discuss their individual careers and involvement in Wargaming before moving on to discuss the work that The Company of Makers does. At the end of the show we widen out the discussion to cover the link between Veterans and Wargaming, the benefits it can bring and how we, as individuals can help.

It was an interesting and often thought provoking discussion which I hope you will enjoy.

If you would like to know more about the Company of Makers their website is here

Company of Makers – Podcasts | Talks | Workshops

My next episode will be with The Posties Rejects, Ray and Big Lee when we will be having a chat around their channels and blogs as well as a review of the recent Salute Show in that there London.

Until next time, Sithee

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire |Gamer 

Welcome to Episode 70 of the show and today I sit down with fellow gamer and podcaster Jared Fishman.

Jared runs the US based 20 Sided Gamified show and its a Wargaming show with a broad topic base which has a slant towards the educational value of our hobby in a wider context.

My guest is a teacher and has used gaming in his lessons as a great teaching tool, something I'm sure all of us would have enjoyed when we were at school.

As you would expect with two podcasters we rattle on a bit so it might be a two or three sittings to get through the show, or you might be hard core and get some painting done in a oner !

My next guest is one of a number who are trying to make their minds up on when they can do a recording, so I'll be back in a couple of weeks with someone !

20 Sided Gamified is available on all major podcast hosts, here is the Apple link

20 Sided Gamified Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

And on the Utubes

Introduction to the 20 Sided Gamified Podcast. Welcome to the Fold!

Hopefully see you at Salute

Until next time, Sithee

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

Hello all and welcome to Episode 69 of the Reet Big Wargames Podcast.

My guest today is Arran Johnston, Arran works with the Scottish Battlefield Trust and the Battle of Prestonpans Museum increasing awareness of the History of conflicts in the Highlands, Lowlands and Isles.

A specialist in the Jacobite Rising Arran has had a number of books published on that subject as well as Cromwells earlier campaigns in Scotland. On top of his day job he has also done some historical re-enactment, so as my grandma would say " He knows his eggs"

Arran has a personal website covering his historical work here

https://www.arranjohnston.co.uk/

The work he does with the Battle of Prestonpans Museum can be found here

https://www.battleofprestonpans1745.org/

Recently Arran has begun to use Wargaming as a tool to tell the story of the Jacobite Rising and has chronicled the Campaigns in a series of "What If" videos on the museums YouTube Channel.

The decisions made, by the Jacobites in the first run through and by the Government in the second have been made by members of the public which has been a really interesting experiment. You can tune into the campaign here

www.youtube.com/@Prestonpans1745

I think all wargamers would love to be involved in such a well run campaign.

My next guest will be Jared Fishman from the US Wargaming Podcast, 20 Sided Gamified Podcast.

See you soon

Regards Ken

On the 500th Anniversary of one of the most pivotable battles of the Great Italian Wars, what better to do that a deep dive into the battle of Pavia, with a specific slant on recreating the battle on the tabletop.

I'm joined by Martyn Kelly who has last on the show 2 years ago. He is well known for his exquisite Big Games at Historicon in the US and this year he will be putting on a huge recreation of the Italian Wars classic.

Neither Martyn or myself are historians, just enthusiastic wargamers, we give our own briefing introduction on the history of the battle before moving on to a deep dive on the orders of battle and figures used in Martyns game.

After that we talk about the terrain for the battle and how that is recreated in miniature before eventually getting to the battle itself and how that presents challenges on the tabletop.

Martyn has an excellent blog College of Kings on which he posts updates on the project.

https://www.collegeofkings.com/ 

Please like, subscribe and leave a review wherever you see the show.

I'll be back in a couple of weeks when I will be talking to Aaron Johnston who works for the Battle of Prestonpans Trust and runs the What If, 1745 Jacobite Campaign on the YouTube.

See you then

Sithee

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer