Battle of Market Tuddingham

The **Battle of Market Tuddingham** was a major battle fought in February 1978 between the Federation and the Protectorate, and was considered a major victory for the Protectorate during the Civil War.

### Next

Battle of Little Tadlow
Raid on LeedsBattle of the Farm

## Commanders

* Craig Watkins
* Jenny Richards
* Ruth Anderson

* Robert Malcolm
* Peter Grant

## Casualties

* Craig Watkins

* N/A

## Prelude

During the Federation's guerrilla campaign against the Protectorate, Craig Watkins led a militia in attacking Protectorate storage depots to sabotage, disrupt and steal munitions, with Ruth Anderson acting as an spy within the Protectorate. When she learned of an accident at a Protectorate coal mine, she allowed Craig's militia to infiltrate the mine, but they were betrayed and the bulk of the Federation forces were captured and executed. Fleeing from the ambush, Abby Grant surrendered herself to Robert Malcolm at Retworth, in a bargain to be reunited with her son, Peter, on the condition that she work for the Protectorate, thereby betraying her friends and the Federation. *(Hearts and Mines)*

Outgunned and surrounded by the Faction, Ruth and Craig were rescued by Jenny Richards, near Brynford, after she learned that they had organised a rebellion against the Protectorate. Meanwhile, Abby sought to be an intermediary between the Protectorate and the Federation, in order to be allowed to stay with Peter. With their forces moving in, the Faction drove Jenny, Craig and Ruth to the market town of Market Tuddingham, where they took refuge in an old cinema. Despite attempts to convince the townsfolk to join the defence against the Faction, many remained neutral or supporting of the Protectorate. Although a few offered food and supplies to the Federation, the town decided not to join in the defence against the Faction.

After being accepted by Robert Malcolm as support staff for his army, Abby was able to poison the Faction's rations with nightshade, causing mass cases of poisoning in Robert Malcolm's army. Counting down the minutes before the attack, the Federation leaders of Jenny, Craig and Ruth noted a gap in the Faction's lockdown of the cinema, working out an escape route, with Craig offering to distract the Faction while Jenny and Ruth would make their escape, in order to rendezvous at the nearby village of Fossington. *(Fade Out)*

## The battle

Storming the cinema foyer, Robert Malcolm led the Faction, with Peter and Abby Grant taking up positions to provide covering fire. Despite being given a pistol, Abby attempted to shoot Robert Malcolm in the back, only to fire blanks. Meanwhile, in an attempt to create a distraction, Peter threw a smoke grenade into the cinema screen, but was undermined by Craig Watkins' use of the cinema projector to replay a film from before the Death. Realising their strategy, Robert Malcolm ordered Peter to search the cinema for the remaining combatant still sheltering to allow Jenny Richards and Ruth Anderson to escape.

Sensing an opening in the defences, Craig attempted to escape the cinema and was reunited with Abby, who informed him she had not betrayed the Federation, and revealed she had poisoned the Faction to halt their advance into Market Tuddingham, although she had expected Robert Malcolm to also fall ill. When Peter encountered Craig, he opened fire and Abby assumed the role of Craig's captor as Peter and Robert Malcolm intervened. With Craig at their mercy, Peter hesitated to execute the prisoner, despite Robert Malcolm's encouragement. *(Fade Out)*

## Aftermath

Holding Craig Watkins at knifepoint, Peter Grant was ordered by Robert Malcolm to execute him, while his mother, Abby Grant attempted to plead for Craig's life and Peter's conscience. Despite this, Peter followed his commander officer's orders and executed Craig, by slitting his throat. As a deterrent to the Federation, and further rebellion against the Protectorate, Robert Malcolm ordered to have Craig's corpse draped across the cinema screen, and he thanked the people of Market Tuddingham for their cooperation in the battle.

At the rendezvous point in Fossington, Jenny Richards and Ruth Anderson waited for the agreed time to allow Craig to join them, before realising that he had been killed by the Faction. For her part in Craig's death and the defeat at Market Tuddingham, Jenny vowed to kill Abby upon their next meeting. *(Fade Out)*