The most recent game with Phil here in GHQ featured a return to The Indian Mutiny. The scenario sees the rebels' close ally, the Raja of Rhanzlistan, seeking to safely remove his treasure from the path of the vengeful Imperial force lead by General Havelock-Robinson. While he waits anxiously for his Mutineer allies he has mustered what forces he can to delay the approaching enemy ~
The Raja's Household Guards, cavalry, infantry and war elephants, form the immediate guard of his person and treasury.
They are supplemented by batteries of artillery, some local and some from his household, and his personal rocket troop.
The Treasury, the immediate objective of Havelock-Robinson's force, is a hive of activity as wagons are loaded with as much treasure as they can bear.
The Raja has called out his Bhurpa allies to supplement his force, or rather act as canon fodder perhaps!
And finally the local riff-raff of the Badmash, who can at least stop a bullet!
Havelock-Robinson launches his assault by unleashing his Hussars on the deploying Rocket Men. They hastily loose off their rockets, sadly unsuccessfully, and are ridden down!
As thecGrest Gun of Bhyklabad opens fire the whole of the Bhurpa-Badmash wing surge forward to block the ferengi's approach.
Highlanders and Gurkhas join Havelock-Robinson's attack, supported by the Rocket battery manned by the crew of HMS Pinafore. Their fire is no more effective than the enemy's!
As Havelock-Robinson coordinates his attack the H.E.I.C.'s foot artillery comes into action under fire from the Raja's big guns located on the hills ringing his position.
The Raja's Household Guard infantry advance to block the path of the developing assault, supported closely by the War Elephants.
The North Staffords advance with steely determination in column formation, foreskin a volley for the bayonet!
The ensuing melee is devastating for the Guards whose losses are heavy. A morale check sees them flee on a throw of snakes' eyes!
Further disaster strikes the Raja's cause when the supporting artillery similarly abandons its guns and flees the action. To compound it the War Elephants are thrown back too!
The Treasury is a scene of wild panic as the recoiling War Elephants effectively block the wagons' route of escape!
Mounted Bhurpa warriors crash into the deployed artillery in a wild charge. Closing Fire sees them Shaken and loosing the ensuing melee!
The Lancers charge a body of Mutineer cavalry. There can only be one outcome...
...the Mutineers are scattered to the four winds! Their raw courage no match for the disciplined charge of the Lancers!
The victorious Lancers throw caution to the wind, lower their lances and charge into the Badmash. There can surely only be one outcome...
...No! The Badmash defeat the Lancers in the melee and they break their morale shattered by the unexpected defeat!
The War Elephants have rallied and move forward to block the North Staffords once more. Tellingly they have little support and find enemy artillery deploying to their exposed flank.
Buoyed by their victory over the Lancers the Badmash charge on into the Gordon Highlanders. Colonel Calder calmly forms his men into line and gives the enemy a sharp volley! Casualties are rising for the Badmash.
Once more the War Elephants are driven back by the North Staffords, though the threat of the artillery to their right flank is removed by a wild charge from the Bhurpa Warriors. Still no sign of the Mutineers, no urgently awaited by the Raja!
The War Elephants again regroup and rumble forward giving the North Staffords time to form line and open fire on their advance.
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| The Gordon Highlanders make short shrift of the Badmash, whose morale collapses causing them to flee. In their turn the supporting band are also checked and find little appetite for closing and join the rout! |
The 33rd make short work of the wild Bhurpa Warriors, resulting their charge with withering fire and seeing them flee in rout. Still no sign of the promised Mutineer relief force!
Suddenly the Raja realises that his army is Broken and that his Mutineer allies have failed to arrive and have let him down. He takes a final rueful look at that portion of his treasure he must leave for Havelock-Robinson before joining with the carts as they rumble away!
Such was the margin of his victory that local publicans soon cashed in on the General's fame by renaming their drinking establishments in his honour. This one seen only recently 'Oop North!
