The Sands of the Desert...

...are red with blood, etc. In other words, a return to the Sudan War, pitting the Barmy Bykli against Robinson Pasha. First off, an overview of the table, less Mahdists obviously ~

A British column sets forth to relieve the beleaguered Egyptian garrison defending El Zbelz. The Mahdists can appear after Turn 1from either table edge on a random dice throw, with the chance increasing in every turn. All obstacles for movement cause a reduction in move distance, 12" for the Anglo-Egyptian units and 6" for any Mounted Mahdists. The rocky outcrops are impassable to the Anglo-Egyptian forces, the Mahdists may cross them at a movement loss of 12". They may also occupy them and thus cannot be engaged hand-to-hand. Otherwise we used the rules from Black Powder and the supplement Blood on the Nile as given. On to the action ~

The relief column organises itself to march to the relief of the garrison of El Zlelz.

The Camel Corps advance towards a rocky outcrop searching for the Mahdists (who had failed to appear in Turn 2.)

While the Naval contingent accompanying the machine guns struggle across the desert sands the detachment from the Indian Army, led by the Tandoori Horse, move forward to support the Camel Corps.

Turn 3 and the Mahdists make a surprise appearance on the flank of the column. The Tandoori Rifles form a firing line and prepare to repel charges by the Beja camelry. Meanwhile the rifle armed warriors advance to occupy the rocky outcrops threatening the flank of the Camel Corps.

An overview of the developing battle hopefully giving a sense of the difficult decisions facing Robinson Pasha. The Naval detachment are still struggling in the soft sands of the dunes and the deployed machine guns have both jammed after one turn of firing!

With disciplined fire power, backed up by cold steel and pluck, the Tandoori Rifles Drive off the Bejac camelry under the eyes of Robinson Pasha and his Staff Officers.

More Mahdists now flood into the action, taking advantage of the cover provided by the Wadi, to rush towards the Tandoori Horse who have formed up to protect the approaches to the fort at El Zbelz.

As the Beja hordes sweep forward to the attack they are supported by their allied Bagarra horsemen sweeping around the flank of the fort and so surprising the Egyptian garrison that they omitted to fire on them!

As the Beja warriors sweep forward on the relief column a second wave of sword and spear armed fanatics are rushing to their support.

The Tandoori Horse stray themselves ready to charge the onrushing warriors, but ever wary of the threat posed by the sudden appearance of the Bagarra horsemen to their front.

With Lances lowered for the charge the Tandoori Horse crash into the mass of Beja warriors whose wicked swords hack and slash in response.

On the opposite flank of the wadi the dismounted Camel Corps troopers receive the Beja warriors charging them. A volley of devastating Closing Fire, backed up by a touch of the cold steel, sees off the Beja. Two 1s thrown in a Morale save would seem to suggest, "They don't like it up 'em, Sir, they do not like it up'em!"

Although the first wave of Beja fanatics are beaten off the Tandoori Horse have no time to reform before the Bagarra horsemen crash into them.

Steel crashes on steel, horse and men scream and fall, but again the Tandoori Horse are victorious!

As fresh elements of Bagarra allied horsemen, backed up by more Beja fanatical warriors, appear in the column's rear the Egyptian garrison's cavalry finally responds to frantic heliograph signalling and charges out on the enemy!

It's had been a desperate struggle over 11 Turns, but the morale of the Mahdist army is finally broken. The surviving warriors withdraw from the field of battle leaving many a brave man's corpse for the vultures circling overhead already!

All the figures are from my collection of Perry Miniatures, supported by odd bits from Essex and Castaway Arts. The fort walls and towers are from the old hard foam Battleground range made by Ian Weekley and are 15mm really but look fine to me! Phil scratch built the various buildings you see and the resin pieces are from the Hovels range. The mat is from Tiny Wargames Mats I believe.