A Slight Diversion

 A return to my Tales from Pendawar was this week's choice for our game in GHQ. Lord Rawnsley, returning triumphant from his latest campaign against the forces of Typoo Bhyka, finds his passage home rudely interrupted by a scratch force scraped together in haste by the usually ineffective Raja of Pendawar. This force is blocking the route home at the only two crossings of the mighty River Indra which the baggage and infantry can use. They may receive small reinforcing elements as the local headmen answer the Raja's urgent summons. As is usual a photomontage to give a sense of the action ~

The general table layout and force dispositions at the opening of the game. The Raja's scratch force is artillery heavy but light on horse. Lord Rawnsley has two brigades of Company infantry stiffened by the 74th and the 76th, supported by horse and foot artillery and some elements of cavalry. He aims to force the crossings and drive off the rabble blocking his route to home and tiffin!

A large number of hill tribesmen have rallied to the Raja's urgent summons bringing with them the legendary Great Gun of Bhyklabad. The raja has mustered what artillery he can covering the main ford, including his own Rocket men, while leaving the ferocious Bhurpas to deny Rawnsley's men the use of the second crossing point.

Hoping to soften up the Bhurpas, Rawnsley sends his horse artillery forward while his infantry make steady progress towards their objective.

The second column making directly for the main ford finds the going tough, the terrain hampering the rapid movement and deployment of the force. The baggage train merely adds to the general confusion!

Despite his difficulties, Rawnsley soon has his first battalion into action, forming a firing line along the river bank opposite the Raja's main defensive position. The Raja's own artillery opens an ineffectual fire on the enemy.

Finally the Raja's motley force of Household guard infantry, cavalry and elephants moves forward to see off the impertinent ferengi. It seems Rawnsley has missed his opportunity in forcing the lightly defended crossing.

Both crossing points are now being contested by infantry fire, but as yet noone has got so much as a foot wet. Rockets blaze across the azure skies, exploding harmlessly amongst the countryside!

The household's war elephants lumber across the river under heavy fire, but charge home against the 76th.

Unnerved by the sight and noise the 70th break and flee to the rear. First blood to the Raja!

The baggage is threatened by the war elephants, who somewhat surprisingly fail to capitalise on their opportunity! They will regret that when withering infantry fire breaks them and the survivors route through their own supporting cavalry.

The Sepoy battalion has failed to make any real impression on the warlike Bhurpas. Perhaps Rockets roaring dangerously close overhead have unnerved them.

Indeed the next rocket salvo strikes home. The Sepoys break in panic and flee to the rear. The Raja's spirits are raised by this second success.

Perhaps it is just as well that his dander is up, for the news on reinforcements is desperately bad, only one group of hill tribesmen cavalry have answered the call!

More success for the Rocket men! More confusion amongst Rawnsley's forces as the brigade commander is carried away with the routing Sepoy battalion.

With wild yells the Bhurpas charge across the ford and strike the 76th! Salwar clashes with bayonet! Shrieks and moans rent the air as a desperate struggle plays out. The Bhurpas have the upper hand but cannot break the Jock's spirit! The gallant Colonel Anderson exhorts his men to die hard!

The second grouping of Bhurpa warriors has been suffering badly under artillery fire. Their morale is finally broken and they flee. If their countrymen do not break the 76th the crossing will fall to Rawnsley's forces and the Raja's heavy guns will be flanked and silenced.

Sadly it is all up for the Raja in turn 8. The Bhurpas are seen off by Anderson's gallant lads after a bloody hand to hand fight, while at the second crossing the Raja's Household Guards are routed and the Voluntaires de Bykli are forced to retire, their morale broken. Not a single soul in Rawnsley's forces has got so much as a toe wet, yet the route to home and tiffin lie open before them! Such are the vagaries of war my friend...