Sir Portly B'Stard's thrusting desert column

 Once again its up the Nile for Galloping Major Willie Stroker and Major Pea of the Durhams.  Once again our enemy was that vile monster Mr Babbage.  Once again I trusted the "up and at em" Lt. Herbert Farthingdale with command of the 10th Hussars.

Sir Portly and his supply column were to relieve the fort at one end of the table, a place which was clearly besieged by the Dervish.  The supply camels were loaded with gum Arabic and senna pods.   The garrison were not really regular troops.*

*My thanks to Mr Kenneth Williams and the 1970s

 Given our previous experience only a miracle would save the day.  

Deployment

The fort

My composite Brigade advances, trying to keep the Colonel behind us.

Farthingdale goes mad, again, and charges Irregular riflemen to the front.  They had rolled as good shots, but the 10th hussars didn`t care

He thumps them back and follows up

With Farthingdale charging out front the Battalion squares advance

The Durhams keep very good order

Farthingdale goes again, knocking back tribal infantry

And he's getting near the fort

My Lancaster's form close order, but no less than three mirages appeared before us.

And Sir Portly has had enough of our slow approach.  The column thrusts forward.  Idiot!

Throughout the game the Egyptian garrison gave a good account of itself.

The Lancasters kill off a tribal Infantry unit, leaving its leader, Abdul Abulbar alone.
O' the sons of the desert were valiant and bold and quite unaccustomed to fear.

The 10th Hussars are, amazingly, still going.  Wiping out another unit.

Finally the Hussars face Tribal Infantry in cover, supported by Riflemen.  Charge!  

And Sir Portly's supply column is getting away

The 10th Hussars go in, four dice four kills, but lose one.  He follows up, losing two more men but the Tribal Infantry are pinned down and beaten.

And Farthingdale is left alone.  Mad as a hatter he charges in alone and kills one, but falls bravely.  A VC winner. Posthumously of course.  I can now appoint another cavalry Officer!

The Mahdists come over the hill into the close order Lancasters.  We lose a man.  They lose seven. 

The End Game.  The game is won, the fort relieved, and Sir Portly had an excellent dinner.

Grand stuff..