McKellen's Finest Hour

This week it was the final game in our Sudan play test series. It was almost a full turn out, which was stretching the format a bit, but seemed to work nevertheless.

Dramatis Personae

Major Pea, Galloping Major and the evening's Sir Garnet.

Major Eyeswater, Galloping Major.

Capt. Cakey, Adjutant

Majors Whitemoore, Dundarse and Young Winston, Intelligence officers.

Major Stroker, posted overseas.

Once again, Madly Barking was back with the convoy, the aim being to see how far the convoy could advance during the game.

Once more El-Babaji commanded the Dervish according to the guidelines laid out in our Radical Babbage variant.

Major Eyeswater deployed his battalion on the British right opposite the donga, with Major Pea's battalion to their left opposite a mimosa covered hill. Both battalions deployed in square with the convoy between them. Out in front was a screen of 2 units of mounted infantry and a unit of Abyssinian scouts, all commanded by Capt. Cakey.

A cautious deployment by the British - do they know something?

The Dervish then rolled for deployment and deployed all 4 mobs on their left.

It's quiet out there - too quiet

The British advance - as the convoy passes them by, Major Pea and the Durhams take a moment to reflect (ahem...)

It soon transpired that the Dervish were not messing about and their dander was up. Eschewing any attempt at concealment, the leading mob charged forward and was soon across the donga, where they were engaged by the Balamory Highlanders supported by the mounted infantry.

The Balamory and Midsomers shake out into firing line and blaze away for most of the game

With the Dervish attack on the right halted by massed fire, the Durhams deploy, as an attack in the centre heads towards the Abyssinian scouts in the donga,

The Durhams form close order, as the mounted infantry winkle out a horde of screaming Beja on Mimosa Hill.

Too late for the scouts, who are wiped out to a man. With dice rolling like that, they can only  be led by Sheik El Liot!

Cumberbatch orders fixed bayonets as the Beja charge down hill.

Cumberbatch's company put up a fierce fight but pay a terrible price and are pushed back

With Cumberbatch out of the fight it's now the turn of Brett's company to face the wrath of the Mahdi. Both companies are now down to 3 figures.

With the British left barely holding, the Dervish infiltrate the donga.

It turns out that there was an awful lot of Beja hidden down there.

The Beja threat is halted by crossfire from Rathbone's company, the Midsomers and the Mounted Infantry. In the centre a unit of Beja is down to one figure as is Brett's company facing them. To cries of 'pot that man!' Brett levels his revolver - it's a hit! We instantly awarded Brett a medal. In an attempt to get into a fire position, McKellan has advanced on to Mimosa Hill.

On the far right, suffering from incoming rifle fire, the Mounted Infantry fix bayonets.

McKellen faces off a cavalry charge.

McKellen pushed back down the hill. Cumberbatch provides supporting fire from his 3 remaining figures - 3 hits. Good shooting!

Rathbone's company charged by Beja but miraculously wipes them out.

With crippling casualties the Dervish drift away.

So the British hold the field but at a terrible price, particularly amongst the Durhams. That said I'm giving this game to the Durhams; they clearly took the brunt of the hand to hand fighting. McKellan's company, in particular performed heroically, surviving multiple attacks from both Beja and cavalry. They also advanced farthest out of the all the regular infantry.

An honourable mention goes to Capt. Cakey, in charge of the Mounted Infantry and Scouts, who did a grand job of flushing out the Dervish. The Mounted Infantry also performed the only bayonet charge of the game.

All in all, it was a cracking game and the Radical Babbage system was a great success. So it's all steam ahead for the Sudan campaign. We have a tentative format worked out and all the players have signed up, so we will definitely be returning to the Sudan in the future.