Date: 14 September 1929/2019
Location: El-Wil-Yam Village On The Dongolo River
Situation: Surprise Dawn Attack
Rules: Batailles de l'Ancien Régime BAR Adapted for Colonials
Credits
From the Scenario by Chuck The Lucky
Adaptation by General Pettygree Studios
Homage: Cecil B. DeMille "Light"
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Observation Tower
British Museum Site B
British Museum Site B
"Juba, Do you see what I see?"
"I'll write a note for you to take to the Professor."
"This is ghastly news. Jalal prepare the camp for the worst.
Juba go back to your master."
Juba and his master observed Lt. Colonel Coote's Guides Cavalry
jump a sandbag wall, dismount and....
Form a skirmish line behind it as their pursuers pressed forward.
Both sides fought vigorously whilst a mass of the enemy foot came on.
But an unseen body of Hadendowah Camelry
arrived through a mountain pass behind the Guides and....
Inclined toward them as the Guides left the sandbag wall.
Jubilation was replaced by dread.
A grievous second mêlée was forced. It did not last long.
The Camelry was after all not a mounted shock arm.
The Guides broke through in the nick of time.
Even as more enemy infantry seemingly erupted out of the ground.
Fortunately help was on the way.
jump a sandbag wall, dismount and....
Onward they came in a cacophonous roar of thundering hooves and screaming angry voices. Their horses declined to jump the wall in the face of Imperial carbine fire. So the foe reverted to thrusting ancient swords across the barrier while the Guides desperately fought back.
Intending to break through the far end of the wall. Surely the Guides would be overwhelmed were it not for the fact that the enemy horsemen through high losses eventually became discouraged and cantered away.
This offered a lucky if momentary opportunity to remount to hastily leave. Jubilation at their near demise arose within the breasts of the Guides. Many grinned madly. Others shouted shabash!
arrived through a mountain pass behind the Guides and....
Jubilation was replaced by dread.
The Camelry was after all not a mounted shock arm.
The Guides broke through in the nick of time.
The Royal Hamster Light Infantry marched forward to repair the breach taking up a reverse slope position at a shallow creek. To their rear Juba and his master were temporarily relieved of some anxiety.
Later in the day a hastily built defensive position was built around their Observation Tower at the British Museum's Site B excavation portending new perils.
If the reader will forbear to pause we will continue next time at the harbor of El Wil-Yam Village which came into view in the previous image to the right of the Guides fight.
If the reader will forbear to pause we will continue next time at the harbor of El Wil-Yam Village which came into view in the previous image to the right of the Guides fight.
The wait will hopefully be worth it as you view the following enticement.
El Wil-Yam Harbor, Dongolo River
The greatest adventure story ever told about the Mafrican Continent
"Captain Nightingale Sir, The rain is drifting away and...."
"Very good Sir."
"Captain Nightingale's compliments, Sir and
a Dervish swarm of boats is sailing for the harbor.
And we saw the Guides hotly pursued by a horde of the enemy."
Where you will see the spectacular native amphibious assault.
and the mad charges of the largest assembly of Dervish ever seen....
And the efforts of those sworn to stop them.
Return soon to see the stirring battle on The Dongolo River
on the imagineered continent of Mafrica.
CLOSING REMARKS
Cast
Standing left to right: Earl K. (Lt. Col. Coote), Chuck L. (The Lucky), John B. (The Formidable), Jim P. (Der Alte Fritz), Greg B. (Col. Loveytoes) and yours truly Bill P. (aka General Pettygree)
Celebration
Next Things
Story resumption.
Your remarks placed below, if you please.
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8 comments:
It was a,desperate struggle against the Dervish as they came at us from all directions . Our Egyptian allies were veritable lions as they held off the largest hoard of Dervish that we had ever seen. But eventually numbers told and the fanatics overwhelmed the Egyptian and Sudanese allies.
Thus it was left to the Seaforth Highlanders and 1st Sikh regiments to stem the tide. I will deliver the rest of my report shortly, but I'm a bit busy organizing a disciplined fighting withdrawal from the scene. All that I can say at this time is "thank God for nightfall.
Your servant,
Colonel Archibald Sinclair
The Seaforth Highland Regiment
I was wondering when we would get an update on this campaign and wow, was it worth the wait. Great reporting. I am looking forward to the next instalment.
Best wishes
Great looking game and story telling. I look forward to hearing what happens next. Cake is a splendid touch.
Report of alt. Col. CW Cote
Thank you to the brave and heroic photographer who captured the stand of my Indian Guides against the evil hordes. My brave lads did their duty in repelling the enemy cavalry at the sand bag wall and then mounting to face the on coming charge of the enemy camelry. Once again we met with success, but sadly we had lost nearly 50% casualties and allof the the dead and grievously wounded would never see proper burial as their bodies lay on the field which we no longer held. We continued to harass the enemy for the duration of the battle with long range rifle fire.
Respectfully submitted
Let. Col. Charles William Cote, Commander
The Empires Loyal Indian Guides.
Near British Museum Site B 16 September, 1929
To: General Pettygree
Sir,
It is my honor to report the performance of the 1st Battalion of Her Majesties Own Royal Hamster Light Infantry during the action of the 14th instant near the Dongolo River.
On the 13th, per your orders, the battalion moved to a position where it was able to cover the mountain pass on the Site B side of a small river and provide support to the excavation site if needed.
During the morning of the 14th a message was received from the Guides Cavalry that they were being pursued by a large contingent of Dervish cavalry, but were going to attempt to hold them at a previously prepared position. A reply was sent to them asking if they needed immediate assistance. There was no further contact between the battalion and the Guides.
Meanwhile, an observation force at the mountain pass detected an enemy presence in the pass. The remainder of the battalion then moved toward the small river and behind said force to lend support.
About this time a unit of Hadendowah Camelry exited the pass on the far side of the river and turned to attack the Guides. The battalion managed to get off 1 volley at the buggers before the Guides smashed into them and the mounted troops disappeared in a running battle down the valley pass.
The battalion then crossed the river and took a reverse slope position on the far bank having observed a LARGE group of Dervish infantry advancing on their position.
The Dervish then made four separate determined charges on our position. The Hamsters held valiantly through the first three. By the last charge, however, the battalion was running very low on ammunition and had suffered 60% casualties. To my shame, they broke and ran.
Luckily, Captain Perceval Purdy Pennington O’Brian (known to the men as C3PO) was on hand and, being an accomplished vulgarian, screamed that the Hamsters were acting like “bloody rats deserting a sinking ship.” The remaining Hamsters, taking great umbrage at being called ‘rats’, immediately halted, reformed and faced the enemy. There was no further action as the enemy, also having taken tremendous casualties, remained on the far side of the river.
At this time I wish particularly to bring to the general’s notice the admirable work done by Private Snowball 137 of Company B, 1st Bn., Her Majesties Own Royal Hamster Light Infantry. During the third Dervish charge Pvt. Snowball, at great peril to himself, held off a portion of this attack alone with nothing more than his empty water bottle. Although wounded, he held the Dervish at bay long enough for the remaining members of his company to replenish both their ammunition AND cheek pouches and return to assist their comrade.
Respectfully submitted,
Col. Cranston Loveytoes, Her Majesties Own Royal Hamster Light Infantry, commanding
Love it .. great stuff
What a cracking read Bill. Wonderful to see so many friends get together to battle through the Sudan. Great figures, tables and those Dhows were spectacular.
My dear readers and writers!
Thank you very much for your approbation and kind sentiments. Receiving validation from you is truly appreciated. We had a tremendous amount of fun in this game. Hopefully the story conveys this aspect of it. Throughout play I said this is a movie and players responded in such a fun and different way because of that. Sometimes they would call me over to view interesting scenes to photograph. That made the story better. Great players and friends.
Bravo to you all,
Bill P.
Chronicler for The Adventures of General Pettygree
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