Chapter 23: The Guru's SURPRISE!

Date: 14 September 1899/2009
Location: Bebara.
Situation: The Battle Continues
By The By: See Chapter 22 for the start of the battle, if needed.

Clicked Images Will Fill Your Screen
And now....


Multitude: "Moohl jah dee, Moohl jah dee, Moohl jah dee, Moohl jah dee, Moohl jah dee, Moohl jah dee, Moohl jah dee, Moohl jah dee, Moohl...."

The seated Muljadeh's raised hand silences his followers. On his right the Guru speaks.

Guru: "You hear the battle raging my brothers. The khakis came as I foresaw. Now complete my vision. You are the hammer with which the khakis will be smashed on The KHAN'S anvil at Bebara. In silence go to your secret positions and on my given 'sig ah nahl', rise and attack. Go straight at them and you will prevail! Attack the enemy's right flank and do your duty. Now goooooohh!"


And they did. Household footmen and horse arise from nowhere near Bebara going straight at the Imperial right flank.


Upper Right: Muljadeh's Household. The Imperial cavalry screen fell back in disorder to escape their galling rifle fire. 2nd. Squadron 10th. Hussars particularly suffered and Major Trevelian was hit. In the lower right you see three companies of 1st Sikhs assume a firing position behind a slight rise of ground facing a different direction because....


Red Sash rifle and swordsmen arise on a different side of the Imperial right flank. The Sikhs in the distance are covering the cavalry withdrawal with fire.

The cavalry withdraws. Official language will call it a rally back. Critics might say a flight. You decide.

Back to the Household. The Imperial line is trying to stabilize.

While the Household horse faces the Berkshires in the Imperial center.

In reserve a large body of native horsemen wait for an opportunity.

The Household's galloper from the previous century moves forward to give fire on the Imperial center.

Closer to Bebara, Khan's garrison presses forward.

This was the high water mark of the Imperial assault on Bebara. The Sikhs and Berkshires will soon pull back. The Seaforths under Col. Sinclair's initiative have left the center and are moving to shore up the army's right flank. Will they arrive in time? They did not even wait to reorder after clambering over the sandbag works. Hurry laddies. There's not a moment to lose! Faster!!!!!!!

The Sikhs pour "rapid volley" rifle fire into the Red Sashes consuming a lot of ammunition. Will this be enough? Will the Seaforths behind them arrive to save the day? Will Imperial horsemen reorganize and add further strength?

A closer view. Note the "L" shaped bend in the line at the right of the photo. The Berkshire's two flags in the distance mark the Imperial center facing Bebara.

Upper Left: Imperial left flank and center.
Upper Right: Right flank bend in the line.
Upper Center: Seaforths hurrying to shore up the right flank.

Middle Left: Cavalry stopping to reorganize.

Middle Right: 1st. Squadron, 10th. Hussars joining the other cavalry.

Bottom: 1st Mountain Battery mules and handlers getting out of the way.

Closer view behind the Imperial right flank.

The left of the line guarded by three companies of 1st Sikhs.The center held by more than half of the Berkshires. Other Berkshire companies moved to the right flank to prevent a collapse there earlier.

The right flank and the bend in it's line. Thrown back and taking devastating fire, the Imperials are trying to close up for what they assume will be the final assault. Farther away and unseen more than one hundred allies of Muljadeh have cunningly sneaked into Bebara. The crisis of battle is near. The hammer is striking the anvil.

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CLOSING REMARKS:

1. The third session resumes Monday 16 November.

2. Muljadeh and The Guru hid the major portion of the native host somewhere beyond Bebara. They waited to attack until the Imperials were committed close in at Bebara. The scenario allowed The Guru (Chuck) to place these warriors no closer than 36" to any Imperial force once the Imperials started their final advance on the village. Chuck chose to attack the weakest portion of the Imperial Army, its right flank. An excellent choice. This simulated the sudden appearance of native forces seemingly popping up out of the ground as occurred in The Sudan. However, this also has the feel of Maiwand.

3. LOSSES:

KEY
(101) Berkshires started with 101 miniatures.
First # = Session 1 Losses, Second # = Session 2 Losses
N/A = Not Applicable in game #1; not present.

IMPERIAL FIELD FORCE
General Staff (3): -0, -0 = -0
Berkshires (101): -15, -24 = -39
1st Sikhs (87): -0, -9 = -9
Seaforths (55): -0, -0 = 0
9th. Bengal Lancers (33): -0, -1 = -1
10th. Hussars (26): -3, -6 = -9 (Major Trevelian was hit)
1st Mtn. Battery(13): -0, -0 = 0
Elephant Battery (12): -0, -1 = -1
Heliographers (8): -0, -0, = -0
Bombay Miners/Sappers (29): N/A, N/A =-0
Total (367): -18, -41 = -59

KHAN'S LOSSES
Leaders (7), -0, -0 = -0
Green Sash Swords (46): -14, -3 = -17
Green Sash Muskets (53): -7, -8 = -15
Arty. Crew (5): -2, -2 = -4 (Two cannons destroyed)
Grey Sash Jezails (40): -26, -5 = -31
Bebarian Arquibusiers (5): -5, -0 = -5

THE GURU'S LOSSES

Units below first appeared in game #2.

Household Rifles (36): N/A, -7 = -7
Household Swords (36): N/A, - 19 = -19
Household Horsemen (24): N/A, -3 = -3
Household Arty. (9): N/A, -2 = -2
Red Sash Rifles (60): N/A, -15 = -15
Red Sash Swords (72): N/A, - 0 = -0
Red Sash Horsemen (48): N/A, -0 = -0
Allied Spears (30): N/A, -0 = -0
Allied Swords (60): N/A, -0 = -0
Allied Rifles (11): N/A, -0 = -0

Grand Total (542): -54, -64 = -118 and -2 cannons
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PS I am reminded of the scene in ZULU where Bromhead and Chard discuss upsetting civilians back home at their breakfasts reading about Lord Chelmsford's disaster. Yours truly hopes his readers will not suffer similar indigestion. Come back next week to find out.

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QUESTION TIME?

What similarity is there between the historical Battle of Maiwand and our Battle of Bebara?

Answers, comments, remarks, praise and indignations are welcomed immediately below, if you please.

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Chapter 22: Battle of Bebara Starts

Date: 14 September 1899/2009
Location: Bebara.
Situation: The Battle Commences
Click On Images To Fill Your Screen
And now....

The Rajah of Bebara returns to reclaim his village.


As seen from Bebara.


The Rajah is off screen to your left.
Imperial Left Flank: The elephant battery arrives.


And commences fire. Below three companies of 1st Sikhs are descending the ridge.

Imperial Center: The Berkshires (66th Foot) and the other half of the 1st Sikh's arrive.

Imperial Right Flank: Lt. Col. James Lawford leads two squadrons of the 9th Bengal Lancers screened by 2nd. Squadron, 10th Hussars.

The Berkshires are followed by the Seaforth Highlanders, 72nd. Foot. General Pettygree is beside the Rajah.

The 1st Mountain Battery deploys left of the lancers.

The battle line is formed.

FIRE!

We turn around to see the action from Bebara. After several rounds the foe leaves his forward defenses.

The Berkshires view the foe's second line of defense; a small rise with vegetation brought there to provide extra cover. Meanwhile look at the Green Sash swordsmen facing the mountain guns.

Surprise! They charged and took the guns; the crew evaded.

The charge continued into the Berkshires! The Imperials commence rapid fire but this does not stop their opponents. Both sides lose four in hand-to hand combat. A tie. However, at this point the Green Sashes have now lost more than 75%, must check morale because of this and thereafter flee.

KHAN (Chuck) commanded the natives. It may be dawning on the Imperials, the defense was light. And...?

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CLOSING REMARKS

1. The game lasted three hours; perhaps ten turns.

2. We may need three sessions. Session #2 should be on the 12th. instant.

3. Imperial Losses:

Berkshires (-15) and 10th Hussars (-3).

4. KHAN's Losses:

Green Sash Swords (-14), Green Sash Muskets (-7), Arty. Crew (-2), Grey Sash Jezails (-26), Bebarian Arquibusiers conscripted into the Grey Sash Jezails (-5).

5. Tents and Seaforths kindly on loan from Der Alte Fritz.

6. A few extra photos are below though images above tell the story well enough.

Bebara braces for attack.

The highest point overlooks the arrival of the Imperial Army. The heliograph team is in sight of the baggage and medical camp a mile plus to the rear.


The baggage and medical camp.


Close up of that camp. One company of 1st. Sikhs and the remnant of the 27th. Bombay Miners and Sappers guard the camp. The 27th previously took heavy losses. See Chapters 13-14.


Another view of the early battle line formed to attack the foe's first line of defense. There was no intention to stop the Imperials at this stage. Slowing their advance and causing attrition was the plan.
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Comments welcome below. Click on the word comments, if you please.
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Chapter 21: The Guru

Date: Early September 1899/2009
Location: Bebara Village
Situation: The Guru Organizes His Army
Click On Photos So Each Fills Your Screen
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In Chapter 20 you observed the inscrutable foe capturing the village of Bebara and the departure of it's Rajah. And now....


These few warriors of the Rajah were left behind. The Guru demanded they choose to fight with him or run "like children"to join the "cowardly" Rajah. Each threw 1D6. Result: 1, 2, 3 = Remain and 4, 5, 6 = Leave --- in a hurry.


Guru: "You could have been my brothers and like children, you
chose --- unwisely. Depart from me!"


A few days later the Army assembles for the Guru's oration. Left to Right: Red Sash Swordsmen, Rifles and Horse.


Left to Right: Red Sash Rifles and Cavalry. Those clad in white are Household Rifle and Swordsmen.


Atop The Building: Muljadeh (seated), his standard bearer and The Guru. Right Foreground: Household Cavalry in white and Bebarian conscripts who just joined the army.


Center to Right: Green Sash Swordsmen and Musketmen. Right Foreground Grey Sash Jezails.


Rightmost mounted is KHAN.


Guru: "My brothers, together we have taken Bebara. You are an anvil upon which the Imperial foe will be struck. They are coming - even now - to their destruction. They will march through that notch. I have foreseen it."


The notch. The same one used by the native army the day it captured Bebara.


And sure enough, later on 13 September, dismounted 10th Hussars reconnoitered Bebara. Brigadier Blackiston with binoculars converses with the 10th's commanding officer, Lt. Col Preece.


They look at the village.


And see....


Back to the oration --- earlier in the month.
Guru: "Here is my plan. YOU, KHAN, will...."
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CLOSING REMARKS
1. The table is set and forces are deploying for The Battle of Bebara on 6-12 November.
2. Return here often in the next several days for updates.
3. What do you suppose is The Guru's plan?
4. What will the Imperials do?
5. Your remarks answering these questions and any other thoughts are welcome below.
6. Click on comments just below here, if you please.
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