Mahdist War: The Mahdi

 No Mahdist War project would be complete without the man himself - the Mahdi!

These are figures from Perry Miniatures, painted by Roger and based by me.

Mahdist War: Osman Digna

The Beja forces needed a leader - so here he is:

Yet another figure from Perry Miniatures, painted by Roger and based by me.

Mahdist War: Mahdist Commanders

My Mahdist forces were lacking some obvious commanders to lead them into battle, so here are the three I have now added:

The figures are from Perry Miniatures, painted by Roger and based by me. 

Mahdist War: Imperial Commanders

 My Egyptian and Sudanese troops needed some commanders to lead them into battle.  So here are the three mounted officers I had added to my collection:

The figures are from Perry Miniatures, painted by Roger and based by me.

Mahdist War: Egyptian Cavalry

 I thought my Egyptian and Sudanese infantry needed some mounted support:

The figures are from Perry Miniatures, painted by Roger and based by me.

Mahdist War: The Black Watch

And last, but by no means least, of the units for the first phase of my Sudan project, some of the 1st Battalion, the Black Watch:

Once again these are from the excellent Perry Miniatures Sudan range.

Mahdist War: 10th Hussars

The next addition to my Sudan collection is some men of the 10th (The Prince of Wales's Own) Royal Hussars. Once again they are from the excellent Perry Miniatures range.

Mahdist War: Naval Brigade

And now some of the Naval Brigade:

Once again these are 28mm Perry Miniatures.

Mahdist War: Yorks & Lancs

Here are some more additions to my Sudan collection, firstly the 1st Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment:

These are all 28mm Perry Miniatures.

Mahdist War: RMLI

And now some Royal Marine Light Infantry to add to my Sudan collection (Perry 28mm figures again):

Mahdist War: KRRC

Here are some more of my 28mm Perry Sudan figures - this time from the 3rd Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps - for the Suakin Campaign:

Mahdist War: 19th Hussars

I didn't get much time this weekend to devote to gaming stuff but did manage to base up a few more of my Perry Sudan figures.  This time it's the 19th Hussars:

More Mahdist War

I thought I would post a few pictures of the figures I have just finished for my Mahdist War project. First the British officers:



Then the highlanders:



And finally the opposition:



They are all 28mm figures from the Perrys.

Mahdist War Project Update

Next up in my basing schedule were some additions to my Egyptian army for the Mahdist War:

Wargames Weekend: Foraging for Firewood

With the last three months flying by it was time for another wargames weekend.  Lenin popped over and we had a few games over the three days.  First up was a 28mm game set in the Sudan to get my new Perry Miniatures to the table.  We used Two Hour Wargames' Colonial Adventures rules and here is the background fluff:

General Sir Charles Wilson and the main body of the force to relieve Khartoum left Metemma on the steamers Talahawiyeh and Bordein on 24th January. The preparation of your steamer, re-christened El Teb, took a little longer and you left a day later. You have been rushing to catch up ever since.

Your steamer is now low on fuel and you have come along shore to find additional supplies of timber.  A nearby village looks to be a plentiful source even if you have to tear the buildings down.  But you need to be on the look out for enemy forces...

Lenin took command of the British troops which consisted of Captain Marmaduke “Chuffy” Chuffington, Officer Commanding (Competent:Rep 4), Sergeant The Honourable Arthur Wilson (Lacking:Rep 3) and a detachment of 1st Royal Sussex; Lt. Reginald “Kipper” Herring (Lacking:Rep 3) and Lance-Corporal Jack Jones (Competent:Rep 4) with an Egyptian Platoon with the Royal Artillery providing a 7 pounder screw gun and the Navy a Gardiner.

The Sussex detachment took the lead and advanced away from the steamer followed by the Egyptians.  Initially they thought they had spotted some Dervishes in some rough ground to the South of their position but it turned out to be a false alarm. They advanced further and then spotted a large contingent of Mahdists near the village. Chuffy ordered the Sussex into line and they fired a volley into the enemy. Unfortunately this just seemed to enrage them and they began charging towards the British troops.

Keeping the men steady Chuffy and Sergeant Wilson kept the Sussex firing volley after volley whilst Kipper deployed the Egyptians (despite Lance Corporal Jones' insistence on running around shouting don't panic!).

Despite the Sussex keeping up their fire the Mahdists charged into the British troops and some bloody hand to hand fighting ensued.  The larger numbers of the Dervish started to take their toll and the Sussex were forced to fall back taking substantial casualties.  Fortunately Captain Chuffington kept his head and withdrew to a position which gave the Naval Brigade's Gardiner gun a clear line of sight to the enemy.  The fire from the Gardiner evened the odds and the remaining Dervishes decided that it was the greater threat and charged on towards the steamer.  Only a few made the dock but they carried on until they ran headlong into the Royal Artillery who finished them off.

With the Sussex in no shape to proceed the mission was continued by the Egyptians, who almost immediately spotted another large group of the enemy.  The Mahdists were on them almost before they had time to react and more hand to hand fighting ensued (supported by cries of "they don't like it up 'em!" from Lance Corporal Jones).

Whilst the Egyptians won the melee they had taken significant casualties and withdrew to the steamer intending to move further up the river to find a softer target.

Workbench Update

Just finished some 28mm Perry Mahdists for my Sudan game:

along with some 28mm Musketeer VBCW Militia (although you may spot some Anglian/Empress figures thrown in too):

Perry Sudan British Infantry

I've just finished basing some of my 28mm Perry Miniatures British Infantry for the Sudan and I thought I would post a couple of pictures: