The Men Who Would Be Kings on the NWF

Time for another TMWWBK game using my collection. General B. once again took the Pathans and I the British, This time I would be at full strength whilst he had but 18 points to defend his village. presumably this was some form of punishment raid by the British after the Ambush last time!

The Pathan forces prepared to repel the British attackers.

Some occupied buildings, whilst others massed on the flanks.

The Sagaar Lancers accompanied the British troops

As well as the Mountain Gun known as Owd Betty

The Humberside Regiment formed the core of the force.

The lancers raced ahead and unwisely strayed into rifle range, getting pinned as a result.

The field gun routed one unit of Tribal Infantry but the village was still well defended

It would be down to the Humbersiders to wrest control.

The lancers were not faring well and fell back.

But the brave lads from Humberside marched on.

B. Company was drawn into a firefight with Pathans in the undergrowth

The tribesmen, provoked, fell on the stout khaki clad lads.

The fighting was bloody

But Brummagem steel saw the Pathans driven back

The lancers regained their wind and pressed back on.

A. Company came under fire and their poor leadership saw them pinned.

Return fire was driving back the defenders

But the narrow streets still thronged with Pathans

The unit on the nearest buildings were led by a Shirker so couldn't shoot!

Losses mounting the Humbersiders pushed on

As the Sagaar Lancers swept round the flank

Desperately the lancers surged into the foe.

Driving them back and cutting them down.

However retribution was swift in the narrow streets and outside the town the Pathan tribesmen routed B. Company!

 

As the survivors fled back to bring the news to the Governor in Shaaarwyd the crew of Owd Betty could only look on.

Great fun game that swung splendidly. At one point the British looked to have it in the bag with pinned units of Pathans all around, however some failed orders saw things swing back in favour of the defenders.

A game that went right to the wire!

Phone pictures now

Tribesmen await.

The backwater village of Kymberli

Strongly held

Huzzah for the lancers!

On the Humbersiders!

Those turbans make fine targets

Sir! Sir, Tomkins has been shot , Sir!

Steady, lads, steady!

Chaaarge!

And the streets run red with blood.

I now want to paint many more models for this!

The Men Who Would Be Kings on the NWF

The non-linear nature of time means that this game was played before the one I blogged yesterday. Or something.

Another evening with General B. without the facility to leave Chain of Command set up. We'd been talking about Colonial gaming - possibly Sudan - in what was then next year but is now this year. So I suggested we get the NWF collection out and give TMWWBK a spin.

General B. opted to take the local tribesmen as I stiffened my upper lip and led the Humberside Regiment into the foothills of Ilkestaan.

The scenario called for me to have just an 18 point force and be caught in something of an ambush!

The British in column enter the local settlement of Nathull. All seems suspiciously quiet...

Lieutenant Julius leads the column across the Nathull river

Unseen by the British tribesmen are gathering.

Strung out the troops of her majesty make a tempting target for Warlord Ballah Rhum

Fierce musket armed men block the way forward.

With a cry Ghazi tribesmen hurl themselves at the Royal Dilshad Rifles.

Who stand firm and unload with precision.

B. Company of the 99th see tribesmen on the hills as others approach from the opposite direction.

Accurate fire halts the advances.

Julius attempts to consolidate in the centre of Nathull

The initial charge has been halted.

B. Company are standing firm, despite having limited ammunition.

Disaster strikes as B. Company are first pinned by shooting then attacked by murderous tribesmen.

Who give no quarter to Her Majesty's soldiers.

More tribesemen have sneaked into the dingy alleys of Nathull

And still more approach the north of the village.

Flush with success the natives advance on the Dilshads.

The narrow streets run red with blood.

Julius finds his company under attack.

After driving off the attackers he comes under fire from the nearby hills

The Dilshads having driven back their attackers pour fire into the retreating tribesemen.

As night falls the tribesmen slink away leaving Julius in posession of the field but having to to count the cost.

A narrow victory for the British. 

At first it seemed very easy for me, something of a turkey shoot as the enemy broke cover. However the disaster with B. Company put me under all sorts of pressure and it was only some heroic (and very lucky) defence by the Dilshad rifles that prevented it turning into a massacre of the entire Humberside regiment.

Great fun game that may well have pushed the Sudan forces a bit higher up the 2026 painting queue.

A few bonus phone pictures.