The final game scheduled for May here in GHQ saw Phil, assisted by William, taking on yours truly in a Black Powder game set in our fictional province of Pendawar. Once more Typoo Bhyka, the Tygre of Pendawar, had risen in revolt against the hated European rulers of the Honourable East India Company. Typoo was supported by the Raja and Rani of Rhanzlistan accompanied by the mercenary Voluntaires de Bykli, as well as many Bhurpa tribesmen down from the hills and the great unwashed masses of Badmash. Against them under the command of Lord Rawnsley and Major General W.D.Watkiss were massed the armies of the Company aided by a few British regulars of the Hindoostan regiment and the 20th Light Dragoons. On to the action ~
The field of battle with the Company's forces nearest the viewer and Typoo's drawn up in the distance.
The Tygre of Pendawar consults his Military Advisor, Alphonse de Bykli, scion of the large family of military incompetents.
Lord Rawnsley confers with Major General W.D.Watkiss. "Plenty of time to put down another rebellion before tiffin, eh Watkiss!"
No time like the present, so Rawnsley sees his infantry March off down the road towards the enemy.
Their attack will be supported by a battery of 12lb guns drawn into action, by elephants of course.
While his small cavalry Brigade of the 20th Light Dragoons and the Pendawar Peacocks, supported by the Pendawar Horse Artillery, cover his left flank.
On his right Watkiss's infantry brigade and native cavalry surge forward determined to crush Typoo's mongrel forces on his left flank.
Typoo's right flank is held by his regulars and his batteries of heavy artillery. They command a wide field of fire so Typoo feels confident they will see off any attackers with heavy losses.
Typoo has also brought the Great Gun of Bhyklabad to the battle, positioning it on a low rise commanding his centre. He is confident it too will do much slaughter!
Typoo has also deployed his mercenary French, the Voluntaires de Bykli, to support his centre...
...which is held by the Household troops of the Raja of Rhanzlistan lead by his elephants! The Raja is confident his Rocket battery will do much to pave the way for the elephants to crush the enemy!
Nevertheless the Raja feels it only expedient to move his personal baggage to a safer location than the old Red Fort...
...not altogether trusting the mongrel forces of Bhurpa hill tribesmen and Badmash holding the flank to keep their thieving hands off his treasures!
Rawnsley wastes no time and orders a general advance, though the troops are less enthusiastic than he would have liked.
The heavy guns make slow progress forward. They are sure to be necessary to silence Typoo's batteries silently awaiting the enemy's approach.
On Typoo's left flank the Bhurpa tribesmen surge forward with their usual disjointed enthusiasm to close with the enemy.
Watkiss has wasted no time on his flank, pushing his columns of infantry forward aggressively to meet the onrushing tribesmen.and their supporting masses of Badmash.
His native cavalry, leading by the Governor General's Bodyguard support his body attack!
Taking advantage of Typoo's defensive posture to his front Rawnsley is granted time to deploy his forces ready to assault the enemy.
While Typoo's right flank stoicly await the expected attack in the centre the Raja, mounted on his War elephant, leads his forces boldly forward hoping the split the enemy's forces in two!
Watkiss's command is soon involved in fierce and bloody hand to hand combat all along his front. No quarter will be asked nor given by either side. Victory or death the only outcome!
Watkiss's native cavalry have smashed the bands of Bhurpa warriors and they flee for their lives!
All is not lost though, as in their turn the blown cavalry have been caught by the masses of onrushing Badmash and are in their turn hurled back and eliminated as a fighting force. The flank is in the balance.
But not for long as steady columns of Company infantry lead by the Hindoostan regiment make short work of the undisciplined masses of poorly armed Badmash.
Back in the centre Typoo sees with dismay that the Raja's impetuous attack lead by his War Elephants has been throw back in disarray by the steady fire of Company infantry!
To compound his discomforture the Voluntaires de Bykli are smashed by the sudden and unexpected volleys of artillery fire preceeding a charge by company native infantry!
Despite all the death and destruction in his centre and on his left flank Typoo cannot bring hiscregular infantry into action as the battle reaches its climax.
To his dismay it is obvious that all is lost as his left and centre have been smashed by Watkiss's bold and determined attack allied to the repulse of the Raja's impetuous but doomed assault in the centre. Typoo will withdraw and regroup, his day must surely come he feels...
As ever with Black Powder the outcome swung first one way and then the other before suddenly it became clear that Typoo's army was broken! The action was over in six Turns of bold and bloody combat. Rawnsley's steady approach the perfect foil to Watkiss's bold attack saw Typoo's army soundly and decisively defeated once more...
* For non Brits and younger readers in general please see the BBC's "Goodness Gracious Me!" comedy series 1996-2001.
