Monday 4 March 2024

A close call on Table Kop and Police assaulted in Hobbs Park - A table Top Game In 28mm

12th October 1901

 A close call in the Transvaal and Policemen attacked in Hobbs Park, arrests made.


In the Transvaal.

Our South African correspondent Tarquine Squears had a close call whilst out on the veldt with a detachment of Australian volunteers, a remarkable near death experience.

The Australians are a tough and brave breed, I was out with Major Sullivan, a no nonsense bushman from New South Wales, and his men on Table Kop.

Knowing there was a Boer commando out there somewhere we advanced in open order to flush them out and maybe 'bag' one or two. 




It was a very well executed ambush, as I watched the infantry moving forward, I heard the deadly crackle Mauser fire and the Aussies fell, some never to move again. Boer mounted commandos then rushed forward to finish off or capture those left standing, it was over in moments.

I hid where I could, the Boer horsemen scouring the veldt looking for survivors, one Aussie horseman escaped, the rest were dead or captured.



Knowing that the Royal Fusiliers were coming up behind us I had to warn them what had just happened to the Australians, and of the impending ambush. Luckily the British were not silent marching over the veldt and at the sound of a bugle the Boers retreated back to their lines and I was safe from discovery.

I didn't want to startle any advancing soldier as they were well armed and handy with the bayonet, so I gently called out the first typically English thing that popped into my head...'bangers and mash', not my finest moment but it worked.

I was presented to Major Faulks and told him what happened, we were soon joined by the errant Australian horseman and a plan was worked out, advance in open order!




The sound of gunfire and the cries of the men was deafening, men dropped on both sides but the superior number of British soldiers soon began to turn the tide of battle. The Boer line wavered then broke.





Once the Boer line broke the Fusiliers advanced very quickly making prisoner of several Boers and releasing the captured Australians, it was such a relief to see Major Sullivan once more.

This small action on Table Kop cost the lives of 5 Australians and 6 Fusiliers with 12 Boers killed, 11 Imperial troops were wounded.

 

Disturbance at Hobbs Park.


In a disgraceful display of violence Detective Inspector Bolton, Detective Sergeant Theakston and PC Dodd were set upon by a gang of ruffians.

With a few moments PC Dodd was felled by a flying bottle both Bolton and Theakstone were in the thick of it. A well meaning passer by ran to Drovers Yard Police Station and a body of mounted police were soon dispatched.




The detectives put up a spirited defence, but they were almost being overwhelmed, the parrying skills of the policemen were remarkable and the the bloody noses of their opponents were growing in number.

Soon the mounted section were close and the ruffians began to look worried, this attack did not look like it had gone to plan.




The thugs were on the run and heads were knocked, three men were arrested and will be charged to appear before the magistrates on Monday. DI Bolton was left with superficial wounds and a nasty razor slash that ruined his coat, DS Theakstone also sported some superficial bruises and PC Dodd was taken to hospital with concussion.



In conclusion we wish our boys in South Africa the best of luck and our policemen a speedy recovery.

Thursday 8 February 2024

Skirmish At Burning Farm - Transvaal 1901. A table Top Game In 28mm.

                              Skirmish At Burning Farm - Transvaal 1901


A party of Northumberland Fusiliers under the command of Sergeant (Stomper) Armstrong with support from men from the Staffordshire Mounted Infantry, were ordered to torch a farmstead 20 miles west of Krugersdorp.



This act of aggression was too much for a small commando of Boers who soon started to pepper the British with rifle fire. Three soldiers were immediately wounded, one (a corporal)
managed to crawl and hide behind a mound with a few other soldiers. One Fusilier on the far side of the burning farm managed to bag two Boers with incredible rifle skills while the mounted infantry flanked to the north.





Seeing the mounted infantry advancing on their flank the Boers panicked and started to withdraw, seeing this Sergeant Armstrong ordered the Northumberlands to advance.

                          
 


Soon overwhelmed the Boers surrendered, the action had cost the life of one Staffordshire Mounted Infantryman and six Northumberland Fusiliers wounded. The Boers had lost five dead and four captured, two of whom were wounded.





Saturday 27 January 2024

The Battle of Jones's Kopje 1901 - Hobbs End Gazette. A Tabletop Game In 28mm.

                 HOBBS END GAZETTE

                                                                September 21st 1901


Our South African correspondent Tarquine Squears was on the scene when the Boers blew up the railway track leading to Kroonstad, he was staying with the garrison of a blockhouse on the veltd nearby.


The garrison is made up of men from the Royal Fusiliers and a section of Australian troops of the third contingent, several volunteers from Hobbs End are serving with the Fusiliers.

A party of Fusiliers went to inspect the damage and soon Mauser rounds started to whistle and crack over head. Our attention was drawn to a nearby kopje with distant figures moving around.




The men soon started advancing in open order supported by riflemen, two Fusiliers were soon dropped by very accurate Mauser fire. Moving forward as fast as they could the infantry were in a precarious position as there was not much cover.





The Boer riflemen were deadly and soon British and Australian troops were strewn across the veldt, but the attack went on. The Boers were not without casualties and they were soon mounting, the infantry were about to assault the kopje.




Bodies littered the kopje, Corporal Jones took control of the Boer position and the remnants escaped on horseback to fight another day. It had been a costly day with 12 Imperial casualties and 6 Boer, the area is now called Jones's Kopje.

Tarquine Squears, Hobbs End Gazette 1901

Thursday 19 October 2023

A Skirmish In Wallachia 1462 - A Tabletop Game In 28mm.

                      A Skirmish In Wallachia 1462





Two Ottoman artillery pieces have had some repair done and are now behind the main army, with a small band of infantry, Janissaries, and Sipahi they are hastily catching up. Wallachia is a dangerous and terrifying place, many sites, ideal for ambush, have been scouted out by the cavalry, but evidence of Prince Vlad's favourite pastime line the roads.



Up ahead just before a small village, horsemen are seen, it looks like the expected attack is coming, Sipahi gallop ahead to meet the enemy.




A whisper flies around the Ottoman ranks "Kaziklu Bey, can it really be the the Lord Impaler himself!" 

Wallachian cavalry split in two, one troop rides to meet the Sipahi while another flanks around behind.

The infantry and Janissaries brace themselves for the onslaught.




The fighting is brutal with neither side giving ground, the flanking troop now clash with the Ottoman infantry.




The Wallachian cavalry soon brake through the Ottoman infantry and the Sipahi are now getting the worst of it, so they retreated behind the Janissaries.

The Wallachian cavalry now formed up to charge the Ottomans again.




Pulling off another flanking move some Wallachians try to attack the cannons from the cover of the woods.

Meanwhile the Janissaries are giving the Wallachian cavalry a very tough time, and just as the cannons are reached the retreat is sounded, the Wallachians break off their attack.




The remaining Sipahi see their chance for glory and chase the retreating Wallachians, not deterred the Wallachians turn and fight.

Soon the remaining Wallachian cavalry join up with their comrades and the Sipahi are slaughtered.

The Sultan will keep his artillery, their target will most likely be Targoviste, but Prince Vlad has other surprises up his sleeve, this is not over yet.