Sudan Death in Sharp Practice

Having finally finished the Perry 28mm Sudan figures, I decided to try out the Sharp Practice Sudan conflict adaptations, from the 2021 Too Fat Lardies Special, written by John Savage.

Steve & Rob took the Brits, leaving Dave & Mal to take the Mahdists. This was a rescue mission. The Reverend Godbotherer and his daughter, Felicity, were sheltering in the ruined fort, “protected” by a group of Seamen and a group of Bashi Bazouk Skirmishers (@ Deployment Point 2)!! A British relief column, compromising two groups of British line and a Gardner Gun, entered at DP1.

The Mahdist objective was to capture the Reverend, in order to make an example of him (and do unspeakable things to his daughter!). The Mahdist forces comprised four groups of Beja Spearmen & a group of Beja Skirmishers at DP1 and three groups of Beja Spearmen & another group of Beja Skirmishers, at DP2.

Things started well for the Brits. The column marched on, covered by the Gardner gun, even managing a double move (using 4 flags). The Mahdists deployed into the depression in the South East and the wadi in the North East and watched.

Deciding time was against them, the Mahdist spear groups broke cover, the Southern group headed for the British column and the Northern group for the fort. The British infantry went into line and wheeled to meet the ongoing Mahdists. Their initial volley chewing holes in the leading group of Beja spearmen. In response, the Mahdist leader thoughtfully sent this leading group off to the East, to provide a target for the British infantry, while the remainder rushed into the rough ground to the North West, avoiding the British infantry volley fire and instead risking the rather ineffectual fire of the Gardner Gun.

At the fort, the Sailors rushed to defend the North wall, while the Bashi Bazouks went to the West wall.

The initial British luck then deserted them! A couple of turns on the trot, where all that came out of bag, were really a couple of Mahdist ‘flags’. This enabled the Beja spearmen to close on the British line, as well as the fort, at end of turn.

The British line infantry did manage to halt the Southern charge, but at huge cost! At the fort, the Beja spearmen swarmed over the walls, massacring the British sailors, before engaging and then driving off the Bashi Bazouk, capturing the Reverend and his daughter in the process. At this point the British Major, commanding the column, decided to withdraw. A sad day for British honour.