The Abu Layyt opperation : a Sudan scenario

After an absence of almost a year we returned to the Sudan for our most recent game.  Following the disaster at Kawa  (link) the Egyptian forces had been rebuilt and thoroughly trained.  The brigadier, having survived the court of inquiry, was determined that in future,under no circumstances, would a purely Egyptian force be committed to an operation.  Therefore when an intelligence report dropped on his desk indicating that Emir Waffoor was again fermenting trouble in the desert tribes he called his officers together.  "We are going to have to do something about this fellow", he began; "Richardson, are your camel chaps ready for action?"  "Keen as mustard sir", replied the commander of the camel corps.  "A spot of action is just what they need".  "Well, they are going to have their chance, I am sending them out on an operation with Thabat's Egyptian cavalry.  Fitzwarren, you are to take overall command and Firth-Newsome, I want you to take the Lancers."

The brigadier then explained that the intelligence report indicated that Emir Waffoor was gathering arms at the isolated oasis of Abu Layyt.  What is more, the emir had called for the local tribal leaders to assemble there as a prelude to an attack.  "Fitzwarren, I want you to approach the oasis from the west, out of the desert; destroy the arms, capture the ringleaders and then make your way to the Nile at Sayff where the steamers will pick you up to bring your force back to camp.  The finer details I will leave to you.  Good luck and good hunting!"

The Imperial troops approach Sayff

A week later, young lieutenant Hartley wiped his brow and looked once again westwards through his binoculars.  "Yes sir" he said to Firth-Newsome, "It's definitely the smoke from the steamers.  I can also just about make out the vessels and the buildings of Sayff".  Acknowledging the report, Firth- Newsome turned and rode over to Fitzwarren.  "Hartley reports that the steamers are in sight sir, shall I order the advance".  "Yes", replied Fitzwarren, "the sooner this operation is over the better"  All the senior officers were aware that not only had the oasis been almost unoccupied, with few if any arms stored there; but an ominous dust cloud had been dogging their steps since they had turned east towards the Nile and it was getting closer.

The Imperial force advanced with Thabat's cavalry on the left, Richardson in the centre and Firth-Newsome on the right.  For a while all was quiet, their only companions, heat, dust and the glaring sun.  Suddenly there was a cry of warning, a cry swiftly cut short.  Seeking the source of the cry, Thabat saw a wave of dervish warriors break cover.  He quickly ordered his leading unit to oppose this threat and give time for his mounted infantry to dismount and form a firing line.  All his calculations were destroyed as a second wave of dervish warriors appeared on his left and charged the leading cavalry.  Caught by surprise the Egyptian cavalry had time only to face this new threat before the warriors were upon them.  The Egyptians managed to hold the first rush but at great cost and as their formation fragmented more and more succumbed  to the warrior blades.  In no time it was over and the battered survivors fell back behind one of their fellow units.

The trap is sprung

The Dervish charge

The Dervish triumph

 Thabat's troubles were not over.  He had ordered his second-in-command, Tawfil Pasha to take a second Egyptian cavalry unit and support the one which was in such desperate straits.  No sooner had this advanced than it  too had been charged by the Dervish and it was now fighting for its life.  As Thabat watched the second unit also succumbed to sword and spear, so in no time at all, half the Egyptian force had been destroyed.  However, the Dervish had suffered heavy casualties and were now vulnerable.  Thabat launched another attack and this destroyed the remaining Dervish warriors.

On the Imperial right Firth-Newsome was also having problems.  Here also a trap had been sprung, but his leading unit of lancers had managed to defeat their attackers, though at considerable cost.  As he pushed a second unit forward, they had come under fire from Dervish artillery.  What he needed was infantry and artillery support and he was gratified that Fitzwarren had moved over to Richardson ordering him to seize the small hill to their front of the Camel Corps and bring the enemy artillery under fire.

At Sayff, Lieutenant Beatty, on the Assad, surveyed the scene with growing concern.  The desert force seemed to be getting bogged down and the Dervish were out of range of his machine guns.  Even though the area around Sayff was quiet he had a feeling that Dervish forces were quite near.  He glanced across at the other steamer,  the Khedive, hoping young Walton kept his nerve.  Both steamers had a small company of blue jackets with them, but far too few to hold the village should it be attacked.  Just then a sailor approached with a message from the chief engineer of the Assad, could the Lieutenant come to the engine room?  Leaving instructions that he was to be told of any change in the situation, Beatty went below.  He was deep in discussion with the engineer about coal supplies and the urgent need for an overhaul of the engines when he was summoned back to the bridge.  Walton had disembarked his blue jackets.  The naval infantry were marching into the town square, intent on holding the houses closest to the the approaching Imperial troops.  At their head was Walton, deep in discussion with Armitage, the commander of the infantry.  Beatty was about to dispatch a runner to order the blue jackets back to the Khedive, when a large body of Dervish broke cover to the south of Sayff and charged towards the town.  Alerted by a blast from the Khedive's siren and waving from the sailors on board  Walton ordered one body of blue jackets to seize houses on the southern side of the town whilst he retained a reserve to cover the jetty at which the Khedive was moored.

Armitage's men defend the town whilst Walton covers the jetty

There was just enough time for Armitage's command to fire a volley before the Dervish attack struck.  Hacking and slashing the Dervish attempted to force their way into the houses; the outnumbered blue jackets fought back, determined to hold on.  In the end there were just too many Dervishes and one by one the blue jackets were cut down.  Walton was unable to help as his small command had been charged by more Dervish units as they flowed down the streets.  With their backs to the river the blue jackets fought to the last, Walton in their midst.  His last order was for the Khedive to cast off and take station in mid channel.    With the attack coming from the south Beatty had not been able to support  Walton's men.  The blue jackets had been between his machine guns and the Dervish.  All he could do was watch, grimly determined to exact a heavy toll on the enemy when he could.

Out in the desert Fitzwarren knew he needed to reinforce the embattled Egyptians.  He sent one of Richardson's units to the left , hoping their rifle fire would weaken any further attacks and also sent over the field gun.  It was none too soon.  A further wave of attackers surged forward.  The gunners worked their guns with a will but although the enemy charge slowed it was not stopped.  Talbot, the gunnery commander sensed the fire was slackening; the ammunition was running low.  "Where's the second limber", he demanded.  "It cracked a wheel in the manoeuvre sir" was the reply.  "It should be here in 10 minutes".  "10 minutes may be too damn late" Talbot growled, "do the best you can, and send Featherstone over to those infantry and request their best support".

The Lancers destroy a unit of Dervishes

Emboldened by the slackening artillery fire the Dervish charged the Egyptians again.  One unit hit the cavalry, the other the infantry.  To his dismay, Thabat saw his cavalry seem to dissolve when hit by the Dervish.  A few small groups attempted to stand, but the majority, having seen the fate of their comrades galloped for the rear.  The infantry stood their ground, giving as good as they got and gradually gained the upper hand, driving off their assailants.  However, their respite was short-lived as a fresh wave of attackers approached.  A feeble close range volley did not stop this new wave of Dervishes and the infantry were overwhelmed.  Thabat was one of the fallen.  He had galloped over to encourage his men and had been drawn into the swirling melee.  Being on horseback he was an obvious target and drew the attention of numerous attackers, eventually falling to multiple stab wounds.

Looking to his left, Fitzwarren could see that nothing more could be done for the Egyptians, he needed to ensure that the British artillery and infantry escaped the carnage.  He sent an aide with orders to withdraw and join Richardson's command.  Another aide galloped off to Richardson with orders to push on quickly to Sayff.  Firth-Newsome would have to cover the right flank with his cavalry.  Richardson had managed to reduce the fire from the Dervish artillery and he prepared to advance.  Firth-Newsome ordered the remains of the leading lancer unit to push on and sent a second regiment in support, holding one back in reserve.  As the British cavalry crested a low rise they found a further body of Dervish infantry waiting for them.  Bugles braying the lancers charged and forced their way into the native ranks, resorting to swords where their lances became too unwieldy.   To cover Richardson's advance, Firth-Newsome led the reserve regiment of cavalry forward against the Dervish artillery.  This was silenced and its supporting infantry driven back.

The Lancers attacks again

In Sayff, the Dervish milled about hunting down the few remaining blue jackets.  On board Assad, Beatty ordered his men to bring the natives under fire.  The gatling swept the square free of Dervish and the blue jackets picked off those who sought refuge in the houses.  Manoeuvring up and down stream the Assad enabled the crew to bring all the town under fire and the Dervish paid a heavy price for their attack.  Fitzwarren's command suffered one final major loss on it's advance.  The machine gun team accompanying Richardson was ambushed as it passed some broken ground. 

The machine gun crew are ambushed

With the Dervishes in Sayff much reduced in numbers by Beatty's fire, Fitzwarren's command was able to fight it's way to the landing stages and the remnants of the expedition boarded the steamers for the voyage back to base.