The El Shaif Compound; a Sudan scenario using the Black Powder rules.

Whilst out hunting, the Dervish leader, Emir Khat, had taken a serious fall when his horse stumbled.  He had been carried to the nearby El Shaif compound and now, a few weeks later, was still there, it being deemed too soon for him to attempt to move away.  Word of the Emir's indisposition had filtered through to the Imperial headquarters and against his better instincts, the general had given command of the force ordered to capture the Emir to Brigadier Walter "Let's get this over with" Glennister.  Brigadier Glennister's last action had not been a success (link ) and with the general's comments relating to "the next boat home" ringing in his ears, Glennister left the camp next morning leading his force to El Shaif.

For this operation he had the British infantry brigade commanded by Sir Roger Bathurst Oliver which contained battalions of infantry, the McVitie Highlanders, The Royal Cornish regiment and the Blue Jackets.  Fire support was from a machine gun crewed by a team from the RN and a field gun crewed by a detachment of the Royal Artillery.  A British cavalry brigade was commanded by Captain Firth-Newsome and contained the Borsetshire Hussars and the Royal Kelhamshire Lancers.

Glennister also had two Egyptian brigades which were commanded by Mohammed Anwar, (known as Moan to other officers because of his continual complaints the Egyptian forces never got the recognition they deserved).  The infantry brigade contained two battalions of infantry and the cavalry brigade two battalions of cavalry.  A machine gun gave some extra fire support.

The opening position

Above is the position as Glennister prepared to attack El Shaif.   Anwar's Egyptians are on the right, Oliver's infantry in the centre and Firth-Newsome's cavalry on the left.  Although the approach to the compound was open, all the cover on the flanks provided ample opportunities for sudden attacks by the Dervishes.  Firth-Newsome suggested some caution with the advance, sending out scouts to check the dead ground and holding back a reserve.  Surprisingly, Glennister seemed receptive to this idea.  Turning to Anwar he ordered him to reconnoitre the valley beyond the hills on the right; muttering that once again the Egyptian forces were being sidelined, Anwar rode off.  Glennister then sent one of his young aides, Lieutenant Alexander Younghusband towards the El Shaif compound with orders to check the ground to the left.  Oliver was to follow with the infantry while Firth-Newsome remained in reserve.  Unfortunately, Glennister failed to send orders to the artillery and machine guns, with the consequence these units were slow to respond to the forward movement of the rest of the force.

Anwar sent his scout forward and the young trooper worked his way cautiously along the ridge.  Behind him one cavalry unit crossed into the valley and the two infantry battalions, with the machine gun, headed for the gap between the first and second hills.  The second cavalry unit moved towards the gap between the second and third hills.  As the first cavalry unit moved down the valley a group of Dervish infantry broke cover and charged towards them.  Charging the Dervishes the cavalry crashed into the tribesmen and quickly routed them, though they took significant casualties themselves.  The Egyptian infantry continued their measured advance.

The Egyptians advance into the valley

Meanwhile, Younghusband had been investigating the land ahead of Oliver's brigade.  Everything seemed quiet and perhaps as he neared an area of broken ground his concentration his concentration lapsed as suddenly a group of Dervish appeared in front of him.  Pulling his horse round, Younghusband tried to make for the more open ground, the cries of the tribesmen all too near.  Drawing his revolver, he twisted in the saddle to fire a few shots in their direction.  His first shot went astray and as he concentrated for a second attempt, his horse stumbled and he was thrown to the ground. As he struggled to his feet he saw the Dervish closing on him.  He managed to shoot one before drawing his sword and facing the rest.   He wounded two more before being overwhelmed.  The remainder of the Dervishes gathered and now charged out of the broken ground and towards the Royal Cornish.  

Younghusband is surprised

Alerted by the shots, the Royal Cornish had time to face the Dervish attack.  Oliver had expected the artillery to be accompanying him and when he noticed their absence sent off an aide with a request for their immediate assistance.  To assist the Royal Cornish, Oliver ordered the Highlanders to wheel to add their fire to deter the Dervishes.  The steady volleys from the British infantry caused the attack to slow and then stop before those remaining routed.

The British infantry repel the first Dervish attack

 As the British infantry reformed to continue their advance they came under fire from the Dervishes defending the El Shaif compound.  Rifle fire was supplemented by artillery and although ineffective, Oliver thought it would be politic to subdue the defensive fire before continuing his advance.  As the artillery had still not arrived, he had to rely on rifle fire.

Glennister had seen Oliver's advance slow and cease and was anxious that the attack should not stall.  He first ordered Firth-Newsome to take the cavalry to the left and make sure no further Dervishes were lurking in that direction.  Then Glennister galloped over to the artillery, directing the machine gun to support the left of Oliver's advance and then personally leading the field guns forward.

On the Imperial right, Anwar had continued his advance.  The leading cavalry regiment had pursued the routing Dervishes, but had been halted by rifle fire from the compound.  Ahead, the scout reported that he could see no Dervishes near the compound, but to the right a large body of cavalry was heading towards the Egyptians.  Anwar ordered his second cavalry unit to cross into the valley between the second and third hills.  He also formed a line with his infantry with the machine gun in the centre.  The leading cavalry unit needed to be rallied and then it could support the rest of the Egyptian force.  As the front rank of the Dervish cavalry crested the hill, the Egyptian cavalry charged.  Although attacking uphill, the impetus of their charge was sufficient to push the enemy back and then rout them.  However, before they could exploit their victory they were charged by another unit of Dervish cavalry.  Perhaps disordered by their previous melee, the Egyptians were unable to resist this attack and had to retreat across the valley and reform.  For their part, the Dervish cavalry were reluctant to advance and expose themselves to the massed fire of the Egyptian infantry and machine gun.

 

On the opposite flank Firth-Newsome ordered the lancers to lead the way as the cavalry moved to the left.  The Lancers were just approaching a low hill when a message arrived from the Hussars.  They were to the left of the Lancers and could see that a large body of infantry were massed behind the hill.  Firth-Newsome galloped over and led the Lancers back with the intention of forming them up behind the Hussars ready to support them when they charged.  However, he was caught out by the speed of the enemy advance.  The Dervish infantry surged forward and caught the Hussars before they could move, the Lancers bystanders to the carnage which resulted.  The British cavalry were overwhelmed, heavily outnumbered and with heavy casualties, what remained routed, fleeing back towards where Glennister was supervising the battle.

The Hussars rout

Behind the leading Dervishes were two more units of infantry.  As the leading unit pursued the Hussars, a second made for the Lancers and a third for the British infantry.  Oliver ordered the Blue Jackets to form to the left to face this new threat and also deployed the machine gun to give them some supporting fire.  The machine gun proved to be a damp squib.  On its first attempt to fire, it jammed and as the crew laboured frantically to clear the problem, the Blue Jackets were hit by a wave of Dervishes.  A closing volley had failed to stall the enemy and now the navy men were fighting now desperately to save themselves.  Hard as they fought, they had to fall back to rally, but they had done enough to cause the enemy to pause as well.  This gave time for Oliver to turn the Highlanders around and wheel them to fire on the Dervishes.

Oliver attempts to prevent the left flank crumbling

 

The Royal Cornish had now run out of ammunition.  Their fire had reduced the fire coming from the compound, but Oliver thought it best that they should be resupplied before advancing any further.

Behind the British infantry, Firth-Newsome was struggling to hold his command together.  He had formed up the Lancers and they had attacked a unit of Dervish infantry.  Although they had inflicted heavy casualties, they had also sustained them and routed back.  The Hussars had rallied, but were much reduced in numbers.  Firth Newsome gathered what remained and charged once again.  They stopped the Dervish advance on the rear of the British position, but at a fearful price.  The unit was reduced to a skeleton and could fight no more.

The Lancers are routed

Without the cavalry Glennister saw he needed to fall back.  No doubt further Dervish forces were on their way and he would need luck to get what remained of his force back to base.  Oliver was ordered to fall back and Anwar was to provide the rearguard.  A task he performed with skill.  A fact he was in the habit of mentioning at each and every opportunity.

The end is nigh for the Imperial forces

For Glennister an appointment in a provincial training establishment was obtained.  Firth-Newsome was invalided home to recover from his wounds and later obtained a posting in India.  

An enjoyable game.  Steve, who commanded the Dervish force said that no more troops were available and that he had thought he would be defeated at times.