Hundreds of ’em! Anglo-Zulu War (1879) at the Community Centre

Rob tried out new additions to his 28mm Colonial collection on Friday night, in a scenario pitting British troops against Zulu warriors in nineteenth century South Africa, using Black Powder rules.

The figures were recently purchased by Rob in Ireland from our old comrade Noel, some originally painted by our club president Phil.

The Zulus (Simon and Greg, later Jonathan) deployed three brigades (17 units) on the 12-foot table, two of which were hidden behind hills.

The British (Mark and Philip, later Patrick) arrived at the far end, with two infantry and one mounted infantry brigades, a Gatling gun and an artillery piece.

The British had to exit the table, the Zulus had to prevent them. The main constraint was that the river was only fordable in a narrow area in the centre of the table.

Philip duly began the game with a scouting mission, using the mounted infantry to discover the location of the Zulus.

Mark and Patrick’s mounted units were soon compelled to evade Simon’s brigade, which threatened a pursuit in the centre.

The main British force then deployed on the table edge.

Patrick’s mounted men discovered Greg’s Zulu brigade, and inflicted some casualties.

Both Philip and Mark now began to advance, occasionally slowed by failed activations…

…As Patrick withdrew the mounted infantry behind Philip’s line.

Yet as Mark’s brigade advanced, Simon consolidated his Zulus and advanced against the British.

Jonathan’s Zulus began to stir, as he redeployed his brigade in the rear on to a hill near the ford.

Philip now managed to destroy one of Simon’s units in the centre, already damaged by Mark’s ranged fire, by using the Gatling gun.

And Patrick redeployed his mounted infantry to Mark’s flank…

The British advance seemed to be going well, and Philip was now moving his line infantry against Greg’s position…

However, Simon now unleashed his Zulus in an Impi charge against Mark, leading to a series of melees…

Greg attempted to do likewise, but failed two activation rolls…

Nevertheless, Jonathan’s Zulus were now charging across the river in support of Greg and Simon.

Just as Simon began to charge, Patrick’s mounted infantry arrived to bolster Mark’s men from the rear.

Unfortunately for Simon, he had now lost three of his six Zulu units in successive charges.

But on the other flank, Greg now managed an Impi charge of his own against Philip’s infantry…

This forced Philip’s brigade to retreat.

Mark now repositioned his various units, including Marines and Natal Natives, to better deal with Simon’s remaining Zulus.

Simon however was maintaining the pressure, yet, another of his units charged and was routed…

However Greg’s brigade now fell back behind the hill they had occupied.

Still, Jonathan’s Zulus began to encroach on the centre.

Unexpectedly, despite being seriously damaged, Simon’s Zulus managed to destroy one of Mark’s infantry units… (Questions were to be asked in Parliament by men with walrus moustaches sporting fob-watches, apparently…)

Mark still had the upper hand though, and now unleashed his Natal Natives against the Zulu unit remaining on his flank…

And Philip destroyed the only Zulu unit occupying the hill to his front.

Greg attempted another charge but failed to activate.

Simon took over Jonathan’s brigade and piled in against Philip in the centre, but he only had one unit remaining from his original brigade, after the Zulus who defeated Mark’s infantry were clobbered by the mounted infantry…

Although the Zulus had taken the great majority of casualties, the game came to an end with the British defeated, having failed to exit the table. Given more time, they might have done so, yet Simon and Greg had successfully stymied the attempt on the night by sufficiently delaying the British advance on both flanks. KwaZulu!

 

All in all an easy-going evening and fun game with superior figures. Black Powder are our preferred set of rules for colonial games. Rob would like to use the whole of his Zulu collection (only a portion was on display at the centre) in a truly epic clash sometime in the future, at the War Room…