Band of Wargame Brothers: Battle of Rorke's Drift in 28mm!

Battle of Rorke's Drift in 28mm!

Well the Friday night game came around and it was the much anticipated 28mm Rorke’s Drift. It was a good turnout with 9 of the Band of Brothers in attendance. One popped his head in to say hello but went home early due to illness. He should have stayed to defend the hospital! Of course most of us have seen the movie Zulu far more times than we’d care to admit and I went to Youtube and had the theme tune and some Zulu war chants open and playing alternatively to set the mood!
Half of the Brothers had already decided which side they wanted be on. Chris said ‘I ‘m a Redcoat- don’t argue and do be quiet, you’ll upset the lads - there’s a good gentleman.’ In fact for the whole night he continued to finish all instructions, questions or requests with ‘there’s a good gentleman’. He ended up as CSM Bourne. Ross was Bromhead and Nick was Chard- who was there only because he came to build a bridge.

THE IMPIS ARRIVE

The Zulus were commanded by Richard and his offsiders were Roger and Geoff. Paul and Phil also took the side of Cetshaweyo’s impis. And I was umpiring. For further atmosphere, Nick and Chris suggested that all the Zulu players should play just wearing loin cloths but Ross said that, given our rather stout physiques, that was a disturbing mental image. So for atmosphere we stuck to the theme and warchants.

THE DEFENDERS AWAIT

Initially the action pretty much followed the historical version with the Zulus launching attacks against the hospital and the mealie bags to its front. Ross, in command of that sector put up a very stout resistance and the troops in and around the hospital took a terrible toll on the attackers who proceeded to climb onto the roof. At the back of the hospital, some of Phil’s Zulus broke down one of the doors only to find that it was a dead end and insultingly failed to knock down any more before they became casualties. The Zulus then set fire to the thatched roofing. Rather than attempt to stop the flames, the British cleared the intruding Zulus from the roof (they couldn’t do that AND put out the fire) and by then it was too late and Chard (Nick) reluctantly gave the order to evacuate the, by now, fiercely burning hospital.

THE MISSION STATION

It was at this point that an enormous cheer went up from the Zulus as they inflicted their first casualty on the Redcoats. There were pats on the back and some cries of 'Usuthu' and 'Zulu' as Roger took the honour of killing the first redcoat. In the next melee Roger killed two more and was being hailed as the next recipient of the Cetshewayo Cross (the Zulu equivalent of the Victoria Cross) as he proceeded to storm the barricades in front of the burning hospital. In fact by turn six, 84 Zulus were dead and 5 men of the 24th- all courtesy of Roger’s troops. But the pressure was building.

THE REDOUBT

The barricade in front of the hospital became the main focus of the Zulu attack and Geoff’s Zulus accounted for two more redcoats as the hospital roof caved in killing another five who had been forgotten inside! There were cries of ‘Shame!’, ‘Scum!’ ‘Irish building standards!’ and ‘Disgrace!’ hurled across the table by the redcoat commanders. This was accompanied by the jeers and cheers of the Zulu players- the impartial umpire, yours truly, of course said nothing- only to be accused of bias against white men (by Chris), against black men ( by Phil ) and against all humanity by Paul who claimed that I was making the rules up and pulling clauses out of my nether regions.

A LINE OF RIFLES- "FIX BAYONETS!!"

COMMISSARY DALTON LOADS

THE FIRST ZULUS ARRIVE

THE ZULUS ATTACK THE HOSPITAL

As the pressure built up on Ross (Bromhead), Chard (Nick) decided to withdraw his portion of the defenders to the redoubt and Ross exclaimed in exasperation ‘What the #$%@ are you doing?’
Nick responded by saying he was moving his troops back because ‘We’re gonna watch!’
Richard cheered, nudged Ross in the ribs and said “You’re f&a*%d now mate!’
Ross merely shook his head and soldiered on.
Things weren’t going the way either side had planned and the British were being forced back and many Zulus had entered the compound. But at horrendous cost. By turn eleven, 12 redcoats were dead but the Zulus had suffered just over 200 casualties.

THAT MAN THERE! FIRE!!

MORE ZULUS ARRIVE

THE ZULUS AND REDCOATS FIGHT IN FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL

THE BRITISH UNDER PRESSURE

THE ZULUS FORCE THEIR WAY OVER THE BARRICADES

"GET A PLATOON OF GOOD BAYONET MEN!"

"IT'S STILL A HOLDING ACTION IS IT?"

'ADENDORF, WHAT'S HE DOING?'
'HE'S TESTING YOUR FIREPOWER WITH THE LIVES OF HIS WARRIORS!'

THE ZULUS ATTACK THE BARRICADE BETWEEN THE STOREHOUSE AND HOSPITAL

THE ZULUS SWARM IN

THE BRITISH FALL BACK AND VOLLEY FIRE

FRONT RANK- FIRE!

REAR RANK- FIRE!

THE ZULUS HEAD FOR AN UNDEFENDED GAP

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

As the casualties mounted the evening wore on and when the Zulus had lost 293 man and the 24th Regiment had lost 16 we called it a night. It was a great game and the clock beat us rather than one side beating the other. The after game brief revealed that the Zulus couldn't coordinate themselves to hit several places hard. The redcoats were happy with their efforts although many blamed poor dice rolling on wet powder!! So to the rousing tunes of 'Men of Harlech', it was agreed that a rerun was in order- but that's another blog.

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