Battling the beastly Boers - FLW game report - Part 2

Back to the wide open spaces of Middle England now.  Having (at last!) played Funny Little Wars as it's author intended - outside - I can strongly recommend the practice.  Setting up the terrain was followed by a chat about toys and a pleasant lunch.  We then set about the game itself, pausing during the afternoon for tea and cake.  All jolly civilised!

Forbodian cavalry move up.  These are Italeri Mamelukes and look quite effective in the open air.

These chaps are the Brigadier, his orderly and standard bearer - the latter (centre) is evidently rather camera shy.

It soon emerged that the Forbodian column which reached the town contained the King himself.  He immediately took position in the castle's highest tower.

King Boris III explains his cunning plan to a pair of rather bored looking guards.  If he is the 'King of the castle', then somewhere there must be.....

....some 'dirty rascals!'.  Careful study of the front rank will reveal that Boer 'frightfulness' included the conscription of women!

The enemy command group and heavy artillery.  Happily, this gun's opening shot landed in one of the Boer infantry units.

A long-range artillery duel in progress on the left.

Forbodian infantry and guns deploy near the central wood.  A bit too close together as it turned out...

Forbodian Jagers and Guards, along with a field gun soon secured the town - due to (or despite) the personal supervision of the King.

The Forbodian cavalry spot an opportunity to get stuck into their opposite numbers.

The cavalry charge went quite well - eliminating the enemy cavalry, but the appearance of that machine gun put paid to the advance!

The positions shortly before we drew a veil over the proceedings.  By this time the Boer gunnery had improved considerably and the Forbodians paid dearly for having placed two artillery limbers so close together.  A shell hit one and........well, you can imagine the rest.

A rather atmospheric shot of the survivors.

We concluded that while the Boers had the run of much of the field, their infantry units were too weak to allow an assault on the town (by now, somewhat inevitably christened 'Ladysmith'...), and an honourable draw was declared.