Thursday 29 November 2012

Gaza 1917

This was a WW1 game run by Martin using his 6mm toys and Richard Brooks's Op14 rules.  John led the vast array of Allied forces while Von Gow Pasha commanded the Turks (and provided the aircraft).
A small (brigade-sized) garrison held Gaza, comfortably dug in with artillery while a couple of divisions and some cavalry were due to arrive mid-morning.  The beastly Brits fielded two (big!) infantry divisions with heavy artillery support, three (small) cavalry divisions and a motor column.
Enemy infantry soon closed on Gaza and were brought under Turkish artillery fire.  A futile (but quite heroic) assault was repelled by the defenders.
By the time the rather understrength Turkish 53rd Division appeared the ANZAC cavalry were approaching in considerable strength!
There was a fair bit of air activity - above can be seen German pilots dropping humanitarian supplies to Allied cavalry lost in the desert...
 ...while RFC 'planes were committing war crimes by strafing Turkish infantry.
 Von Gow Pasha maintains a degree of Eastern indolence.  And wins the prize for best hat.
Endgame.  It was a close run thing (and all the closer because of my appalling dice) but several British assaults were repelled and just as my chaps were about to crumble the Brits buggered off.  Phew!

18 comments:

Martin Rapier said...

Yes, a very close run thing indeed. The final assault in Gaza late in the afternoon resulted in losses for both sides whch in turn forced an exhaustion check. The Turks (just) passed theirs while the battered British failed and gave up the attack.

It really went down to the wire.

Peter Douglas said...

Tim

As the doctor says "Fezes are cool". So is the table!

Cheers

PD

David Crook said...

Hi Tim,

Great report and the terrain looked really impressive.

I see you like to keep your a-Fez in order....;-)

All the best,

DC

Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com said...

Nice little game.

Always found the Middle East in WWI of interest, a chapter on Allenby in a child book of course.

and the do sey that a man's hat fez a lot about him.

Peter Douglas said...

Ooh, ooh can we do fez puns?

I met a Pasha once- I don't recall his name but his fez was familiar!

Cheers
PD

Tim Gow said...

Martin Rapier
Even the Allied CO admitted my dice were awful!

Tim Gow said...

Pete Douglas
I bought my fez in August (in Durham!) so it was nice to have an opportunity to wear it.

Tim Gow said...

David Crook
During the British assault I was fez to face with the enemy!

Tim Gow said...

Ross Mac
That's a very perceptive comment. Almost worthy of a Jung Turk...

Tim Gow said...

Peter Douglas
Stop talking (Istan) bull...

Archduke Piccolo said...

A dashing young Turk in a fez
Sez to his muvver he sez,
'What's round and red,
an' goes on me 'ead?
What is it Ma, can you gez?'

The Dancing Cake Tin said...

Gazed on Gaza game: good!

Tim Gow said...

Archduke Piccolo
The scary thing is that we'll soon be doing the second battle of Gaza, so presumable that means more 'fez' puns. Can't wait!

Tim Gow said...

Dancing Cake Tin
After an initial fez off we were soon cooking with Gaz.

Paul said...

True to form more or fez for the first battle Tim.

Interesting to note how the second clash develops.

Tim Gow said...

Paul
Et tu?

Chris Kemp said...

Gotcha!

http://notquitemechanised.wordpress.com/men-in-hats/

Regards, Chris

Tim Gow said...

Chris Kemp
It was only ever a matter of time. Other hats are available....