Up The Pass

It was snowy winter #wargame time again at the weekend. This year's multi-player Colonial game taking a 'Kobayashi Maru' turn.

Afghan tribal warriors, who are lying in wait in snow speckled rough terrain.

It was a replay of Elphinstone's 1842 'Retreat from Kabul' disaster, and all the players got to be British officers.

An Officer awaits their instructions.

Our instructions? Get as far up the pass as possible while the organiser had the fun of sending waves of native troops at us.
Things did not get off to a good start as our 'native' escort turn on us, and our cavalry just stood around and watched. Some distant artillery fire helped clear them, but this lead to the guns being stuck at the back.

The last stand of the British 44th regiment, mimicking their historical fate. Afghan warriors close in on them from the surrounding vantage points. This was the leading element of a column of survivors on the winding road.

The Sepoy Rearguard hold off a number of attacks. The Officers helped bolster the defense at critical moments.

A long view of the table showing the extent of the British column. The road ahead is blocked and the civilians and baggage train is now at the mercy of the Tribal warriors.

The demise of the Rearguard. Sepoy units were overwhelm by Tribal Warriors, being forced back into a freezing river. after finally breaking.

In the background the train of civilians can be seen.

It was only at the end of the game that they revealed the 'Flashman' figure, which was cunningly disguised as a female civilian ( and presumably escaped ).
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