The Boxer Rebellion Project, Part 10: Generic 8 Nations Field Forces of General Gaselee's Relief Force

For my first 8 Nations Alliance Field Force to use with The Men Who Would be Kings, I'm focusing on General Sir Alfred Gaselee, GCB, GCIE, second relief expedition. Why? All of the 8 Nations Alliance forces provide variety and color, but I choose this because I already had some figures for the force though I painted some more to add the color and historical makeup of the Alliance.

In the summer of 1900, when the Boxer Uprising in China was at its height, Gaselee was chosen to command the British element in the international expeditionary force, and on 3 July 1900 promoted to major-general. Gaselee was nominally put in charge of the Second Expedition because the Eight-Nation Alliance refused to the allow the Japanese general Yamaguchi Motomi to lead it, even though he was the highest-ranking officer present. As a reward for his services, he was created Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) on 24 July 1901.

Here are some of my "generic Field Forces" I'm going to use first with a 24 point limit: 

1. Japanese Infantry Unit.

    Regular Infantry: 6 points.

    

    Total: 6 points.

The Japanese had the largest contribution to the 8 Nations Alliance; plus the new Crusader Miniatures look cool.

2. Indian Infantry Unit.

    Regular Infantry: 6 points.

    Total: 6 points.

The British were strapped for manpower with the Boer War. Most of the British troops came from India including the 1st Indian Brigade which consisted of the 1st Sikh Infantry Punjab Frontier Force, 24th Punjab Infantry, and the 7th Rajput Infantry. 

3. Austrian-Hungarian Naval Brigade.

    Regular Infantry: 6 points.

    Total: 6 points.

Come on! You knew von Trapp and company would be included!

Gun and crew from Tsuba Miniatures.

4. Russian Artillery.

    Well Drilled Crew: 6 points.

    Total: 6 points.

The above is actually an Imperial Russian Putilov M1902 76mm quick firing gun which was first used in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. Close enough for now until I get an older gun.

Total points: 24.

Or . . . 

1. Japanese Infantry Unit.

    Regular Infantry: 6 points.

    

    Total: 6 points.

Figures from Copplestone Castings.

2. Russian Infantry Unit.

    Regular Infantry: 6 points.

    Poor Shots: -1 point. Russian firing doctrine emphasized volley fire and not individual marksmanship.

    Unenthusiastic: -1 point. Infantry were conscripts from the East Siberian Regiment and were not quite up to Western (and Japanese) standards.

    Total: 4 points.

The above is my version of the The Izmaylovsky Lifeguards Regiment circa 1905. Evantually I will get some earlier Russian infantry for the Boxer Rebellion.

3. Austrian-Hungarian Naval Brigade.

    Regular Infantry: 6 points.

    Total: 6 points.

4. 1st Bengal Lancers.

    Regular Cavalry: 6 points.

    Lancers: +2 points.

Total: 8 points.

The 8 Nations Alliance did not have a lot of cavalry and the 1st Bengal Lancers did yeoman service. The above are Perry Miniatures painted as the The 10th (The Duke of Cambridge's) Bengal Lancers (Hodson's Horse) and they will do the trick.

Total points: 24.

So far that's what I'm doing though eventually I will have some troops for Admiral Seymour's relief attempt, the follow-up expeditions after Peking was captured, and the Legation defense.

The Colonel's Recovery Repeats: Seize the Bridge (The Conclusion), A Battle of the Anglo-Russian War

 In the finest traditions of Hollywood, the heroic conclusion! Originally posted on July 14, 2021:

 

 Recap: A British Indian Army force has been tasked (using the rules The Men Who Would be Kings) with capturing a railroad bridge in order to disrupt Imperial Russian supplies from reaching the Princely State of Chaimbellistan. Though superior in numbers, the British Indian force has sustained heavy casualties primarily due to a Russian Maxim machine gun and the marksmanship of the 21st Frontier Guard Company. Two British officers have been killed but the much reduced 19th Punjabis have chased the Russian Naval Brigade off the bridge. Three turns to go to decide victory and defeat.

The Indian Army Maxim finally resumes it movement. Machine guns are slow at 4 inches for their maximum move making them difficult to use in an attack that takes lots of movement instead of having them in a convenient firing position.

With a LV of 6+, Colour Sergeant Smith fails to successfully move the Royal Fusiliers toward the bridge to support . . .

. . . the 19th Punjabis who have occupied the key objective. But can they hold?

Subedar Major Ajeet Deol organizes the defense. The positioning of the figures is purely for show since units can see 360 degrees (large skirmish game) and most can shoot 360 degrees in The Men Who Would be Kings. The exceptions are infantry in Close Order and crew served weapons that can shoot 180 degrees to their front based on their facing.

The 14th Sikhs, now under half strength, rally.

Again? The officer commanding the 21st Frontier Guard Company Leadership Trait is "Idiot". He was going to order an advance on the 19th Punjab but has to roll a die first due to his Leadership Trait. Sure enough, he rolled a "1" and the British Indian player gets to decide what order they obey if the activation is successful.

"Advance to the rear!"

The Naval Brigade Officer has the Leadership Trait "Coward" and the Punjabis are within a move distance so the Naval Brigade has to move away from the 19th. Events are rapidly collapsing for the Russians.

And then the Maxim fired eliminating half of the defenders on the bridge.

Fortunately for the Punjabis, they are not pinned.

The 14th Sikhs make it to the tree line.

The machine gun finally gets into a position where it is in range of the Russians.

Colour Sergeant Smith leads the Royal Fusiliers forward to reinforce the 19th Punjabis.

"Private McGillicuddy. Fix your helmet in the face of the enemy! How many times do I have to tell you about regulations?"

Yep it's the Russians turn and that Maxim is taking the 19th Punjabis apart at close range.

The Subedar Major is the lone survivor but he is not pinned. (I must have hit his face accidentally with some brown paint. It's funny what you don't notice until you see it in a photograph. After the battle he is going to the medical tent so I can fix his face!)

The tide may be turning as the fierce 21st Frontier Company returns to the fray. By the way the Naval Brigade made it to the cover of the woodline.

Destiny awaits. The final turn.

"Fire at the enemy machine gun!"

The British Maxim is successful in hitting two crewmen. The officer is not hit even though he is laying down; just showing that there are two casualties.

Uh oh. The Fusiliers fail to activate and move to the bridge.

The 14th Sikhs use their free action of Fire and hit the Russian machine gun.

There is one casualty - the officer in charge!

The black die designates the machine gun as pinned and the white die is showing that there is only one crew left.

"Sigh". That Leadership Trait is killing me.

"Okay boys, back the way we just came."

The "Cowardly officer" fails in his order to move the Naval Brigade away from the Subedar Major.

The Russian machine gun fails to rally . . .

. . . and must abandon its position.

Victory goes to the the British Indian Army - but at a price.

All in all a nail biter of a battle. Talk about grabbing defeat out of the jaws of victory. I really thought the Russians were going to pull it off with the Maxim and the Frontier Guard - until the "Idiot" Leadership trait kicked in. The 21st could have easily overwhelmed the depleted 19th Punjabis. What was it? Four or five "1's were rolled causing confusion and keeping the 21st out of the battle. That's the stuff legends are made of! Colonial gaming with a Hollywood flair.

The Leadership traits really add a fun dimension to The Men Who Would be Kings - it can really alter your plans. My plan as the Russians was to have the 21st and the Maxim create an engagement area to keep the enemy away from the bridge while the Naval Brigade would shoot for all it was worth until the enemy got close - and it almost worked.

The British plan was an attempt to fix the Russians to the front and then flank either side depending on who was having success. What they did not count on was the lack of firepower from their own machine gun because of it's slower speed. Gee, just like in real life. But once it got in position - Yikes! Both Machine guns were the killers on this battlefield.

Subedar Major Ajeet Deol is awarded the Indian Order of Merit (IOM), 3rd Class, for his conspicuous act of individual gallantry in the field against overwhelming odds in capturing the bridge and significantly contributing to the war effort.

Indian Order of Merit, 3rd Class

The Colonel's Recovery Repeats: Seize the Bridge (Part Two), A Battle of the Anglo-Russian War

  More action and daring do! Careful readers of the narrative will notice that we made a mistake in this game by causing officer casualties to happen on a die roll of "1" instead of a double "1". Oh well; it still made for an exciting game! Originally published on July 11, 2021:

Previously in our game of The Men Who Would be Kings: In an attempt to disrupt Russian logistics by seizing a key railway bridge, British Indian Forces are now in the engagement area of a Russian Maxim machine gun that is guarding the bridge. The 14th Sikhs have lost 1/3 of their unit and other British Indian units are exposed. The slow moving British Indian Maxim is trying to keep up with the attack but has fallen behind. Also guarding the bridge is a Russian Naval Brigade and the 21st Frontier Guard Company. Turn 5 of a 12 turn game:

The 14th Sikhs rally!

The Royal Fusiliers continue to advance heading toward the wood line after witnessing the the effects of the Russian Maxim on the 14th Sikhs.

The British Indian Army continues to move in a desperate attempt to get in range and support the attack on the bridge.

The 19th Punjabis decide to take a break and catch their breath after running into the wall of fire from the Russian 21st Frontier Guards.

Speaking of which, the Leadership Trait of the officer commanding the 21st is "Idiot". He was going to order an advance on the 19th Punjab but has to roll a die first due to his Leadership Trait. Sure enough, he rolled a "1" and the British Indian player gets to decide what order they obey if the activation is successful.

The 21st fall back stopping at the linear obstacle of the rail line.

The Brutal efficiency of the Russian Maxim is now felt by the Royal Fusiliers as they take 3 casualties. In The Men Who Would be Kings if a unit takes casualties from firing or fighting you roll one die: if it's a "1" the officer becomes a casualty. Major Elliott Naple-Cooper Stone, commanding dies instantly and command now falls upon the shoulders of Colour Sergeant Charles "Charlie" Smith. He rolls a LV of 6+ but gets no Leadership Trait.

The Royal Fusiliers are pinned in the open under the watchful gaze of the enemy machine gun.

We are happy just staying here on the bridge shooting and hitting nothing.

The 14th Sikhs move in Skirmish order angling toward the soft cover of the trees. On the way they fire at the Naval Brigade and take out one figure while the Fusiliers rally.

The Naval Brigade gets pinned.

And the British Indian Maxim is at long range but still manages extremely accurate fire and eliminates 3 more swabbies.

The 19th Punjabis continue their advance.

The 21st Frontier Guard's accurate rifle fire kills the officer in charge and inflicts two additional casualties on the 19th Punjabis. 

Subedar Major Ajeet Deol takes charge and rolls a LV of 5+. They are now at 1/2 strength but amazingly don't get pinned due to the Subedar Major's leadership.

The Naval Brigade rallies (again!).

The Maxim attempts to shift its position but fails its order.

TheWe

The British force is looking significantly smaller.

The 19th Punjabis make it to the soft cover of the rail line.

Meanwhile the Colour Sergeant gets the Fusiliers under the protection of the treeline.

The British Indian Maxim takes out two more sailors but the unit is not pinned.

The 14th Sikhs advance. So far a good turn for the British Indian Army.

You Idiot!

The 21st Frontier Guards successfully (sigh) fall back.

Well, so much for moving to a better position.

The Russian Maxim fires at close range.

Despite the soft cover provided by the trees, the Sikhs are decimated by machine gun fire.

Not surprisingly they are pinned in place.

The Sikhs fail to rally and have to retreat 3 inches.

Advance? Bloody no!

The 19th Punjabis start to outflank the bridge and the Naval Brigade.

Instead of moving, let's take a break and reload. Good show.

Let's take a break and stay in place.

We need to catch our breath too and figure out what we are doing.

Well since nobody is doing anything, we won't reposition.

"I like this spot, cool breeze and the infantry is doing fine . . . I think."

The Fusiliers fire from cover and another sailor goes down.

The 19th Punjabis continue their advance to the objective.

The dramatic return of the 21st!

The Maxim repositions!

The Naval Brigade abandons the bridge. As a reminder the Leadership Trait of the officer is "Coward" and he has to order a move to stay out of move distance of any enemy troops.

Next: The Conclusion.

1. Machine guns. And no one picked up on their destructiveness prior to WW I?

2. Does the British Indian Army have enough force to capture the bridge or will the defensive firepower stop them?

3. Machine guns used in the offensive are tough to keep up.

4. A hero emerges.