Colenso – The Game

Apologies for the delay but I finally got the chance to play out the Colenso game that has sat patiently on the table for four weeks. It was an interesting game with another unexpectedly good result for the British.

I threw a die at the start of turn one to see whether the Boers would hold their fire - they didn't and the Mausers sprang into action straight away concentrating on Long's guns.

At least this meant that the 4.7" Naval Gun could start to fire on turn two although with limited results.

Long's batteries immediately started taking hits as they were deployed at medium range for the Boer rifles.

Hildyard ordered the Brigade to advance and the West Surreys came under heavy fire from their front and flanking fire from across the Tugela.

At the end of turn 2 Long's guns had gone silent - now he had to try to get them away!

The Heidelberg Commando were laying down a terrific fire directed from amongst the buildings of Colenso.

And across the river the Boer artillery was blasting away at the advancing British line.

Despite heavy casualties, the West Surreys made a successful bayonet charge that sent the Boers in Colenso running for their ponies and off across the bridge. The town was now in British hands.  

Hildyard's reserve battalions started to come up in support of the first line.

The Vryheid Commando having received a direct hit from the 4.7" Naval Gun rolled a 1 for morale and took off leaving Fort Wyllie undefended.

As Long extricates his guns the Devonshires come under fire and the crew of their supporting Maxim gun is wiped out.

A lucky break for the British - the pom-pom gun rolls 3 x 1's and is jammed for the remainder of the game.

The Devonshires are taking casualties but the reserves keep coming forward behind them.

Another low morale roll sees the Krugersdorp Commando flee on their ponies. The Colonel of the Devonshires has ordered his battalion into a single line to develop maximum fire power.

The end of turn 8 - the West Yorkshires form column and approach the bridge but it's game over for the Boers.

At the end of turn 8 the final VP scores were 15 to the British and 9 to the Boers. The Boers did have some dreadful morale throws and the British some good ones that resulted in very few PINs enabling them to advance quite quickly. It could have been closer if the Boers had succeeded in preventing Long from carrying away most of the guns.

This game ends my series of early war battles of 1899. I may have a go at Spion Kop next although that will require some thought to produce a playable scenario.

Colenso - Scenario

Buller arrived in South Africa in October 1899 bringing much needed reinforcements of British troops. Having instructed Methuen to press forward towards Kimberley he personally took direct control of the effort to relieve Ladysmith. As he advanced the Boers fell back across the Tugela River near Colenso.

The Boer position at Colenso was reported to be very strong and Buller sensibly decided to try to bypass it rather than attack head-on. However, following the news of the British defeats at Stormberg and Magersfontein, he felt under pressure to mount a direct assault.

The attack was ordered for dawn on 15th December 1899 with an initial advance by Hart’s Brigade on the left that ended in disaster when his men were funnelled into a dead-end loop of the Tugela and shot down by the Boers. Things went slightly better on the far right of the field but in the centre, Colonel Long took it upon himself to advance his guns far too close to the Boer positions where the crews were cut down by rifle fire.

Hildyard’s Brigade was ordered to advance, take Colenso and force a crossing of the Tugela. He was also tasked with supporting Long in his exposed position. This scenario focusses on that part of the battle.

Special Rules

1. The Boers were instructed by Botha to hold their fire until the British were committed to an attack. Rule: No British units may fire until after the Boers have fired for the first time.

2. The river could only be crossed at Colenso bridge and at the drift by the destroyed railway bridge. Rule: Troops may cross the bridge and drift 3 figures abreast and count as being in close order when doing so.

3. The Boer’s morale was fragile during the actual battle and the garrison at Colenso withdrew without really contesting the place. Rule: The Boers defending Colenso must test for morale each turn even if they do not receive casualties.

4. In the actual battle Major Long advanced the 14th and 66th Field Batteries in advance of the infantry to a position just in front of Fort Wyllie where the crews were subsequently wiped out and most the guns lost. Rule: The guns may not be withdrawn but if all the crewmen become casualties the British must attempt to extract the guns. Lieutenant Roberts is sent forward with two limbers each with a strength value of 6 to retrieve as many of the guns as possible. Any guns not retrieved are captured by the Boers.

5. In the actual battle the Boers laid explosive at the bridge with the idea of trapping the British on their side of the river and capturing them. Rule: to blow the bridge the Boers must roll a 5 or 6.

Order of Battle

British C in C General Sir Redvers Buller

2nd Brigade (Major-General Hildyard)

2nd Queens West Surrey Regiment

2nd Devonshire Regiment

2nd West Yorkshire Regiment (enter turn 3)

2nd East Surrey Regiment (enter turn 3)

2 x Maxim Guns

Colonel Long

2 x Batteries Royal Field Artillery (14th & 66th batteries)

4.7” Naval Battery

Boers C in C General Botha

Boksburg Commando

Heidelberg Commando

Vryheid Commando

Krugersdorp Commando

2 x Field Artillery

1 x Pom Pom

Victory Conditions

This is a timed scenario, at the end of turn 8 calculate VPs as follows:

British

For each Boer Commando destroyed or currently fleeing 5VP

If British infantry are across the Tugela 5VP

Boers

If the Boers still hold Colenso 5VP

For each British infantry regiment destroyed 5VP

For each British gun captured 1VP

Colenso

It’s dawn on 15th December 1899 and Colonel Long has just ordered the 14th and 66th Field Artillery Batteries to unlimber 500 yds from the banks of the Tugela River. Just 300 yds to their left the buildings of Colenso are becoming visible through the early morning haze. 

The Boers are reported to be on the far bank of the river and have been spotted in the town as well. Some of Long’s subordinates are concerned that their position may be a bit exposed.

"Colonel Long, I think we may be just a bit too close to the Boer positions?"
"Nonsense Captain, the Boers have almost certainly withdrawn!"

"But Sir, we've had reports that they hold the far river bank in strength."
"If so, the best place for the guns is up front just like we had 'em at Omdurman!"

"Blimey Sarge, if we was any closer to the Boers they could brew us a cuppa tea!"
"Hold fast there laddie, Colonel says we was this close at Omdurman."
"Yeah Sarge, but at Omdurman they was armed with spears!"

"Order the men to hold their fire, the Tommies are walking right into our trap!" 

The third battle of Black Week is about to begin.