The Battle of Jones's Kopje 1901 - Hobbs End Gazette. A Tabletop Game In 28mm.

                 HOBBS END GAZETTE

                                                                September 21st 1901

Our South African correspondent Tarquine Squears was on the scene when the Boers blew up the railway track leading to Kroonstad, he was staying with the garrison of a blockhouse on the veltd nearby.

The garrison is made up of men from the Royal Fusiliers and a section of Australian troops of the third contingent, several volunteers from Hobbs End are serving with the Fusiliers.

A party of Fusiliers went to inspect the damage and soon Mauser rounds started to whistle and crack over head. Our attention was drawn to a nearby kopje with distant figures moving around.

The men soon started advancing in open order supported by riflemen, two Fusiliers were soon dropped by very accurate Mauser fire. Moving forward as fast as they could the infantry were in a precarious position as there was not much cover.

The Boer riflemen were deadly and soon British and Australian troops were strewn across the veldt, but the attack went on. The Boers were not without casualties and they were soon mounting, the infantry were about to assault the kopje.

Bodies littered the kopje, Corporal Jones took control of the Boer position and the remnants escaped on horseback to fight another day. It had been a costly day with 12 Imperial casualties and 6 Boer, the area is now called Jones's Kopje.

Tarquine Squears, Hobbs End Gazette 1901

A Skirmish In Wallachia 1462 - A Tabletop Game In 28mm.

    A Skirmish In Wallachia 1462

Two Ottoman artillery pieces have had some repair done and are now behind the main army, with a small band of infantry, Janissaries, and Sipahi they are hastily catching up. Wallachia is a dangerous and terrifying place, many sites, ideal for ambush, have been scouted out by the cavalry, but evidence of Prince Vlad's favourite pastime line the roads.

Up ahead just before a small village, horsemen are seen, it looks like the expected attack is coming, Sipahi gallop ahead to meet the enemy.

A whisper flies around the Ottoman ranks "Kaziklu Bey, can it really be the Lord Impaler himself!" 

Wallachian cavalry split in two, one troop rides to meet the Sipahi while another flanks around behind.

The infantry and Janissaries brace themselves for the onslaught.

The fighting is brutal with neither side giving ground, the flanking troop now clash with the Ottoman infantry.

The Wallachian cavalry soon brake through the Ottoman infantry and the Sipahi are now getting the worst of it, so they retreated behind the Janissaries.

The Wallachian cavalry now formed up to charge the Ottomans again.

Pulling off another flanking move some Wallachians try to attack the cannons from the cover of the woods.

Meanwhile the Janissaries are giving the Wallachian cavalry a very tough time, and just as the cannons are reached the retreat is sounded, the Wallachians break off their attack.

The remaining Sipahi see their chance for glory and chase the retreating Wallachians, not deterred the Wallachians turn and fight.

Soon the remaining Wallachian cavalry join up with their comrades and the Sipahi are slaughtered.

The Sultan will keep his artillery, their target will most likely be Targoviste, but Prince Vlad has other surprises up his sleeve, this is not over yet.