A new YouTube video: The War of the Triple Alliance and the Imperial Brazilian Ironclads

I have just uploaded a new YouTube video to the Wargaming Miscellany YouTube channel.

It lasts approximately thirteen minutes.

The video can be found here on the Wargaming Miscellany YouTube channel.

I have been to ... the Memorial Hospital, Shooters Hill

A couple of weeks ago, Sue and I were part of a group who visited the Memorial Hospital on Shooters Hill.

The hospital was built after the First World War as a lasting memorial to the local people who died during the war. At the time, Woolwich and Plumstead Cottage Hospital was need of replacement and a fund was set up to raise the sum of £50,000 to build a replacement. The site selected was near the top of Shooters Hill and was known as Telegraph Hill because a semaphore station had been built there during the Napoleonic Wars.

The foundation stone was laid in 1925 by the Duke of Connaught, and two years later, the 112-bed hospital was opened by the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). At the time, the hospital was known as the Woolwich and District Hospital Association Cottage Hospital, but by 1930 it was known as the Woolwich and District War Memorial Hospital, then - a year later - it was called the Woolwich and District Hospital Association War Memorial Hospital. It was renamed yet again in 1938 when it became the Memorial Hospital.

The original plans for the hospital included two additional wings, but although £24,000 was raised towards the cost of this extension, it was decided to use the funds to build a Nurse's Home in the hospitals grounds. The space previously used to house the nurses in the main building as then freed up, allowing the number of beds to be increased to 300, although this did not actually take place.

When the the Second World War broke out, the hospital acted as an annex to the nearby Royal Herbert Military Hospital and its capacity was increased to 137 beds. When the National Health Service was set up in 1948, it became a general hospital. In 1953 a new Out Patients Department was opened by Princess Marina of Kent, and two years later the hospital underwent refurbishment and a two new X-ray machines were installed. It had its own Casualty/Accident and Emergency Department until 1969, and by the 1965 the hospital had specialised in surgery. However, during the 1970s these services were transferred to the nearby Brook General Hospital and it became a 128-bed long-stay geriatric hospital.

Since at the early 2000s, it has been run by the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, and it now provides:

• Community health care (e.g. district nursing and speech and language therapy).
• Care for people with learning disabilities.
• Mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies.
• A day centre for the elderly.
• Administrative support

During our visit we spent time looking at the main memorial in the hospital entance before going up to the St Nicholas Chapel on the first floor. The chapel opened in 1986 after St Nicholas Hospital in Plumstead shut down. The fittings from that Hospital's chapel were installed in the new chapel along with windows from the chapel at the Goldie Leigh Hospital, Abbey Wood, and a tondo (a circular relief sculpture) from the British Hospital for Mothers and Babies, which had closed in 1984.

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The entrance to the hospital's main building

The memorial shrine in the main entrance to the hospital

The memorial shrine. Books of Remembrance for those who died during the First and Second World Wars are respectively displayed on the left and right sides of the altar

The dedication plaque is displayed behind a grill above the altar.

A ceramic plaque showing an injured person being treated is positioned above the memorial. 

A plaque that commemorates the opening of the hospital by the Duke and Duchess of York (the future King George V and Queen Elizabeth) in 1927.

A plaque that commemorates the President and various committee members involved in the building and management of the hospital.

Plaques that commemorate the staff of local hospitals who died as a result of enemy action during the two World Wars..

The hospital's chapel

The chapel's altar.

One of the wnidows that were originally fitted in the chapel of the Goldie Leigh Hospital.

The second of the two windows that were originally fitted in the chapel of the Goldie Leigh Hospital.

The tondo from the British Home for Mothers and Babies.

A photograph of the hospital's main building after a heavy snowfall

The Battle of Omdurman refought using Dominion of the Spear and Bayonet

Background to the battle

Following the fall of Khartoum in 1885, the British and Egyptians withdrew from the Sudan. Under British leadership, the Egyptian Army was reformed, better trained, and expanded, and by 1896 the Khedival forces - led by General Herbert Kitchener, the Sirdar (or Commander) of the Egyptian Army - were ready to return to the Sudan and destroy the Mahdists.

The offensive was a relatively slow but very deliberate one, with each stage planned to prepare for the next. On 21st September 1896, Dongola was captured, and Abu Hamed followed on 7th August 1897. At the Battle of the Atbara River on 7th April 1898, Mahdist forces - led by Osman Digna and Khalifa Abdullah - were decisively beaten and the line of march along the River Nile to Khartoum was open. On 1st September 1898, the Anglo-Egyptian army - with the support of a powerful flotilla of gunboats - arrived at Karary, some seven miles from Omdurman - the capital of the Mahdist state - where the Mahdist army was encamped.

The British force comprised:

• Attached British troops
• 21st Lancers
• 32nd Field Battery, Royal Artillery
• 37th Howitzer Battery, Royal Artillery
• Two 40-pounder guns, Royal Artillery
• First Infantry Division (commanded by Major General Gatacre)
• 1st Brigade (commanded by Brigadier General Wauchope)
• 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
• 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
• 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
• 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders
• 6 Maxim guns
• Detachment, Royal Engineers
• 2nd Brigade (commanded by Brigadier General Lyttelton)
• 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
• 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
• 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
• 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade
• 4 Maxim guns
• Detachment, Royal Engineers
• Attached Egyptian troops
• 9 Squadrons, Egyptian Cavalry
• 1 Battery, Egyptian Horse Artillery
• 4 Field Batteries, Egyptian Artillery
• 10 Maxim guns
• 8 Companies, Camel Corps
• Second Division (commanded by Major General Hunter)
• 1st Brigade (commanded by Colonel Macdonald)
• 2nd Egyptian Infantry Battalion
• IX Sudanese Infantry Battalion
• X Sudanese Infantry Battalion
• XI Sudanese Infantry Battalion
• 2nd Brigade (commanded by Colonel Maxwell)
• 8th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
• XII Sudanese Infantry Battalion
• XIII Sudanese Infantry Battalion
• XIV Sudanese Infantry Battalion
• 3rd Brigade (commanded by Colonel Lewis)
• 3rd Egyptian Infantry Battalion
• 4th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
• 7th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
• 15th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
• 4th Brigade (commanded by Colonel Collinson)
• 1st Egyptian Infantry Battalion
• 5th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
• 17th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
• 18th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
• Camel Transport

It is estimated that the Mahdist force numbered approximately 50,000.

The course of the battle

The battle began around 6.00am. Some 8,000 men under Osman Azrak advanced straight at the waiting Anglo-Egyptian force. These were followed by a similar number of troops who had been waiting to the northwest. The Anglo-Egyptian artillery opened fire when the advancing Mahdists were just under two miles away from the leading Anglo-Egyptian troops, and inflicted severe casualties on the Mahdists. The latter continued their advance until they came into range of the Anglo-Egyptian Maxim guns and infantry. This frontal attack faltered in the face of this firepower and none of the attackers got closer than 50 yards from the Anglo-Egyptian frontline units. A flanking move on the right was also checked, and there were bloody clashes on the opposite flank that scattered the Mahdist forces there.

Whilst the Anglo–Egyptian infantry were causing significant casualties on the Mahdists, the cavalry and camel corps that were deployed to north of the main force were threatened by about 15,000 Mahdists. The commander of the Anglo-Egyptian mounted troops attempted to use his cavalry to draw away some of the advancing Mahdists whilst the camelry moved towards the infantry’s zariba. Two gunboats moved so they could use their guns to support the cavalry and prevent a Mahdist attack on the zariba’s flank.

Kitchener then ordered his army to advance on Omdurman in several columns. The 21st Lancers were sent ahead to clear the route to Omdurman. Unfortunately, they were attacked by 2,500 Mahdists who were hidden in a depression. After a short but bloody skirmish clash, the Lancers drove the Mahdists off.

The Anglo-Egyptian force moved left in echelon towards the Surkab ridge and then towards the south. During the advance, the rear was a brigade of 3,000 mainly Sudanese troops was at the rear, and this force was unexpectedly threatened by 15,000 enemy troops who came from behind the ridge. The brigade turned to face the oncoming Mahdists, and despite intense pressure, they held their position and caused considerable casualties. Further infantry and the Maxim guns were diverted to support the Sudanese, and the Mahdist forces were forced to retreat in considerable disorder.

Now that this threat was eliminated, the advance continued and Omdurman was occupied.

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THE REFIGHT

The forces involved

Mahdists

• 1 x Cavalry
• 5 x Spearmen

British

• 1 x Cavalry
• 1 x Dismounted Cavalry (Skirmishers)
• 2 x Elite Disciplined Infantry

Opening positions

Turn 1

The Mahdist Spearmen attacked the British Line Infantry in the left sector. The Mahdist Spearmen threw a 3 ...

... and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 4 (plus 1 for being Elite) and destroyed the Mahdist Spearmen.

The Mahdists moved a unit of Spearmen into the left sector to replace the destroyed Mahdist Spearmen.

The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Spearmen in the centre sector. The British Line Infantry threw a 6 (plus 1 for being Elite) ...

... and destroyed the Mahdist Spearmen.

The Mahdists moved their remaining unit of Spearmen into the centre sector to replace the destroyed Mahdist Spearmen.

Turn 2

The Mahdist Spearmen attacked the British Line Infantry in the left sector. The Mahdist Spearmen threw a 2 ...

... and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 1 (plus 1 for being Elite).

Neither side suffered any casualties.

The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Spearmen in the centre sector. The British Line Infantry threw a 6 (plus 1 for being Elite) ...

... and destroyed the Mahdist Spearmen.

The Mahdists moved their Cavalry into the centre sector to replace the destroyed Mahdist Spearmen.

Turn 3

The Mahdist Cavalry attacked the British Line Infantry in the centre sector. The Mahdist cavalry threw a 1 ...

... and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 5 (pus 1 for being Elite) ..

... and destroyed the Mahdist Cavalry.

The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Spearmen in the left sector. The British Line Infantry threw a 6 (plus 1 for being Elite) ...

... and destroyed the Mahdist Spearmen.

... and won the battle!

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A video version of this battle report can be found here on the Wargaming Miscellany YouTube channel.

An eBay bargain

I recently won an auction on eBay and bought six ready-painted 15mm resin buildings. They cost me just under £25.00, including postage and packing.

I bought them with the intention of using them on my floating shelf model railway layout ... and I think that they will fit in rather nicely on it.

The Budget Model Railways Challenge ... now has a backscene!

I managed to cut a piece of 3mm plywood to the size I wanted for my floating shelf model railway's backscene (60mm x 20mm). I then cut down part of the backscene I had recently purchased from THE MODEL SHOP in Faversham to the same size as the piece of plywood.

Once that was task was completed, I affixed the self-adhesive backscene to the plywood, which I then propped up behind my layout to see what it might look like when it is finished. I also placed a few of the trees I had also bought from THE MODEL SHOP and my border fortress on the layout, and the result looked like this:

I am having second thoughts about whether or not to use the border fortress on the layout. It looks a bit bigger on the layout than I expected and I do have some other buildings that might be more suitable.

Developing the Portable Ironclads Wargame: The American Civil War

The latest addition to the PORTABLE WARGAME stable of rules - DEVELOPING THE PORTABLE IRONCLADS WARGAME: THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR - has been published.

It was written by David Crook (the creator of the A WARGAMING ODYSSEY blog) and edited by me. The book builds upon the rules contained in THE PORTABLE IRONCLADS WARGAME (published in December 2022) and contains several new ideas including a selection of optional rules covering key game mechanisms, the use of squares or single grid areas as well as a greatly expanded ship specification list and a full erratum. Although primarily aimed at the American Civil War, the rules may be successfully used for any naval conflict during the 1860s and 1870s.

The book contains the following chapters:

• Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Acknowledgements
• The First Rules of Wargaming and the Spirit of the Wargame
• Thoughts on Initiative and Movement
• More thoughts on Movement
• Thoughts on Firing
• More thoughts on Firing
• The Use of a Square grid
• The Use of Single Hexes or Squares
• Further Notes on the Design and Thinking Out Loud
• Final Thoughts, Further Thoughts, Errors and Omissions … Part 2
• Battle report: Endgame Along the Missenhitti: The Battle of Static Bay: Part 1
• Battle report: Endgame Along the Missenhitti: The Battle of Static Bay: Part 2
• Calculating Ship Specifications
• Expanded Ship Specifications for the American Civil War
• An Illustrated guide to the warships of the American Civil War
• Bibliography and sources of information
• Revisiting the Rules
• Thoughts on Quick Reference Sheets and Ship Specification Charts
• Appendix 1: Quick Reference Sheets

It is worth noting that a copy of THE PORTABLE IRONCLADS WARGAME is required to use the material contained in this publication.

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The book is on sale via Amazon in hardback (£25.00) and softback (£12.50) editions and in PDF format from Wargame Vault (£7.50). The latter is also available as part of a bundle with THE PORTABLE IRONCLADS WARGAME for £12.64 (and may even be discounted to a lower price!)

Two more 'Dominion of ...' books of rules have been published

Steve Parker has published two more 'Dominion of ...' books of rules, DOMINION OF MARLBOROUGH AND PETER THE GREAT ...

and DOMINION OF PATRIOTS AND REDCOATS.

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The DOMINION OF MARLBOROUGH AND PETER THE GREAT rules cover the main battles of the War of the Spanish Succession and the Great Northern War .

There are seven different types of unit:

• Line Infantry: These are infantry that fight in close formation and rely on firepower and bayonets to destroy enemy units.
• Pikemen and Claymores: Infantry that are trained or prefer to fight hand-to-hand (e.g. Russian pikemen and Claymore-armed Highlanders).
• Gå-på Infantry: Swedish Infantry who normally fired at very short range before charging their opponents.
• Dragoons: Mounted troops armed with carbines who normally dismount and fight in skirmish order.
• Pistoliers: Cavalry who still used the caracole formation who preferred to engage the enemy with their pistols.
• Sabres: Cavalry who were armed with swords and who charged their opponents, sometimes after firing at them with their pistols (e.g. British, Dutch, Russian, and Swedish Cavalry
• Artillery: It includes all artillery.

The book includes Army Lists for twenty-four battles:

• Monmouth’s Rebellion
• Battle of Sedgemoor (6th July 1685)
• Nine Years’ War
• Battle of Walcourt (25th August 1689)
• Battle of Fleurus (1st July 1690)
• Battle of Steenkerque (3rd August 1692)
• Battle of Neerwinden (29th July 1693)
• Williamite War in Ireland
• Battle of the Boyne (1st July 1690)
• War of the Spanish Succession
• Battle of Chiari (1st September 1701)
• Battle of Luzzara (15th August 1702)
• Battle of Schellenberg (2nd July 1704)
• Battle of Blenheim (13th August 1704)
• Battle of Elixheim (18th July 1705)
• Battle of Ramillies (23rd May 1706)
• Battle of Turin (7th September 1706)
• Battle of Almanza (25th April 1707)
• Battle of Oudenarde (11th July 1708)
• Battle of Malplaquet (11th September 1709)
• Battle of Villaviciosa (10th December 1710)
• Battle of Denain (24th July 1712)
• Great Northern War
• Battle of Narva (30th November 1700)
• Battle of Düna (19th July 1701)
• Battle of Kliszów (9th July 1702)
• Battle of Holowczyn (14th July 1708)
• Battle of Poltava (28th June 1709)
• Jacobite Rebellion 1715
• Battle of Sheriffmuir (13th November 1715)

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The DOMINION OF PATRIOTS AND REDCOATS rules cover the main battles of the American War of Independence/American Revolutionary War.

There are six different types of unit:

• Line Infantry: These are infantry that fight in close formation and rely on firepower to destroy enemy units (e.g. Early British Infantry, American Continental Army infantry, Militia in close formation, French Infantry units.)
• Skirmishers: These are infantry or cavalry who fight in a dispersed formation and rely on firepower or missile weapons to destroy enemy units at a distance (e.g. British and French Light Infantry, Militia fighting in skirmish order, dismounted Dragoons, Native Americans firing from cover).
• Bayonets: These are infantry units that fire a volley and then charge their opponents (e.g. British and Hessian Regular Infantry).
• Tomahawks: Native American and First nation warriors who prefer to fight in hand-to-hand combat.
• Cavalry: These are mounted troops who rely on charging their opponents as opposed to dismounting and shooting.
• Artillery: It includes all artillery.

Examples of units include:

• Trained militia armed with muskets and fighting in close formation – Line Infantry (cost 2 points).
• Militia armed with muskets, fighting in a dispersed formation, and using cover – Skirmishers (cost 2 points).

The book includes Army Lists for twenty-four battles:

• Lexington and Concord (1775)
• Bunker Hill (1775)
• Quebec (1775)
• Long Island (1776)
• White Plains (1776)
• Fort Washington (1776)
• Trenton (1776)
• Princeton (1777)
• Oriskany (1777)
• Bennington (1777)
• Brandywine (1777)
• First Saratoga (1777)
• Germantown (1777)
• Second Saratoga (1777)
• Monmouth (1778)
• Stono Ferry (1779)
• Newtown (1779)
• Savannah (1779)
• Camden (1780)
• King’s Mountain (1780)
• Cowpens (1781)
• Guilford Courthouse (1781)
• Eutaw Springs (1781)
• Siege of Yorktown (1781).

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The DOMINION OF MARLBOROUGH AND PETER THE GREAT and DOMINION OF PATRIOTS AND REDCOATS rules were written by Steve Parker and published in 2025 by Orc Publishing. They can be bought in PDF format from Wargame Vault for $5.90/£4.40.

The Battle of Tamai refought using Dominion of the Spear and Bayonet

Background to the battle

During the campaign to relieve the besieged Egyptian forces in Khartoum, an expedition – led by Major-General Sir Gerald Graham – was sent to Suakin on the Red Sea coast of the Sudan to destroy the Mahdist forces led by Osman Digna. The British defeated Digna's army at the Second Battle of El Teb on 29th February 1884 but were unable to destroy it. A second attempt was made a fortnight later on 13th March 1884 and the resulting battle is known as the Battle of Tamai.

The British force comprised:

• Squadron from 10th Hussars
• Squadron from 19th Hussars
• 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
• 3rd Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
• 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
• 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
• 2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Fusiliers
• Royal Marine Light Infantry
• Royal Navy Naval Brigade
• 6th Battery, 1st Brigade, Scottish Division, Royal Artillery
• M Battery, Royal Horse Artillery

It is estimated that the Mahdist force numbered approximately 10,000.

The course of the battle

During the night of 12th March 1884, the British camped close to the position occupied by the Mahdists. During the night several Mahdist riflemen kept up a desultory fire on the British camp and inflicted a few casualties.

At daybreak the artillery open fired on the Mahdist skirmishers who were driven off. General Graham ordered the infantry to form up into two brigade-sized infantry squares and to advance. One square was commanded by Colonel Davis and the other by Colonel Buller. General Graham accompanied Colonel Davis' square.

The main Mahdist force was discovered hidden in a ravine by a scouting party, and General Graham ordered the Black Watch to advance and clear the enemy from the ravine. This left a gap in the square ... and a sudden Mahdist attack exploited this. As a result, the remaining troops in the square found themselves fighting a brutal hand-to-hand battle against the Mahdists.

The Black Watch fell back on the square, and after intense fighting and volley fire from Colonel Buller's square and dismounted cavalry, the square was able to reform. The British then resumed their advance, drove the remaining enemy troops out of the ravine, and caused the surviving Mahdists (including Osman Digna) to flee.

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THE REFIGHT

The forces involved

British

• 1 x Cavalry
• 1 x Dismounted Cavalry (Skirmishers)
• 2 x Elite Disciplined Infantry

Mahdists

• 1 x Cavalry
• 2 x Ambushers (armed with swords)
• 3 x Spearmen

Opening positions

Turn 1

The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Cavalry in the left sector. The British Line Infantry threw a 2 (plus 1 for being Elite) ...

... and in reply the Mahdist Cavalry threw a 1.

Neither side suffered any casualties.

The Mahdist Spearmen attacked the British Skirmishers in the right sector. The Mahdist Spearmen threw a 2 ...

... and in reply the British Skirmishers threw a 2.

Neither side suffered any casualties.

Turn 2

The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Cavalry in the left sector for a second time. The British Line Infantry threw a 6 (plus 1 for being Elite) ...

... and destroyed the Mahdist Cavalry.

The Mahdists moved a unit of Ambushers into the left sector to replaced the destroyed Mahdist Cavalry.

The Mahdist Spearmen attacked the British Skirmishers in the right sector for a second time. The Mahdist Spearmen threw a 6 ...

... and destroyed the British Skirmishers.

The British moved their Cavalry into the right sector to replaced the destroyed British Skirmishers.

Turn 3

The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Spearmen in the centre sector. The British Line Infantry threw a 5 (plus 1 for being Elite) ...

... and destroyed the Mahdist Spearmen.

The Mahdists moved a unit of Ambushers into the centre sector to replace the destroyed Mahdist Spearmen.

The Mahdist Ambushers attacked the British Line Infantry in the left sector. The Mahdist Ambushers threw a 4 ...

... and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 2 (plus 1 for being Elite).

Neither side suffered any casualties.

Turn 4

The British Cavalry attacked the Mahdist Spearmen in the right sector. The British Cavalry threw a 5 ...

... and destroyed the Mahdist Spearmen.

The Mahdists moved their last unit of Spearmen into the right sector to replace the destroyed Mahdist Spearmen.

The Mahdist Ambushers attacked the British Line Infantry in the centre sector. The Mahdist Ambushers threw a 3 ...

... and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 3 (plus 1 for being Elite).

Neither side suffered any casualties.

Turn 5

The British Line Infantry attacked the Mahdist Ambushers in the left sector. The Mahdist Ambushers threw first, and threw a 1 ...

...and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 2 (plus 1 for being Elite).

Neither side suffered any casualties.

The Mahdist Ambushers attacked the British Line Infantry in the centre sector. The Mahdist Ambushers threw a 1 ...

... and in reply the British Line Infantry threw a 4 (plus 1 for being Elite) and destroyed the Mahdist Ambushers.

The Mahdists were now reduced to two units.

Turn 6

The British Line Infantry in the centre sector outflanked the Mahdist Spearmen in the right sector. The British Line Infantry threw a 5 (plus 1 for being Elite) and destroyed the Mahdist Spearmen ...

... and won the battle!

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A video version of this battle report can be found here on the Wargaming Miscellany YouTube channel.