Back of Beyond, Conteptible Little Armies / The Back of Beyond, 28mm

 The next game was another Back of Beyond affair involving my Turks as unlikely Afghan allies fighting the British for control of some god-forsaken Afghan hilltop village during the Third Afghan War (1919-20).The game gave me the excuse to speed paint these fine-looking Foundry Pathans which have been lurking in my unpainted lead stash since last summer. Of course like most new figures they didn’t survive long once they got to grips with the British regulars, but they made a fine show of it while it lasted! Here’s what happened. the Afghans were holed up in their village, where they came under attack from a powerful British column, led by a shiny new Rolls Royce armoured car. Although it was knocked out on Turn 2, the British got the better of the exchange which followed. by the end of the game the Afghans were still in control of their village, but only just.By that time they were down to a few tribesmen, backed up by the kilt-wearing Afghan royal guard, and an artillery piece crewed by guys in plumes and coalscuttle helmets.Then my Turks arrived, screened by a band of Pathans. As screens go they weren’t very good, as they ran pretty early on, leaving the Turks to be riddled by British shot and shell. Like all game involving Chris peers’ rules the body count was horrendous, but in the end it was the British who called it a day, yielding the field to about half a dozen Afghans and a handful of dazed Turks! Also like all games involving Chris Peers’ rules, the evening was a highly enjoyable one – wargaming in the old style, as it should be played, just like in the days before Warhammer, DBM and all that jazz. 

Tags: Contemptible Little Armies