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Author Topic: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign  (Read 96133 times)

Offline giorgio

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 356
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #180 on: August 08, 2021, 06:24:56 PM »
Tank, 25th July 
a letter by Br Gen R. Davenport is just arrived from Bannu for Br Gen D.W. Simmons.

David, my respect. I’m in big troubles and I need your help. That fool blockhead, Fullerton, is combining another of his. Under big pressure by you know who, I accepted to put him in charge of another expedition, this way towards Tochi Valley but this fanatic returned to Spim Wam to revenge past battle and now is marching towards Tochi valley from North, That means that he will pass thru Mahsuds lands and I need that you send Major Haldane to negotiate a safe passing, assuring them that he will not remain in their land one second more.
His insignificant skirmish are painted by local press as a second Waterloo and he has become the idealized hero of all the good society in Peshawar. I cannot think what would happen if he will be victim of any incident. We have to act quickly to prevent any further problem, at least if he can return safe from Spinwam. Really the true result of his battle I got by safe sources and are 1 cavalry lost against 2 afghans and only real success, the gun was spiked, but unfortunately not relieved, Anyway…
I take the opportunity to send to you a box of cigars just arrived from Caribbean and thanks in advance
Faithfully Yours
Richie

Offline Umra Khan

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 306
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #181 on: August 08, 2021, 10:35:17 PM »
25th July 1890
From Tank
Br. Gen. D.W. Simmons
To Gen. R. Davenport in Bannu

Dear Ritchie
your Fullerton is a big problem.
When the Maj. Haldane made the Jirga with the Mahsuds in exchange for the peace he promised that no fort will be built on their lands and that no British troops will penetrate in their territory.
If I send Haldane to ask for a ride to that crazy Fullerton I risk he won't come back either.
You have to stop it anyway!
David Wally Simmons

Offline CPT Shanks

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 275
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #182 on: August 09, 2021, 01:00:43 AM »
Channers Sahib, blessings be upon you. It is with the greatest humility I ask you to join me in a jirga to discuss peace terms. The loss of life and villages in the Tikari Valley have left us no alternative but to meet your demands. If it pleases you meet us at Serai in three days with your political envoys and requisite terms.
Your humble servant
Sardar Gul Akbar
« Last Edit: August 09, 2021, 05:42:26 AM by CPT Shanks »
"welcome to the world of cascading failure"


Offline CPT Shanks

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 275
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #183 on: August 09, 2021, 05:26:30 AM »

FROM: BG Channers VC, CO Hazara Field Force
TO: MGnl. Whitsend, CO Peshawar Div.
RE: fire and steel

DATE: 27 July, 1890

Smokey

Capital!  Seems a little steel and fire is all it takes to sort out these hooligans. Received envoys today requesting a jirga to discuss terms for compliance of the entire Black Mountain tribal region. Sounds like this chap Gul Akbar has more brains than he does fight about him.  In that case the brandy is on me sir. Once we've reconstituted our force and returned to Abbottabad I'll send some "relief" post haste from my private stalk.
Yes sir, the steel and the fire, judiciously applied.

Respectfully

BG Channers VC

Offline Mad Guru

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 711
    • Maiwand Day blog
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #184 on: August 09, 2021, 07:25:02 AM »
FROM: MGnl. Whitsend, CO Peshawar Div.
TO: BG Channers, CO Hazara Field Force
RE: Triumph & Tragedy

DATE: 28 July, 1890

Channers,

Sterling progress, old bean, and if all goes as you demarcate I won't hesitate to help reduce your private stalk, or stash!  Not to be a croaker or the squeaky wheel on the limber, but I respectfully suggest you refrain from trusting the alleged entreaties of devious fiends such as Gul Akbar.  When you attend his Jirga be sure to take at bare minimum a company size escort, and a full battalion would be better.  Not to be soppy but it would not do to lose you in the lurch, so to speak.

Sincerely,

Smokey
"We shall see what wisdom lies beneath my madness!"

Offline Mad Guru

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 711
    • Maiwand Day blog
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #185 on: August 09, 2021, 08:28:04 AM »
ESCAPE FROM CHAKDARA

In his previous despatch, following the fall of Chakdara Outpost, Sgt. Crood (Yorks & Lancs, Regt. #201) neglected to mention one vital member of the garrison: the Detachment's Bhisti, DIRKA GRIM...



After the fall of the Outpost, Dirka Grim joined Sgt. Crood and his 4 surviving men on their desperate bid to make it back to British lines by following the road along the Swat River...





They did their best to stay out of sight whenever any locals were about, but failed once and were spotted by some children at play across the river...





They took the fork in the road and headed South towards the Malakand Pass...



Dirka Grim took care to refill his water supply before his path parted ways with the river...



To reach their destination they had to move through the small town of Kabal...



They waited for dusk, then silently slipped down the deserted street, Sgt. Crood sending Dirka to scout ahead, seeing how his appearance -- though slightly out of place -- would attract far less attention than the rest of them...




They made it through Kabal safe and sound, then struck into the mountains proper, keeping to the shadows and moving after dark in an effort to remain hidden from any prying eyes...







Next morning they came to the last stretch of Rocky Mountain before the Malakand Pass itself, at which time Sgt. Crood once again called on Dirka Grim to do a bit of reconnoiterin'...







As it turned out, despite his one step above Untouchable status, Dirka Grim had always fancied himself a soldier, so he did not hesitate to solo climb the mountainside and ascertain if the coast was clear...







Which as it turned out it was not.

There was a Tribal loiterer of unknown disposition athwart the path...



This Johnny Pathan fellow turned 'round...



To confront Dirka Grim...



Accused him of being an idol-worshipping Infidel...



And signaled an attack...



In keeping with the hallowed ways of the ONE TRUE TEXT -- AKA: The Sword And The Flame -- a MOVEMENT CARD was flipped...



RED = British, which in this case was Dirka Grim.

Dirka Grim had been secretly hoping and praying for this moment to come for the past decade at least, since he first began earning his salt from the Great White Queen...

But Johnny Pathan was a skilled combat veteran, so...

It was deemed an equal fight, MELEE DIE vs. MELEE DIE...


(Keep It Simple Sahib)

High rolls wins, low roll determines combat result for the loser...



Dirka Grimm was victorious.
Barely so, but sweet victory nonetheless.
With his losing result of "1" Johnny Pathan was dead.
And May Allah Have Mercy on His Soul.



Dirka Grim climbed the last stretch of mountain...



To see what he could see...









You're a better than I am, Dirka Grim...



You was spotted by Trevelyan of the 9th Gurkhas
When he'd just crowned the heights of Malakand Pass
Johnny Pathan for sure is who and what he thought you
'Til you whipped out your bugle and blew it fast.



LINK to audio of Royal Engineers Bugler playing "Tattoo":

http://www.royalengineers.ca/39_Tattoo%20(1st%20Post).mp3





After hearing Dirka Grim's bugle call, Col. Trevelyan ordered the Gurkhas deployed atop Malakand Pass to advance & provide force protection for the men he now expected to be returning to "barracks" as per the bugle call.  And right he was as Dirka Grim retraced his steps to the spot where he'd left Sgt. Crood and Co., joined them, and together all six made for the Pass...


« Last Edit: August 11, 2021, 01:38:33 AM by Mad Guru »

Offline giorgio

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 356
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #186 on: August 09, 2021, 11:16:18 AM »
“Pack up your money pull up your tent Sgt Crood,
 
Dirka Grim's bugle call goes over rocks and wood,

Truly he is a better man that we had understood!”

From “Peshawar barracks ballads” by Reginald Winkie

Offline Umra Khan

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 306
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #187 on: August 09, 2021, 11:42:05 AM »
Mad Guru 👏👏👏👏👏
great for the use of the True Text !

Giorgio malicious Wazir your  rhyme is worthy of Dante
excellent  👏👏👏
« Last Edit: August 09, 2021, 12:05:55 PM by Umra Khan »

Offline giorgio

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 356
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #188 on: August 09, 2021, 01:05:54 PM »
In the makeshift field of Poona's Horse everyone sleeps ... even the Risaldar Maruti Jadhav ... then in the middle of the night the Risaldar wakes up sweating, had a terrible nightmare and must communicate it to Col. Fullerton. He grasps his pistol and goes out of the tent. He see him close a campfire.
"Colonel Sahib I had a terrible dream ... the Black Death had taken the form of a Mahsud, then the Mahsud changed into Her .. but it was dirty with blood, your uniform was on the ground and you were naked full of blood and wounds in every part of the body. Colonel Sahib we must not enter the territory of the Mahsuds, or you will die "
“Risaldar Maruti Jadhav you believe these non-senses? I do not! I'm an Officer of Her Majesty Queen Victoria and I don't care about your premonitions. Order the squadron to prepare!”
A little later the squadron is ready to march, Fullerton is ahead of everyone ...
"towards Miranshah towards glory"
He hits the belly of the horse with the heels of his boots ... and the horse escapes him from under ... someone he has cut the girth, Fullerton falls to the ground, gets up and is furious ... then he remembers that another twin saddle was left back in Bannu. He cannot charge without his lucky saddles.  And he orders his column to turn around and set off again towards Bannu. The Risaldar breathes a sigh of relief and thinks ... in my dream someone had rolled a D6 and the result was 4 ... "Fully understands that it is risky to enter the territory of the Mahsuds and goes back to Bannu" Fullerton…understands…in the same sentence???.


« Last Edit: August 10, 2021, 07:12:16 AM by giorgio »

Offline MaleGriffin

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1719
  • Don't bother running.... You'll just die tired....
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #189 on: August 10, 2021, 02:22:34 PM »
I love this storyline! Great job!
Hoc quoque transibit
Sanguinem sistit semper

Offline giorgio

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 356
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #190 on: August 11, 2021, 12:11:34 PM »
From the July 26th, 1890 issue of the Peshawar Tribune our correspondent Reginal Winkie:
 
Dear Reader, this issue includes a totally free digest of my famous “Who’s who in Punjab”. The today summary deals with Pashtun Khans and is already a must in all the decent clubs east of Indus valley.
In the North there are the Chitralis driven by Alì Raza Khan from his fort in Chitral and his henchman Jahaba in Kila Drosh. They are faithful to old Rules and very friends of Swat tribes.
Moving to East you can meet the infamous Black Mountain tribes. Nominal leader is Hashim Ali Khan whose brother and heir was the bandit Sikander, recently killed by our forces. Raising star is now the ambiguous Gul Akbar Khan. They are quite fanatically devoted to new Rule and allied with Waziris.
Immediately south of Chitralis there is the Swat, where Malak Manur dominates the Yusufzeis with the help of his right hand Sarban Khan. Here is the deepest religiously faith for Old Rule. Malak is the spiritual leader for all the believers. Their enemies say that Swat was meant to give Kings’ gladness but the Yusufzais have made of it a desolate hostel.
A little bit more South you find Tirah where Umra Khan has his lands. He is the leader of reference for all devoted pilgrims for old Book, helped by his henchman Omar. He is always wavering between friendship and banditism with our soldiers and is deeply involved in a feud with Mulehead Khan of all Waziris.
The bordering north Waziris in the Tochi valley are Utmanzai and their leader is El Quartah, very foxy in gaining from enemies feuds. Ahmedzai are the Wana Waziris under direct control by El Komiss el Mulehead who has delegated south foces to an emerging renegade, Zarin Khan, very skilled in fighting and…
betrayals.
Attached in the insert you will find a map with main Khans positions and a copy of my Peshawar Barrack Ballad together with a new inquiry about Fullerton’s campaign: “Stopped because too successful?”.
All these and much more in the internal pages.
yours faithfully
Reginald Winkie
« Last Edit: August 11, 2021, 12:24:48 PM by giorgio »

Offline giorgio

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 356
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #191 on: August 12, 2021, 01:55:23 PM »
The warm breeze of a hot July evening is spreading over Kabul. In the late evening two dark shadows are talking behind the column of a bungalow.

“You see brother Muletail, the air is becoming harder and harder, we cannot trust in Italwars and people faithful to old Book are becoming more aggressive every day”
“you are right my good Abdul Kareem, we cannot trust him. Tomorrow at dawn we’ll go out with the caravan which goes to Altimur pass. The first night we’ll escape thru north with some camels that will remain accidentally with us”
“All this only we two ? You are the mighty Ghaazi Muletail El Komiss but even you cannot resist caravan tribesmen if they notice the missing camels!
“Abdul we will not be alone”
“You mean that Mighty Ruler will be with us?”
“Not exactly, will have our new friends, the converted Bunerwals, they also are feeling not safe and has agreed to escape with u to escort us to their land. From there we’ll go south to Wana. Actually one of them is exactly behind that building, looking for spies and protecting us.”


“Very easy yes indeed, but unfortunately to go to Buner lands we’ll have to cross the Afridi’s lands and that mean that Umra will be happy to pay a great reward for our heads…live or death”
“c’mon Abdul you see perils everywhere, if we are loyal to our Ruler. He will protect us from Afridis”

“ok but if we escape from caravan, cross Tirah valley, are not killed by Bundersvails, how we arrive to Wana?”
“Abdul do not be irrational; how can I know now?”
“Irrational’ Me? Ooh you are a fakir, sometime as mad as Swat fakir… anyway I swore to feud my father killing and I will help you”

“Abdul I told you 300 times, Your father was killed by Muhammad the Scavenger but he is dead now.”
“Yes but he had sons and cousins and uncles, I will repair the feud!”
“Well now go and rally all our Bunerwals friend, we’ll start tomorrow morning. Speak loudly with them about going to South, to cross Altimur pass and arrive in Waziristan avoiding to be intercepted by Mashuds wolves packs. We have to cheat Umra’s spies and after leaving the caravan avoid to call each other with our true name”
“Ok Ghaazi Muletail, oops I mean ok. Ok what?”

“Hussein, I will be Hussein and you my good friend, you will be Mustafa”
“ok Hussein, we meet here tomorrow at 4 am to join the caravan, I will pay the caravan bashi and no issue to go with them!”
Suddenly two long whistles sound in the air and the two shadows disappear swiftly as they had appeared.

« Last Edit: August 12, 2021, 02:32:04 PM by giorgio »

Offline giorgio

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 356
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #192 on: August 13, 2021, 08:01:48 AM »
Sunset of a weary day, the caravan slowly is ending its march directed southwards, towards Altimur pass and the lands of Mashuds, where sentinels are patrolling the area to detect the intruders. But hidden by some dunes a little group is walking North wards, few guys dressed like merchants but with their tunics hidden in bags on stolen camels. Their leader is a well-known guy:
“Abdul from now on you are Mustafa and I am Hussein. Open your eyes and ears because Umra’s spies are everywhere and we are going into their lands: direction Jalalabad. Our badragga will be composed by our brothers in faith Bunerwals. When we will be far enough from the kafilah with our new mules and camels with their kujavas full inside with our  new tunics and turbans. We have stolen some water too and we have to make it enough.

We have a long march up to Jalalabad, as we see a new kafilah we’ll join it to enter into the Tirah valley as simple merchants and then we’ll dress with the new tunics to simulate we are all Bunerwals.”
“Muletail, oops Hussein, let’s pray the Ruler that overviews our steps in this terrible path.”
“Mustafa, we teach his Words and He will assure His merciful protection! Now stop talking, we have a long sand chocked ride thru the stifling heat of these July nights clattering out onto this rocky  dusty desert to arrive to stony glacis hills crowning Jalalabad. Now we must camouflage during days and take advantage of the nights to move.”-
“But Hussein we have marched all the day…”
“Yes Mustafa but in the wrong direction, now we have to recover and very quickly. Soon Umra’s killers understand our trick and will alert all the caravans around Jalalabad. We cannot waste a single minute, c’mon we’ll rest during the day!”

“If we’ll survive this night and the crossing of Khurd Kabul pass …”
“What?”
“Nothing, I said we will survive!”
“Good, this is the right spirit! Let’s go!”
« Last Edit: August 13, 2021, 08:12:33 AM by giorgio »

Offline Umra Khan

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 306
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #193 on: August 13, 2021, 08:24:49 AM »
Rawalpindi 27th July 1890
from Lt. Gen. Bindon Blood
to Gen. David Simmons in Tank;
copy to Gen. Sir John Percival "Mandrake" Aubrey-Smith in Lahore.

"Sirs,
It is with great regret that I am forced to replace the current Commander Gen. Simmons with the new Commander Gen. Mandrake Aubrey-Smith in command of the Waziristan Field Force.
I thank Gen. Simmons for the work done.
signed Bindon Blood "

thoughts aloud of Blood
"damn work, the problems with these stinking Pashtun cutthroats and all the coordination of the brigades in the field were not enough ... Lord Berwick of the Admiralty had to get in the way too ...
"you know Bindon I have received many requests from Lady Fullerton (and you know that a beautiful woman can move mountains) she says that her son Col. Fullerton is not highly regarded by Gen. Simmons, who does not want to give him space ... you know how  it is.. I would therefore ask you to replace Gen. Simmons with another commander.
Lady Fullerton comes every day to my office ... I don't know what to answer and how to get rid of her"
 .....it all seems easy for them ... move a General put another ...
damn job

General Sir John Percival "Mandrake" Aubrey-Smith

« Last Edit: August 13, 2021, 08:35:47 AM by Umra Khan »

Offline JBaumal

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 743
Re: "Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign
« Reply #194 on: August 13, 2021, 12:14:40 PM »
Excellent stories, very intriguing!

 

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