While the British in the compound were holding off three times their number in native warriors, the Highlanders were pinned down.  Having taken cover behind an old wall, they had come under some heavy fire, both from Pathan marksmen and from a cannon situated across the pass.  They had lost almost a third of their number, including Lord Bumblethwaite who lay injured with an embarrassing wound to the backside, caused by a jezail ball.
 

The Pathan cannon continued to keep up a steady fire, but, fortunately for the Highlanders, the tribesmen were not well trained.  Almost every shot they fired went astray. . .

When this shot belched forth from the old gun. . .
 
 

. . .it hit Reverend Buttersworth's house instead of the intended targets!

While the Highlanders were busy keeping their heads down, the Pathans prepared for an assault against the walls of the compound.  The frenzied tribesmen began pouring out of the hills, and it appeared that nothing might stop them.  However, they had a lot of open ground to cover, and the British reputation for exceptional marksmanship was proven true yet again as their fire inflicted heavy casualties.  In the end, only a single unit of Pathans made it to the compound wall, and, after a fierce melee, were driven off much to the relief of the garrison commander!

But there was no time for relaxation.  The Mad Mullah was busy rallying his troops, preparing them for yet another assault.  Captain Jenkins quickly assessed the situation.  His small garrison had taken some heavy casualties, and ammo for the machine guns was getting dangerously low.  He could see the natives reorganizing themselves for a crushing attack.  If only he could take out the Pathan leadership, then surely the tribesmen would leave.  But they were far out of range of even the heaviest gun he had available in the compound. . .

Then he remembered. . .  The reinforcement convoy had brought a gun with them, which they had left further up the pass during their retreat!  If he could get a gun crew up there, they could bring fire down on the Pathans!

No sooner had the idea been mentioned than the Gurkha gun crew volunteered for the dangerous mission.  With the troops of the garrison doing their best to cover them, they made a dash from the outpost.  The Pathans saw them and began to fire long ranged jezail and rifle shots at them, but the Gurkhas ducked and dodged amongst the rocks and proved to be difficult targets.  When they reached the gun they quickly loaded it with shell from the nearby limber and proceeded to open fire on the congregating Pathans.

Fortune smiled upon Captain Jenkins and his command that day, for the very first shot from the heavy cannon landed smack amongst the Mad Mullah and his officers!  The blast sent men flying in every direction.  The Mullah, although still alive, was badly wounded.  Shouting to his rapidly fleeing bodyguard to take him to safety, the native horde dissolved as quickly as it had formed.  Peace had been bought for the Khyber, but for how long no one could say.

Some Final Comments

Battle for the Khyber was extremely fun to play.  We set up the game at Shane's house, with approximately 60 British (and allied) troops, and maybe 175 Pathans.  The whole battle took about two hours to play, and considering that the figures are individually based, that's saying something.

Although the pictures didn't turn out great (my little camera is woefully inadequate for taking pictures of miniatures, especially 15mm figures), the terrain was something to see.  I laid out some Geohex, not bothering to interlock the pieces, to build up the sides of the pass.  You could accomplish the same effect with chunks of styrofoam, or even books.  Then I placed a large sheet of brown felt over the top of the Geohex.  I had lightly dusted the felt with dark brown and green spray paint to give it some shading.  Once the felt was down, I placed some random rocks and trees about (not too many trees), and the final effect was very nice.  It definitely looked like a mountain pass!

To give credit where credit is due, the miniature figures shown are all Minifig, except for Bumblethwaite and Buttersworth, who both came from Irregular Miniatures.  While some of you moan and groan at Minifigs, I find that they have the look of toy soldiers, which is ideal for colonial wargaming.

The compound building was from the Rorke's Drift set produced by Hovels, and the tent was made by Ian Weekley Models.  The outpost walls, and Buttersworth's missionary, and the fine latex road system, are all by Scenic Effects, by far and away the best wargaming scenery company out there.

Finally, I would like to give credit to Major General Tremorden Rederring's Colonial Wargames Page.  If you are into colonial wargaming and you haven't been to this site, then you are really missing something that is both well done, and extremely entertaining.  This site was a real inspiration, both to put together this page, and to wargame this most colorful and heroic period of history.  Here's the URL if you are interested in checking it out: