Before we continue, cards on the table. I have known Andy for more than 25 years, Jim even longer, and I count them both as very good friends. We have laughed (The Breakfast Pasty Business, The Veggie Burger Vignette - trashy detective novels in the making there!), cried (that two day show on the Yorkshire Coast) and gone through other less noteworthy (but no less funny) shenanigans involving wargames, wargames shows and the odd pint or two over the years. Does this colour my review? I hope not. Neither gent has had sight of this piece before posting, nor have they had any input to it. In addition, I purchased my copy via the Helion and Co website using my own funds.
With that in mind, what do you get for your £29.95? Well, the usual high quality Helion publication coming in at just over 180 pages and in full colour. Aside from the introduction, acknowledgements and timeline, there are eight chapters and three appendices, all finished off with a handy glossary.
Chapter One provides the reader with an introduction to the rise of the Khalsa, their geographical reach, the types of troops they used, and the composition of the forces they fielded, mercenaries and all. There is more than enough helpful guidance on how they could be portrayed on the table. As is only correct, further historical information can be found in the sources quoted in Appendix A, three pages of which cover additional reading.
Chapter Two brings us the forces of the Honourable East India Company (not a Ronseal title if you've read much about the corporate entity itself). Again, units and formations are covered, as are notable personages, and how they too could be applied to a game.
Chapter Three is where the real wargaming fun begins with the battles of the First Anglo-Sikh War. Each action is given maps, orders of battle, and notes on gaming them. Photography of tabletop battles abound, and there is also the occasional illustration from 19th Century sources too (not contemporaneous but suitably period).
Chapter Four covers the Sieges of Multan and Herbert Edwardes' Campaign, before the fifth settles on Sir Hugh Gough's time in the sun from 1848-49. At this point, the commentary deserves a mention. There is little evidence of bias against either side, and where the British were poorly led, they paid the price accordingly. Some battles were close run things, others more accidental in nature, yet their portrayal here should give fine succour to those without even the flimsiest of prior knowledge. And again, if you'd like to know more, Appendix A is very much your friend.
The Sixth chapter focuses on the colours and uniforms of the various forces, handy for the seventh chapter where a painting guide details the process of putting soldiers of the period onto the table. Each step is concisely written with accompanying imagery, and even my limited painting skills could follow the clarity provided here.
The final chapter is where the true wargaming potential of the period is scrutinised. Tactics and what ifs set things off, but there are suggestions for the use of umpires (big fan of that approach personally), scenarios (both historical and fictional) as well as amendments that can be applied to a selection of commonly used rulesets for the period. As a side note, when the period was put on the table as a demo game at the recent Battleground Show in Stockton, the terrain modifications listed here were a very useful addition.
Of the appendices, we have talked of A (ever so useful, I cannot state that enough - if you're partaking in historical wargaming, reading up on the period is essential). B is a suggested list of figures suppliers, whilst C provides several pages of Army lists, noting types of troops and the percentage each provided to the armies of the period.
I have mentioned the imagery already but it must be said that between both authors' collections and those photographs supplied by Colin Ashton, there is more than enough lead eye candy for even the most cynical of gamers.
That's it, and a fine publication it is too. There is the odd issue - mainly imagery placement. The black text over an image containing a black flag on page 37 is probably the most egregious example, and that joke on page 19 is possibly too obvious. OK, I am stretching here, but to be fair to the authors, I'd have been terribly disappointed if it hadn't have been made at some point!
Overall, this is another fine Helion & Co publication and one that deserves your attention if the period appeals. Well written, highly informative and a cracking starting point for those wishing to dive into the subject with little or no knowledge (or maybe just as a refresher), you can pick up a copy direct from the publisher here. As a bonus for me, next time we put this period on the table, I might actually know what's going on!
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