But the natives, enraged by the condition of their Khazi, have it in mind to relieve the situation and plot a further assault. This time the exulted sepoy leader Jemadar Jham Jhar has arranged to sneak a strong sepoy force into the rear of the town while the Badmashes launch a spectacularly noisy assault on the hospital barricades. After their previous failures to engage, these ruffians are now led by Randhi Bugha, who’s own select group of Badmashes are notoriously equipped with Big Choppers and are potentially lethal in Fisticuffs.
However it is Bungdit Din, irked by his previous failures and anxious to show his mettle, who launches the first furious charge on the barricades, manned by that fearful fag Lt Hugh Jarce.
Lt Hugh Jampton, OiC Stores, hears the noise and readies his men for what may come, while alerting Sgt. Dagenham, who’s men are in barracks, to the commotion.
And Col Chinstrap belches and orders dinner to be interrupted and the good men of Bhowelpore to assemble on the verandah with suitable sidearms.
Meanwhile Randhi Bugha notes that once again the Imperial pig dogs have failed to protect the hospital sufficiently and leads his men through the apparently deserted building [whatever happened to the wounded from the previous action? He hasn’t painted them yet has he!]
And Sgt. ‘Plum’ Duff wakes up his Highlanders in their barrack beds and gets them dressed
The action proceeds briskly and Sgt. ‘Dags’ Dagenham is faced with a real dilemma, as Mahatma Khote’s sepoy rabble open fire on the civvies gathered on the verandah of the Colonel’s house while Jham Jhar cunningly advances his well-ordered sepoys up the wall on the flanks. Which way will he turn?
He elects to face off against Mahatma but has dithered and his men are slow to react. However good fortune attends the Sergeant and he is able to react again [ie 4 command cards tuned up!] and unleash a devastating first volley into the mutineers
Lt Jarce repeals the first wave of attacks with ease but Bungdit Din presses on, unfortunately opting to fire first with very little effect and then falling short in his charge in.
This allows Hugh Jarce to present his first fire, killing 2 Badmashes and wounding Bungdit Din, who’s status with his men drops as they realise he’s a bit of a div. Furious, Din manages to persuade his men to charge in again and despite his wound fights for several minutes before being hurled back again. This time his men take the opportunity to go back to the bazaar and nurse their wounds and this reduces the mutineer’s morale quite severly.
Jhem Jhar’s men burst through the gate by the stores but take too long to organise themselves and face a first volley from Lt Hugh Jampton’s men.
Jham Jhar grabs the initiative and orders a return fire, but his men are too shaken to be effective.
What of Major Rupert Startling-Grope I hear you ask? What can this fine chap have been doing during this confusion? Well, he has dashed from the Colonel’s house to seek out Sergeant ‘Plum” Duff’s men and rouse them from their beds, but finding them ready and presented at the windows of their barracks decides to immediately take charge and order them to….. present arms at the windows of their barracks. No doubt the good Sergeant is impressed by this display of good officership.
Another Badmash leader, Bungh Dup Khazi, leaps the undefended barricade and advances on the rear barracks, while detaching another group to infiltrate the hospital - really that building is too big to be defended properly. Sgt Duff checks his range and decides to wait until the Badmashes come into close range. However Major Rupert Startling-Grope is ever fond of a loud noise and his own voice and orders Duff’s men to open fire. The Sergeant is again impressed by his officer’s grasp of the situation and of declaring his men’s presence.
It’s getting busy down there, but who’s that group creeping up on the right?
Being a vigorous officer, Jham Jhar pushes his sepoys forward to continue the attack and manages to thrust Hugh Jampton’s small command back. While Randi Bugha emerges from the Hospital, crosses the courtyard and threatens either Lt. Jampton’s rear or perhaps the Colonel’s house, where the Khazi awaits release?
Jham Jhar redirects his attention to surprising Sgt. Dagenham up the rear with a well-delivered volley, forcing the sergeant and his men to retire sharply into the cover of the adjacent barracks.
And for Randi Bugha, it’s a clear preference for Lt Hugh Jampton’s rear. He launches a devastating attack and although the magnificently erect Jampton fights like a veritable lion, his men are decimated and flee. The virile Randi advances on the front door of the Colonel’s house.
But at the rear, Mahatma Khote keeps the civilian’s heads down on the verandah, allowing Jham Jhar’s sepoys to advance and start battering on the doors and windows.
That devious little group of sepoys creeping up on the right flank are led by Burpa Kroke. Having witnessed the destruction of Hugh Jampton’s men, they turn their attention to the barracks held by Major Rupert Startling-Grope and the good Sgt ‘Plum’ Duff and prepare to assualt it just as those valiant men celebrate driving off the Badmashes to their front. Will we see another British unit taken up the rear?
Sgt. Duff manages to wheel the men around, but owing to the confusion of having two leaders, the Highlanders don’t react quickly enough and Burpa Kroke unleashes a devastating volley into the flimsy barracks, killing the hapless ‘Plum’ Duff outright, along with two men and wounding Startingly-Grope in his useful right hand.
At the Colonel’s House, Randi Bugha bursts through the door and confronts Col. Chinstrap in a vicious duel across the tiger skin rug. Despite drawing his opponent’s blood in the first pass, the good Colonel is cut down by a Big Chopper and expires, his last words being “bring me a decent brandy would you old chap?”
The Khazi is liberated and the mutineers are jubilant. Randi is praised throughout the province as the Hero of Bhowelpore. However questions will be asked about Bungdit Din’s commitment to the cause and as for Stinghi the Useless, the man barely moved and was content to observe the gallant Jemadar Jham Jhar’s attacks.
For the British, Sergeant Dagenham managed to sneak his men away in the celebrations that followed as did Lt Hugh Jarce. Rupert Startling-Grope was not counted among the bodies and is missing, presumed sulking.
Another solo Sharp Practice bash, this time tilted strongly against the British who were doing quite well where they concentrated their effort but had too many areas to cover - possibly withdrawing back on the Colonel’s House might have saved the day. But great fun to play through and a suitably cinematic ending.
