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Dreadful Incident Hushed Up. It has come to the attention of this paper that a disgraceful incident in Nku Khu land last spring was hushed up by government of that territory. In a confused action near Hublee Mines several civilians were taken prisoner by the wild Bashi Bazouks of the Emir and dragged off to his lair to be ransomed while an armoured train under the command of Lieutenant(RN) Little sped by the beleaguered Hublee Station on its way to Hublee Mines which was purportedly threatened by spear waving Nku Khu warriors. It is our understanding that Lieutenant Little has since resigned his commission.
The only positive note is that during this action
Brigadier General Waugh dispersed a band of rebels capturing their
leader, Top Hat, and dragging him off in chains. This did not prevent
an ambush of a c According to our sources the opposing forces were as follows: |
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Nku Khuland Expeditionary ForceOC: Major General D. Robert (Rob Dean)
1st Brigade: Brigadier D. Johnson (John Daniel )
2nd Brigade: Brigadier D. Poppajohn (John Daniel )
Total: 79 steady bayonets, 12 sabres, 2 guns |
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Emir's HordeGovernor: Mohammad Jerri Pasha (Jerry Legge)
Fort Commander: Rossi Pasha (Ross Macfarlane)
Sheik of the Dessert: El Nor-a-man (Norman Dean)
Sheik of the Town: El Pan-dor-ah (Pandora Daniel)
Total: 50 bayonets, 66 Irregulars, 12 sabres, 2 guns |
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Drums in the Hills. Having landed a safe distance away, the column passed through Hubeli Pass and advanced in a hollow square, 93rd in front, Guards on the right, marines on the left, baggage in the centre and cavalry bringing up the rear. The Guides and Napier's screening the advance. From the hills on either side came the rythemic beating of Arab drums but no sign could be seen of any enemy. Suddenly from the rocks on the right came a burst of musket fire and down the hills came a swarm of wild desert tribesmen rushing into the midst of Napier's startled sepoys. Quickly the Guards formed line to the flank, lowered bayonets and charged into the fray. Beside them Battery B galloped forward, unlimbered and unleashed a hail of cannister fire. Tall spectral shapes appeared like magic on the crest of the hill and soon the guns were surrounded by a swirling mass of camel riders but the 11th put spurs to horse and charged to the rescue. As quickly as the sorm had come in had passed and the hills were empty again. |
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The confused melee at the water cart with Corporal Baird winning another commendation along side Commisary General McClure (in the white&red plumed bicorne) who was unexpectedly forced to draw his dress sword in anger. |
Like Ants from their Nest. Leaving the desert flank to sort itself out, the 93rd pressed ahead and the Guides ran nimbly to the crest of a long ridge to the left. Looking down to the house and date groves of the town they were startled by a burst of musket fire and the sight of swarms of arabs rushing from the town to fill the groves and line the low rocky walls surrounding the town. Unleashing a steady fusillade the Guides paused long enough to reassure themselves that the enemy planned to stay put before retreating to dead ground at the foot of the hill. To the front the 93rd pushed ahead soon coming under heavy if inaccurate artillery fire from a grove of trees to their right front. Swinging towards the grove, they soon found themselves engaged in a long range musket duel with the pale blue coated Turkos of the Emir's regular army. Suddenly, with a wild yell, a horde of savage horsemen surged out of the trees and swinging past the Highlanders swooped down on the Naval brigade, toiling along behind their oxen, dragging forward their 24 pounder. With no time to form up and no supports close by, the Jack Tars had no choice but to drop the traces and race for safety. |
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The scene at day's end. At the far end are the commanders, from left to right: John, Pandora and John Daniel, Mohammad Jeri Legge, Norman, William and Rob Dean. |
Steady as a rock. A confused wave of charge and counter charge rolled back and forth as the Emir's horsemen tried to make the most of the opening in the square. At one point as they closed on the water cart and hospital wagon , a tall figure in red stepped forward and blocked their way. Once more Corporal Baird, stepped forward, axe at the ready to bar the Emir's men from their target. Even Commisary general McClure, commanding the train, was forced to draw his dress sword and fight hand to hand before the Hussars charged once more to the rescue and drove the Emir's men from the field. It only remained for the 93rd to storm forward and seize the grove or oasis as a suitable camp as darkness fell. The 24 pounder had been lost in the bloody melees of the afternoon, but the troops grimly prepared themselves, tomorrow the fort would be stormed at any cost. But suddenly a white flag breaks out from the fort and a lone rider in full uniform emerges from the gate. The Emir it appears is sorry that Her Majesty's troops have been fired on against his orders and he is anxious that no harm come to his Europeans guests who have been invited to stay at his fort for their safety and who it will be his pleasure to escort to our camp in the morning. And so it was the next morning, the gates were thrown open, and out came the grateful guests of the Emir, but behind them, the fort stood empty of all but a token garrison and no mast of pirate or slaver broke the skyline, they ahd escaped to plunder again. |
olumn sent to evict the Emir's troops from British
held territory a few weeks later but the may account for the lack of
Nku Khu activity which has allowed a sizable force to be gathered for
another expedition to the Emir's Lair.
