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WARGAMING THE DEFENCE OF DUFFER’S DRIFT USING JACKLEX MINIATURES

‘The Defence of Duffer’s Drift’ (Major General Sir Ernest Swinton KBE, CB, DSO) has been a staple of military instruction since it appeared in 1907 in the ‘United Service Magazine’. Although the setting is the turn of the century Anglo Boer War in South Africa, the story is universal in the dilemma it poses to any lieutenant (or wargamer!) in any war – how one adapts a piece of terrain to the accomplishment of a difficult mission with limited manpower, weaponry and communication.

Lieutenant Backsight Forethought (BF to his friends – also an acronym for bloody fool) has been left in charge to hold Duffer’s Drift, the only ford on the Silliassvogel River available to wheeled traffic. It is his first independent command. Here is his chance for fame and glory!

SITUATION.

·         Ground. The river is a sluggish stream crawling along the very bottom of its bed with steep banks covered with dense thorn and other bushes. 2000 yards to the north of the drift is a flat topped, rocky mountain (Regret Table Mountain) and about a mile to the north east is a sugar loaf kopje (Incidentamba) with a farm on its near side. About 1000 yards to the south of the drift is a convex smooth hill (Waschout Hill) with a native kraal on top. The ground between these features is flat open veld. (IMAGE 1)

·         Enemy. The enemy (up-to 500) might possibly attack from the north but no enemy were known to be within a hundred miles. The enemy had guns.

·         Friendly Forces. 50 NCOs and men of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (Dukes) equipped with magazine rifles.

·         Mission. Hold the drift at all costs in order to stop the enemy crossing south of the Silliassvogel River.

FIRST SCENARIO

After a long march to the drift Lieutenant BF pitched a small tented camp on a spot just south of the drift, leaving defensive arrangements to the morning when the men would be less tired. He trudged with field glasses and Kodak to the gleaming white walls of the little Dutch farm, nestling under the kopje to the north east to meet the owner, Mr Andreas Brink and his family. (IMAGE 2)

Informed of the British presence by Brink, the Boers surrounded the camp in the night and at dawn killed the sentries and rushed the camp from three sides talking the little garrison by surprise. The Dukes had 10 killed and 21 wounded. The Boer convoy with guns easily crossed the drift. (IMAGE 3)

SECOND SCENARIO

The camp was now fortified with a shallow trench all round. Brink was not allowed to visit the camp and two four man examining posts were placed on Waschout Hill and 1000 yards to north.

The Boers again used darkness to approach the British camp, neutralised the two examining posts and fired at short range into the camp from all sides. The defenders could see no one and eventually the position became hopeless. Lieutenant BF, with his casualties mounting (24 killed and 6 wounded) hoisted the white flag. (IMAGE 4)

THIRD SCENARIO

Considering the lessons of the last two engagements Lieutenant BF moved his position to 700-800 yards south of the drift and dug a shallow trench 50 yards long broken back at a slight angle, facing north.  He secured Brink in the camp and placed an entrenched guard of six men on Waschout Hill.

The lookout on Waschout Hill reported Boer movement near Incidentamba Farm and soon after the British position was under artillery fire and then rifle fire from east, west and south. The combination rendered the defenders powerless to do anything and Lieutenant BF reluctantly put up the white flag. (IMAGE 5)

FOURTH SCENARIO

All natives and civilians were brought in and secured in the camp. The existing trench was narrowed and deepened to 3’ 6” with a parapet 12” high and area hollowed out to give some overhead cover. All looked well for any fight.

This time the Boer artillery had a much lesser effect on the position. However, the Boers still managed to fire into the trench, enfilading the right half trench and managing to work their way into the rear of the position after destroying the lookout on Waschout Hill. After three hours of firing the Dukes had 25 killed and 17 wounded. It was time to surrender. (IMAGE 6 and 7)

FIFTH SCENARIO

After much contemplation Lieutenant BF decided that control of the high ground was the key to any future engagement. The position was moved to Waschout Hill with short lengths of deep firing trench each holding five men dug round the native kraal. Firing positions in the native huts for 3 men were also constructed. All was well concealed.

As the Boers approached Lieutenant BF realised in horror that the bulging convexity of the hill hid the drift and the road running to the west from his position. However, the Dukes managed to surprise a party of Boers scouting south of the drift within 250 yards of the position. Unfortunately, the Boers moved their wagons in dead ground under mutually supporting fire of guns and rifles. There were few British casualties, but the drift had not been secured. (IMAGE 8)

SIXTH and FINAL SCENARIO

An idea against all the tenets of his training now began to formulate in Lieutenant BF’s mind. It was to hold the river bed and banks on each side of the drift. The advantages were, perfect concealment and cover from sight, trenches and protection against both rifle fire and gun fire practically ready-made. communications under good cover, the enemy in full view and good fields of fire.

The Boers were again surprised, and an advance party lost nine men to British fire from the river banks. Boer artillery burst all along the river, but the gunners could not identify their targets. A Boer approach from south was stopped by the detachment on Waschout Hill. The fight went into the second day and in a night attack 20-30 Boers were killed. The Boers could not achieve a crossing and retired. The Duke’s casualties were 11 killed and 15 wounded but they and their young Subaltern had held the drift and won a victory!  (IMAGE 9)

The figures used in the game were jacklex Miniatures from the Boer War, Confederate Army and Colonial British Army ranges. The rules were by Andy Callan. The scenery was supplied by ‘S&A Scenic’ and the buildings are by ‘Hovels’. The reference is ‘The Defence of Duffer’s Drift’, E D Swinton, George Ronald, 1949.

Jacklex Miniatures 20mm Colonial British Army metal wargame figures.