Jhamjarhistan: Chapter 1, The Debouch

 ...and so finally, the long awaited encounter begins. With a stellar cast, the shenanigans, capers and malarkey surrounding the Golden Jhamjarh of the Sticky Gods are enacted under the blazing skies of Central Asia.

We began proceedings at around 10.00am (after bacon and egg banjoes had been issued to the troops) and unbeknownst to us at that time, the game would not conclude until 02.00am on the following day. It takes great stamina to be a Gentleman of Much-Piddling! Owing to the length of the game and my numerous photos, I think I will have to produce the AAR in a series of chapters.

Chapter 1: The Debouch

The sun was like a ball of fire as the various factions came in sight of the dig site near Djelibad in Jhamjarhistan.

Below we see the ruins of an ancient Scythian temple and the entrance to Lord Creosote's dig. In the foreground stands an old watch tower, used in the past to give warning of the marauding bands of lawless Basmachi. To the left is the missionary station at Gummibad and the tents which make up the accommodation for the young ladies known as the Rumpole Scholars.

Below we can see Snapforce collecting supplies from the Royal Navy on the edge of the Caspian Sea. Just ahead of them is Djelibad, the capital of Jhamjarhistan. It's market day in the capital and traders have come from far and wide to display their wares.

A view of the Great Plain of Jhamjarhistan with Gummibad in the far distance.

In the Royal Palace at Djelibad, we see the court of the Emir of Jhamjarhistan, Faqir al Djelibeybi. Lakshmibai Al Djelibeybi, Emira of Jhamjarh is there along with her son Gunga Al Djelibeybi, the Emirzade of Jhamjarh. Appah Rao, the huge Jetti from Mysore is visible, along with Mrs. Goggins from Greendale. Mrs. Goggins you will recall, answered an advert in Postmistress Weekly, to assist the Emir to set up a postal service in Djelibad. However, on arrival she found it was a terrible scam to recruit British Postmistresses as Nautch Dancers in the Emir’s court. On the right in the white robe is Chippy Minton, currently the Emir's prisoner.

Snapforce assembles and prepares for the drive on Djelibad by loading the essential 'three B's', beans, bullets and bandages.

Red-tabbed staff officers swap notes on their accommodation and check their stores of medicinal whiskey and champagne.

The WRAF mechanics and drivers are very confident that every vehicle is mechanically sound and ready to go. So much so, that they are taking their leisure at the mobile pasty unit.

The inhabitants of Djelibad are busy at the market, unaware of the dark and dangerous forces mustering in the vicinity. Abdul Eu Lalie, the purveyor of ladies unmentionables has a special offer on pink bloomers today, BOGOF!

Snappers decides to send a smaller force forwards to reconnoitre. In the foreground are the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, Frontier Force under the command of Major B. A. Johnston MC. To their left are the 2nd Bn/9th Jat Regiment, Mooltan Battalion, commanded by Major L. T. J. Arlott. To their left are the scratch force of odd bods from Peshawar cantonments, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Snapcase and named the Gentlemen's XV for the purposes of this mission. To their left is the mortar platoon, Privates Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy under the redoubtable Sergeant Major Finlayson, led by Major Hector McSnapcase (a distant cousin on the distaff side of the Snapcase family). Genevieve (Snapcase's Rolls) driven by Honeysuckle Weeks is on the left flank, along with Vaggers on his his trusty Royal Enfield.

To the south-west of the dig, Trotsky and his Bolshevik forces make their appearance and start to scout the scene.

At the dig site, Bunty Hamster-Crust (blue shemagh, bottom left) is directing a digging party of native labourers. Cecil de Leominster and Dietrich von Strepsil guard the entrance to the dig. Rumours of the Golden Jhamjarh of the Sticky Gods are bound to draw bandits and other nefarious ne'er-do-wells!

Here we see the camp site where the girls of Hilda Rumpole College are billeted.

In Gummibad, the nuns of the Ordo de quod Crucis Gladio prepare the defences of the Mission Station. On the roof, Father Jack Hackett, Father Ted Crilly and Father Dougal McGuire are served tea by the redoubtable Mrs Doyle. Bishop Len Brennan looks on in disgust.

To the north-west, Enver Pasha and his hordes of Basmachi take to the field.

Whilst to the north-east, the troops of the Zeppelin Korps are so far, unobserved. The Gräfin von Zeppelin wanting to keep a low profile, owing to her force being somewhat outnumbered (or so it seems).

This then, is not the beginning of the end, but it may well be the end of the beginning.

To be continued...