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15/07/2016 10:16
SECOND EDITION
BOLT_RB_2nd Ed.Layout.11.indd 1 13/07/2016 08:26

This electronic edition published in 2016 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
First published in Great Britain in 2016 by Osprey Games

(part of Osprey Publishing),
© 2016 Osprey Publishing Ltd. and Warlord Games Ltd.
Osprey Publishing
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CONTENTS
Introduction 5 Weapons 60
Weapons Chart 62
Timeline 7 Types of Weapon 63
Eastern and Northern Europe 8 Weapon Special Rules 66
Western Europe 12
Close Quarters 74
The Mediterranean and Africa 15 Close Quarters Procedure 75
Asia and the Pacific 20 Declare Target 75
Measure Move Distance 75
Basic Supplies 26 Target Reacts 75
Tape Measure 27 Move Assaulting Models 76
Dice and Markers 27 Fight First Round of Close Quarters 79
Resolve Draws 80
Conventions Of War 30 Winner Regroups 80
Measuring Distances 31
Sight 31 Headquarters 81
Table Boundaries 33 HQ Units 82
Units 34 Unit Special Rules 88

Types of Unit 35 Bicycles 89
Models and Bases 35 Cavalry 89
Formation 35 Fanatics 90
One-Inch Gap 35 Green 90
Motorbikes 90
The Turn 36 Shirkers 91
Preparing to Play 37 Sniper 91
Turn Sequence 37 Stubborn 91
Losing Dice 37 Tank hunters 91
Tough Fighters 91
Orders 38
Pinned 39 Artillery 92
Order Tests 40 Artillery Units 93
Troop Quality and Morale 42 Artillery and Measuring Distances 93
Retaining an Order at the End of the Turn 43 Artillery and Sight 93
Artillery and Movement 95
Movement 44 Artillery and Shooting 95
Advance and Run Moves 45 Artillery and Close Quarters 96
Interpenetration of Friendly Units 45 Re-Crewing Guns 96
Terrain 45 Firing Smoke 97
Terrain Table 47
Vehicles 98
Shooting 48 Vehicle Descriptions 99
Who Shoots? 49 Vehicle Units 99
Shooting Procedure 49 Vehicles and Measuring Distances 99
Declare Target 49 Vehicles and Sight 99
Target Reacts 50 Vehicles and Orders 100
Measure the Range and Open Fire 51 Vehicles and Pinning 101
Roll to Hit 53 Vehicles and Movement 102
Roll to Damage 56 Vehicle-Mounted Weapons 103
Target Takes Casualties 58 Shooting at Vehicles 106
Target Checks Morale 58 Tanks Assaulting Infantry and Artillery 110
Tanks Assaulting Other Vehicles 111
Infantry Assaulting Vehicles 112
Transport Vehicles 114
Vehicle Special Rules 118

Buildings 120 Anti-Aircraft Guns 172
Entering Buildings 121 Tanks 172
Leaving Buildings 122 Tank Destroyers 174
Orders to Troops Inside Buildings 122 Self-Propelled Artillery 174
Large Buildings 123 Anti-Aircraft Vehicles 175
Shooting From Buildings 123 Armoured Cars 175
Shooting at Units in Buildings 124 Transports and Tows 176
Assaulting Buildings 126 Great Britain 178
Artillery in Buildings 127 Army Special Rules 178
Bunkers 127 Types of Unit 178
Headquarters Units 178
Playing A Game Of Bolt Action 128 Infantry Squads and Teams 180
Deciding the Size of the Game 129 Field Artillery 183
Assembling the Forces 129 Anti-Tank Guns 184
The Gaming Table 129 Anti-Aircraft Guns 184
Preparing the Battlefield 129 Tanks 184
Scenarios 130 Tank Destroyers 186
Scenario Special Rules 131 Self-Propelled Artillery 187
Anti-Aircraft Vehicles 187
Battle Scenarios 134
Armoured Cars 187
Scenario 1: No Man’s Land 134
Transports and Tows 188
Scenario 2: Meeting Engagement 135
Scenario 3: Key Positions 136 Soviet Union 189
Scenario 4: Double Envelopment 137 Army Special Rules 189
Scenario 5: Top Secret 138 Types of Unit 189
Scenario 6: Demolition 139 Headquarters Units 190
Infantry Squads and Teams 191
Attacker–Defender Scenarios 140
Field Artillery 194
Scenario 7: Envelopment 140
Anti-Tank Guns 194
Scenario 8: Manhunt 142
Anti-Aircraft Guns 195
Scenario 9: Point Defence 144
Tanks 195
Scenario 10: Hold Until Relieved 145
Tank Destroyers 197
Scenario 11: Surrounded! 146
Self-Propelled Artillery 198
Scenario 12: Sectors 148
Armoured Cars 200
Force Selection 149 Transports and Tows 200
Guidelines to Force Selection 150
Force Selection Rules 152 Imperial Japan 201
The Army Lists 153 Army Special Rules 201
Types of Unit 201
Germany 154
Army Special Rules 154
Types of Unit 154
Field Artillery 206
Anti-Tank Guns 206
Field Artillery 159
Tanks 207
Anti-Tank Guns 159
Tankettes and Armoured Cars 208
Tanks 160
Transports and Tows 209
Tank Destroyers 162
Self-Propelled Artillery 163
Appendices 210
BOLT ACTION
Armoured Cars 164 Appendix I: Wargames and History 211

Transports and Tows 164 Appendix II: Large Games of Bolt Action 213
United States 166 Appendix III: Night Fighting 219
Army Special Rules 166
Types of Unit 166 Rules Summary 222
Infantry Squads and Teams 168 Tokens And Templates 228
Field Artillery 171
Anti-Tank Guns 171 Credits 228
4

Introduction

T his book is all about recreating World War II combat on a tabletop
using dice, model troops, tanks and the rules described within.
Although our game is just that – a game of war fought between armies
of models – it is inspired by the real fighting men, the actual equipment
and personal accounts of those who played their part in the historic
events portrayed. It is quite a detailed game because we wish our weapons
to reflect the capabilities of actual weapons, our models to fight in so far
as possible as their flesh-and-blood counterparts fought, and that our
players face the same sort of decisions and challenges as did company
commanders in action at the time. Even so, our first priority has been to
create a game that is entertaining as well as demanding of skill and
intelligence, and which is as fair and balanced as it can be, giving both
sides an equal opportunity of success. Of course, few real battles were
fair and equal in this way, but a game would hardly be worth the playing
if victory or defeat were certain, or if one army or nation were to enjoy
overwhelming superiority in numbers or materiel. To ensure an equal
and balanced game, armies are chosen according to a system of points,
allocating a fixed value to fighting units of different types and quality.
All the details you need for five armies (American, German, British,
Russian and Japanese) are provided in the Army Lists in this book,
whilst a series of Bolt Action supplements covers yet more armies and
theatres. Tabletop encounters take place according to twelve closely
defined battle scenarios that explain how forces are deployed and how
victory is achieved. All that remains is for players to pit their wits against
each other as they enact just one small part of the greatest conflict in all
of history – World War II.
I’d like to dedicate these rules to the memory of my friend and fellow
wargamer Willy Schneider. I wish to thank him for the many armies he
painted for me, including the one he could not finish, and for all of the
wonderful books and games he left me.
Alessio Cavatore
BOLT ACTION

Timeline

EASTERN AND NORTHERN EUROPE
witness the deployment of paratroopers (German
1939 Fallschirmjäger). The Norwegian fighting sees the first
1 SEPTEMBER − THE POLISH CAMPAIGN encounter between British and German troops in the
German invasion of Poland precipitates declaration of war defence of Oslo. In the north, a combined force of
by Great Britain, France, New Zealand, Australia and Norwegian, French and Polish troops defeats the German
Canada. The Russians invade Poland 16 days later. The 3rd Mountain Division at Gratangen, but the Germans
Poles put up a determined but hopeless fight in the face of gradually force the defenders to withdraw on all fronts.
overwhelming odds. Poland surrenders within the month The Norwegians capitulate on 10 June.
and is divided between Germany and Russia.
27 SEPTEMBER
30 NOVEMBER − THE WINTER WAR Germany, Italy and Japan enter into alliance with the
The Soviet Union invades Finland but fails to annex the signing of the Tripartite Pact. These nations, together with
country after remarkable resistance by its defenders. The their allies, are generally known as the Axis Powers as
Finns eventually cede some of their eastern territories opposed to the Allies.
bringing the war to an end. Both The Soviet Union and
Finland will resume hostilities in 1941.
1941
6 APRIL − INVASION OF YUGOSLAVIA
1940 German, Italian and Hungarian forces invade Yugoslavia
13 MARCH following a military coup against the pro-Axis Yugoslav
Treaty of Moscow ends the Winter War between Russia government. The fighting is one sided and brutal, and the
and Finland. Yugoslav army capitulates 11 days later.
9 APRIL − THE NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN 22 JUNE − OPERATION BARBAROSSA

Germany invades Denmark and Norway (Operation The Germans invade Russia aiming to capture Moscow
Weserübung). Danish resistance lasts six hours. It is both and topple the Soviet government with a single decisive
the shortest campaign of World War II and also the first to blow. Italy, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Finland all
Stalin’s boys charge from the trees in the deep midwinter

BOLT ACTION

Finnish Ski Patrol
declare war on the Soviets. The desperate battles of the

following months see the largest deployment of men
1942
during the whole war, with over four and a half million 8 MAY − CASE BLUE
Axis troops committed and two and a half million Russians The Germans prepare to renew their attack upon Russia
deployed in the west at the start of the invasion (out of in the Caucasus. This region’s oil fields are strategically
over five and a half million available to the Soviet Union important to the war aims of both sides. The Russians are
at the time). The campaign comes to an end with the expecting the Germans to attack in the north and are ill
successful defence of Moscow by troops under the prepared. As a result the Germans advance rapidly,
command of Zhukov. By December Soviet reinforcements capturing Sevastopol by July and reaching the River Don.
arrive from the east and the Russians begin their counter- In August the Germans advance across a broad front and
offensive. The Germans’ first campaign of the war on the appear to be sweeping all before them. At this point a
Eastern Front is brought to a halt by the savage Russian decision is taken to change the original plan to bypass
winter. Although the German forces are victorious across Stalingrad and to occupy the city instead – fighting
a wide front the campaign fails to achieve its objective. It continues throughout September and October.
is the turning point in the war, although much bitter
fighting still lies ahead on the Eastern Front. 18 NOVEMBER − OPERATION URANUS
By now the Russians have redeployed southwards to face
5 DECEMBER − RUSSIA’S WINTER the Axis forces in the Caucasus. Their aim is to smash
COUNTER-OFFENSIVE through the overstretched Axis Army Group B and
With the arrival of reinforcements from the east and the surround the German forces around Stalingrad. The
hardening of winter, the Russians seize the initiative and under-equipped Romanians, Italians and Hungarians
mount a series of counter-attacks beginning with the protect the Germans’ flanks and it is here where the main
defence of Moscow. Between December 1941 and the end Soviet strength is to fall. Within days 250,000 Axis troops
of March 1942 the Axis forces are pushed back and are encircled and trapped. In December the Russians
the immediate threat to Moscow is ended. launch a further offensive aimed at trapping the remaining
Soviet T-34/85 Medium Tank

Timeline

Axis forces in the Caucasus. This leads to the collapse of time. With something in the order of 170,000 troops lost
the Italian 8th Army and the withdrawal of the remaining and more than a thousand armoured vehicles destroyed,
Axis forces, Army Group A. By February 1943 the the battle of Kursk is arguably the most decisive
remnants of the German 6th Army surrender at Stalingrad. engagement in the whole war. Never again would the
Germans be able to mount a strategic offensive on any
significant scale.
1943
19 FEBRUARY − THE DONETS CAMPAIGN 26 AUGUST − THE DNIEPER–CARPATHIAN
Following their successful campaign against Axis forces in OFFENSIVE
the Caucasus, the Russians press rapidly forward and (Also known as the battle of the River Dnieper). The
recapture Kharkov, Belgorod and Kursk (Operation Star). Soviets launch an offensive across a broad front stretching
In the process the Russian lines become dangerously over- from the Black Sea almost to the Baltic. Their objective is
extended. The Germans regroup and counter-attack, to recapture the eastern Ukraine and drive the Germans
quickly regaining most of the territory lost to the Russian back across the Dnieper. After hard fighting, including
advance. This German counter-offensive results in the drops by Soviet paratroops, a number of bridgeheads are
third battle of Kharkov which witnesses bitter hand-to- established across the river. Finding their position
hand fighting over the city. None the less the Russians are indefensible the Germans withdraw. The Russians liberate
severely beaten, demonstrating that even heavily the cities of the Dnieper and enter Kiev (the capital of
outnumbered and under-strength German formations the Ukraine and third largest city in the USSR) on
remain extremely capable. 6 November. The fighting continues through the winter
and by early January 1944 the first Soviet troops cross into
5 JULY − OPERATION CITADEL Poland. Hitler’s refusal to allow commanders to withdraw
The Germans launch what was to be their last significant almost results in the loss of six German divisions during
offensive on the Eastern Front. Their objective is to attack the battle of the Korsun–Cherkassy Pocket. About half the
Soviet forces in the Kursk salient, surround and destroy encircled troops break out after abandoning all their heavy
them, before consolidating a sound defensive position equipment. 1st Panzer Army narrowly avoids the same fate
against further Russian progress. The Germans attack in a when, once again following Hitler’s ‘no retreat’ order, it is
pincer movement from the north and south. The Russians caught in a pincer movement in what is to become known
have already learned of the German plans and have as Hube’s Pocket (also the Kamenets–Podolsky Pocket). By
prepared their defences in depth. Unknown to the keeping on the move and staging a fighting retreat,
Germans, the Kursk salient has been turned into a huge General Hube, the commander of 1st Panzer, is able to
killing field. In the north the attack is repelled almost at extricate his troops and link up with the main German
once. In the south the fighting hangs in the balance, but forces by 6 April 1944.
the Russian defences hold out. By 17 July Operation
Citadel is cancelled without ever achieving the necessary
breakthrough. The Russians begin their counter-offensive
1944
even before the German operations are over – rapidly 22 JUNE − OPERATION BAGRATION
breaking through the German lines and recapturing The Russians begin their summer offensive by attacking
Kharkov for the final time on 23 August. The battle of positions in Belorussia and eastern Poland. Hitler is
Kursk, encompassing both the German offensive and convinced that the main Russian attack will come from
Russian counter-offensive, is the largest tank battle of all the Ukraine, and has withdrawn much of the strength of
German Heer Grenadier Squad

BOLT ACTION
10

The attack on the Seelow Heights, by Steve Noon © Osprey Publishing Ltd. Taken from Campaign 293: Downfall 1945
Army Group Centre and redeployed artillery, tanks and troops in East Prussia. None the less, the isolated Germans
troops to the south. This is to prove a fatal mistake. In one resist the Russian advance with great determination, some
of the largest Russian offensives of the war the Soviets continuing to fight on until the end of the war. The
drive into the German lines and feed in reserves to trap the offensive is called to a halt a mere 45 miles from Berlin.
encircled German forces before they can escape. The This halt allows the Germans to prepare for the city’s
Russians advance rapidly, liberating Minsk by 3 July and defence. It was a decision that was to cost the Russian
reaching within ten miles of Warsaw by the end of the soldiery dear during the battle for Berlin in April. As the
month. The almost total collapse of German resistance battle for Germany rages in the north the Soviets move
forces the German armies to the north and south to southwards. The Vienna offensive takes the Russian armies
withdraw westward, their positions now being divided by deep into Austria. The battle for Vienna sees fierce street
Russian-held territory. The Soviets advance across a broad fighting that ends with the fall of the city on 13 April.
front. In the north the Finns manage to hold the Russian
Baltic offensive long enough to conclude a treaty, ending 16 APRIL − THE BATTLE OF BERLIN
Finland’s contribution to the war. In the south the The Soviet offensive against Berlin is to be the last major
Russians advance into Rumania, Bulgaria and eventually operation of the war against Germany. The defenders are
meet up with Tito’s partisans in Yugoslavia in October. disorganised and badly equipped – the remnants of armies
that have retreated before the relentless Soviet advance.
Amongst them are Volkssturm militia and Hitler Youth –
1945 poorly equipped and inexperienced units made up of old
13 JANUARY − VISTULA–ODER OFFENSIVE men and boys. The US and British air forces bomb the city
In January 1945 the Soviets begin the final push on the extensively before the assault begins. During the ensuing
Eastern Front by attacking into Poland via bridgeheads fighting many isolated SS units hold out to the last man
Timeline
established west of the Vistula in the previous year. Hitler’s until the buildings they defend are blasted to dust by
insistence on over-riding his generals and refusal to believe artillery. On the eve of surrender some German troops
reports of Soviet numbers result in a disordered defence, attempt to break out of the encirclement and reach the
with whole armies wasted defending territory that could west, intending to surrender to the Americans. Most are
never be held. To the north a supporting attack (the East killed or captured by the Russians. The city is surrendered
Prussian offensive) succeeds in cutting off the German to the Russians on the morning of 2 May.
11

WESTERN EUROPE
1939
3 SEPTEMBER French Somua S35
Great Britain, France, New Zealand and Australia declare
War on Germany. Canada does so seven days later.
1940
10 MAY − THE BATTLE OF FRANCE
Germany attacks Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg in
a move intended to trap Allied units deployed in
Belgium, and then to circumvent France’s formidable
Maginot Line defences. The German Blitzkrieg
quickly overruns the Low Countries and German
French Army and BEF forces stand together

BOLT ACTION
12

troops reach the channel by 20 May. Almost 200,000 1940. Hitler postpones the invasion on 17 September and
British and 140,000 French troops are evacuated from then again in October until the spring of 1941. The
Dunkirk by 3 June. The Germans enter Paris on 14 expected invasion never takes place and remains one of the
May. Hostilities between Germany and France are great ‘what ifs’ of World War II.
brought to an end with the Franco–German armistice
35
and fighting ceases on 25 May. French troops, notably 27 SEPTEMBER
in French colonies, will continue to fight on behalf of Germany, Italy and Japan enter into alliance with the
the Vichy government as part of the official policy of signing of the Tripartite Pact. These nations, together with
collaboration with the Germans. Meanwhile, General their allies, are generally known as the Axis Powers as
de Gaulle is recognised as the leader of the Free French opposed to the Allies.
troops in exile.
21 SEPTEMBER − OPERATION SEA LION 1942

The air campaign that is generally known as the Battle of 28 MARCH − RAID ON ST NAZAIRE
Britain was intended to culminate in the German invasion British Commandos attack the dry docks at St Nazaire.
of the British mainland. This was Operation Sea Lion The raid is amongst the many commando operations
(Seelöwe) and it was initially planned for 21 September undertaken at a time when the British war effort was
primarily conducted at sea and by air. Other operations
include raids on the Channel Islands in October, and at
Bordeaux in December.
19 AUGUST − THE DIEPPE RAID

An Allied force, comprising mostly Canadians, mounts an
amphibious raid to capture and temporarily hold a
German occupied port. The aim is to establish the
feasibility of conducting larger scale operations and
ultimately to prepare the way for an invasion of the
continent. The raid, which sees the first deployment of the
new Churchill tank, ends in disaster and is easily repelled
by the defenders.
1944
6 JUNE − NORMANDY LANDINGS
The Allied invasion of Europe begins with Operation
Overlord. The Normandy landings are the largest
amphibious operation of the war. US and Commonwealth
troops consolidate beachheads in the face of German
defenders. The Germans hold back their reserves convinced
that the initial invasion is a diversion. This allows the Allies
to gain a foothold. The British advance is held at Caen.
The capture of Caen is one of the initial objectives for the
invaders, but German resistance is
fierce and the town is not captured
until 20 July. The actions around
Caen include the battle of Villers-
Timeline
Bocage where the tank ace Michael

Wittman’s Tiger tank wreaks havoc
amongst 7th Armoured Division’s
Cromwells. The Americans advance
rapidly and capture Cherbourg
on 27 June.
13

25 JULY − THE BREAKOUT FROM NORMANDY river crossings and assaults across ground presenting
– OPERATION COBRA numerous obstacles including minefields. The area is
The Allies break through the German defences led by the secured by early November. South of the Ardennes the
American advance down the Cotentin Peninsula and Americans cross the Moselle in the face of determined
through Brittany. The bulk of the German forces are German resistance and fight a savage battle through the
drawn away to Caen and the surrounding area following Vosges Mountains. Strasbourg is liberated on
attacks by the British and Canadians (Operations 23 November and the Americans push to the Rhine.
Goodwood and Atlantic). General Bradley leads the US 1st
Army free of the Normandy bocage. The Germans begin 16 DECEMBER − THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE
to retreat as the Americans sweep on past their flanks. The last German offensive on the Western Front aims to
Hitler orders a counter-attack, which serves only to attack through the Ardennes, split the US and British
weaken the German forces and exposes them to forces, and recapture Antwerp. Shortly afterwards the
encirclement by the advancing Allies. The result is the Germans also attack in Alsace aiming to recapture
battle of Falaise Gap, where 100,000 German troops are Strasbourg from the Americans. The initial German attack
surrounded and half are captured. The remainder fight throws back the Allies creating a 50-mile deep ‘bulge’ in
their way through a rapidly closing corridor, an action that the front line. However, the Allies soon regroup and
sees some of the most determined fighting of the whole contain the attack. As the weather improves the Allies
campaign, notably by the 1st Polish Armoured Division. counter-attack with aircraft and land forces. By 26 January
Paris is liberated on 25 August by Free French troops. By all the German gains made during the Battle of the Bulge
the end of the month the last Germans retreat across the are lost. Hitler’s last chance to stem the Allied advance
Seine abandoning Normandy to the Allies. proves a costly failure.
25 AUGUST − THE ADVANCE TO THE RHINE

The Allies build up their forces and prepare to advance
1945
towards the Rhine. The Germans retreat behind the 14 JANUARY − THE INVASION OF GERMANY
formidable defences of the Siegfried Line, or Westwall, The advance to the Rhine continues with heavy fighting
encompassing the fortified city of Aachen. To support throughout January and February. Hitler’s refusal to
their attack upon Aachen the Americans advance into the allow Field Marshal von Rundstedt to retreat results in
Hurtgen Forest on the Belgian–German border. Aachen fierce fighting and massive casualties amongst defenders
is surrendered on 21 October after heavy fighting. In the and invaders alike. During the battle of the Rhineland
Hurtgen Forest fighting continues until February of the 280,000 Germans fall prisoner to the Allies. The Rhine
following year. In mid-September the Allies strike across is breached at four points between 7 and 26 March. The
the Meuse with the aim of capturing bridging points first to cross are the Americans using the bridge at
across the Rhine and its tributaries. If successful, Remagen. The British crossing in the north is the
Operation Market Garden – as it is called – will outflank largest airborne assault of the entire war: Operation
the defences of the Siegfried Line. The attack is supported Varsity. From the Rhine bridgeheads the Allies spread
by paratroopers and glider-borne troops whose mission out, encircling pockets of German resistance. 300,000
is to capture and hold bridges ahead of the Allied Germans fall prisoner in the Ruhr Pocket in early April.
advance. The attack is brought to a halt at Arnhem and This ends effective resistance to the Allied advance.
the Allies fail to cross the Rhine. The Allies capture With the Soviets approaching from the east, the western
Antwerp early in early September, but are unable to Allies halt at the Elbe. American and Russian troops
make use of the port until they have cleared German meet in late April. On 7 May Eisenhower accepts the
defences from the Scheldt estuary. This results in the Germans’ unconditional surrender. The war in Europe
battle of the Scheldt. The Allies face a series of desperate is over.
BOLT ACTION
US Army Light Mortar Team
14

THE MEDITERRANEAN AND AFRICA
1939 Italian L6/40 Light Tank
7 APRIL − ITALIAN INVASION OF ALBANIA
King Zog flees into exile in Greece as Italian forces sweep
aside futile resistance by a scratch force of armed police
and civilians.
1940
10 JUNE − THE EAST AFRICA CAMPAIGN
Italy declares war on Britain and France. In July Italian
forces move against British-held positions in the Sudan
and Kenya. By August the Italians have driven the British
from British Somaliland. This is the only campaign of the
war in which Italian land forces were to achieve victory
without German help. From September the British
counter-attack from the Sudan and Kenya, and the Italians and by December the Greeks have advanced into Italian-
are forced onto the defensive. On 5 May 1941 Haile occupied Albania. The Italians mount a new offensive in
Selassie returns to Addis Ababa exactly five years to the day March 1941 but this is unsuccessful, prompting Hitler to
since fleeing the Italian occupation. The Italians are send German troops into Greece from Bulgaria.
pushed into the highlands of northern Ethiopia where Meanwhile British and Commonwealth troops are sent to
they prepare to fight the last battles of the campaign. The Greece from North Africa under the command of General
Duke of Aosta, the Italian commander, surrenders on 18 Wavell, with the aim of creating a Balkan front together
May. Italian garrisons continue to hold out for some with Greek and Yugoslav forces. The Allies are unable to
months and the last, Gondar, does not surrender until stem the German advance, and an armistice is signed on
November. The brunt of the British campaign is fought by 23 April handing Greece to the Axis forces. It is sometimes
Indian and South African troops. said that the failure of the Italian invasion was to have
significant effects on the course of the war, obliging Hitler
13 SEPTEMBER − THE WESTERN DESERT to divert troops earmarked for the invasion of Russia and
CAMPAIGN (1940–42) delaying the opening of Operation Barbarossa.
The Italians invade Egypt from Libya striking for the Suez
Canal. They are initially successful but failure to maintain
their supply lines results in their forces becoming bogged
1941
down, giving the British time to mount a counter-attack, FEBRUARY − OPERATION COMPASS
Operation Compass. By February 1941 the Italians are in full flight, hotly
pursued by the newly arrived Australian 6th Division.
28 SEPTEMBER − THE BALKANS CAMPAIGN Finding their line of retreat blocked by troops of 7th
This begins with the Italian invasion of Greece. The Armoured Division 130,000 Italians surrender. Fearing
Hellenic army meets and throws back the Italian forces, the consequences of complete Italian collapse, Hitler sends
Afrika Korps PaK 38 5cm Anti-Tank Gun

Timeline
15

wave of invaders, but the
British Matilda II Infantry Tank Germans eventually gain a
foothold enabling them to fly in
reinforcements. By the end of
the month the Germans take
control of the island. Casualties
amongst the German paratroops
are so high that the Germans
abandon further operations of
this kind for the rest of the war.
25 AUGUST − ANGLO-
SOVIET INVASION
OF IRAN
The Russians and British combine
forces to secure the Persian
Rommel’s Afrika Korps to shore up his allies. Through oilfields. Iran is officially neutral, but the pro-German
April the Axis forces drive the British back towards leadership is perceived as a threat to Allied supply lines.
Egypt until they are brought to a halt at Tobruk. Tobruk Iranian forces are quickly overwhelmed and a pro-Allied
is to remain under siege until December when it is government installed. The British invade from the south
relieved by the newly formed 8th Army during the and the Russians from the north, meeting about 100 miles
British counter-attack Operation Crusader. west of Hamadan at the end of August.
2 MAY − THE ANGLO-IRAQI WAR Into the blue − British armour heads out into the desert wilderness
Encouraged by the success of the Axis powers, a coup by
anti-British revolutionaries topples the Iraqi government.
The British airbase at Habbaniya comes under siege from
local forces. After mounting a successful defence of
Habbaniya and advancing to take Fallujah, Commonwealth
troops capture Baghdad. By June the Iraqis capitulate and
a pro-British government is installed. British forces are
hugely outnumbered but enjoy air superiority. The Iraqis
receive considerable aid via Vichy French-controlled Syria
including Italian and German supplies flown in from
Syrian airfields. The brief campaign witnesses the last
major action by mounted troops of the British army
during the march from Palestine to Habbaniya.
5 MAY − THE SYRIA–LEBANON CAMPAIGN

British, Commonwealth and Free French forces invade
Vichy French-controlled Syria. The Allied invasion is
resisted with considerable vigour, to the disappointment
of General de Gaulle who was hoping to turn the Syrian
army over to the Allied cause. The fighting is over by mid-
BOLT ACTION
July with the surrender of nearly 38,000 French troops, of

which fewer than 6,000 volunteer to join de Gaulle’s Free
French. The remainder are sent back to France.
20 MAY − THE BATTLE OF CRETE

The Germans invade Crete with paratroopers and
glider-borne troops. Initial resistance by British and
Greek forces almost succeeds in driving away the first
16

NOVEMBER − OPERATION CRUSADER TO
EL ALAMEIN 1942
In November 1941 the 8th Army begins Operation 5 MAY − THE MADAGASCAR CAMPAIGN
Crusader. Axis forces are once again pushed westward as The British invade Vichy French-held Madagascar in
far as El Agheila, but Rommel is quick to counter- order to secure its harbours against possible use by Japanese
attack. By May 1942 Rommel’s panzers stand a mere 66 submarines. A daring amphibious operation leads to fierce
miles from Alexandria at El Alamein. In July Rommel’s fighting over the northern naval base of Diego Suarez,
advance is brought to a halt at the first battle of El which falls to the Allies two days later. The bulk of British
Alamein after almost a month of fighting. In the face of forces are immediately withdrawn to India where a
an Allied army growing rapidly in strength, Rommel Japanese invasion is expected. Vichy troops continue low-
makes another attempt to break through the British level resistance for many months. The island is eventually
defences at Alam el Haif but is forced to withdraw in surrendered to the Allies in November.
the face of stiff opposition and overwhelming Allied air
power. It was to be the last offensive operation mounted NOVEMBER 8 − OPERATION TORCH
by the Afrika Korps. Following the failure of Rommel’s American and British forces land at three points in
offensive, Montgomery, the commander of the 8th Vichy-controlled French North Africa: Casablanca in
Army builds up his forces for a counter-attack that Morocco, Oran in western Algeria, and Algiers. Their
sends the Axis armies reeling back into Tunisia. This aim is to catch the Axis forces in North Africa in a pincer
attack comes at the second battle of El Alamein fought move from east and west. These amphibious operations
from 23 October to 5 November 1942. This significant are supported by ships and aircraft on both sides, the
Allied victory ends the war in the western desert and French fleet and much of France’s air force having taken
the threat to Egypt and the Suez Canal. refuge here following the German occupation. Resistance
erness
Timeline
17

is fierce but brief, especially from the French naval NOVEMBER 11 − THE TUNISIAN CAMPAIGN
contingent, which takes a heavy toll of American ships Following the success of Operation Torch, American and
and landing craft. Casablanca surrenders on 11 British forces move westward to take control of Tunisia –
November. Oran falls on 9 November after heavy the easternmost of the Vichy’s North African colonies and
bombardment by British battleships. The fighting an important base of operations for Italian and German
around Oran sees the first deployment of American forces in the western desert. The initial ‘Run for Tunis’
paratroops. In Algiers the invasion is timed to coincide fails to capture the capital and both sides build up their
with a coup by the French Resistance and unexpectedly forces. The fighting continues and, in February 1942, sees
succeeds in capturing Admiral Darlan, the leader of the the first large-scale engagement between German and
Vichy military. Darlan’s surrender, and subsequent American forces at Kassarine Pass – a narrow defile in the
cooperation with the Allies, leads to Germany’s Atlas Mountains. Montgomery’s 8th Army presses from
occupation of Vichy France by the end of the month. the east and the rapidly reinforced Allies advance from
Fighting for ‘The Factory’, by Peter Dennis © Osprey Publishing Ltd. Taken from Campaign 155: Anzio 1944
BOLT ACTION
18

the west, but Tunisia’s naturally defensible terrain Goring panzer division. Paratroops and glider borne
enables Axis forces to hold out until 7 May 1943 when the troops are used to secure advance positions and sow panic
British finally take Tunis and the Americans move into amongst the defenders. The Americans capture Palermo
Bizerte. The last Axis troops in North Africa surrender on on 22 July. By mid-August the Germans begin to evacuate
13 May 1943. 230,000 are taken prisoner. their forces across the heavily defended Strait of Messina.
By 17 August the evacuation is complete and the remaining
Axis forces – mostly Italian – fall prisoner.
1943
9 JULY − THE INVASION OF SICILY 25 JULY − ITALIAN ARMISTICE
Following devastating aerial and naval bombardment the Mussolini’s Fascist government collapses and Mussolini is
Allies launch an amphibious assault upon Sicily. Sicily is arrested. The new Italian government make peace
held by Italian and German forces, including the Hermann overtures to the Allies. On 14 August Rome is declared an
open city. An armistice is signed on 3 September but by
now the Germans have taken moves to occupy Italy.
3 SEPTEMBER − THE INVASION OF ITALY

The Allies land troops in southern Italy but reserve their
main strength for a landing at Salerno to the south of
Naples on the 9 September. There is no preliminary naval
bombardment. The Allies rely upon the advantage of
surprise to advance rapidly and capture the mountain
passes before the Germans can react. The Germans,
however, are well prepared. Although US Rangers and
British Commandos are successful in capturing vital passes,
the main Allied forces are slow to win a secure beachhead
in the face of a well-organised German defence. On
16 September Allied forces from the south join the troops
around Salerno, capturing Naples on 1 October. The Allies
now occupy all of southern Italy roughly on a line with
Naples, whilst the Germans settle upon a defensive line –
the Gustav Line – between Naples and Rome. The
opposing forces were well matched (13 German divisions
defending against 18 Allied divisions) and the invaders’
northwards progress is to prove slow and hard-won. By the
end of the year the senior Allied commanders (Eisenhower
and Montgomery) depart to prepare for the invasion of
North-West Europe.
US Army .30 Cal Medium Machine Gun Team

Timeline
19

British LRDG Patrol
now the focus of the Allied war effort has shifted to

1944 Normandy, and it will be the end of August before they are
22 JANUARY − THE ANZIO LANDINGS ready to advance again.
The Allies land four divisions behind the Gustav Line at
Anzio in an attempt to outflank the Germans and advance 15 AUGUST − THE INVASION OF THE SOUTH
upon Rome. The amphibious operation itself is successful, OF FRANCE – OPERATION ANVIL
but the Allies’ failure to exploit their initial surprise enables American and French troops mount an amphibious
the Germans to organise a defensive line. The invaders are operation along the southern French coast supported by
confined into a small zone around their beachhead. The naval bombardment and aircraft. Toulon and Marseilles
Allied forces to the south gradually advance northwards and fall to the French. The Americans advance up to the
the Germans fall back onto prepared defences – the Gustav Rhone valley in pursuit of the retreating Germans but fail
Line. The fierce fighting around Cassino demonstrates both to prevent their escape to Alsace. By mid-September
the ferocity of the German defence and just how well suited American forces from the south (7th Army) had met those
the terrain is to resist invasion. Commanding the approach advancing from the north (3rd Army) near Dijon.
to the strategically important Liri valley, Cassino is seen as
the key to the Gustav Line. Much importance is attached to 25 AUGUST − THE GOTHIC LINE
the hilltop abbey overlooking the valley and affording a The Allies return to the attack in northern Italy and soon
prime position from which to direct artillery. Monte break through the Gothic Line. Rimini falls to the British on
Cassino stubbornly resists both assault and aerial 21 September and the Americans begin to advance upon
bombardment until the Polish II corps eventually captures Bologna in October. But the Germans’ skilful defence
what is left of it on 18 May. With the fall of Cassino the succeeds in reducing the Allies’ advance to a crawl and it is
Allies break through the Gustav Line and advance rapidly not until April of 1945 that the full weight of the Allied
northwards. The chance to trap the German 10th Army armies succeeds in breaking through into the Po valley.
between Allied forces from Cassino and Anzio is lost German resistance remains fierce, but with the war in the
following a successful rear-guard action by the retreating west all but lost, the remaining Axis forces surrender on
Germans. The Germans now occupy a line north of Rome 2 May. Of particular note is the inclusion amongst the Allies
between Pisa and Rimini – the Gothic Line. By July the of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force – a division-strength
opposing armies are arrayed across this Gothic Line, but by organisation fighting as part of the US 5th Army.
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

BOLT ACTION
Japanese assault and capture Peking (July), Shanghai

1937 (November) and Nanking (March 1938). Fighting continues
7 JULY − SINO–JAPANESE WAR between the Japanese and Chinese nationalists, supported at
The Japanese occupy strategically important parts of China various times by both the Soviets and Americans. The
including Manchuria (Manchukuo) and much of northern Sino-Japanese War will eventually merge into World War II
China. The war takes on a more determined character as the and will not end until the defeat of Japan in 1945.
20

Japanese SNLF and Ka-Mi Amphibious Tank
17 DECEMBER − THE BATTLE OF BORNEO

1940 Japanese invade Borneo with the intent of capturing the
22 SEPTEMBER − JAPANESE INVASION OF oilfields of Sarawak and Brunei. With the Japanese firmly
FRENCH INDO-CHINA established by the end of the month the tiny British and
The Japanese invade and occupy French Indo-China in Dutch garrisons are driven into the mountains. In
order to take control of the rail link supplying Chinese January of 1942 the Japanese attack the Dutch-held
forces to the north. There is sporadic resistance from island of Tarakan, a centre of the Dutch oilfields. After
French colonial troops and Foreign Legionnaires and all fierce and determined fighting the Dutch are
fighting ceases by 26 September. overwhelmed, but not before they manage to destroy the
facility. In retaliation the Japanese execute all Dutch
prisoners taken in the fighting. All remaining Allied
1941 troops finally surrender in April 1942.
7 DECEMBER − THE ATTACK ON
PEARL HARBOR
The Japanese declare war on the USA. The USA declares
1942
war on Germany and Italy four days later. 16 JANUARY − JAPANESE INVASION
OF BURMA
8 DECEMBER − JAPAN ATTACKS HONG KONG The first phase of what is to become known as the Burma
Japanese forces advance into the British colony. British, campaign begins with a Japanese invasion from occupied
India and Canadian troops are quickly overwhelmed. Siam. The objective is to capture Rangoon and cut off
Hong Kong surrenders on 25 December. supply lines to the Nationalist Chinese. In an attempt to
prevent being outflanked, the British withdraw beyond
8 DECEMBER − THE MALAYAN CAMPAIGN the Sittang River. Fearing its capture by the Japanese, the
The Japanese invade the British colony of Malaya from last bridge over the river is demolished. Troops from the
French Indochina. The colony is defended by British 17th Indian Division are trapped and captured. With the
Indian, Australian and Malayan troops and is speedily loss of these troops Rangoon is considered indefensible.
overrun. The Japanese capture 50,000 troops. The The city falls to the Japanese on 7 March. Remaining
remaining British forces retreat to Singapore where they British troops flee northwards and join the substantial
surrender on 15 February 1942. A further 80,000 British Chinese Expeditionary Force in Burma. The British and
and Commonwealth troops are taken prisoner. Of the
Indian troops who surrender as many as 40,000 are recruited
to fight for the Japanese, forming the Indian National Army. Chindit Vickers Medium Machine Gun Team
Timeline
8 DECEMBER − THE PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGN

The Japanese invade the island of Luzon on 10 December
and the Americans mount a fighting withdrawal. Resistance
continues until the following April when all remaining
Allied forces in the Philippines surrender to the Japanese.
21

Chinese are unable to halt the Japanese advance. With by sea but are thwarted during the battle of the Coral Sea.
supply lines compromised and the monsoon approaching With the Japanese fleet countered by the American navy it
the British mount a retreat to India. Unable to face the is left to the Japanese army to push southwards overland,
Japanese alone, some Chinese retreat to India where they crossing a series of heavily defended ridges by narrow
fall under the command of the American General Joseph mountain trails and jungle tracks. By the end of September
Sitwell. The Japanese continue to push Chinese forces the Japanese are within sight of their target, but such is their
from Burma with the help of their Thai allies and have state of exhaustion and lack of supplies that they are unable
pretty much succeeded in doing so by the end of the year to press on. Much needed reinforcements are diverted to
bringing the first phase of the Burma campaign to a close. Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, which the Japanese
high command sees as a more important objective. The
23 JANUARY − THE NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN Japanese retreat to their northern beachheads whilst the
The Japanese invade New Guinea, capturing Rabaul on the Australians, now reinforced by substantial numbers of
island of New Britain. This important naval base becomes American troops, begin their counter-attack. From now
the centre of operations for the subsequent Japanese until August 1945 the Allies would gradually advance upon
campaign in the South Pacific. Papua in eastern New and recapture Japanese-held positions throughout Papua
Guinea is to witness some of the most desperate jungle and Dutch New Guinea.
fighting of the war, with the Australians and Japanese closely
engaged in the mountains and jungles around the capital of 26 JANUARY − THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
Port Moresby. The port is the key Allied base of operations CAMPAIGN
and the last bastion between the Japanese and Australia. In The Solomon Islands, stretching eastwards into the
May the Japanese attempt to mount an invasion of Papua Pacific, were seen as of strategic importance to both
US Marines hold out against a banzai charge on Guadalcanal, by Steve Noon © Osprey Publishing Ltd.
Taken from Weapon 23: The M1903 Springfield Rifle
BOLT ACTION
22

sides. Lying between the USA and Australia, Japanese Type 4 Ho-Ro
control of the islands would give the Japanese the Assault Gun
ability to cut off a major supply route to Australia,
and form a ring of naval bases and airfields that
would anchor their eastern flank. The Japanese
occupied the Solomons at the start of 1942,
including the island of Guadalcanal. Aiming to
push the Japanese from their bases and ultimately
to recapture the Philippines, the Americans
launch the first major Allied counter-attack upon
Japan in August with the invasion of Guadalcanal.
The fighting over the east Solomons involves rival
navies and aircraft as well as land forces – a
characteristic shared with the campaigns in New broader campaign in the South Pacific. Allied troops
Guinea and the Central Pacific. The fighting over advance westward along the Solomon archipelago and
Guadalcanal lasts until the Japanese withdrawal in New Guinea coast. The fighting continues until the end
February 1943, by which time over 10,000 Japanese of the war, but the balance of power shifts inexorably in
troops have been successfully evacuated. With Allied favour of the Allies. After the war Japanese leaders
victories in New Guinea and Guadalcanal, the Japanese would cite Guadalcanal as the decisive turning point of
are thrown onto the defensive. Following this important the war in the east.
victory for the Allies the fighting becomes part of the
14 FEBRUARY − INVASION OF SUMATRA
As Allied forces withdraw from Malaya, the Dutch colony
of Sumatra becomes a staging post and forward airbase for
Allied operations. Dutch troops are soon driven from the
ports and oil refineries by Japanese invaders including
paratroops. The Dutch take to the hills and continue to
fight on until March.
20 FEBRUARY − THE BATTLE OF TIMOR

The Japanese invade Portuguese and Dutch Timor, but
Australian and Dutch forces take to the interior and
continue to wage a successful guerrilla war until February
of 1943 when they are finally withdrawn to Australia. An
entire Japanese division that could otherwise have been
deployed in New Guinea is tied down for over a year.
28 FEBRUARY − INVASION OF JAVA

Dutch forces, with a small number of British, American
and Australian troops, hold the island against the Japanese.
Most of the 25,000 troops under Dutch command are
native Indonesians. The Allies are unable to prevent the
Japanese landing or capturing vital airfields. Java is
surrendered in early March, marking the end of the
Japanese annexation of the Dutch East Indies.
Timeline
1943
20 NOVEMBER − CENTRAL PACIFIC
CAMPAIGN
American Marines mount the first action against the
Japanese in the central Pacific region. The battle of Tarawa
23

Banzai! Japanese troops charge Soviet tanks in Manchuria
sees a Japanese garrison of fewer

than 5,000 men fight almost to
1945
the last man against 35,000 1 APRIL − THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA
Americans supported by aircraft Okinawa is the last battle of the campaign across the
and warships. Tarawa begins the central Pacific. This island lies just over 300 miles
long process of ‘island hopping’ from Japan and is the final obstacle against an
by which each captured island invasion of the Japanese mainland. The Allied task
provides a base to attack the next force brings overwhelming materiel superiority to
target. The American aim is to bear upon the defenders. The Japanese respond with
recapture the Philippines and kamikaze attacks. A naval taskforce led by the
then launch an attack upon Japan itself. The Gilbert and battleship Yamato fails to engage the Allies before it
BOLT ACTION
Marshall Islands follow in early 1944. The Mariana Islands is destroyed by aerial attack. American troops fight
are targeted in June of 1944. Airfields in the Marianas their way across the island in a series of gruelling
allow B-29 Superfortress bombers to mount raids on the battles in which both sides suffer heavy losses. The
Japanese mainland. The fighting continues until the end Japanese troops are pinned by naval bombardment,
of the war, the most notable fighting being in the artillery and air strikes, but survive by taking refuge
Philippines, where over 300,000 Japanese lose their lives; in caves and prepared defences. American troops are
Iwo Jima, where of 22,000 Japanese defenders all but 200 forced to fight for every position, but they steadily
die resisting 70,000 invaders; and Okinawa. overcome the defenders. By the end of May the
24
monsoon rains bring floods, turning the battlefield to

any battle in the campaign. It’s not possible to be sure of
the Japanese casualties, as almost all the 120,000 strong
garrison fought to the death and of the 7,000 or so who
surrendered to the Americans most are impressed
Okinawans rather than regular soldiers. About 150,000
civilians are killed during the fighting.
9 AUGUST − RUSSIAN INVASION

OF MANCHURIA
Russian troops, including battle-hardened formations
transferred from Europe after the fall of Germany, invade
Manchukuo. The depleted Japanese Kwantung army is
overwhelmed, its best troops having been redeployed to
take part in the fighting in the Pacific. The Russian
invasion strikes a decisive blow against the Japanese
leadership, who had steadfastly maintained a neutral
position with the Soviets throughout the war.
OCTOBER − THE INVASION OF JAPAN –

OPERATION DOWNFALL
The planned invasion of Japan by Allied forces is
cancelled following the surrender of Japan on 15 August.
Operation Downfall remains a ‘what if ’ scenario of
potentially terrifying carnage. After the experience of the
battle of Okinawa, the Americans prepare to sustain
unprecedented casualties. Half a million Purple Hearts,
medals awarded to soldiers killed or wounded in battle,
are struck in anticipation of the invasion. More atomic
bombs are prepared for use against targets in Japan, with
seven to be available to support the invasion itself.
American ground forces are advised to avoid entering
sites of nuclear devastation for two days following
detonation. Estimates of potential American casualties
mud. The Japanese finally surrender in June. The made by military commanders at the time and by
invasion of Okinawa is the biggest amphibious operation historians since vary from hundreds of thousands to well
of the Pacific war. The Americans suffer 62,000 casualties over a million. Estimates of Japanese casualties, including
with some 12,000 killed in action – the greatest toll of civilians, exceed ten million.
US Marines and a Sherman Medium Tank

in mutual support
Timeline
25

Basic
Supplies

To begin a game of Bolt Action you will need this set of rules ORDER DICE
and one or more opponents to play against. Each opposing In the Bolt Action game troops can be given different kinds
side will also require painted model troops, representing the of instructions, which we call orders. There are six different
soldiers, guns and tanks of your chosen armies. Finally, you orders: Fire, Advance, Run, Ambush, Rally, and Down. We
must find a playing surface to represent the battlefield – a will explain how these work in due course. During play a
table top of some kind is the preferred solution, but the die is placed next to an infantry, tank, artillery piece or
floor will do and certainly has the advantage of size. Ideally, other unit to show which order has been given. Flip the
your battlefield will be fashioned to represent a suitable die so that the number showing uppermost corresponds to
scene where the action is to take place. It might include the order as follows.
model woodland, buildings, roads, hills and so on. It could
be an industrial scene with shunting yards and factories. Or 1. Fire
perhaps it is simply a wasteland of heath and marshes. There 2. Advance
are just a few more basic supplies you will need before you 3. Run
are ready to take your armies into action. 4. Ambush
5. Rally
TAPE MEASURE 6. Down
During the battle it is necessary to measure distances when
you move your troops and when they shoot their weapons. Ideally each player will have a set of distinctly coloured but
All distances in this book are given in inches (e.g. 6”, 12”, otherwise identical dice to use for orders; for example,
etc.). If you prefer to play using centimetres you are Germans blue and Russians green. Each side starts the
welcome to do so, counting each inch as either one or two game with one order die for each unit, which is to say one
centimetres as you please. die for each squad or team of infantry and one for each
The easiest way to measure distances during the game tank, armoured car or other vehicle. So, if an army has six
is without a doubt a retractable tape measure, but you can infantry squads, a machine gun team, and three tanks then
also use rulers of suitable length if you prefer. it has ten distinct units and the player starts the game with
ten order dice.
DICE AND MARKERS Warlord Games have made sets of special order dice in
D6S distinct colours – these dice are clearly marked Fire,
Bolt Action uses ordinary six-sided dice, which we simply Advance, Run, Ambush, Rally and Down. Although you
call a ‘die’ or ‘D6’ for short. Rolling an ordinary die gives don’t need to have these dice to play Bolt Action they are a
you a random number between 1 and 6. Occasionally we convenient and attractive alternative to using standard
will need to generate a different range of results, so you coloured dice.
will see the following notation used throughout the rules.
DICE BAG
D2: This means roll an ordinary die and on a roll of 1, 2 During the game both sides’ order dice are placed
or 3 the result is 1, and on a roll of 4, 5 or 6 the together in some kind of container and drawn blind one
result is 2. at a time to determine which side acts next. To facilitate
D3: This means roll an ordinary die and halve the this you will need a bag, large mug, a dice bag, pot, or
result, rounding up, thus generating a score of 1, some similar opaque container large enough to hold all
2 or 3. the dice. In the rules we always refer to this as a dice bag,
2D6: This means to roll two dice and add their results but it can be any suitable container so long as it allows
together, for a total score of between 2 and 12. you to draw the dice unseen.
Basic Supplies
Only rarely will you be asked to add more dice

and add them together; for example, 3D6, 4D6
and so on.
D6+1: This means to roll a die and add 1 to the result,
generating a score between 2 and 7. This can be
varied in many different ways by rolling different
numbers of dice and then adding or subtracting
different values. For example you could be asked to
roll 2D6–1 for a final score of between 1 and 11, or
you might be asked to roll D6+3, 3D6–2, and so on.
27

If you don’t have two sets of differently coloured dice to
use as order dice, then all you need are differently coloured
tiddlywinks, beads or card chits instead. Let’s say you are
using chits cut from a sheet of thin card. One player takes
one blank chit for each unit in his army; the opposing
player takes one chit for each of his units and marks his
chits with a cross. The chits are then placed together in the
dice bag and drawn at random to determine which side
acts next. When a unit acts any dice can then be used
together with the chit to show which order has been given.
Alternatively, players can make up their own card counters
with the orders marked on them if they prefer.
PIN AND OTHER MARKERS

Pin markers are placed next to units when they are hit by
enemy fire to show that they are ‘pinned’. This reduces
their ability to respond to orders effectively. Any kind of
distinctive marker will do the job and some examples of
the kind of thing we use are shown below. The explosions
are the official Bolt Action pin markers, while the helmet-
and-rifle markers can also be acquired from Warlord
Games, or recreated using spare parts from plastic
infantry kits.
Occasionally you will need markers for other purposes,
for example to mark a target for aerial attack or artillery
bombardment. Use any distinctive marker for this. We
often use a coloured chit.
TOP SECRET
RE-ROLLS
BOLT ACTION
Sometimes a rule will allow you to re-roll a result. This means to

pick up the dice you just rolled if you are not happy with the
result and roll them again. The second score is the one that you
must use, even if it’s worse than the first! Note that you can
never re-roll a re-roll – you must accept the re-rolled result.
28

Canadian troops defend against elements of an SS Panzer Division, by Peter Dennis © Osprey Publishing Ltd.
Taken from Weapon 28: The Bren Gun
Conventions of War
British Bren Light Machine Gun
29

Conventions
of War

MEASURING DISTANCES but most often five or ten. The distance between two
When you play Bolt Action, you will often need to measure different units is always measured between the bases of
distances between units, as well as the distance moved by the closest models in the units. Follow the same
models as they make their way across the battlefield. guideline given above for models without a base.
DISTANCE BETWEEN MODELS NO MEASURING BEFORE DECIDING

Each of our soldier models is normally glued on a Players are not allowed to measure distances before making
round base 25mm diameter to ensure stability. The a decision. A player must always declare his intention
distance between two models is always measured before measuring. For example, you might say, “I’m
between the closest points of their bases. If the models moving this infantry squad in such and such a direction”
do not have a base, use their torso, hull, gun carriage, or, “My anti-tank gun is firing at that tank” and then
or comparable ‘core’ portion of the model. Ignore parts proceed to measure. This means that, just as in reality,
of a model that might stick out like gun barrels, players cannot be sure about distances and ranges until
bayonets, outstretched arms, radio aerials, etc. they ‘go for it’.
Sometimes a team weapon or artillery piece and its
crew might be glued on a single ‘multiple base’ for ease SIGHT
of use. When it comes to measuring distances to units The game rules that follow often refer to what a ‘what a man
mounted on such ‘multiple bases’, imagine that each can see’ or line of sight. Establishing what an individual
soldier model has a 25mm round base under its feet (or trooper may or may not be able to see does require a little
a 25x50mm oblong base for prone/cavalry/motorbike necessary judgement on the players’ parts, but this will soon
model etc.) and ignore the larger base. If the crew become habitual after a few games have been played.
suffers casualties, simply place a die on the base and To determine what a man can see, lean down and take
turn it to show how many models have been killed. a look from behind the model to get a soldier’s eye view of
the battlefield.
DISTANCE BETWEEN UNITS When doing this, you may ignore units of infantry and
Most infantry units are made up of two or more models, artillery, both friends and enemy, as in reality they would
Diagram 1: Measuring Model-to-Model
Distances are measured base-to-base, or base-to-hull/gun mounting.

Gun barrels are ignored.
Conventions of War
4”
3”
3”
31

Diagram 2: Measuring Unit-to-Unit
2”
3”
4”
When measuring the distance between two units, always measure

the distance between the closest models in each unit.
The BEF advance on an enemy-held village

BOLT ACTION
32

The attack on Fort Nibeiwa, by Peter Dennis © Osprey Publishing Ltd. Taken from Command 28: Archibald Wavell
not block line of sight as they would spend most of their or some other extraneous detail then we assume the
time lying flat on their bellies, unlike our brave models trooper cannot see the vehicle amongst the din, smoke
that represent them. If need be you can (gently!) lie them and dust of battle.
down or remove them to work out your line of sight. There are a few exceptions to these rules (dense terrain,
Vehicles and terrain, on the other hand, you cannot smoke screens, etc.), but these will be dealt were
ignore and they will literally block the line of sight of appropriate in the rules.
your models. Have a look from behind the firer’s head
– if the torso or head of an enemy model can be seen TABLE BOUNDARIES
clearly we assume the soldier can see that enemy. If only The game is always played within the boundaries of the area
a peripheral part of a model can be seen such as an arm available. Troops are not allowed to move beyond the edges
or leg, backpack, or the barrel of a weapon, then we
assume the enemy cannot be seen because there are just
of the table during play, except where this forms part of an
outflanking move or objective as described in the game
Conventions of War
too many obstructions or distractions. The same is true itself. Of course this is not strictly realistic, as no such
for vehicles – if all that can be seen is a bit of wheel restriction applies in the real world, but it is a necessary
or track, a radio aerial, exhaust pipe, the barrel of a gun, adaptation to playing games within a limited space.
British Sten Gun Mk II
33

Units

The models in your army must be organised into units MODELS AND BASES
prior to the game. The most common type of unit is an In these rules we assume that the models are mounted on
infantry section or squad. This is normally made up the bases provided, which are 25mm diameter circles, or
of around five to ten men representing soldiers from one on the oblong base provided for prone soldiers, cavalry,
of the warring nations. Other units may have fewer motorbikes, etc. Sometimes a support weapon or artillery
models, such as a gun and crew, or a machine gun team. piece can be mounted on a
Some units comprise a single model, as in the case of a single larger base – this is fine,
tank or armoured car. just imagine that each soldier
crewing the weapon is mounted
TYPES OF UNIT on a 25mm round base (or
All units belong to one of the following three basic types: oblong 25x50mm base if
prone) if the rules call for a
INFANTRY situation where the position of
By far the most common type of unit in Bolt Action as in each soldier matters.
reality, this category includes all soldiers fighting on foot
and armed with man-portable weapons. For our purposes FORMATION
we shall also refer to units normally mounted on bicycles, If a unit consists of more than one model, its members
motorbikes and even horses as ‘infantry’ as, in most cases, must remain in formation. This means that each time the
such troops will fight on foot in our game. unit moves the models in it must form a group, either in
a line or clump, with each member of the group separated
ARTILLERY from the others by less than 1”. If an individual should
This includes all large calibre guns and comparable become separated from his unit, perhaps because other
weapons on a carriage or fixed mount. A unit of artillery models have fallen casualty and have been removed, then
consists of the gun model itself and a number of crew this must be corrected as soon as possible – normally when
models to fire and manoeuvre the weapon. Most guns can the unit moves again (and note that the unit must move in
be manhandled rather slowly, or towed by a tractor or order to restore formation).
similar vehicle.
ONE-INCH GAP
VEHICLES To help prevent units becoming muddled or positions
This category includes all combat, transport and towing confused during the battle, units must always end their
vehicles, from trucks, jeeps and armoured cars to self- move 1” or more from any other unit whether friend or
propelled guns, tank destroyers and tanks. Vehicle units foe. In other words, there must be a gap of at least 1”
normally consist of a single vehicle model including driver between units once a unit has moved. The exception is
and fighting crew where appropriate. that units Assaulting an enemy move into contact and fight
close combat as explained later.
TOP SECRET As well as ending its move at least 1” from other units,
IMPORTANT NOTE no models in a unit can move closer than 1” to any enemy
unit during the move itself. A distance of at least 1” must
The basic game rules are written with units of infantry in mind. This
be maintained. Once again, an exception is made for units
allows us to explain how the rules work without overcomplicating
matters with the numerous special rules that apply to tanks, assaulting an enemy as explained later.
howitzers and suchlike. The rules for different types of artillery and
vehicles are explained separately in their own sections.
Units
German KAR98K
35

The Turn

During each turn, order dice are drawn ‘blind’ from the dice 1. ORDERS PHASE
bag one at a time. When a player’s order die is drawn he
must use it to activate a unit. Once all the dice have been 1. Draw an order die from the dice bag and hand it to the
drawn, or once all the units capable of acting on orders have appropriate player.
done so, the turn ends. At the end of each turn the dice are 2. The player chooses one of his units and gives it an
returned to the dice bag ready for the next turn, except for order. Place the order die next to the unit to show that
Ambush and Down orders which can alternatively be it has received an order. Once a unit has been given
retained from turn to turn as explained below. an order it cannot be given another order that turn.
3. If necessary, the player takes an order test to
PREPARING TO PLAY determine if the unit follows the order.
Before the game begins the players must each place an 4. The player executes the unit’s resulting action.
appropriate number of order dice in the dice bag. This is 5. Back to 1. Once all eligible units have received an
one die for every unit in their force, including for units order, the orders phase ends – move to the turn end
that begin the game in reserve as described later. For phase.
example, if a force of 12 German (blue) units is facing a
force of 16 American (green) units, then the bag starts off
with 12 blue order dice and 16 green order dice. Should 2. TURN END PHASE
you be using some other tokens rather than order dice Return all order dice to the bag, except for those units
then you would have 12 blue tiddlywinks and 16 green wishing to retain an Ambush or Down order as noted later.
tiddlywinks, or blue and green card chits, or whatever.
LOSING DICE
TURN SEQUENCE Units that are destroyed during the turn lose their order
Bolt Action is played in turns. A battle normally lasts for a dice. If a destroyed unit has already taken its action remove
set number of turns as discussed later. In each turn the the order die placed next to it. If a destroyed unit has not
players follow the sequence as shown below. For the sake already taken its action remove a die from the dice bag.
of explanation, from this point we shall assume that Order dice lost as a result of units being destroyed are
players are using order dice rather than chits or other removed from play and placed aside where both players
tokens, but the process is basically the same whichever can see them. When units are lost this therefore reduces
method is employed. the number of dice available for the following turn.
Avanti! Mussolini’s soldiers advance in North Africa
The Turn
37

Orders

When a unit receives its order die, this represents the
squad’s leader telling his men what to do. Ultimately, of
course, this is you, the player, deciding how you want your
troops to act that turn. However, if troops are under fire,
there is a possibility that the men will disappoint both you
and their squad leader, and decide all they really want to
do is to keep their heads down.
The choice of orders a player can issue to his units is
represented by the six faces of the order die as follows:
Order Summary of Action

German Sd.Kfz 232 (6 Rad) Armoured Car
1 Fire Fire at full effect without moving
2 Advance Move and then fire DOWN
Move at double speed without firing; The unit does not move or fire. Instead, the troops hit the
3 Run dirt and keep their heads down as far as possible, making
also used for assaulting
maximum use of whatever cover is available. See the rules
No move or fire but wait for
4 Ambush for Shooting on page 48.
opportunity fire
5 Rally
No move or fire but lose D6+1
pin markers
PINNED
Normally, units do what you order them to do without
No move or fire but gain an extra -2 question. However, units that find themselves under
6 Down
to be hit enemy fire are less reliable, and sometimes they will ignore
their orders altogether. This is represented by the rules for
pinning. Pinned troops are indicated by markers placed on
FIRE the tabletop next to or behind the affected unit. Units that
The models in the unit do not move, instead they open up have taken a great deal of fire will gain more markers and
with their weapons at their chosen target(s) at full effect. will become increasingly reluctant to obey their orders.
Some large and bulky weapons can only be fired by units
receiving this order, as they require the firer to be PIN MARKERS
stationary. See the rules for Shooting on page 48. Every time a unit is fired at by an enemy unit and suffers
one or more hits as a result, place a single pin marker
ADVANCE next to it. Units that are shot at by several enemies, or
The unit can move and then fire its weapons. The unit’s over a number of turns, can potentially rack up multiple
shots will be less accurate than if it chooses to remain pin markers: they become more firmly pinned down and
stationary and fire, and some of its weapons may not be the chances of them obeying their orders are reduced
able to fire at all. See the rules for Movement on page 44 even further.
and for Shooting on page 48. In the case of some particularly heavy weapons two or
more pin markers can sometimes be scored against a target
RUN in one go. For example, if a heavy artillery barrage hits a
The unit moves at double speed, but cannot fire any of its unit it is likely to be more effectively pinned down than it
weapons. See the rules for Movement on page 44. would be by rifle fire. However, in general the fire of a
single unit adds one pin marker to the target. Note that
AMBUSH the number of hits caused is not important here: the only
The unit does not move or fire. Instead, the soldiers take thing that matters is the fact that the target has been fired
up firing positions and wait for a target to present itself. at and has been hit at least once.
Orders
See the rules for Shooting on page 48. It can sometimes happen that one of your own units will
fire on another of your units accidentally. This is referred to
RALLY as ‘friendly fire’. Hits from friendly fire also result in a unit
The unit does not move or fire. Instead, the troops pause taking pin markers as if the target had been an enemy.
for breath, patch up the wounded, pass ammo around and If you do not wish to clutter the gaming table with
regroup ready for the following turn. See Pinned, below. markers it is perfectly acceptable to note down where units
39

have been pinned instead. However, this does involve a ORDER TESTS
certain amount of paperwork, so on the whole we would A unit that is not pinned executes any order it receives
recommend that suitable and unobtrusive pin markers are automatically. The order die is placed next to the unit and
used where possible. the corresponding action is carried out without any need to
take an order test. There are some situations where orders
EFFECT OF PINNING are not received automatically and a test must always be
Each pin marker on a unit lowers its morale value by made regardless of whether the unit is pinned – but these
one. Morale is discussed on page 42 and affects a unit’s are occasional exceptions and need not concern us for now.
ability to obey its orders. Regular infantry has a morale If a unit has one or more pin markers it is considered to
value of 9. If it has two pin markers on it, its morale be pinned down and might not obey its order. After
value would therefore be reduced to 7. If it has five pin placing the order die next to the unit, the player must take
markers its morale value would be reduced to 4. an order test to see if the order is obeyed. Roll 2D6 and
In addition, if a unit ever has a number of pin markers compare the result with the unit’s modified morale value
on it that is equal or higher than the unit’s morale value, as described above.
the unit routs and counts as destroyed, as described If the 2D6 result is equal or lower than the unit’s
below. modified morale value, the unit passes the test. A unit that
Pinning also reduces a unit’s ability to fire effectively passes an order test immediately discards one pin marker,
as we shall see later on; however, for purposes of and then executes the order it has been given. This
understanding how orders work it is sufficient to know represents the unit pulling itself together and recovering
that each pin marker reduces a unit’s morale value by –1. some of its discipline before obeying its instructions. For
British carriers speed into a shattered town

BOLT ACTION
40

Belgian Chasseurs Ardennais Squad
example, if a regular unit has two pin markers its modified not discard any pin markers and must then execute a down
morale value is 9–2 =7. So, your 2D6 roll must score a action rather than the order intended. However, if a
combined total of 7 or less to pass the test. Any roll of double six is rolled then not only is the order failed but the
between 2 and 7 will therefore succeed and any roll of unit must roll again on the FUBAR chart below and take
between 8 and 12 will fail. the action indicated. This means that the unit has
If the 2D6 roll is higher than the unit’s modified morale panicked, misunderstood its order, or that something has
value the test is failed. A unit that fails its order test does gone terribly wrong somewhere along the line.
Regardless of any modifiers that apply to a unit’s morale
value, the highest morale value is 10 and the lowest is 2.
This means that order test rolls of 2 will always succeed
regardless of any modifiers that apply, and results of 11 or
12 will always fail.
AT FULL STRENGTH
Infantry squads can normally be purchased under
strength, consisting of just five or six men. You can then
add additional men to the squad, normally up to double
the initial numbers, so ten or 12. If you purchase the
maximum amount of men available (ten, 12 or whatever
the number for that particular squad) the squad is said
to be ‘at full strength’. To represent the confidence of a
fresh squad that has not taken casualties, infantry
squads at full strength can re-roll failed order tests. The
moment the squad takes the first casualty, this bonus is
lost. Note, however, that this rule only applies to
infantry units of at least ten men – smaller squads lack
the staying power of large groups of men.
PINNED AND DOWN

There is one important exception to the rules for taking
order tests. If you order a pinned unit Down, no order test
is taken. The unit goes Down automatically. However,
note that if you do this then the unit does not lose a pin
Orders
marker, as it has not passed an order test.
PINNED AND RALLY

If a pinned unit is ordered to Rally, it will take the order
test as above, but will ignore all negative modifiers from
pin markers.
41

If the test is successful, the unit will immediately TROOP QUALITY AND MORALE
discard D6+1 pin markers rather than 1. Roll a die and Not all troops are the same. Some are highly trained,
add 1 to the score to determine how many pin markers motivated, or experienced, whilst others are hurriedly
are removed. conscripted and committed to the battlefield with little
training or equipment. This is represented in the game by
INCREDIBLE COURAGE! the morale value of the troops. As we have already
If an order test roll comes up two ones (snake eyes) then discovered, this is a measure of how likely the unit is to
not only is the order automatically given but the unit also follow orders under fire.
immediately loses D6+1 pin markers rather than 1. Troops are divided into three different categories
as follows:
FUBAR!
If an order test roll comes up two sixes then not only is the Quality Morale Examples
order not given but the player must immediately roll on Conscript, poor or little
the chart below. Roll a die to find what action the unit takes. Inexperienced 8 training, no combat
experience.
FUBAR CHART Regular 9

Normal training and some
combat experience.
D6 Roll Effect
Special training (paras,
Friendly Fire commandos, marines) and
Veteran 10
The unit does not move and opens fire extensive combat
against a friendly unit, mistaking it for experience.
enemy. Place a Fire order by the unit.
The opposing player controls the firing
unit as if it was one of his own, except
SQUAD LEADERS
1 or 2 Infantry units normally include a leader. In the case of an
that the chosen ‘friendly’ target (or
targets) must have an enemy unit within infantry squad this would typically be a sergeant,
12’’ (proximity to enemy is precisely what corporal, lance corporal or an equivalent rank. These
has caused the ‘friendly fire incident’!). non-commissioned officers (NCOs) are an integral part
If no such target is available the unit of their unit and cannot be deliberately separated from
does not fire and goes Down instead. it. If an infantry squad’s leader is killed, the unit suffers
a permanent –1 penalty to its morale value. The same is
Panic
The unit executes a Run order and must true for HQ units, consisting of a superior officer and a
move as fast as possible away from the few men – if the officer is killed, the men will suffer the
3, 4, 5 or 6 same permanent –1 penalty. Crewed weapons and
closest visible enemy unit. If no enemy are
visible, or if the unit can no longer move for weapons teams don’t have specific models as leaders, but
some reason, it goes Down instead. if the team is reduced to one last crewman, it also suffers
a –1 penalty to its morale value in the same way.
TOP SECRET
PIN MARKERS
ORDERS AND TERMINOLOGY Remember that each pin marker on the unit also results in
a –1 penalty to its morale value. A veteran unit with one
During a game we usually refer to units that have been given a
pin marker has a morale value of 9, whilst the same unit
Fire order as ‘firing’, a unit that has been given as Advance
order as ‘advancing’ and so on for units that are running, in with four markers has a value of 6, and so on.
ambush, rallying or going down. We also use these same terms
throughout the rulebook where the intent is sufficiently clear, WE’RE DOOMED! – ROUTED UNITS
BOLT ACTION
but where we need to be precise we usually describe a unit If a unit has as many pin markers as its original morale
that has a Fire order placed next to it as enacting, undertaking,
value, or more, then it is automatically and immediately
conducting or otherwise engaged in a ‘Fire action’, and so on
for an Advance action, Run action, Ambush action, Rally action destroyed – its morale has entirely collapsed and the unit
and Down action. Although it might sound a bit of a mouthful to is routed from the field. Thus inexperienced troops are
say troops are ‘taking part in a Fire action’ this is plainly less routed once they have 8 pin markers, regular units 9, and
circuitous than describing the same men as ‘a unit that has a veteran units 10. This won’t happen very often because
Fire order die placed next to it.’
units will usually be wiped out long before their morale
collapses in this way.
42

The Trento Division strongpoint at El Alamein, by Steve Noon © Osprey Publishing Ltd. Taken from Warrior 169:
Italian Soldier in North Africa 1941–43
MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM MORALE unit to stay in ambush from turn to turn, watching and
Regardless of how many pin markers it has, or how waiting for the enemy to make a move.
many bonuses or penalties apply, a unit cannot have a Alternatively, at this point a unit in Ambush can attempt
morale value of greater than 10 or less than 2. Ten is the to fire – roll a D6. On a 4+ the unit can fire normally and
best value possible and 2 is the worst. then place its order die back in the dice bag. On a 3 or less,
the unit does nothing and the Ambush dice is put into the
RETAINING AN ORDER AT THE END bag – the unit has simply lost its concentration.
OF THE TURN
Normally, all the order dice used to activate units during DOWN
the turn are gathered up and placed back in the dice bag Units that end their turn Down can retain their order or
at the end of the turn. There are, however, two notable return it to the dice bag as usual. If the player decides to
exceptions. retain the Down order, the order die is left where it is and
the unit starts the following turn already down. A pinned
AMBUSH
Orders
unit that does this also loses D3 pin markers immediately

Units that end their turn in Ambush can retain their order instead of returning its order die to the dice bag. This
or return it to the dice bag as usual. If the player decides allows a pinned unit to recover its effectiveness without
to retain the Ambush order, the order die is left where it is passing an order test, so long as it stays down, representing
and the unit starts the next turn already in ambush and the unit’s leader regrouping his men under fire.
ready to shoot at a target that presents itself. This allows a
43

Another random document with
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Then gang wi’ me to Scotland, dear,
We ne’er again will roam,
And with thy smile sae bonny, cheer
My native Highland home.
For blithsome is the breath of day,

And sweet’s the bonny broom,
And pure the dimpling rills that play
Around my Highland home.
Such, during several months, was their almost unvaried mode of

life. On the 12th of March 1826, Clapperton was seized with
dysentery; and the intense heat of the weather as well as the
feverish state of the patient rendered it necessary that he should be
almost constantly fanned; a female slave was employed to perform
this office, but she found it too irksome, and soon abandoned her
post and ran away. He grew daily worse, while Lander was
oppressed with anxiety on account of the calamities which had
befallen him, and exhausted with the exertion required in the
performance of the various duties which devolved upon him. As he
had a great regard for his master, we see no reason to doubt the
accuracy of his account, that he was unremitting in his attentions to
him during his last illness, which Clapperton himself attributed to the
following instance of imprudence. “Early in February,” said he one
day to Lander, “after walking a whole day exposed to the scorching
rays of the sun, I was fatigued, and lay down under the branch of a
tree. The soil on that occasion was soft and wet, and from that hour
to the present I have not been free from cold. This has brought on
my present disorder, from which I believe I shall never recover.” A
couch was made for him on the outside of his hut, and during the
space of twenty days he gradually declined, till at last all hope of
recovery was extinguished. In these dismal moments, says his
faithful attendant, he derived consolation and support from the
exercises of religion. Lander read the scriptures to him daily. No
stranger visited him during his illness, except an Arab of Fezzan,
who intruded himself one day into the hut, and wished to be allowed
to read some of the Mahometan prayers, but he was ordered to quit
his presence. Pasko who had left his service, and had married and
settled in the city, was taken back, and relieved Lander of a portion
of his heavy tasks. During his illness Clapperton talked much of his
country and his friends. By the advice of Maddie, a native of Bornou,
he swallowed a decoction of green bark from the butter tree, and
speedily afterwards became worse, so that he could get no repose.
On the next day he said to Lander, “I feel myself dying. Take care of
my journal and papers after my decease; and when you arrive in
London, go immediately to my agents and send for my uncle who will
accompany you to the colonial office, and see you deposit them with
the secretary. Borrow money, and go home by Fezzan in the train of
the Arab merchants. From Mourzuk send to Mr. Warrington, our
consul at Tripoli, for money, and wait till it comes. Do not lumber
yourself with my books. Leave also the barometer and every
cumbersome article. You may give them to Mallem Mudey. Remark
what towns and villages you pass through, and put on paper
whatever remarkable thing the chiefs of the different places may say
to you.”
On the 11th of April, he was shaved, and rallied a little, but soon
became worse, and died on the 13th. By order of Bello he was
buried in an open place about five miles from the city of Soccatoo,
and Lander read over him the service of the church of England for
the “burial of the dead,” as Clapperton had himself formerly done for
Dr. Oudney and some other of his companions. Next day Lander
returned to the spot, and with the assistance of some of the natives a
shed was erected over the grave.
MEMOIR
OF
MAJOR ALEXANDER LAING,

THE
AFRICAN TRAVELLER.
MEMOIR
OF
MAJOR ALEX. GORDON LAING,

THE
AFRICAN TRAVELLER.
Major Alexander Gordon Laing, another of those adventurous

spirits who met with their common fate, in the attempt to explore the
interior of Africa, was born at Edinburgh on the 27th December 1794,
and was the eldest son of Mr. William Laing, A.M., one of the most
popular classical teachers of his day. In his academy, in the New
Town of Edinburgh, young Laing received nearly the whole of his
education, at least all that was necessary to prepare him for the
university. Possessing a quick intuitive perception, and an ardent
thirst for classical knowledge, his progress was in proportion; and at
the early age of thirteen, he entered the university of Edinburgh.
Here his attainments became still more marked, and Professor
Christison, who then occupied the humanity chair, observing his
literary taste, used to point him out in the public class as worthy the
imitation of his fellow-students, though few might hope to surpass
him.
When about fifteen, Laing went to Newcastle, where for six
months he filled the situation of assistant to Mr. Bruce, a teacher in
that city; he then returned to Edinburgh, and entered upon a similar
duty under his father, a situation for which he was singularly
qualified.
It appears strange that a young man, quietly, and, at the same
time, eagerly, pursuing the laborious profession of a schoolmaster,
should have afterwards adopted another line of life forming a perfect
contrast to that in which he had been previously employed. The
change of his tastes is wholly to be attributed to his connexion with
the volunteers. At a time when volunteering was very general,
Alexander Laing entered one of the corps then forming; and in 1810
was made an ensign in the Prince of Wales’s Edinburgh Volunteers,
then being in his seventeenth year. Captivated with the specimen he
there had of a military life, he desired earnestly to be a soldier. He
could no longer submit to the restraints and routine of school
discipline; and at the end of the second year, he finally gave up the
now to him irksome duties of teaching, to the disappointment of his
parents and relatives, who were very desirous that he should not
change his profession. Being, however, bent upon the military
service, he, in the year 1811, went out to Barbadoes, where his
maternal uncle, Colonel, afterwards General Gabriel Gordon, then
was, with whom he remained a short time till he obtained an
ensigncy in the York Light Infantry, which regiment he immediately
joined at Antigua, and in two years thereafter he was promoted to a
lieutenancy in the same corps—a situation which he held till the
regiment was reduced, when he was then placed upon half pay.
But anxious for occupation, he exchanged, as speedily as the
affair could be negotiated, into the second West India regiment,
which he joined at Jamaica. While there, he had to discharge the
duties of deputy quartermaster-general, the exertions of which
department brought on a liver complaint, for which his medical
advisers recommended a sea voyage. He accordingly sailed to
Honduras, by which his complaint was considerably relieved, and the
governor, Colonel Arthur, finding him an active, useful, and intelligent
officer, appointed him to the office of fort-major, and would not suffer
him to return to Jamaica, but had him attached to another division of
his regiment then in Honduras, where he remained till a return of his
complaint forced him to come home, his frame being so much
debilitated, that he was unable to walk, so that it became necessary
to carry him on shipboard.
His constitution was very seriously injured by this illness, and in
consequence he remained nearly eighteen months with his friends in
Scotland. During this time, however, that half of the second West
India regiment to which he was attached was reduced, and he was
again placed upon half-pay. In the autumn of 1819, he returned to
London, and having been sent for by the late Sir Henry Torrens, then
Colonel of his regiment, was familiarly complimented by him on his
former services, immediately appointed lieutenant and adjutant, and
proceeded to Sierra Leone.
Early in January 1822, Lieutenant Laing was sent by the late
governor, Sir Charles M‘Carthy, on an embassy to Kambia and the
Mandingo country, to ascertain the political state of those districts,
the disposition of the inhabitants to trade, and their sentiments in
regard to the abolition of the slave trade. Sir Charles was perfectly
satisfied with the manner in which his instructions were executed,
and with the information he received on the different heads.
Having fulfilled the purposes of the mission at Kambia, he crossed
the river Scarcies, and proceeded on foot to Malacouri, a strongly
fortified Mandingo town, situated on the banks of the river Malageea,
about twenty miles N. by W. from Kambia, where he learned that
Amara had applied to the king of the Soolimas, who had sent a
numerous army to his assistance, by whose means he had taken
Malageea, the principal town belonging to Sannassee, and had
made that chief a prisoner. Here he was also informed, that Amara
meant to put Sannassee to death after the performance of several
ceremonies. The Soolima force was stated to exceed ten thousand
in number, and commanded by Yaradee, a brother of the king, who
had acquired some renown as a warrior. Of the Soolimas, little more
than the name was known at Sierra Leone: they were reported,
however, to be a very powerful nation, residing in the interior, at a
distance of three or four hundred miles to the eastward of Sierra
Leone.
Sannassee having always been upon the most friendly terms with
our government, and the unforgiving disposition of Amara being well
known, great alarm was excited for the unfortunate chieftain whom
he had in his power; Laing therefore, though suffering under a
severe attack of fever and ague, proceeded to the Soolima camp to
mediate between Amara and the captive Sannassee. His account of
this expedition is as follows:
“About two miles beyond the river Malageea, which I crossed near
its source, I fell in with an outlying picket of the Soolimas, consisting
of about fifty men, with sentries regularly posted, to whom I was
obliged to explain my purpose before the chief of the guard would
permit me to pass: another mile west brought me to a stronger guard
of about one hundred and fifty men; and a mile and a-half farther to a
large savannah or plain where the whole army was encamped. It
was now nearly nine o’clock, and being very faint and feverish, I was
glad to take refuge from the rays of the morning sun, which, in this
part of Africa is the most oppressive time of the day, under a few
bundles of dried grass thrown loosely upon three sticks fixed apart in
the ground at equal distances, the tops being drawn together and
fastened after the manner of military triangles. These temporary
dwellings, when well constructed, form no bad imitation of, or
substitute for, bell-tents, possessing this advantage, that they can be
erected with little trouble, and no expense, in a short time, whenever
an army takes up a position. From this covering I had a view of the
whole encampment, which exhibited the appearance and bustle of a
well attended fair, rather than the regularity and discipline of military
quarters. Tents constructed as above described, were to be seen
covering the savannah as far as the trees, windings, and other
obstacles, would permit the eye to reach; and the distinguishing flags
of the various and numerous tribes were everywhere to be observed
waving over the habitations of their respective chiefs. Music, a horrid
din of a variety of barbarous instruments broke on the ear from every
direction; while parties of men, grotesquely habited in war dresses,
were here and there descried, brandishing their cutlasses, and
capering with the most extravagant gestures, to the time of the
various sounds produced. The novelty of the scene attracted my
attention for a while,—but fatigue, arising from the ague of the
preceding night, at length overcame my curiosity. About noon I was
awoke by one of my followers, who acquainted me that Amara was
ready to hold a palaver with me, and desired my immediate
attendance. In my way to his tent I visited Satin Lai, a designing
Mandingo chief, possessing much power; he had been mainly
instrumental in putting Amara on the throne, and was at this time the
only staunch adherent to the king, who, by following too implicitly his
advice, had lowered himself considerably in the opinion of his head
men, who form the principal strength of an African king. I found Satin
Lai, a good-looking man, apparently between sixty and seventy
years of age, about five feet ten inches in height, affable in his
deportment, with a mild and amiable countenance which is said to be
rather at variance with his actions. He was performing the office of a
commissary, surrounded by several hundred baskets of white rice,
which he was distributing to the different tribes in quantities
proportionate to their strength. In one corner of the tent some of his
slaves were employed in cooking, in another his horse was feeding,
encircled with Moorish trapping, spears, muskets, bows and quivers.
On appearing before the tent of Amara, I was directed to seat myself
under the shade of a large booth covered with cocoa-nut branches
and plantain leaves, capable of containing and sheltering from the
rays of the sun upwards of two thousand people; here the king soon
joined me, and the war drum being beat, the booth was shortly filled
with a motley assemblage of armed men. Booths of corresponding
size, erected at right angles, and parallel to the one in which I sat, so
as to form a large square, were also soon crowded with hordes of
Soolimas, Bennas, Tambaccas, and Sangaras, in all, amounting to
about ten thousand men, while the inclosed space was free to such
as were desirous of exhibiting in feats of warlike exercises, in
dancing, and in music. As the exibitions on this occasion were of the
same kind with those which I afterwards saw in the Soolima country
on similar occasions, and which will be described hereafter, I shall
merely observe that Yaradee, the general of the Soolima army, was
particularly conspicuous in exhibiting on horseback the various
evolutions of African attack and defence. When their performances
were concluded, I had an interview with Yaradee, and obtaining from
him an assurance that Sannassee’s life should be preserved, I took
my leave, receiving many protestations of friendship. A subsequent
conversation with Amara, in which I explained his Excellency’s
wishes, terminated my visit to the camp, which I quitted at sunset,
and proceeded direct on my return to Sierra Leone, where I did not
arrive till the sixth day, having suffered much inconvenience on the
journey, from the effects of increasing illness.”
We have given this account entire, that the reader may
understand the kind of natives that he had to deal with in his after
intercourse with them. His interference seemed here to have
terminated happily for Sannassee, but he was scarcely recovered
from his illness, when it was reported that all his efforts had been of
no avail; and the governor, still anxious to save the life of his ally,
asked Laing again to undertake another embassy for the same
object; he complied, again visited the Soolima camp, where he found
that Amara had set Sannassee at liberty, after first burning his town,
and then plundering his property. Lieutenant Laing did not waste
time in a longer palaver than was just sufficient to mark the
displeasure of the governor regarding their conduct to Sannassee.
He was accompanied on this mission by Mr. Mackie, assistant
surgeon, who, together with Lieutenant Laing, were the objects of
undisguised astonishment to Yarradee, who scrutinized every article
of their dress with great minuteness; and on observing Laing pull off
his gloves, “he stared with surprise, covered his widely opened
mouth with his hands, and at length he exclaimed, ‘Alla ackbar,’ he
has pulled the skin off his hands.” Lieutenant Laing and Mr. Mackie
reached Sierra Leone after an absence of six days and a-half during
the whole of which time they had not been under shelter for a single
hour. While upon this second mission he had observed that many
men who accompanied the Soolima army possessed considerable
quantities of gold, and having learned that ivory abounded in
Soolima, he suggested to the governor the advantage to the colony
of opening up an intercourse with these people.
The governor was pleased with the suggestion, and submitted it
without delay to a meeting of the council, when it was resolved, that
Lieutenant Laing should be permitted to penetrate to the country of
the Soolimas, choosing his own road, and the one by which he could
most easily communicate his discoveries. He was now in the
character of a volunteer traveller, a character which he admirably
supported.
This party consisted of Musah Kanta, a native of Foutah Jallon;
two soldiers of the second West India regiment, eleven carriers,
natives of the Jolof country, and a boy, Mahomed, a native of Sego.
They quitted Sierra Leone in boats on the 16th of April, 1822, and
ascending the Rokelle, slept the first night at Mr. M‘Cormick’s factory,
who, from his name, seems to have been a countryman of our
traveller’s. They took the route through the Timannee country, calling
upon the various chieftains and governors who were in their way,
from whom they received passes, but often with difficulty, and only
on the payment of money, and the presentation of articles,
sometimes of considerable value.
While they were upon the point of leaving Rokon, which is in the
Timannee country, the king of the place made his appearance in a
violent rage, and the cause of his grievance, was a Jolofman, who
attended Lieutenant Laing, having had the audacity to dress himself
in a new red slop shirt, which the king considering a more splendid
habiliment than his own, insisted upon having; this the Jolof
obstinately refused; while the king declared it to be the law in his
country, (a law made by himself at the moment) “That any man
dressed better than himself, especially in red, should forfeit his
clothes.” Lieutenant Laing settled this difference by desiring the Jolof
to change his shirt, and giving the king a bar of tobacco and a dram
of rum. After leaving Rokon, the country for a short time was
beautiful and cultivated, and on reaching Nunkaba, they found the
female inhabitants busy with their cotton, preparing it for spinning.
On their arrival at Toma, though only sixty miles from Sierra
Leone, Lieutenant Laing learned, to his surprise, that “no white man
had ever before been seen there.” He says, in his journal, “the first
appearance of surprise, that came under my observation was in a
woman, who stood fixed like a statue, gazing at the party as they
entered the town, and did not stir a muscle till the whole had passed,
when she gave a loud halloo of astonishment, and covered her
mouth with both her hands.”
This astonishment at their appearance, was sometimes
productive of annoyance during the progress of their journey. At
Balanduco they found the women busily employed in separating the
juicy saffron-coloured fruit from the palm nut; in squeezing it into
wooden mortars, and in beating it into one common mash, in order
that the oil might be extracted more easily and more commodiously
in boiling. Lieutenant Laing estimated that during the season of the
fruit, they manufactured, on an average, from thirty to forty gallons a-
day.
They now began to feel the fatigues of a long continued journey;
they reached Rokanka on the 25th of April, much fatigued, and
deprived of water, the inhabitants of the village either being unable or
unwilling to supply them with any; and being afraid to enter the
woods in search of it, from the whistle of the Purrah being heard in
the neighbourhood. The Purrah are a sort of “Robin Hood gang,”
who infest the woods, occasionally making an inroad upon some
peaceful village, which they invariably plunder; the inhabitants
keeping hidden, and never attempting any resistance. They are
tatooed in a manner peculiar to themselves, and have gradations of
rank in their community. At stated times they hold assemblies, on
which occasions, the country is in the greatest alarm, for notices are
dispersed abroad concerning them, and the people are obliged to
attend; they settle all differences, and inflict capital punishments,
according to their pleasure, so that in fact, they are the governors of
the country, and Lieutenant Laing says, “that from the nature of their
power, and the purposes to which it is applied, they will probably be
found a most serious obstacle to its civilization.”
On leaving Rokanka the next day, they came in sight of a stream,
after walking about an hour and a quarter, and having suffered so
much from thirst, for thirty hours preceding, they were so eager to
enjoy it, and indulged so freely in it, that on reaching a town four
miles farther, the whole party were attacked with the most violent
spasms, Lieutenant Laing suffering particularly, it being six days
before he was at all restored to his usual health.
He found some difficulty in procuring permission to depart from
Ma-Bung, which was the name of his present residence, being
obliged to hold a palaver, as they termed it, with the head men of the
place; and it was only after a very long palaver with his interpreter
and them, that he was suffered to depart, upon making presents of
tobacco, powder, white baft, and rum.
This custom of presenting gifts at every place, was a serious evil,
but it was one without which it was impossible to proceed, and
occasionally, his attendants and the inhabitants engaged in a scuffle,
sometimes difficult to suppress. It is unnecessary to follow his
motions minutely; the reader may find them interestingly and
particularly recorded in his travels published in 1825, and edited by
his friend Captain Sabine.
It is sufficient to mention that on the 7th of May he reached the
last town of the Timmannee country; called Ma-Boom, part of which
was inhabited by Koorankos, in which part he took up his residence,
as through that country it was now his intention to proceed.
He found very great difficulty in getting away from Ma-Boom,
owing to the greediness and treachery of Smeilla, the head man of
the place, who laid a plan of assault and robbery upon him and his
party, but from which he was preserved by the sagacity of his
servant, Musah, and his own decision. With the other inhabitants of
Ma-Boom he seemed pleased, particularly the Mandingo families,
and the country around, he says, is thickly wooded, and abounds
with rich pasturages, well stocked with cattle, sheep, and goats.
The next station was Kooloofa, where they received a kind but
noisy welcome, being prevented from sleeping during the night by
barbarous music in honour of their visit. “They, one and all,” says
Lieutenant Laing, “thanked God for my appearance among them:
they said they could not live without trade, and on that account, if for
no other, they were glad to see a white man come into the country to
open a good road.” He easily received permission to depart from
Kooloofa, and left it with the best wishes of a numerous crowd,
assembled to witness his departure. After passing through several
places, they reached Seemera, where he was as kindly received as
at Kooloofa, the king “thanking God that he had seen a white man,
and would do any thing to help him, as he was sure he could have
no other object in coming to this country than to do good.” While
there the place was visited by a tremendous tornado. The house
where Laing slept being badly thatched, the lightning kept it in almost
perpetual illumination, and, as he himself expresses it, the holes in
the roof gave him the full benefit of a shower bath. He was detained
here a short time, partly by the rain, during which time the king sent
a company of dancers to dance before him for his diversion. His
route, after leaving Seemera, was difficult and dangerous, he and his
party having to endure several heavy tornadoes, rough roads, and
plots laid to rob him of his baggage. His remarks upon what he
observed during this journey must be extremely interesting to a
geologist, and, indeed, to any man of science, for which, however,
we again refer to his travels.
While at Worrowyah, he was entertained by some female singers,
the tenor of whose song, he said, did not please him. They sung “of
the white man who had come to their town; the houseful of money
which he had; such cloth, such beads, such fine things had never
been seen in Kooranko before; if their husbands were men, and
wished to see their wives well dressed, they ought to take some of
the money from the white man.” He was saved from the effects of
this advice by one of his suite called Tamba, who answered them by
a counter song. He sung of “Sierra Leone, of houses a mile in length
filled with money; that the white man who was here had nothing
compared to those in Sierra Leone; if, therefore, they wished to see
some of the rich men from that country come into Kooranko, they
must not trouble this one; whoever wanted to see a snake’s tail must
not strike it on the head.” This song was applauded, and Lieutenant
Laing was allowed to keep his money.
While at Kamato, which he reached on the 29th of May, Laing had
a severe attack of fever, which lasted for several days. As he was
recovering from the attack, a messenger arrived from the king of the
Soolimas, with a party, and two horses, to convey him to their
country, his majesty being very desirous to see him within his
territories. Laing was very glad to accept of the invitation, so on the
morning of the 5th of June, he mounted one of the horses, and left
the Kooranko country for a time. It was not till the 11th that he
reached the royal city, having in his way thither received much
kindness and hospitality from the native head men of the villages
through which they passed; one head man, says our traveller, “took
off his cap, and lifting his aged eyes to heaven, fervently thanked his
Creator for having blessed him with the sight of a white man before
he died.”
When Lieutenant Laing reached Falaba, which was the residence
of the king of the Soolimas, he was saluted with a heavy and
irregular discharge of musketry, which he ordered to be returned with
three rounds from his party, and then alighting, shook hands with the
king, who presented him with two massive gold rings, and made him
sit down beside him. The king and the Lieutenant were scarcely
seated, when his old friend Yaradee, better dressed than when he
last met him, mounted on a fiery charger, crossed the parade at full
gallop, followed by about thirty warriors on horseback, and two
thousand on foot,—the equestrians returning and performing many
evolutions, to the amazement and admiration of the spectators. After
which many other spectacles were exhibited for the diversion of his
guest by the king of the Soolimas. Yaradee was particularly kind to
Lieutenant Laing, saying, “he was a proud man that day, the first day
in which a white man had ever been in the Soolima country.”
The different chieftains paid homage to our traveller, when they
saw how highly he was thought of by their sovereign, and he was
teazed with speeches and remarks addressed to him by a crowd for
the pleasure of hearing him speak, and whenever he did so, they
would shout, “He speaks, the white man speaks.” He said these
marks of attention would have delighted him any other time, but his
horse having fallen with him, he had been precipitated into the water
of a marsh he was crossing at the time of the accident, which
brought on an attack of fever, from which, however, he recovered in
about three days. Those who wish to see an account of the fetes and
the excursions, designed principally in honour of Lieutenant Laing,
must read his travels, in which they will find an interesting account.
Feeling again the intimations of approaching illness, he shortened
his interviews, and came to the great business of the mission, free
intercourse and trade, and the desire of Sir Charles M‘Carthy to
cultivate a good understanding with them; and then producing his
presents, which were considerable, every thing was adjusted in the
most amicable manner: but he had scarcely returned to his hut,
when the fever was renewed with redoubled violence, and,
stretching himself on his mat, he resigned himself to the disease
which for nine or ten days prevented him from rising; three days of
which he was in a state of delirium. On his consciousness returning
he found he had been cupped by one of the country doctors, which
had been of great service to him. During this illness his
meteorological observations ceased, and it was, as he expresses it,
“with a grief bordering on distraction that he thought upon his
chronometer, which, as nobody could wind up but himself, had
unavoidably gone down.”
It was on the 1st of July that he found himself able to write a few
lines to acquaint his friends at Sierra Leone with his arrival at Falaba,
and that he hoped soon to be able to go even farther eastward; two
natives of Soolima volunteering to be the bearers of his despatches.
On the 11th, he was so well as to mount on horseback and take a
survey of the adjacent country, but from the delay occasioned by the
unwillingness of the king to allow him to depart, it was not till the 17th
of September that he finally quitted Falaba in order to return to Sierra
Leone; having resided in the Soolima country more than three
months. He was on the 9th of September gratified by the return of
the messengers he had sent to Sierra Leone; he received the packet
they conveyed to him with exquisite delight; but besides the kind
letters of his friends, they sent “tobacco, sugar, a little brandy, which
soon disappeared among the Soolimas, and, though last not least,
two pairs of good shoes, a luxury to which his feet had for some time
been unaccustomed. He was also furnished, through the kindness of
Dr. Barry, staff-surgeon at Sierra Leone, with a lancet and two glass
plates of preserved vaccine virus, with which, on the 13th, he was
permitted to inoculate a number of children, commencing with those
of the king himself,” who had so much confidence in him, that Laing
says “he believed he would have permitted him to have attempted
the most extravagant experiment upon any of his own family.” If he
had possessed sufficient virus, he continues, “I might have
inoculated all the children in Falaba: the yard was absolutely
crowded with old men and women, holding young children in their
arms, and forming a group worthy of the pencil of a West or a
Rubens.” He very naturally remarks upon it as an interesting fact,
“that a nation so far in the interior of Africa, should have so readily
submitted, at the instigation of a white man, who was almost a
stranger to them, to an operation against which so much prejudice
existed for so many years in the most enlightened and civilized
countries in Europe. When the general prevalence of superstitious
fear from greegrees and fetishes is duly considered, this fact
presents a strong proof of the confidence which the natives of
Western Africa repose in the measures of white people to benefit
them; and affords a no less strong presumption, that their other
superstitious notions might soon be found to give way, in like
manner, to the labours of the missionary: and their present
barbarous habits of obtaining slaves for trade by force of arms, to the
more rational proceeding of cultivating the soil for articles of
commercial exchange.”
The day that he quitted Falaba, which, as has been already
stated, was on the 17th of September, the natives in great numbers
accompanied him for a considerable distance, the females making
most extravagant demonstrations of grief; the king accompanied him
a little farther, when a parting took place, which we shall insert in
Captain Laing’s own words, (for while at Falaba, he had received
intelligence of his promotion to the rank of captain). “At length the old
man stopped and said, he was now to see me for the last time. The
tears were in his eyes, and the power of utterance seemed to have
forsaken him for a while. Holding my hand still fast, he said ‘white
man, think of Falaba, for Falaba will always think of you: the men
laughed when you came among us, the women and children feared
and hid themselves: they all sit now with their heads in their hands,
and with tears in their eyes because you leave us. I shall remember
all you have said to me; you have told me what is good, and I know
that it will make my country great; I shall make no more slaves.’
Then squeezing me affectionately by the hand, and turning away his
head, he gently loosened his grasp, and saying, ‘Go, and return to
see us,’ he covered his face with his hands. I felt as if I had parted
from a father. Such remembrances impress themselves too deeply in
the heart to be effaced by time or distance, and establish a
permanent interest in the welfare of a country, which may have a
material influence on the after life of the individual who entertains
them.”
The route of Captain Laing and his party back to Sierra Leone
was much the same with that which they had gone when they set
out; most of the head men expressing surprise at seeing him again,
they in general supposing that he had been killed in the interior, and
on the 28th of October, he had the pleasure of being welcomed by
his friends at Sierra Leone, “so many of whom, so much esteemed,
and so highly valued, are now, alas, no more!”
On Captain Laing’s arrival at Sierra Leone, he received an order
to join his regiment on the Gold Coast, without delay, in
consequence of the hostilities which had commenced between the
British government and the king of the Ashantees.
On his arrival on the Gold Coast, he was employed in the
organization and command of a very considerable native force,
designed to be auxiliary to a small British detachment, which was
then expected from England. During the greater part of the year
1823, this native force was stationed on the frontier of the Fantee
and Ashantee countries, and was frequently engaged, and always
successfully, with detachments of the Ashantee army.
On the fall of Sir Charles M‘Carthy, which took place early in
1824, Captain Sabine, who edits the Travels, and writes the preface
from which we quote, says, “that Lieutenant-Colonel Chisholm, on
whom the command of the Gold Coast devolved, deemed it
expedient to send Captain Laing to England, for the purpose of
acquainting government, more fully than could be done by despatch,
with the existing circumstances of the command. Soon after his
arrival in England, which took place in August, he obtained a short
leave of absence to visit Scotland for the recovery of his health,
which had been seriously affected by so many months of such
constant and extreme exposure in Africa, as it is probable few
constitutions would have supported.”
He returned to London in October of the same year, where an
opportunity now presented itself which he had long anxiously
desired, of proceeding under the auspices of government, on an
expedition to discover the course and termination of the Niger. He
was now promoted to the rank of major, and departed from London
on that enterprise early in February 1825, with the intention of
leaving Tripoli, for Timbuctoo, in the course of the summer of that
year. He touched at Malta on his way to Tripoli, where he was shown
every attention by the late Marquis of Hastings, at whose table he
repeatedly dined.
While at Tripoli, he became acquainted with the British Consul,
Mr. Warrington, his business with him producing an intimacy of the
closest nature, which was farther cemented by Major Laing’s
marrying his daughter, Emma Maria Warrington, an event which took
place on the 14th of July 1825. But he had no time to spend in
domestic life: two days after marriage he set out for those vallies of
death where every preceding traveller had found a grave.
It was on the 17th of July that Major Laing left Tripoli in company
of the Sheik Babani, a highly respectable man who had resided in
Timbuctoo twenty-two years, and whose wife and children were
there still. This Sheik engaged to conduct our traveller thither in two
months and a half; and there, or at his neighbouring residence, to
deliver him over to the great Marabout Mooktar, by whose influence
he would be able to proceed farther in any direction that might be
required, according to information received as to the course of the
river. This Babani is stated by the Consul of Tripoli, to be “one of the
finest fellows, with the best tempered and most prepossessing
countenance that he ever beheld; Laing, in all his letters, speaks of
him in the highest terms of respect and approbation. As the Gharan
mountains were rendered impassable by the defection of a rebellious
chief of the Bashaw, who had taken possession of all the passes, the
small koffila of Babani took the route of Beneoleed. On the 21st of
August they reached Shaté, and, on the 13th of September, arrived
safely at Ghadamis, after a “tedious and circuitous journey of nearly
a thousand miles.” In the course of this journey, Laing reports the
destruction of all his instruments from the heat of the weather, and
the jolting of the camels; his barometers broken; his hygrometers
rendered useless from the evaporation of the ether; the tubes of
most of his thermometers snapt by the warping of the ivory; the glass
of the artificial horizon so dimmed by the friction of sand which
insinuated itself everywhere, as to render an observation difficult and
troublesome; his chronometer stopt, owing, he says, to the extremes
of heat and cold, but more probably to the jolting, or the insinuation
of sandy particles; and to wind up the catalogue of his misfortunes,
the stock of his rifle broken by the great gouty foot of a camel
treading upon it. The range of the thermometer in the desert, was
from 120° about the middle of the day, to 75°-68°, and once or twice
to 62° an hour or two before sunrise, at which time was observable a
great incrustation of nitre on the ground, which is the common
appearance on the surface of all the known deserts of Africa, from
Tripoli to the Cape of Good Hope.
When Major Laing reached Ghadamis, he discovered that his
companion, the Sheik Babani, was governor of the town. He
considered him a person of sterling worth, with a quiet, inoffensive,
unobtrusive character, though at the same time not deficient in
decision, but never once suspected him to be a person of so much
importance and influence as he all at once discovered him to be. The
Sheik immediately lodged him in one of his own houses, with a large
garden, and yard for his camels, which were fed at the expense of
the governor. Ghadamis is a place of considerable trade; all the
koffilas to and from Soudan passing through it. The citizens pay
tribute to the Tuaric who inhabit the great Sahara or desert on the
western side of Africa for permission to their koffilas to pass without
being subjected to plunder. The town contains six or seven thousand
inhabitants.
Major Laing left Ghadamis on the 27th of October, and arrived at
Ensala on the 3d of December. Ensala is the most eastern town in
the province of Tuat, and belongs to the Tuaric: it is considered to be
thirty-five days journey distant from Timbuctoo. As he approached
this city, some thousands of people, of all ages, came out to meet
this Christian traveller. Nothing could exceed the kindness and
hospitality with which they received him, and Major Laing returned it,
by patiently listening to their complaints, and administering medicine
to their diseases to the best of his ability.
The koffila left Ensala on the 10th of January 1826, and on the
26th of the same month entered upon the desert of Tenezarof, about
twenty journies from Timbuctoo, a mere desert of sand, perfectly flat,
and quite destitute of all verdure. Major Laing, at this time was still
an enthusiast in his expedition, and, possessed of good health and
spirits, experiencing everywhere, from every person, nothing but
good will, kindness, and hospitality. He particularly mentions the
services of Hatteta, the Tuaric who had accompanied him thither; he
also speaks of the sheik Babani, who, he says, continued “to watch
over him with the solicitude of a father.” Shortly after the arrival of a
letter with these accounts from Tenezarof, reports reached Tripoli,
that the koffila had been attacked by robbers; that the Major’s
servant, as well as some others, had been killed, and he himself
wounded; at the same time adding, that he had effected his escape
to the Marabout Mooktar, who usually resided at a spot only five
days journey distant from Timbuctoo. These reports, though they
created some uneasiness, were not believed, till a letter was
received at Tripoli by Mrs. Laing, indirectly tending to confirm them.
She received it on the 20th of September 1826: it was written from
the desert of Tenezarof. The following extract is what appears to
refer to the circumstances which raised the reports.
“I take the advantage of a Tuaric going to Tuat, to acquaint you,
that I am safe and in perfect health, and completely recovered from
the trifling indisposition which annoyed me on leaving that place. If it
pleases God I shall be in Timbuctoo in less than twenty days, and in
two months afterwards I hope to find my way to some part of the
coast. I have met with much annoyance from the Tuaric; few, very
few of whom are like Hatteta, and are not, as the consul anticipated,
our friends. You shall know all particulars from me on my arrival at
Timbuctoo, from whence I shall lose no time in addressing you. I
have stopped in the sun to write; pray excuse it, for I am in great
haste, and I write with only a thumb and a finger, having a very
severe cut on my fore finger.”
This cut probably refers to the wounds he had received, but which
he did not wish to mention in a more serious manner.

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Bolt Action World War II Wargames

Rules 2nd Edition Warlord Games Peter

Hidden Horrors Japanese War Crimes in World War II 2nd

Hidden Horrors Japanese War Crimes in World War II 2nd

World War II 1st Edition Alisha Bains

World War II Resistance Fighters Matt Doeden

Veterans Faces of World War II Sasha Maslov

World War II Close Up 1st Edition Morgan Servin

World War II Spies and Secret Agents Stuart A. Kallen

The Oxford History of World War II 1st Edition Richard

BOLT_RB_2nd Ed.Layout.11.indd 1 13/07/2016 08:26

First published in Great Britain in 2016 by Osprey Games

© 2016 Osprey Publishing Ltd. and Warlord Games Ltd.

All rights reserved

Print ISBN: 978 1 4728 1494 4

To find out more about our authors and books visit

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Units 34 Unit Special Rules 88

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Armoured Cars 164 Appendix I: Wargames and History 211

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9 APRIL − THE NORWEGIAN CAMPAIGN 22 JUNE − OPERATION BARBAROSSA

Stalin’s boys charge from the trees in the deep midwinter

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declare war on the Soviets. The desperate battles of the

Soviet T-34/85 Medium Tank

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German Heer Grenadier Squad

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French Army and BEF forces stand together

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21 SEPTEMBER − OPERATION SEA LION 1942

19 AUGUST − THE DIEPPE RAID

Bocage where the tank ace Michael

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25 AUGUST − THE ADVANCE TO THE RHINE

US Army Light Mortar Team

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Afrika Korps PaK 38 5cm Anti-Tank Gun

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5 MAY − THE SYRIA–LEBANON CAMPAIGN

July with the surrender of nearly 38,000 French troops, of

20 MAY − THE BATTLE OF CRETE

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3 SEPTEMBER − THE INVASION OF ITALY

US Army .30 Cal Medium Machine Gun Team

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now the focus of the Allied war effort has shifted to

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Japanese assault and capture Peking (July), Shanghai

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17 DECEMBER − THE BATTLE OF BORNEO

8 DECEMBER − THE PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGN

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20 FEBRUARY − THE BATTLE OF TIMOR

28 FEBRUARY − INVASION OF JAVA