A Spanish Camerone!

 A Spanish Camerone!

The Action at the House of Hami-Boasa Morocco, July 23-25th 1921

Corporal wearing a uniform typical of the period including pillbox type fatigue cap 

On July 25, 1921 volunteers from the 6th Company of the Regiment "Melilla" No. 59 under the command of Captain Enrique Amador Asin were guarding the important well at farm of Hami-Boasa, which was the home a local Muslim chief called Si Hammú. 

This wellwas the main water source for Spanish position at Dar el Quebdani but, situated 1 kilometer from that base!

The Riffi pressed in around the main position and the situation became desperate, Captain Amador received a written order from the main position`s commander Colonel Silverio Araujo Torres ordering him to surrender his arms and equipment to the Riffi in exchange for safe passage back to the main position, as the command could no longer support or resupply the small garrison!

Having witnessed other outlying garrisons slaughtered by the tribesmen, Captain Amador refused to accept this order and chose to continue holding out and preventing the Riffs access to the well. His men had fortified the farmhouse, because it dominated the water supply. Captain Amador informed his men of the situation – little ammunition, few supplies and no chance of reinforcements - to a man they all swore to stay and fight to the last bullet!

 Some went to the roof, whilst the rest manned the windows and doorway on the ground floor, loopholes were also made in the walls.

Those on the rooftop were commanded by Lieutenant Pandura, whilst those downstairs were under the direct command of Capt. Amador and Lieutenant Felipe Casinello Lopez.

 The Riffians approached first in small groups, but as the action increased larger groups arrived and they also occupied other neighbouring buildings to fire on the Spanish.

 Eventually some Riffi penetrated the ground floor, these were driven out at the point of the bayonet. But an attempt by Capt. Amador to drive the enemy back away from the building was met by accurate rifle fire killing several defenders including Captain Amador, Lieutenant Lopez fell too!

 Soon after this the Riffi rushed the ground floor overcoming the remaining defenders there, leaving just a few soldatos up on the roof, low on bullets under the hot sun. These men fought on under finally the Riffi brought up several ladders and assaulted the roof directly under cover from their riflemen among the outer buildings! After a brave but futile fight, the last defenders were wiped out to a man – this ends the saga of the house of Hami Boasa.    

28mm Riffi from my collection

Afterword

Lieutenant Felipe Casinello López was actually just knocked unconscious but was presumed dead by the both his companeros and the enemy. when he recovered consciousness the sun had set and the battle was over and the enemy had moved on; he began to walk in the direction of Melilla, four days later he arrived at Mar Chica and was picked up by some legionaries. 

Lieutenant Pandura was taken prisoner and brought to Axdir along with other prisoners taken during the tragic withdrawal after the defeat at Annual.

The banner of the Regiment de Melilla No59

The Game

Whilst not a nice story without a happy ending, I thought this piece of history is along the same lines as the Legionnaires in Mexico at Camerone and may make an interesting skirmish game as it has limited numbers of men and defined objectives. The Spanish must hold and kill as many Riffi as they can, the Riffi must secure the building and water source whilst avoiding too many casualties.

 To add a bit of confusion you could use event cards:

Low/poor ammo – only half that side can fire that turn

Grenade! – Whoever draws this card gets a grenade to throw this turn

Extra ammo – double fire this turn

Exhaustion – only half that sides figures can fight this turn

Leader – The side with this card gains a morale/firing bonus this turn

Out of ammo – the Riffi must withdraw/the Spanish are limited to the Bayonet!

 These are just ideas, obviously feel free to expand as you wish 

Thinking more on this I`ve been considering using a hit location template 

If a hit is rolled against a Spaniard, a D10 is then rolled to work out where the hit was recieved 

Obviously hits to body (abdoman or chest) and head are fatal, but hits to legs or arms can be bandaged and the soldato can continue to fight! Also we must assess if that part of the body is visible - lower abdomen and legs would be protected by walls if kneeling behind sandbags or firing from a window for example. More paperwork I accept, but adds to the game I think?

Captain Enrique Amador Asin

Born in Alicante in 1880, he entered the Infantry Academy in 1897, where he followed the abbreviated course established for the overseas campaigns, being promoted the following year to Second Lieutenant and posted to the Princess Regiment.

In 1903 he was promoted to First Lieutenant and was assigned to the Canary Islands Infantry Regiment no2; after several postings in different units, in August 1909 he went at his own request to the Batallon de Cazadores de Barcelona, in Melilla, with which he took part in operations until December when he was returned to the Peninsula.

In 1910 he was promoted to Captain, whilst with the 20th Guadalajara Regiment where he served until  1920 when he requested a posting to the Melilla Regiment.

For his actions at Dar Quebdani he was awarded the Laureate Cross of San Fernando by Royal Order on July 27, 1925. 

A photo of Captain Amador`s award