tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331023032024-02-07T19:35:13.608+00:0019th Century Sudan Wargames Armies 1883-1885legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-9980216371998664632012-10-14T14:22:00.002+01:002015-01-29T16:06:09.415+00:00The Mahdi!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLic3G0ML3T2BurKbw45zWtsO6Rkij6v6OZAuutLxZug-Id8CfjSVZRRDilEYhGpIr24q7iB5xQGdFEFrna10L7EPJUkRu8vvPXh3s78Kvx1gj4CuJG-e8lcOQsX5M8wDgsJu/s1600/mahdi+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLic3G0ML3T2BurKbw45zWtsO6Rkij6v6OZAuutLxZug-Id8CfjSVZRRDilEYhGpIr24q7iB5xQGdFEFrna10L7EPJUkRu8vvPXh3s78Kvx1gj4CuJG-e8lcOQsX5M8wDgsJu/s400/mahdi+1.jpg" height="539" width="640" /></a></div>
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Many of my figures sit around for years before they are finished and these are no exception. It's over six years since I started the Mahdi as the first figures in my Sudan collection. I was getting on quite well until, having painted his camel in a nice biscuit colour, I discovered that he rode a white Bishari camel. I couldn't face repainting it and finishing the other figures so I just shelved it, as the Mahdi wasn't present at the first two battles I was painting figures for (2nd El Teb and Tamai).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvVJDOmJ5IvZFlgu9tYqLEVMWQhc8KQswqv98TLxhMCZ8PaklD1XRAHIbxj04x9sJxvPcUFTW-940fTUK7RsnSp8ZzJsony4urtFmr6adq9LOzFTeq6-wgxmW-PlhZ2zlFVnM/s1600/mahdi+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvVJDOmJ5IvZFlgu9tYqLEVMWQhc8KQswqv98TLxhMCZ8PaklD1XRAHIbxj04x9sJxvPcUFTW-940fTUK7RsnSp8ZzJsony4urtFmr6adq9LOzFTeq6-wgxmW-PlhZ2zlFVnM/s400/mahdi+2.jpg" height="640" width="521" /></a></div>
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Today, however, I had a bit of spare time but not enough to do anything on the Prussians so I thought I'd finish off the Mahdi and his two supporters. In the interim he had suffered quite a lot of knocks (being unvarnished) so I had to do quite a lot of repair work over and above repainting the camel and finishing his supporters. Anyway, here he is and these are the only multi-based figures (other than a machine gun and crew, I think) I have ever done. </div>
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The Perry version of the Mahdi looks more like Laurence Olivier in <i>Khartoum</i> (1966) rather than the historical figure. <i>Khartoum </i>is one of the better sixties historical epics and even gets many of the uniform details (unlike the 2002 <i>The Four Feathers </i>which had all the British in red coats) right (such as the Camel Corps and the Egyptian army's cuirassiers). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcTi9lSUXlXZxYIWC2IC-d_mtLvJAZJPMVcoreswdZJUONyIDOGFY9DMq3TmTkTj692vABhBtQt3YHxBPEWMoULEQrTlle-mVhyV00sITOObGzII8hV8XjCDqcZJcrn5jqMTu/s1600/The+Mahdi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcTi9lSUXlXZxYIWC2IC-d_mtLvJAZJPMVcoreswdZJUONyIDOGFY9DMq3TmTkTj692vABhBtQt3YHxBPEWMoULEQrTlle-mVhyV00sITOObGzII8hV8XjCDqcZJcrn5jqMTu/s400/The+Mahdi1.jpg" height="640" width="544" /></a></div>
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<i>Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah (1845-1885)</i></div>
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The portrayal of the Mahdi's army, however, in Khartoum isn't as accurate as in the 1939 version of <i>The Four Feathers</i> (where they used real Beja tribesmen) mostly because it was shot in Egypt and not the Sudan like the older film. <br />
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legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-46136699297931015902010-11-13T22:25:00.004+00:002010-11-13T22:44:31.664+00:00Beja Camel riders completed<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldJkfd00oG_7nCPa9FhCoKVKBaOdiUqXkcK5wAMGCNBjNCi7j-0MuwMt73d-WlJyfO4qMXFkwqlUbKx948Ei2LCvvCtl9VfBiCW3iBS5rUpIffo0cqSSfr59zX3AEAwNu1OzU/s1600/P1040612.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 189px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539164520096783586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldJkfd00oG_7nCPa9FhCoKVKBaOdiUqXkcK5wAMGCNBjNCi7j-0MuwMt73d-WlJyfO4qMXFkwqlUbKx948Ei2LCvvCtl9VfBiCW3iBS5rUpIffo0cqSSfr59zX3AEAwNu1OzU/s400/P1040612.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div align="justify">I haven't been able to paint at all lately as I have been in Abu Dhabi but I managed to finish my last four camel mounted Beja for the battles of 2nd El Teb and Tamai today. At my chosen ratio of 1:33 I need 18 mounted fugures to represent the forces involved and here they are. I won't need any more of these just the odd figure to use as a standard bearer for my infantry units. In fact the Beja cavalry was spread around the army in smaller units but if I reflect that organisation then we would only have units of two figures so, for wargaming purposes, I am going to use them as a "big wing" (or maybe two).</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAtX07MIhbgFPckoDvP7U7SWqg74leUZ00zAtPWcQrYmys-Z7KjWx0xuK60YSQyoebkGmwo373RipTrSBiWqj2NVZVCi4Fa2n3QxMdGkViNCO9wI5LMhoVW__64knYUCqt0Gv/s1600/BEja+saddle.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539166841662049330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAtX07MIhbgFPckoDvP7U7SWqg74leUZ00zAtPWcQrYmys-Z7KjWx0xuK60YSQyoebkGmwo373RipTrSBiWqj2NVZVCi4Fa2n3QxMdGkViNCO9wI5LMhoVW__64knYUCqt0Gv/s400/BEja+saddle.jpg" /> <p align="justify"></a>Here is a picture of a Beja saddle for a camel. The saddle posts are distinctive and, as ever, are accurately modelled on the Perry Miniatures figures.<br /></p>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-5520029243765121452010-09-22T14:26:00.012+01:002013-01-01T10:45:27.094+00:00Another Sudan Wargame...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRylXa5YFOPkpc6MrL-8fgkd5CHPSPYrG6Aeb0fdWXdJrBA_X-OS1nxuMmK1dvM5rI5V5BwMJHsM23Xzst1KAWgHjIl8gJ629HtQ-D9nR6ZOI4oQyvnjiEHjSdtEfPmAcyF83/s1600/P1040343.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519753468343028882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRylXa5YFOPkpc6MrL-8fgkd5CHPSPYrG6Aeb0fdWXdJrBA_X-OS1nxuMmK1dvM5rI5V5BwMJHsM23Xzst1KAWgHjIl8gJ629HtQ-D9nR6ZOI4oQyvnjiEHjSdtEfPmAcyF83/s400/P1040343.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 234px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><em> The British patrol on the left had to reach the outpost in the centre</em></div>
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Well, almost exactly one year after my last wargame I was back at Guildford having another Sudan game organised by Keith and joined, this time, by Matt and Alastair, authentically commanding the Black Watch. </div>
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This time we used a set of rules I hadn't come across before called <em>Flying Lead</em>. These are a semi-skirmish set which allow for either unit or individual movement. All actions are dice activated and contain a high element of chance as whilst each individual or group can throw up to three activation dice if you fail to meet the activation level of your troop types on the majority of your dice (eg: only get one out of three) then your turn finishes (even if you have only moved one person) and the other side gets their go.</div>
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Initially, I have to say I found the rules totally baffling (I have always found the gaming part of wargaming tricky!) but by the end of the second game I was starting to work out some of the strategies involved and would happily give them another go. I think part of the problem was that I didn't have a copy of the rules so it was somewhat akin to trying to work out how to play a trumpet just by observing someone blowing and making seemingly random moves on the valves. </div>
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But I will pick up a copy of <em>Flying Lead</em> as they seem ideal for small actions: we had about 35 Beja against about 13 British and a Gatling Gun (which was horribly powerful-when it worked!). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_lv3ybLmMSMdHKGLEuUwwcoG0MFXyViY7f69AhL11ENOCgdAjDlLryERgjVoq3oqWeVMsmdUsI-i94qfw82WIZypS86pq8xHC1kKVt5MZqPwokLmnzuZDFMhBzi6P18tXqVD/s1600/P1040354.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519754428854594850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_lv3ybLmMSMdHKGLEuUwwcoG0MFXyViY7f69AhL11ENOCgdAjDlLryERgjVoq3oqWeVMsmdUsI-i94qfw82WIZypS86pq8xHC1kKVt5MZqPwokLmnzuZDFMhBzi6P18tXqVD/s400/P1040354.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 261px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><em> The leafy Sudan</em><br />
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Keith set up a rather leafy part of the Sudan (we decided it must be very close to the Nile) and the objective of the first game was for a British patrol at the edge of the board to reach their stronhold in the centre. Keith and I, as the Mahdists, had to stop them. We had one unit of 10 Beja with rifles, one unit of 10 with spears and five camel mounted cavalry (the first time I had used them in a game) plus a late resevre of another unit of 10.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELvFW_BikJ5cyW7Q7VN23zfsXqq3AxUG6B9UrH1R6QD4G-ZK4FKuOsa3NJ2KqglqiuMT7kD1nUfmySZrOETJJFZOwxaUnJC5kHUnUyEQhZUBxCq0OpoC0l3eQkmVlojCX-QB_/s1600/P1040349.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519753746136381762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELvFW_BikJ5cyW7Q7VN23zfsXqq3AxUG6B9UrH1R6QD4G-ZK4FKuOsa3NJ2KqglqiuMT7kD1nUfmySZrOETJJFZOwxaUnJC5kHUnUyEQhZUBxCq0OpoC0l3eQkmVlojCX-QB_/s400/P1040349.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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<em>Skulking in the wadi</em></div>
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Keith had trouble getting his Beja with rifles to move at all and once I had been on the receiving end of some rifle fire I decided to hide my troops in a wadi or a palm grove, much to the derision of my opponents. However anytime any of my chaps put their heads out of cover they promptly got shot: too much open ground to cover with too short a movement phase. The first game ended with the Black Watch arriving at their stronghold with very little opposition. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH0c96vl-PrKwwVSoD6sIwGZ5azffN2iznpde-U22vOz_vTEzSP65YTJMxygtYB4rWQC22VZlH_ZEE2Y5oVRM6A8aWUPjWJ3yC0wADLyIHbKg88Zzn2aoEzlVM4RjH5IvO6jA/s1600/P1040357.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519754595281594706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH0c96vl-PrKwwVSoD6sIwGZ5azffN2iznpde-U22vOz_vTEzSP65YTJMxygtYB4rWQC22VZlH_ZEE2Y5oVRM6A8aWUPjWJ3yC0wADLyIHbKg88Zzn2aoEzlVM4RjH5IvO6jA/s400/P1040357.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 316px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><em> The Beja strike back!</em><br />
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In the second game, Keith increased the amount of cover available close to the outpost and this time I did manage to close to action and actually inflict a few casualties but it was another clear win for the infidels.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51kNCUcj1hud2igvzXVJAEHbPRn2OQyyYgSw8DvKwXpsLK71nakXLk9MI0vJQCZSmWKffurKuOITkc6TGyrs-dMwwVUka-b8l1PMMR_S6ey2WanKuRduESufWQkiNY4rHl9Ik/s1600/P1040350.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519753239180986226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51kNCUcj1hud2igvzXVJAEHbPRn2OQyyYgSw8DvKwXpsLK71nakXLk9MI0vJQCZSmWKffurKuOITkc6TGyrs-dMwwVUka-b8l1PMMR_S6ey2WanKuRduESufWQkiNY4rHl9Ik/s400/P1040350.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 249px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><em>The nasty Gatling gun</em><br />
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On reflection, I think that the rules are maybe a bit too generic for the Sudan and we probably didn't have enough men on the Mahdist's side to make a closer game of it. Outnumbering by two to one against troops armed with rifles and a Gatling gun is not enough! They would work much better against similarly armed and equal troops and look forward to trying them out for WW1 for example. </div>
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Nevertheless, it has enthused me to try to finish my unit of Beja camel troops. I painted another two for the game, including a standard bearer, and applied some of the Citadel dead grass to the bases. I think I only have to paint four more and I have the eighteen I need to represent the Beja mounted force at El Teb and Tamai.</div>
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<em>Perry plastic three ups</em></div>
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On a wider Sudan front I am very much looking forward to the Perry plastic Mahdists and hope they will contain some early Ansar. I have seen a picture of some of the three ups and they at least contain plastic Beja and the later post Fuzzy hair beja (presumably a head option).</div>
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<em>Splendid cover too</em></div>
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Talking of the Perries, I bought a copy of their new book on the Sudan Wars <em>Go Strong into the Desert</em> by Mike Snook when I was at Colours the other week. It really is definitive and has fabulous illustrations, including fascinating present day photographs of the battlefields. Everyone who wargames the Sudan should get a copy!</div>
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legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-6977900259397230462009-10-15T13:52:00.002+01:002009-10-15T13:55:13.269+01:00Dead grass<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Yrbrysoarz-wXtSSKifNeV9VJu5cvD9lYCjkTSegtaSEyWKsjezAzohhLodaZtGs0SnOXYCRvGkzUzCiYK99L40nM4eAGvzz2QxTED5V2Fe9YWa09NLr1uEdu5MkVbn8JEde/s1600-h/m340146a_99229999106_DeadGrass_445x319.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392809472913516738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Yrbrysoarz-wXtSSKifNeV9VJu5cvD9lYCjkTSegtaSEyWKsjezAzohhLodaZtGs0SnOXYCRvGkzUzCiYK99L40nM4eAGvzz2QxTED5V2Fe9YWa09NLr1uEdu5MkVbn8JEde/s400/m340146a_99229999106_DeadGrass_445x319.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I just picked up a tub of Games Workshop's new Dead Grass. I have been looking for something like this for ages for my Sudan bases. They are all completely foliage free at present but even in the Sudan there were some clumps of grass. I will put some on to see how it looks over the weekend.</div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-3089833546196915902009-09-15T18:35:00.013+01:002009-09-16T16:31:30.891+01:00A Sudan Wargame!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JolVUYFpo0ohi-AgHhq6jqKqOCRxrU0-6EFtvU0ZJscQWuJqhVNmdIhkBPouWg5GnvlL-jELJF0USRcuAWBQ6oBYiuuyAImSJ3grVexHSoNU3tK6zeZkZnMgLhsJRdKCo7uP/s1600-h/fort.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381753138486232338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JolVUYFpo0ohi-AgHhq6jqKqOCRxrU0-6EFtvU0ZJscQWuJqhVNmdIhkBPouWg5GnvlL-jELJF0USRcuAWBQ6oBYiuuyAImSJ3grVexHSoNU3tK6zeZkZnMgLhsJRdKCo7uP/s400/fort.jpg" /></a><em> The British Outpost - lovely model!</em><br /><br /><div align="justify">It's over three years since I started this blog and my interest has, as ever, waxed and waned somewhat. However, I still regard this as my main period so was delighted to actually get a game in for the first time at Guildford on Monday. This was down to Keith at the club who suggested a game as he has some Sudan War figures (some very nicely painted Camel Corps made an appearance) too. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">We decided to use <em>The Sword and the Flame </em>which I had played once before about four years ago and Keith had never played. There was, as a result, a lot of rulebook consulting which, hopefully, next time won't happen quite so much.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznEEpczEeBXyPVDE27PrBAcbzqZ87XwYJyTp85BlZmW9eXHyTxUNs2FMelpMgHPERCq7ho2pTG_-QTDbFplIeLV3kpj8J_hnO9v4NOGwofY7rqAr12-r-2sSKwntbSMvztPjy/s1600-h/rub+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381943137966857890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznEEpczEeBXyPVDE27PrBAcbzqZ87XwYJyTp85BlZmW9eXHyTxUNs2FMelpMgHPERCq7ho2pTG_-QTDbFplIeLV3kpj8J_hnO9v4NOGwofY7rqAr12-r-2sSKwntbSMvztPjy/s400/rub+1.jpg" /></a><em> Guy's Rub of 60 figures comes around and over the hill</em></div><div align="center"><em></em><br /><div align="justify">We played the attack on a British strongpoint scenario. Keith had a unit each of Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Camel Corps and Royal Marines Light Infantry plus a Naval Brigade Gatling Gun (inevitably). I had six units of Beja. We didn't fuss too much about points values of each side and this seemed about right. My little boy, Guy, joined me on the Mahdist side which was just as well given we had over 120 individually based figures to move per turn. It makes me realise that my plan to refight El Teb and Tamai with 300 on the Beja side will be an all day job! </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ox-rCFnx4EtYd2adWe8efL8iwm_kKDrUYJGaer7zZSUUxigVx6DjTRauu0QFX6s6uhTiiK70vEltckJjWqqtZG9RsHrcpa_qysMz-QYhv5t8B-S4SCTyqrpgJXKX3bdfkDks/s1600-h/rmli.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381942932052153170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ox-rCFnx4EtYd2adWe8efL8iwm_kKDrUYJGaer7zZSUUxigVx6DjTRauu0QFX6s6uhTiiK70vEltckJjWqqtZG9RsHrcpa_qysMz-QYhv5t8B-S4SCTyqrpgJXKX3bdfkDks/s400/rmli.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><em>The RMLI had already driven off one unit and are dealing with the second</em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Keith had a nice desert building but it wasn't quite big enough to hold his force so we spread the British units out a bit with the RMLI outside the compound. This had one negative effect (for the Beja, anyway) in that because the fortified area wasn't at the centre of the table any Beja attacking the RMLI who were driven back (3xD6 of running required) exited the table and were lost. We must make sure that next time the defended area is exactly in the centre giving the attackers a chance to regroup. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EGjX10cMDFD9bQO4WYRBfahSw8_qwNZEeg33dVUEMHRDJ6CqKeZs7I9ocDBFu5T7H3nxqKU-2NqkEe33zrYuMfw4dgcD3_Oa5kcxWyCgluwIphkhnb3GVQMpDMtcFy2q9llZ/s1600-h/osman.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381942726611610610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EGjX10cMDFD9bQO4WYRBfahSw8_qwNZEeg33dVUEMHRDJ6CqKeZs7I9ocDBFu5T7H3nxqKU-2NqkEe33zrYuMfw4dgcD3_Oa5kcxWyCgluwIphkhnb3GVQMpDMtcFy2q9llZ/s400/osman.jpg" /></a><em> Osman Digna sends in his first unit against the Naval Brigade Gatling gun</em></div><br /><div align="justify">Tactically, the Beja weren't brilliant in that they attacked in three groups. Given Keith only had four units we should have spread our six units out more. But the table was against one wall and Keith was sitting on the other side of the board (although he sportingly offered to move) so we naturally kept largely to one side of the board too. I could always argue that perhaps this reflects some terrain issues but next time we need to be more flexible in our deployment!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The Gatling Gun struck first but wasn't as destructive as we had feared (I suspect we were lucky-under the rules you can suffer up to 12 casualties). The Beja took a few casualties but carried on in their charge.</div></div></div></div><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKIZmQHv9sbOCka14AujjuygkVRjlrClT9-LfmhD0BZoYRoTOR0Y0ijN6DZMSaq6c1zJSBcYcU3V6rg04by3odbpBoOr9j9JDo_AshZ_iEKthVXgnpfj4ug7NUVMrEXrrm3c6/s1600-h/rub+attack.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381943775977533362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKIZmQHv9sbOCka14AujjuygkVRjlrClT9-LfmhD0BZoYRoTOR0Y0ijN6DZMSaq6c1zJSBcYcU3V6rg04by3odbpBoOr9j9JDo_AshZ_iEKthVXgnpfj4ug7NUVMrEXrrm3c6/s400/rub+attack.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a><em>It's nice to get some use for my wounded figures</em></p><p align="justify">One of Guy's units was very quickly seen off by the RMLI proving how difficult it is to attack formed Imperial infantry who get a plus one on every dice roll. The same unit them put paid to the force I sent in to assist. </p><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxbwz4n8C3A0wenlA-bp3i7aX6pRxnyhX_eZrCMncW0UEAIb-OyL9wFxnX_qiyCdXH30G2moV_KqfpLUz_XECMVhfsYT6GYkcGGcT7KFHZCYDGt-KsnNkDqImrfmu9LVk8oUM/s1600-h/rub+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381943587617599250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxbwz4n8C3A0wenlA-bp3i7aX6pRxnyhX_eZrCMncW0UEAIb-OyL9wFxnX_qiyCdXH30G2moV_KqfpLUz_XECMVhfsYT6GYkcGGcT7KFHZCYDGt-KsnNkDqImrfmu9LVk8oUM/s400/rub+3.jpg" /></a></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">My first unit got bogged down in rough terrain so it was my second that charged and took the Gatling Gun. We were not quite sure if we were handling the rules for attacking artillery correctly as we had 18 Beja against 4 Naval brigade so they didn't have a chance in hand to hand combat. But then, on every occasion we found that the rules worked reasonably realistically so maybe the lesson is don't use a gun without infantry to defend it.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1gO2AjbC9eCwIlYvGzt2p64NcCzsoFHz3aGOl_H-EJDrdrqtq6wZF6hgHSp6SRcJf-YVt6oNrBscmSktwYUmFGXz19lAn68furyibQLpLRX-cTOiAZBFtQeYJ5IEBKrLD_cs/s1600-h/rub+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381943401412263586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1gO2AjbC9eCwIlYvGzt2p64NcCzsoFHz3aGOl_H-EJDrdrqtq6wZF6hgHSp6SRcJf-YVt6oNrBscmSktwYUmFGXz19lAn68furyibQLpLRX-cTOiAZBFtQeYJ5IEBKrLD_cs/s400/rub+2.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a><em>A date with destiny (or at least a Gatling Gun)</em></p><p align="justify">One of Guy's units was driving the KRRC back and I was at the gates of the strongpoint when we had to stop (it was a school day and was well past Guy's bedtime!). If we had continued it could have gone either way. The RMLI had destroyed two of our units but we still had four on the table. The KRRC were on the run but the Camel Corps were safely ensconced in the building and were shooting away from the rooftops.</p><p align="justify">A few things we need to check:</p><p align="justify">1. The rules for charging artillery.</p><p align="justify">2. The role of extra-unit leaders (morale?)</p><p align="justify">3. Two units attacking one.</p><p align="justify">4. Throwing spears during a charge.</p><p align="justify">A few things I learnt: Beja swordsmen get an extra 1 added to their dice in melee which brings them up to the British level - Perry order going in! Spread warband units out as the shooting arcs are tighter than in WAB, for example. If playing as the British ensure there is infantry support to defend a gun.</p><p align="justify">Hopefully we can get another game in after I return from my next batch of travels. I will have finished my first unit of Beja -mounted cavalry by then too!</p>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-14410007466921992312009-09-07T20:21:00.007+01:002013-01-10T09:24:45.889+00:00Fourth Unit of Beja<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAkgvPsLATsa8c_SW9420B3qbGTrlhBy7CP9YztTDD1TD6Lklv-kUDmxXxKTxpdmPeH0i1AqORvKFK3uap0TubK0yV38v90UZaAT7HlK1oshyphenhyphenCAVnFaJ8FQx3sbTStMpF3Z-p/s1600-h/P1000890.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378810127694439698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAkgvPsLATsa8c_SW9420B3qbGTrlhBy7CP9YztTDD1TD6Lklv-kUDmxXxKTxpdmPeH0i1AqORvKFK3uap0TubK0yV38v90UZaAT7HlK1oshyphenhyphenCAVnFaJ8FQx3sbTStMpF3Z-p/s400/P1000890.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 195px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <em>Beja in Ambush</em><br />
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I'm now entering winter painting mode which means that I can't paint shading in the evening as it's all under artificial light. Currently, mornings are still OK but as I'm heading off for work at 7.00am there isn't a lot of time. So tonight I just did some work on the bases of the last five figures I need to complete my second <em>Rub</em> of sixty Beja for the game next Monday. They are well on the way and should be ready on time, I hope. That said I am off to see my friends in Bath on Thursday for a couple of days so will lose Thursday night, Friday and all day Saturday. Sunday is Colours in Newbury so I won't have that much time then either. It looks like my plans to finish some more camel mounted cavalry and start my field gun look doomed! Oh well, hopefully Keith, my opponent, will enjoy The Sword and the Flame and we can play regularly which will incentivise me to get more figures (including the dreaded Gordon Highlanders) done.</div>
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This unit is one I started ages ago and uses the evocative "Beja in Ambush" figures from the Perries. I gave one of the spearmen a flag from The Virtual Armchair General even though it rather gives away their position!</div>
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Anyway, this post gives me the chance to post a few of the nice period photographs of Beja sent to me by Louie Blades who must have wondered what happened to them as he sent them in April!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qB5GPQSsrNUi07gT3IlcXbbzhiefuizydK2ritCAfGwC9PS-ngAh0HIsMOBuryWdJ-dnW19DICpZ7aXlqH4i6XeO6mFE4Qw4Vt9SibPwvvoMgc2Vt1N212vcKKFZTHg58yip/s1600-h/Beja.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378816334099201250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qB5GPQSsrNUi07gT3IlcXbbzhiefuizydK2ritCAfGwC9PS-ngAh0HIsMOBuryWdJ-dnW19DICpZ7aXlqH4i6XeO6mFE4Qw4Vt9SibPwvvoMgc2Vt1N212vcKKFZTHg58yip/s400/Beja.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 289px;" /></a><em> Note the large blade on the spear</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3Kk6tJUDO2cR-jWy7r98qr_JperRy01viNAY0rfGyf2_rNFoe9OfOlMFfHnAViPWJwZcTsMhsC-D-8yKBkG3guRQCwMQyufujYkch-FP8NfjfsdrF4Xp_tuz4mAoJcQC94u0/s1600-h/2009_0419ab0001%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378816196819186338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3Kk6tJUDO2cR-jWy7r98qr_JperRy01viNAY0rfGyf2_rNFoe9OfOlMFfHnAViPWJwZcTsMhsC-D-8yKBkG3guRQCwMQyufujYkch-FP8NfjfsdrF4Xp_tuz4mAoJcQC94u0/s400/2009_0419ab0001%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBf4bJDTf3ERp5AcApApziPJsPU5rFhYHT2TYiQXjC1zI6cwkarNCNS8Jucppqqqjrnxd8LtM3gX8ko1dH5MNYs5Zu8hJZCjgMdizn3ihr6WAJAHeiHARusk7V8hc_kOl_dU9/s1600-h/2009_0418ab0002%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378816114544861922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBf4bJDTf3ERp5AcApApziPJsPU5rFhYHT2TYiQXjC1zI6cwkarNCNS8Jucppqqqjrnxd8LtM3gX8ko1dH5MNYs5Zu8hJZCjgMdizn3ihr6WAJAHeiHARusk7V8hc_kOl_dU9/s400/2009_0418ab0002%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 280px;" /></a><em> A particularly flared kaskara scabbard.</em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGP8yVb3rLbVGK1Wxmj8fRsFLFvhIGvS8d4H7GgNjGim42EexrI6tsssmmz3ZdgY766_9HN88Jx2PNVnHAAVnEdQ4nA2n65mcYSbousUZdz2K36NtXardSSsNTb2KqcbMoteT/s1600-h/2009_0418ab0001%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378815702971645874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGP8yVb3rLbVGK1Wxmj8fRsFLFvhIGvS8d4H7GgNjGim42EexrI6tsssmmz3ZdgY766_9HN88Jx2PNVnHAAVnEdQ4nA2n65mcYSbousUZdz2K36NtXardSSsNTb2KqcbMoteT/s400/2009_0418ab0001%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 262px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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<em>This lot look pretty tough. It makes you realise how well the Perries sculpted their faces.</em></div>
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legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-26259214017687595202009-08-06T09:49:00.002+01:002009-08-06T10:21:17.994+01:00Sudanese Kaskara Swords<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOme5_L8Tq-QKimqxRdFecaYrDtbWvXWMRFzCkCspiberF_xvXcRXA_rTuC0ycmZif24Nlv1b6hLYLjKCZE9VclJWR483rzNwgTHR4y9uwyyYOAXqqaQzL05S5zmpGtxQFDTfh/s1600-h/kaskara+1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 159px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366772771317230274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOme5_L8Tq-QKimqxRdFecaYrDtbWvXWMRFzCkCspiberF_xvXcRXA_rTuC0ycmZif24Nlv1b6hLYLjKCZE9VclJWR483rzNwgTHR4y9uwyyYOAXqqaQzL05S5zmpGtxQFDTfh/s400/kaskara+1.JPG" /></a> <em>My 19th Century Kaskara sword</em><br /><br /><div align="justify">I'm painting a big batch (over 40) Beja at the moment for our game next month. Many of these carry swords and the Mahdists often used to organise their swordsmen into units (more on this shortly).</div><br /><div align="justify">The characteristic sword of the Beja, as accurately modelled by the Perries, is known as the <em>kaskara.</em> Superficially it looks like a typical 11th century Northern European Dark Ages sword and for some years (particularly during Victorian times) writers thought that it really was modelled on the original Crusader swords or even that some of them were surviving swords passed down for 900 years. Today it is known that they first originated in the 15th or 16th Century so are very unlikely to have been modelled on a sword from 500 years earlier. They are much more likely to be based on medieval Arab swords and there may be some Turkish influence. </div><div align="justify"><br />It is true, however, that many of the blades were made in Europe: primarily Solingen, Germany; Toledo, Spain; and Belluno, Italy. They were then shipped to the ports of Tunis, Tripoli, Alexandria, and the Moroccan coast to be traded. Some blades were produced locally as were the scabbards and grips. </div><div align="justify"><br />The blades vary from about 24” to 36” in length with most coming in at the longer length. The edges are parallel (although sometimes there is a slight taper) leading to a spatulate tip. The blades can be flat or have a fuller running down part of it. The sides of the blade are relatively blunt as they were generally used for thrusting rather than slashing (although some of the Perry figures are shown in a slashing pose). </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73m0k-BIm40eFq69MieINJgNvKdXERwH-jjuFzkQGoNTxj6ePz2lIwUuFoIdpreOrv8hYa1CVTrcMzUAAJR40mE5OIvV-lIH6lLbHE82X34CLUscN00cPZFLnyxMrClzuS1u1/s1600-h/blade.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366773126748883938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73m0k-BIm40eFq69MieINJgNvKdXERwH-jjuFzkQGoNTxj6ePz2lIwUuFoIdpreOrv8hYa1CVTrcMzUAAJR40mE5OIvV-lIH6lLbHE82X34CLUscN00cPZFLnyxMrClzuS1u1/s400/blade.JPG" /></a><em> Abstract patterns on the blade</em><br /><div align="justify"><br />Some blades were etched with inscriptions from the Koran but others contain abstract talismanic patterns. Such inscriptions were meant to impart spiritual power to the weapon (like Warhammer Runes!) and inspire the warrior to fight valiantly for Allah. </div><div align="justify"><br />The swords have a simple crossguard and most have a languet, a short central extension towards the blade that fits over the scabbard when sheathed. Interestingly, whilst the Perry figures accurately show these on the sheathed swords they do not appear on the models with unsheathed blades. The cross-guards could be iron or brass. </div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-afBAGR5dM9GpdjAFeVNT8UrAjTZj-5EyVFDSRl6yylBE1sPvAE_UgpaQXouK-Hlfrh5_mKrXcM3j7PTtp4crcLjZH8LcFUB2aTkoF9FOf30blIi9f66r3p6ZLRk3YTMAUE-/s1600-h/hilt.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366775006828023042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-afBAGR5dM9GpdjAFeVNT8UrAjTZj-5EyVFDSRl6yylBE1sPvAE_UgpaQXouK-Hlfrh5_mKrXcM3j7PTtp4crcLjZH8LcFUB2aTkoF9FOf30blIi9f66r3p6ZLRk3YTMAUE-/s400/hilt.JPG" /></a><br />As the blades were comparatively light compared with European swords the pommel didn’t have to act as a counterweight and so Kaskara swords are a flat disk made of wood and, like the grip (usually of round cross-section), are covered in leather strips. More expensive versions would have silver or gold decoration. </div><div align="justify"><br />The scabbards are characteristically made of red-brown leather although sometimes more exotic skins like crocodile or monitor lizard were used. The leaf-shaped distal flaring is also typical. More high status examples would have a metal chape (scabbard tip). </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsMgVFgR20gbWbttvzOA4Geh7gKCFWwUY4VZ7p-yslTQQbbpnG1NLxTN5MOmKg5qS0R2U7GwsGFnvPFDwjosLU-VuQhvy4w7AjaLydNTxm4oETJRHILuzzzTKmEI1i3XqtU96/s1600-h/scabbard.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366775797286477778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsMgVFgR20gbWbttvzOA4Geh7gKCFWwUY4VZ7p-yslTQQbbpnG1NLxTN5MOmKg5qS0R2U7GwsGFnvPFDwjosLU-VuQhvy4w7AjaLydNTxm4oETJRHILuzzzTKmEI1i3XqtU96/s400/scabbard.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div align="justify">The swords were carried on a long leather strap that went over the shoulder and attached to the scabbard in two places. using metal rings.</div><div align="justify"><br />The Kaskara, a was a prized possession, and was carried whenever the owner was outside his home. Many Beja continue to carry them to this day. The Sudanese were relatively late to firearms compared with neighbouring African countries. This may either be because they didn’t have the technical expertise to maintain them or there was a theory that Sudanese warriors disdained firearms on moral grounds with guns for mercenaries and slave soldiers only. By the time of the Mahdist revolt however they were well armed with around of a third of troops armed with firearms.<br /></div></div></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-76795673278842867562009-07-02T09:16:00.003+01:002009-07-02T09:32:29.133+01:00Sudan Wargame in prospect!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN9twzdLXcTAl4pesyc84eEeVa6qDwFL8lFKeCocQBI8eJLgOrlYJ8g3gfTbwO5M_FfUO05Qo49GDNKccm7WD5dnKpx63kbDALN_rAIbaZN6Rsr1WQUIBbvWcgnVvST7Ts-Wv/s1600-h/SoudanGatlingsandGardners_a-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353777817279208914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN9twzdLXcTAl4pesyc84eEeVa6qDwFL8lFKeCocQBI8eJLgOrlYJ8g3gfTbwO5M_FfUO05Qo49GDNKccm7WD5dnKpx63kbDALN_rAIbaZN6Rsr1WQUIBbvWcgnVvST7Ts-Wv/s400/SoudanGatlingsandGardners_a-1.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I haven't painted any Sudan figures for months but I recently got an e-mail from Keith at Guidford Wargames Club (see his blog here: <a href="http://scallwargaming.blogspot.com/">http://scallwargaming.blogspot.com/</a>) offering a Sudan game. I still haven't got enough figures painted (around 85 Beja and 50 British) but he has 60 Ansar and some British too so it looks like we are all go for August 24th! This will give us both time to paint some more figures. I have already dug out some Beja I had based but not undercoated for working on this weekend and I will get going on some more Highlanders too. This gives me a real incentive to move the army along! I'll be spending a couple of weeks, at least, with my wife and children (work permitting: I am trying to organise visits to Canada and Argentina so they don't clash) at the family house in Cowes for some of the school summer holiday and usually get quite a few figures done down there when we're not sailing.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I suspect it will be a fantasy Sudan battle as Keith's British figures seem to be mainly Camel Corps and mine are from the earlier battles of El Teb and Tamai but it will be great to get them onto the table for the first time. I will start the John Wilcox novel <em>Siege of Khartoum</em> this weekend as well, to keep me in the mood! </div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-39853513314771537062009-01-27T09:29:00.004+00:002009-01-27T09:47:38.358+00:00General Gordon message from Khartoum for sale<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLdTf8gCbtPFAPLY8IowGwOxZSlVdCD28r7D2snGVmaZr8bmJss2uW0gRNV-LBehsVIMeCYMFL0zQZM-mAAhGcnLpQJaemKmMFee9jSUVxEd85sX49nu13RHMJ-URz5xkYvbu/s1600-h/L_HD290109_lot0085-0.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295904274782715266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLdTf8gCbtPFAPLY8IowGwOxZSlVdCD28r7D2snGVmaZr8bmJss2uW0gRNV-LBehsVIMeCYMFL0zQZM-mAAhGcnLpQJaemKmMFee9jSUVxEd85sX49nu13RHMJ-URz5xkYvbu/s400/L_HD290109_lot0085-0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Up for auction this week is a tiny note from General Gordon written whilst Khartoum was under siege.<br /><br />Dated June 22nd 1884 and written in Arabic it says "...Mudir of Dongola Khartoum and Senaar in perfect security and Mahamed Ahmed carries this to give you news and on his reaching you give him all the news as to the direction & position of the relieving force and their numbers and as for Khartoum there are in it 8 000 men and the Nile is rapidly rising on arrival of the bearer give him 100 reals mejide'h from the States C G Gordon."<br /><br />It was beleived that it was smuggled out of Khartoum, probably in the courier's hair.<br /><br />Guide price is £500-£700 and I am very tempted by this! The problem is that now it has been in the newspaper it will probably go for much more and I really need to get a new PC this month! Whoever buys it might also get press coverage and my wife would have a fit if she found out I had bought it when she is demanding new shoes!</div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-56342858543494625752008-10-27T22:07:00.004+00:002009-01-06T17:37:29.118+00:00Music to paint by<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRg9NFkPaj8-qz2vuppgzzsTdToJ0AW9LXkkE0RQanQHKB5ETuL6ev9fImNrc3wojp2ZzRyp13gz24-stej7IORfbN8b03v5tRV5O2SuHXegr4LCLcyawn8eqM_jp1cp5KxXs/s1600-h/Khartoum195.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261966437757429826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 399px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRg9NFkPaj8-qz2vuppgzzsTdToJ0AW9LXkkE0RQanQHKB5ETuL6ev9fImNrc3wojp2ZzRyp13gz24-stej7IORfbN8b03v5tRV5O2SuHXegr4LCLcyawn8eqM_jp1cp5KxXs/s400/Khartoum195.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I am totally unable to paint without music and usually, when painting Sudan British happily listen to the Complete Marches of Kenneth Alford (alright Alford, real name Fredrick Joseph Ricketts, wasn't born until 1882 but it sounds right) on my computer. Whilst painting Highlanders I also have some Scottish military music but, honestly, there is only so much bagpipe music I can bear. I was very pleased, therefore, to acquire this weekend a cd of the soundtrack for the film <em>Khartoum </em>(1966) with music by Frank Cordell (1918-1980). The score is a mix of cod Walton and Elgar and Islamic (well, "Egyptian") sounding music. John Williams, when writing about the music for the throne room scene of <em>Star Wars</em> (1977) said that he wanted an English feel like Elgar. Frankly, he must have been thinking of Cordell's overture to Khartoum; the similarities are, er, remarkable. As to the "Egyptian" sound, the whole exotic "Egyptian" scale, with its flattened supertonic was invented by Verdi for Aida (it's about as authentic as Sir Walter Scott's version of Scotland) but everyone since has used it from Maurice Jarre in <em>Lawrence of Arabia</em> to Jerry Goldsmith in <em>The Mummy.</em></div><br /><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify">Anyway it makes a change from all those wailing bagpipes (it does quote <em>Highland Laddie</em>)!</div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-33238725948427797242008-10-27T12:11:00.004+00:002008-10-27T12:29:16.848+00:00Painting Tartan<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTvJEPpXJenLeKVtkQqNu8idS6N_UEEkNaJQ9Vuwze1N99yLuQu-jSEVHftYHegNeyf367AyRESC63LgZsdw4zT9UbYyCOYdl4_iQaLESISo8ZytZenEUWdxfqXy485DwUeWB/s1600-h/gordon_highlanders.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261808806350641586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTvJEPpXJenLeKVtkQqNu8idS6N_UEEkNaJQ9Vuwze1N99yLuQu-jSEVHftYHegNeyf367AyRESC63LgZsdw4zT9UbYyCOYdl4_iQaLESISo8ZytZenEUWdxfqXy485DwUeWB/s400/gordon_highlanders.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> The uniform illustration by Michael Perry</em></div><em></em><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="justify">The site which really helped me on this was:</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/tx/ToySoldier/tartan.htm">http://www.angelfire.com/tx/ToySoldier/tartan.htm</a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="justify">I used quite dark colours: Humbrol 104 (Oxford blue -appropriately!) and 91 (black green). 104 is my generic dark blue for the likes of French Napoleonic infantry and ACW Union troops. 91 is the colur I use for Napoleonic British riflemen (I see the new Sharpe is on this Sunday). I used a slightly lighter green (Humbrol 30, Dark green) for the small squares and 81 (pale yellow) for the yellow lines. Normal Humbrol yellow (24 trainer yellow) was too bright.</div><p> </p><p align="justify">I drew on the squares with a soft pencil, having used the Perry Uniform guide to get the scale of the squares on the kilt, and then painted with a 000 Windsor & Newton Series 7 sable brush. It needed quite alot of touching up and the rear of the kilt, with the pleats, was a nightmare as I tried to estimate where the patterns would fall. </p><p align="justify"> </p><p align="justify">Never mind, I will do some more on the next batch tomorrow morning now we have light evenings for a while.</p>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-40422487232213776872008-10-27T07:41:00.007+00:002008-10-27T07:53:57.866+00:00First Gordon Highlanders painted<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlE9VpNywbm8eMw-q4mcoOnoXwEQI8nbgrYnta6n81YcA5OJTY0GP4_6axn02RFJbl6jzz4LnqN8YTb7j6X_CJROOVliikeE8tEJCmFgREeYaBGcLfMPiOioxhzqHXRW2CNh-/s1600-h/gordons+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261736281791001698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 207px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlE9VpNywbm8eMw-q4mcoOnoXwEQI8nbgrYnta6n81YcA5OJTY0GP4_6axn02RFJbl6jzz4LnqN8YTb7j6X_CJROOVliikeE8tEJCmFgREeYaBGcLfMPiOioxhzqHXRW2CNh-/s400/gordons+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Well, I have, at last finished four Gordon Highlanders (only 18 more to do). I don't think I have ever found figures so stressful to paint but now that I have done them I do feel more relaxed about the others and have even started on the next four (I don't think that I can face more than four at a time!). The tartan looks OK (from a distance) and now that I have a technique for doing it it's not such a worry. I need to work at the hose as I used colours without enough contrast so the diagonal check doesn't show at all in the pictures.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt56ibvzywjTSEaIPQ7OZBIOm8Vpo8vlU2P9H8f_oDocpcoTvD1T9znRF8kDgKPs7mZ_ZGM9ZUtZSQL-Yzo7W-MTq5dE-mh0ddGWrhlcI0MvgYyIM1cqZN4MeqkB3iNP7kAAUs/s1600-h/gordon+corp+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261735815301681522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt56ibvzywjTSEaIPQ7OZBIOm8Vpo8vlU2P9H8f_oDocpcoTvD1T9znRF8kDgKPs7mZ_ZGM9ZUtZSQL-Yzo7W-MTq5dE-mh0ddGWrhlcI0MvgYyIM1cqZN4MeqkB3iNP7kAAUs/s400/gordon+corp+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Here is the corporal; lots of character as you would expect from the Perry twins. </div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-30108168470654853652008-10-07T07:20:00.005+01:002008-10-07T07:30:50.779+01:00Sudan War Correspondents and general update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9Qc1ngeB-nbUMRnYFWaQTNIPt8Wi-Sfy9DZKU7GDTYag2QyaXpZuewHxtjt1L9pK9uXN2BHoGHABKlLv1RZ_ncccMX9D6DLSO6edCsY4xmn3koAc_0bjJRv81D74H-dF3-Sg/s1600-h/Sudan%2520Corre.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254295119220797138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9Qc1ngeB-nbUMRnYFWaQTNIPt8Wi-Sfy9DZKU7GDTYag2QyaXpZuewHxtjt1L9pK9uXN2BHoGHABKlLv1RZ_ncccMX9D6DLSO6edCsY4xmn3koAc_0bjJRv81D74H-dF3-Sg/s400/Sudan%2520Corre.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I was just looking at the <em>on the workbench</em> section of the Perry Miniatures site and noticed these Sudan War correspondents. An unusual choice to say the least but I will have to get them!</div>Apart from the horse holder I will be able to use them for the Zulu war as well.<br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I have been banging on for some time about the lack of British Mounted Infantry in the range. At 1/33 I would only need 4 figures to represent the 120 or so troops so maybe that's why they haven't bothered. What I have done, though, is bought a pack each of Camel Regiment and some cavalry figures and have put the camel riders on the horses. It looks pretty good and so I will paint them up when I get back from the Gulf.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">The real shock is that I have started painting four Gordon Highlanders and I have actually finished the first kilt and it looks OK! In fact I am well on the way with them and hope to finish them if not this coming weekend (I don't return from Dubai until Sunday pm) then next weekend. I am so pleased and relieved I have even based up and undercoated the next four figures! They do take ages, each kilt needs six stages of painting, so I can only face four at a time!</div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-61159560423453019782008-09-05T15:42:00.006+01:002008-09-05T16:34:04.506+01:00New novel about the Sudan War coming out<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF4vBlgPwhLGrFtmobMu6w_9v__ogdsksdRVPiLI4HRvtpiBv2GPO9I_RQ-irfdiHZvxWRzikBRH6ROCIn42uzWwX3-o33AjJZxJU-SAbW6i7kGfnqt-wR70WHzWfwe0Wx_wh/s1600-h/51VeRVds4EL__SS500_.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242558750428261794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF4vBlgPwhLGrFtmobMu6w_9v__ogdsksdRVPiLI4HRvtpiBv2GPO9I_RQ-irfdiHZvxWRzikBRH6ROCIn42uzWwX3-o33AjJZxJU-SAbW6i7kGfnqt-wR70WHzWfwe0Wx_wh/s400/51VeRVds4EL__SS500_.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> I don't like the new cover style. I preferred the older ones which featured Victorian paintings!</em></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I enjoy John Wilcox' novels about the colonial period even if they are far from great literature (or even great historical novels) but they have certainly improved a lot since his first (really not bad anyway) novel <em>The Horns of the Buffalo</em> set in the Zulu war of 1879. The second (and much better) novel <em>The Road to Kandahar</em> took our hero, Simon Fonthill, to the North West Frontier. In the third book, <em>The Diamond Frontier</em>, he was participating in the bePedi war and then moved straight to the First Boer War for amother of the better books, <em>Last Stand at Majuba Hill</em>. During my holiday last month I read his most recent, <em>The Guns of El Kebir</em> which deals with the British invasion of Egypt in 1882, very much a precursor to the Sudan conflict and involving many of the same leaders (Wolseley and Graham) and units. <p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Now I notice that his next novel, due in January, will feature the Sudan War. Entitled <em>The Siege of Khartoum</em> it will take "Simon Fonthill, one time subaltern and ex-Captain in the North West Frontier's Royal Corps of Guides, together with 352 Jenkins, ex-batman and servantto Khartoum. They're on an urgent mission from Sir Garnet Wolseley to reach General Gordon, England's hero, who is being besieged by followers of Mahdi, the infamous religious leader who has declared a jihad against Egyptian authority in the Sudan. Their journey on camel-back through the Sudanese desert is treacherous. When they finally reach the General, an unexpected attack makes them realise that they have little time to make contact with Wolseley, who can dispatch troops to rescue General Gordon. As they leave in darkness to cross the Nile, they're set upon by a brutal Dervish patrol. Can Simon and Jenkins survive a Dervish interrogation and make it back to the General before Khartoum falls from British hands?"</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><p></p>I can't wait! There are very few novels about the first Sudan War (in fact I can only think of Wilbur Smith's <em>The Triumph of the Sun</em>) so this will be a very welcome addition. All of Wilcox's books are full of wargaming possibilities, whether big battles or skirmishes. It will be interesting to see if he covers any of the big battles, such as El Teb or Tamai as well (ideally another book covering the period up to Ginnis would be welcome!)</div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-9730189090585638042008-08-04T15:21:00.018+01:002009-01-06T17:44:06.003+00:00Major General Sir Gerald Graham VC<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt_rWzPq0nP7Lc_N4zmGx5kSW8IL618TIrofZP4lnu4OQ9SqMiH8qDaWKkqNYRbXNciaaoEoJghdQYrdieuiulNBJKWk3ecWfrNiwDtKAywXDYNGvxjSd7buidBf94G1zi8h6/s1600-h/graham+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240766528140650306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt_rWzPq0nP7Lc_N4zmGx5kSW8IL618TIrofZP4lnu4OQ9SqMiH8qDaWKkqNYRbXNciaaoEoJghdQYrdieuiulNBJKWk3ecWfrNiwDtKAywXDYNGvxjSd7buidBf94G1zi8h6/s400/graham+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">This is the commanding officer of my Sudan Expeditionary Force, Major General Sir Gerald Graham VC.<br /><br />Graham was the only son of a Northumbrian doctor and was born on June 27 1831 in Acton, Middlesex. He was educated in Wimbledon and Dresden (he spoke and wrote fluent German and even translated some German technical texts relating to the Franco Prussian War).<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XYlFATYpZujRw8hKBZfJuQvdPYpiTOj52FiTbaQHSZyG0Fj8bS5AWkzOwBQtmVTccKtjpe0-kbNZSrXUnQ7cyFf81gAl8TZikHsgx_uwMNcGag9uRazVx7ldV8Dr0NbT5Lbf/s1600-h/544px-Gerald2_JPG.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240767252200226034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XYlFATYpZujRw8hKBZfJuQvdPYpiTOj52FiTbaQHSZyG0Fj8bS5AWkzOwBQtmVTccKtjpe0-kbNZSrXUnQ7cyFf81gAl8TZikHsgx_uwMNcGag9uRazVx7ldV8Dr0NbT5Lbf/s400/544px-Gerald2_JPG.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p></p><br />Graham was a huge man, six foot six inches tall and broad shouldered and the ultimate fighting Victorian soldier. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n_kIg2gmEDN7LnHFpPnOx2frGw22dXdeW8cXOQGmr-IVsq2PNUugYAdkMFAi9VbMPRZ4tvmjUrKP8fegNUjCM3tCz5RWhtWWjaYQIiPLKKB3wNQ5yrRWxUlqR6wHAwDQ4EKZ/s1600-h/vb-woolwich_s.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233306264249390706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n_kIg2gmEDN7LnHFpPnOx2frGw22dXdeW8cXOQGmr-IVsq2PNUugYAdkMFAi9VbMPRZ4tvmjUrKP8fegNUjCM3tCz5RWhtWWjaYQIiPLKKB3wNQ5yrRWxUlqR6wHAwDQ4EKZ/s400/vb-woolwich_s.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>The RMA at Woolwich in the mid-nineteenth century<br /></em><div align="justify"><br /><p align="justify">He attended the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich from 1847 and then went on to the School of Military Engineering at Chatham. The Royal Military Academy at Woolwich trained officers for the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers from 1741 until 1939. In 1947 it was amalgamated with Sandhurst (which had trained infantry and cavalry officers). </p><p align="justify"></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65T1_kvJ0A4rYYaS0chqugaWkT7UlTR7U1LHyVx25gMJEQhBppQtdiu4EkOBWXpVBUpVoevF8FaPogIrW5hNeHE994vznQ7nm1gSUjqWxosUS0cvEBwlM6qngc8w9aH1rrmnQ/s1600-h/woolwich_pic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233305958718442274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65T1_kvJ0A4rYYaS0chqugaWkT7UlTR7U1LHyVx25gMJEQhBppQtdiu4EkOBWXpVBUpVoevF8FaPogIrW5hNeHE994vznQ7nm1gSUjqWxosUS0cvEBwlM6qngc8w9aH1rrmnQ/s400/woolwich_pic.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>The buildings at Woolwich today. It is currently being turned into luxury apartments. </em></p><p align="center"><em></em></p></div><div align="justify">Graham was commisioned as a Lieutenant into the Royal Engineers in 1850 and found himself in action in the Crimea; taking part in the battles of Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol. It was at Sebastopol that he won his Victoria Cross, leading a ladder party during the assault on the Redan on June 18th 1855.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLolOOerP-k9xMOxmWT4jblTzU1u8bWrmx5jWMw7LgVdKS_6vkN6PoekdbWS6J2r_iHGD0Yg8fKFsmubnoC3iQtXT1rfEEe3j7JQHrqisBN99UDFKKSTpAumtdRmijc49-lor9/s1600-h/VCGeraldGraham.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240767695702611586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLolOOerP-k9xMOxmWT4jblTzU1u8bWrmx5jWMw7LgVdKS_6vkN6PoekdbWS6J2r_iHGD0Yg8fKFsmubnoC3iQtXT1rfEEe3j7JQHrqisBN99UDFKKSTpAumtdRmijc49-lor9/s400/VCGeraldGraham.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Graham as a new VC holder</em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="justify">A very brave man (Wolsey called him "the bravest man I have ever met") he was also made a Knight of the French Legion d’Honneur, received the Crimea medal with three clasps, the Turkish Crimea medal and the 5th Class of the Order of the Medjidie. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDvIaWV6TZCX_yRAmwf9BlWJAqiVSiRDlAcMVLeSASVPh2x72qcnuQ0i-8gVIOb7GTntXdSmiejf85a4FTjMkd3sGXv3OBBSCA0t9iWhPH7h5gCR0nYoKfXVNK7kPMX5CestS/s1600-h/taku143.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240766930052939682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDvIaWV6TZCX_yRAmwf9BlWJAqiVSiRDlAcMVLeSASVPh2x72qcnuQ0i-8gVIOb7GTntXdSmiejf85a4FTjMkd3sGXv3OBBSCA0t9iWhPH7h5gCR0nYoKfXVNK7kPMX5CestS/s400/taku143.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em>The Taku forts. Graham was hit by a ball from a jingal fired from the ramparts.</em><br /></p><p align="justify"><br />In the Second (or third, depending on how you classify it) China War he was seriously wounded in 1860 during the taking of the Taku forts but recovered to enter Peking with the victorious British Army. As a result of his services in this campaign he was made a Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel and a Commander of the Bath and received the China medal with two clasps.<br /><br />He returned to England in 1861 and for the next 16 years he was Commanding Engineer successively at Brighton, Aldershot, Montreal, Chatham, Manchester, and York. In 1877 he was appointed Assistant Director of Works for Barracks at the War Office. </p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOLW6szQw3uwVM93HhwV9Y07sd1J2Mz7FcUya_OCB80gX-a-LpmU8VaYCc2lCVir35xFU4YdGfrA2HlO0NRyoZa5NqDHBEuWUFaCcLntIAIYbpRjtwY-j1KVL4Iw9kHKXIc1F/s1600-h/Lt_Gen_Sir_Gerald_Graham_VC-361x600.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240767607125720914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOLW6szQw3uwVM93HhwV9Y07sd1J2Mz7FcUya_OCB80gX-a-LpmU8VaYCc2lCVir35xFU4YdGfrA2HlO0NRyoZa5NqDHBEuWUFaCcLntIAIYbpRjtwY-j1KVL4Iw9kHKXIc1F/s400/Lt_Gen_Sir_Gerald_Graham_VC-361x600.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="justify">In 1882 he was, to all intents and purposes, unemployed when the call came to accompany his old friend Sir Garnet Wolseley to Egypt as a Brigadier General commanding the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division thoughout the campaign. He was present at El Magfar, Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir where he was in the thick of the action as usual. He was made a K.C.B. and received the thanks of both houses of Parliament, the Egypt medal with clasp, the 2nd Class Order of the Medjidie and the Khedive’s Star.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikbtj44OlkOmHE_3zXPrIrMmdnUzWlCyu0hMWBRHOVltxpy6-rvm8X8cxd3kJ8JbmSuFL4HpVD3BIc-JKvMnPRiiE_MC-yKTuoBqqWa6x1s9APRR2nmqKLfN12dtAAZrQoSue/s1600-h/graham144.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240767504982454578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikbtj44OlkOmHE_3zXPrIrMmdnUzWlCyu0hMWBRHOVltxpy6-rvm8X8cxd3kJ8JbmSuFL4HpVD3BIc-JKvMnPRiiE_MC-yKTuoBqqWa6x1s9APRR2nmqKLfN12dtAAZrQoSue/s400/graham144.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Graham and his staff at Suakin.</em><br /></div><div align="justify"><br />Following the Sudan campaign he was again officially thanked by both Houses of Parliament, promoted to Lieutenant-General for services in the field, granted the 1st Class Order of the Medjidie and awarded two clasps to the Egypt medal. He commanded the Suakin Field Force in 1885 for which he was thanked by both houses of Parliament for the third time, made a G.C.B. and received another clasp to the Egypt medal.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />General Graham was placed on the retired list in 1890. He was made a G.C.M.G. in 1896 and awarded the ceremonial post of Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1899. Lieutenant-General Sir Gerald Graham, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., died of pneumonia at Bideford on the 17th of December, 1899, and is buried at East-the-Water Cemetery, Bideford, Devon. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zVuofm3UA1xuYTPgiJCKIFwIvpw-pqaiJ1ffgFGOLF6K_spTDZr5bXVq1LQp_wJU8LdxBgCbsWAVknRCcoZk0eiBtvCDlXNDojBu7hqfxts8wTs65sIl4oEz_5xzoR-oCy-j/s1600-h/8111285_118314392707graham+grave.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240767396291122210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zVuofm3UA1xuYTPgiJCKIFwIvpw-pqaiJ1ffgFGOLF6K_spTDZr5bXVq1LQp_wJU8LdxBgCbsWAVknRCcoZk0eiBtvCDlXNDojBu7hqfxts8wTs65sIl4oEz_5xzoR-oCy-j/s400/8111285_118314392707graham+grave.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Graham's grave in Bideford</em></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />His Victoria Cross is currently owned by his Great, Great, Great Grandson, Oliver Brooks, and is on display at the Royal Engineers Museum at Gillingham, England. </div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-90301408824446586762008-07-29T12:08:00.010+01:002008-08-06T10:42:49.315+01:00Sudanese Throwing Sticks<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRVbL4St8FBLxb-9ydVaQekWakO3674p8ZABQceQNbTITVyLbMi20ZxB5dM6C9PXjXpCC8QxuOUIm0KwNwdZbxwfdysUcPw7Sg06y4dFKZ5dj97AZbm-bMToZE_GswfBmAfMq/s1600-h/throwing+sticks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228561350720604690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRVbL4St8FBLxb-9ydVaQekWakO3674p8ZABQceQNbTITVyLbMi20ZxB5dM6C9PXjXpCC8QxuOUIm0KwNwdZbxwfdysUcPw7Sg06y4dFKZ5dj97AZbm-bMToZE_GswfBmAfMq/s400/throwing+sticks.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Some of the Perry Beja figures are shown with throwing sticks. These don't look that threatening but a throwing stick is one of the oldest weapons known to man. The oldest known throwing stick was dug up in Poland and was 20,000 years old. </div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANpHvW0in-9h39Gpd4fAvwBuT_8i85rlimBFjGTz6RYAsJj6j-ElCr1JpOMlI1wS22MdMAYvOuuHi_iMSQxSiILVB1A8hFnuI7iNvWbmatKYU9yvDhoOYUUCH1rjR9q6vgyHA/s1600-h/Egyptian+throwing+stick.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228413355327962802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANpHvW0in-9h39Gpd4fAvwBuT_8i85rlimBFjGTz6RYAsJj6j-ElCr1JpOMlI1wS22MdMAYvOuuHi_iMSQxSiILVB1A8hFnuI7iNvWbmatKYU9yvDhoOYUUCH1rjR9q6vgyHA/s400/Egyptian+throwing+stick.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>Duck!</em></p><br /><p align="justify">Developed for hunting, (Egyptian nobles have been depicted hunting birds with throwing sticks) they evolved into a weapon and then dropped out of use in most cultures to be replaced by other missile weapons such as spears, slingshots and arrows. However they persisted in the Sudan where they were first seen in neolithic times (6,000 BC) and were used by the local steppe hunters. </p><p align="justify"> </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytnHq2V9DAPtSMrfK6rgnadZ4oG3CoUpQQt4p98BIzNCZjVs_vgdqDOLL0HEMYsTYK_j1DnmvVztCeKBOdgQ2MjOnT-ApXG6f81SEJJ03TB53UxVrZDgccNz2cwelaf3NH42s/s1600-h/dinka+club.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228413756935446002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytnHq2V9DAPtSMrfK6rgnadZ4oG3CoUpQQt4p98BIzNCZjVs_vgdqDOLL0HEMYsTYK_j1DnmvVztCeKBOdgQ2MjOnT-ApXG6f81SEJJ03TB53UxVrZDgccNz2cwelaf3NH42s/s400/dinka+club.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Sudanese throwing stick with leather grip (1850)</em></p><p align="justify"><br />The Sudanese throwing stick, the<em> Trombash</em> (<em>Bang</em> in the South), had a curved end and was used to bring down camels and horses. Made of hard wood it would turn end over end in flight.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHTsTL0KLNewS1nIURAawVStuDSJoduIMY8u8W3YZwOJrgqObUH3Df3d67lTjDwEpfHfIEgwv7SwW5cDa3e6dFar-S88iGrWoDQLM5EN9WYnLxVE67YLMKLGCueB0eGGf8KsO/s1600-h/beja+throwing+stick.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228414782580254050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHTsTL0KLNewS1nIURAawVStuDSJoduIMY8u8W3YZwOJrgqObUH3Df3d67lTjDwEpfHfIEgwv7SwW5cDa3e6dFar-S88iGrWoDQLM5EN9WYnLxVE67YLMKLGCueB0eGGf8KsO/s400/beja+throwing+stick.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a><em>Beja throwing stick (3rd quarter nineteenth century)</em></p><br /><p align="justify">Infantrymen from the New South Wales contingent to the Sudan describe a "throwing stick shaped something like a boomerang", the boomerang being, of course the most sophisticated throwing stick. The Australians refer to a non-returning hunting boomerang as a <em>Kylie</em>. </p><br /><p align="justify"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228413548584474258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiycwRuNpmuNMHT4M0deQV4PKiDtrInnUp4IcLWfHckYDy-TWa0m3oUN0kHEILyAYddFQ6MInjnZer7FHt8FLulXxmaijL3IPjDf9esv2n4N43msGCKDjjQBuQx6jvKOLwL6TO/s400/kylie-minogue.jpg" border="0" /> <em>A Kylie. It's Australian, you chuck it but it doesn't come back. As Olivier Martinez has discovered!</em><br /><br /><br /><p align="justify">In some parts of the Sudan the sticks, which were carved from branches or, sometimes, tree roots, were used as a defensive weapon to hook spears or swords away from the body.<br /><br />Throwing sticks can have a range of 100-150 yards so are quite effective, although not as accurate or deadly as a slingshot, but are better against small multiple targets like birds or animal legs. </p></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-51679664870609256522008-04-28T09:18:00.005+01:002008-05-14T14:55:54.581+01:00Back painting Sudan again..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEa_a4YR2qFn5vHh9qpHvFu84545ZARsmO8fABmWnL32QcyX1O_LxGG1NI_GL2yu7361D7BMR0AGzyyxa3aBHzbhtDzsZzLHzBwfEIAfqmTUA6yX54Q0ao4lxtnqDKrli_zL4/s1600-h/Beja.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194212942751826722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEa_a4YR2qFn5vHh9qpHvFu84545ZARsmO8fABmWnL32QcyX1O_LxGG1NI_GL2yu7361D7BMR0AGzyyxa3aBHzbhtDzsZzLHzBwfEIAfqmTUA6yX54Q0ao4lxtnqDKrli_zL4/s400/Beja.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I have been painting all sorts of other stuff lately, especially a lot of Darkest Africa stuff, but my recent visit to Egypt has got me preparing some more Sudan figures again.</div></p><div align="justify">I currently have about 10 more Beja undercoated and ready to go and hope to get them done in the next two weeks. I have actually put the first paint on my initial four Highlanders and I have based another three Beja on camels.</div></p><div align="justify">I put in another order to the Perry brothers today (and resisted buying any plastic ACW!). I've ordered some more Beja on camels, which I want to convert to standard bearers. The ones with rifles look to be in the right sort of pose. I've also ordered another three packs of ordinary Beja to enable me to finish my next two units. </div></p><div align="justify">For the British, I have ordered the high command pack, as I think it is about time my army had a commander, and the screw gun set, to be the Scottish Royal Artillery contingent.</div><div align="justify">I'm quite enthused about getting on with them again!</div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-58486583711677420112008-04-06T23:10:00.004+01:002009-01-20T12:24:35.867+00:00First Egyptian Regiment<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRH__0y9zdvjbQlora4XmN6alDH2oRCBwgYn9L6-QiQ7hN1e1DgeOdA-pZM553tR8lNWEpVc419AvUFRVhTddXb8TKFqcQbZMI3Eu-8pEpV6DWbfoLJD30LGNjzVn260dNcTSZ/s1600-h/Egyptian+regt+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186262179597485458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRH__0y9zdvjbQlora4XmN6alDH2oRCBwgYn9L6-QiQ7hN1e1DgeOdA-pZM553tR8lNWEpVc419AvUFRVhTddXb8TKFqcQbZMI3Eu-8pEpV6DWbfoLJD30LGNjzVn260dNcTSZ/s400/Egyptian+regt+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I have finished the Egyptians I bought on eBay the other month. They are going to represent the Cairo Gendarme Battalion which formed part of Sir Valentine Baker's 1st Brigade at first El Teb on February 4th 1884. No doubt they will be used as other Egyptian units as I need them too!</div><br />At this time Egyptian forces (the Gendarmes dressed in the same uniforms as the regulars) still wore white with the officers wearing blue. By 1885 the Egyptians were wearing khaki and puttees rather than gaiters.<br /><br />The Turkish (which was the flag of Egypt at the time) flag is a slightly tarted up version of one of The Virtual Armchair General's from the Mahdist Wars Flags Collection.<br /><br />I need to paint about another thirty of these to finish the Ist Brigade. They are pretty quick to do, though. </div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-50577324393459274482008-03-20T16:02:00.006+00:002016-01-07T09:38:13.616+00:00The British Ambassador's Residence in Cairo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMEjEL54cKwU_BW2aTbEG1p-E7vdn-_e_KKN7O-t26unjUcE9M5oZm0IzUKVuOsAyrROHGVwxwdGu3lb_WycHeUEFYVxdo6awunrX3DzEOG0O3xr_liAof3bxHE1w98N6uoDQ/s1600-h/lord+cromer%27s+office.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186256634794706306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMEjEL54cKwU_BW2aTbEG1p-E7vdn-_e_KKN7O-t26unjUcE9M5oZm0IzUKVuOsAyrROHGVwxwdGu3lb_WycHeUEFYVxdo6awunrX3DzEOG0O3xr_liAof3bxHE1w98N6uoDQ/s640/lord+cromer's+office.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><em> Lord Cromer's Room</em><br />
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I spent a few days in Cairo the other week running a meeting with the Egyptian Government in the British Ambassador's Residence. This desk was used by Lord Kitchener and is now the Ambassador's. I hope the Ambassador didn't mind me sitting in it for a few minutes! It certainly made me want to send expeditions up the Nile to give the Fuzzy-Wuzzies a good thrashing!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0AVs1qOd2W1BmH0WeWgE2btw25XXi7IDcAzK9WY85ITU69VmDOY_gxyS4H6KnRRKGcHBEEGIqt7I33XpEIaQ4a9LVT4dCUoai-XioOWJGfMsqh1DDKm3q1zLJNTw4sm1RKz0/s1600-h/kitchener's+room.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186256325557060962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0AVs1qOd2W1BmH0WeWgE2btw25XXi7IDcAzK9WY85ITU69VmDOY_gxyS4H6KnRRKGcHBEEGIqt7I33XpEIaQ4a9LVT4dCUoai-XioOWJGfMsqh1DDKm3q1zLJNTw4sm1RKz0/s640/kitchener's+room.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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This room was where Kitchener planned the reconquest of the Sudan. I had a jolly good breakfast there!</div>
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The Residence was completed in 1894 during the time when the first Earl of Cromer was Consul General in Egypt. Lord Cromer had arrived in Cairo as Sir Evelyn Baring in 1883 to become HM Agent, Minister Plenipotentiary and Consul General. He moved into the Consulate, a large rambling house in poor condition, on the Rue Maghrabi. By 1885 Baring was looking for a plot of land on which to build more functional offices and accommodation. He first considered surplus land adjacent to The English Church, which was bordered by busy roads. But there was a considerably more attractive plot adjacent to the Nile in what became known as Garden City.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFonHHgNFxyo0mPXAGW5hYSr9bsFjyneGlBgu524oeNj_myUL7EU5Y1W5NPia09I9642VE4LLsUl6P-aVAkmQv_DG3BsQtUwNbI-N9O8QPrm6Wy1ynAG3We384plAq8Z60C2F/s1600-h/ambassadors+residence+cairo.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186256462996014450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFonHHgNFxyo0mPXAGW5hYSr9bsFjyneGlBgu524oeNj_myUL7EU5Y1W5NPia09I9642VE4LLsUl6P-aVAkmQv_DG3BsQtUwNbI-N9O8QPrm6Wy1ynAG3We384plAq8Z60C2F/s640/ambassadors+residence+cairo.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><em> The lobby of the Residence.</em></div>
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The original plot of land covered the area which is now the Residence and garden and used to run down to the Nile until the construction of the Corniche which cut off the house from the river. The plot was purchased in 1890 for a total sum of £2,580 and work began on the Residence, which housed both the offices and living accommodation. Work was completed in 1894. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3LSuIHLkvvL4SoEPpM-eTyCCarAQhwvGYF_bmxUy2hDU31ryGRD56oO4m0YCrUw-ZbHHxSGM1tVqCAoDJ3wG9yX6mRkZ-vQ9X_nDCFkc4W8CY7Woa_ukiqHl40VZYvW-eFSk/s1600-h/brit5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="468" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186846703171634658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3LSuIHLkvvL4SoEPpM-eTyCCarAQhwvGYF_bmxUy2hDU31ryGRD56oO4m0YCrUw-ZbHHxSGM1tVqCAoDJ3wG9yX6mRkZ-vQ9X_nDCFkc4W8CY7Woa_ukiqHl40VZYvW-eFSk/s640/brit5.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></div>
legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-19242770824116725632008-02-23T21:43:00.004+00:002014-03-07T17:15:02.076+00:00Royal Naval Brigade Completed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGQFLUPMEjuhKOGABhWzV1fhnhvONtqeVucyJ1pdQ5OvS0GYDd6mrdNJAe1wDNg3oOEorobQx5rheRgfVDaBSlvmFeu-sen4nCVcf1FYXCuQVFkGq1iwJmjGB-s_ZjRK0pTjJ/s1600-h/Complete+Naval+Brigade.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGQFLUPMEjuhKOGABhWzV1fhnhvONtqeVucyJ1pdQ5OvS0GYDd6mrdNJAe1wDNg3oOEorobQx5rheRgfVDaBSlvmFeu-sen4nCVcf1FYXCuQVFkGq1iwJmjGB-s_ZjRK0pTjJ/s400/Complete+Naval+Brigade.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170307933679843874" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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In finishing the Gardner Gun today I have finished the Naval Brigade. At the ratio of 1/33 I am using I should really only have 5 figures to represent the Brigade but with two guns with crews of four I am obviously going to be well over this. I have decided that as a wargaming unit I will add four sailors as well. So here is the complete Brigade ready for action.</div>
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The Bluejackets of the Naval Brigade were the first British Troops to land at Suakin in February 1884. At El Teb the 125 men, three Gatling Guns and three Gardner Guns were attached to the 1st Brigade and formed the front two corners of the square. When the Beja first charged it was three of the machine guns, that had been run out in front of the square, that fired first. Later Admiral Hewett led a charge of the sailors with fixed bayonets.<br />
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At Tamai the force was slightly larger at 163 men. They were in the 2nd Brigade in the left hand top corner of the square. When the Black Watch charged they left the Gatling and Gardner guns stranded outside the square. When the Beja charged some of the guns had to be abandoned and the Beja subsequently threw one of them down a ravine, although the sailors managed to pull it out later. Ten of the naval crew were killed and seven wounded but not before they had disabled the guns. It was whilst defending one of these guns that Private Tom Edwards of the Black Watch won the Victoria Cross.<br />
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Later about half of the Naval Brigade served with the desert column. But that is another story and another army!<br />
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Right, there is no excuse now, I have to start some Highlanders!</div>
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legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-73456421904119201772008-02-23T20:32:00.011+00:002008-02-23T21:43:02.033+00:00Royal Naval Brigade: Gardner Gun<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5HiBgmd_eI6TFOXS7au4xhM_QnPFq6G-MXjho2xR3sp-0kQRXn6ducVp9z_weLG52sqfpnMfuw7DZZFsvWKWtF2yK2GfaP94ZJnxfgH-PeYMxtVi0xY1tjAr6gGOrkQssrCo/s1600-h/Gardener+Gun.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170276670612896178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5HiBgmd_eI6TFOXS7au4xhM_QnPFq6G-MXjho2xR3sp-0kQRXn6ducVp9z_weLG52sqfpnMfuw7DZZFsvWKWtF2yK2GfaP94ZJnxfgH-PeYMxtVi0xY1tjAr6gGOrkQssrCo/s400/Gardener+Gun.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The success of the Gatling Gun soon encouraged others into the market The Gardner Gun was invented in 1874 by a former Civil War Captain in the Union army William Gardner of Ohio. </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE6gqwBxQlVrFxJiJyUIUCXBWwr6L73ZlebJ59PLjobm5kW6xqx1ThQAVQpAkzzGBd1OMfJGxgTQ3wJTyIXhlqDG6e2GyL1B1n1PUBM1nka4HmnhuAEnmwhTXEyUzYVnWG4MP/s1600-h/Chinn03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170290719450921426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE6gqwBxQlVrFxJiJyUIUCXBWwr6L73ZlebJ59PLjobm5kW6xqx1ThQAVQpAkzzGBd1OMfJGxgTQ3wJTyIXhlqDG6e2GyL1B1n1PUBM1nka4HmnhuAEnmwhTXEyUzYVnWG4MP/s400/Chinn03.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Origninally it had only two barrels and a crank loaded and fired each barrel in turn.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECR0pKaAkMRvaGhpjQfHpwj4FaAFVGfK8MJt4GXd9UQ1p1QsbwDTFRwIUMupBipiUDWbcdOWSU2dA7mk5wmWIP0kS-VNcPAOjANNhRjyC4k2p5j1nq8QmGk3N0ZGZ108MrdjU/s1600-h/francis_pratt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170292639301302802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECR0pKaAkMRvaGhpjQfHpwj4FaAFVGfK8MJt4GXd9UQ1p1QsbwDTFRwIUMupBipiUDWbcdOWSU2dA7mk5wmWIP0kS-VNcPAOjANNhRjyC4k2p5j1nq8QmGk3N0ZGZ108MrdjU/s400/francis_pratt.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> Francis Pratt</em></div><em></em><br /><div align="justify"><br />He needed finance to produce it, however, so went to the newly formed Pratt and Whitney Company. Francis Pratt had worked for Colt and had a reputation for being one of the top gun designers working. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4XBx-gVsoyRwCKAjEOdtjVhPSH8uTcGB7T5W3T2Kmnz9RFZczUEBqn-cqu9pPAuPiU4H_rY3wZje8h9hlOE2SPRDbN94m0ULwPj4RBrIBMYNrkbW_Ipw7HO_sTuiTiZShP65/s1600-h/Chinn02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170290582011967938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4XBx-gVsoyRwCKAjEOdtjVhPSH8uTcGB7T5W3T2Kmnz9RFZczUEBqn-cqu9pPAuPiU4H_rY3wZje8h9hlOE2SPRDbN94m0ULwPj4RBrIBMYNrkbW_Ipw7HO_sTuiTiZShP65/s400/Chinn02.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em>Mechanism of the original two-barrelled version.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">It was developed in conjunction with Pratt and Whitney but despite successful trials from 1875 until 1879 the US Army declined to buy the gun, as they felt it was not an appropriate weapon for their only military activity at the time, against the plains Indians. </div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_r3cUpOL-VhquhbXdvKd8H7wCvbWXj62uVrwgdYrd28bIILnlaFL9SnlLE2QsBhpKljbvfJY_pD5lewLbzOjihWW70gk4Em_OSBhf_WR4ntu6HLqtFFNgKfiN8PdlFJKZnoN7/s1600-h/gardgunmechpy6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170290826825103842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_r3cUpOL-VhquhbXdvKd8H7wCvbWXj62uVrwgdYrd28bIILnlaFL9SnlLE2QsBhpKljbvfJY_pD5lewLbzOjihWW70gk4Em_OSBhf_WR4ntu6HLqtFFNgKfiN8PdlFJKZnoN7/s400/gardgunmechpy6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em>Inside the crank case for the five-barrelled version.</em><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="justify">The Royal Navy, having already bought the Gatling Gun, were more interested, however and Gardner was invited to England to demonstrate the gun, which by now had a five barrel version as well. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCCzVHNRrLqiYyGkX4xk4WA-Lk1En4O8uoIhM50C6NdOLKt5OO3eo79v_9dt0pLhbSrhV5a465Ka4IN3PGeM2ytsjdNHO1GMK2HFozxgyFwEWlYN_dl81j0p_rfXT7p4dI4tE/s1600-h/GardOnDeck2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170291428120525314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCCzVHNRrLqiYyGkX4xk4WA-Lk1En4O8uoIhM50C6NdOLKt5OO3eo79v_9dt0pLhbSrhV5a465Ka4IN3PGeM2ytsjdNHO1GMK2HFozxgyFwEWlYN_dl81j0p_rfXT7p4dI4tE/s400/GardOnDeck2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em>The two-barreled version on board ship.</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">The Admiralty were impressed enough that they not only adopted the weapon but bought the rights to produce it. Gardner stayed in England to supervise the construction of the weapons in Leeds and lived there for the rest of his life, dying in 1886. The British Army bought the gun in 1880 but its actual introduction by them was delayed because of opposition by the Royal Artillery. </div><p align="justify"><br />The gun was light, reliable and could fire over 800 rounds a minute.<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUMuuIKxxsGyr62yBV8OJzRjJHsRpxyoqEnN0SgJjoeXkQ05Gk4flYYP94iJUck-1hIWakyJdaHrUoIgzaHWHl3kAwXjcm26YCVm4suYYmtWOhLVJ-hFgzRC3ecJ4YDUOI6F3/s1600-h/gardnergunvf4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170290985738893810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUMuuIKxxsGyr62yBV8OJzRjJHsRpxyoqEnN0SgJjoeXkQ05Gk4flYYP94iJUck-1hIWakyJdaHrUoIgzaHWHl3kAwXjcm26YCVm4suYYmtWOhLVJ-hFgzRC3ecJ4YDUOI6F3/s400/gardnergunvf4.jpg" border="0" /></a>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-33854353186567037822008-01-20T22:11:00.000+00:002008-01-20T22:18:30.392+00:00A few more Beja<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-wqPaoYOMuY1FW-HEDPwZS4tDf7XFN9BqCKWWCeaFEVepwQll-nY0U2Y1AYjnwv1nCRRTQELpxVnVju_59oo73eFZke9DeuIGvlQBAamIIsav4r0a_kmrQOD8y7s1IgaOem0/s1600-h/beja+ambush.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157686468404585938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-wqPaoYOMuY1FW-HEDPwZS4tDf7XFN9BqCKWWCeaFEVepwQll-nY0U2Y1AYjnwv1nCRRTQELpxVnVju_59oo73eFZke9DeuIGvlQBAamIIsav4r0a_kmrQOD8y7s1IgaOem0/s400/beja+ambush.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I've not been feeling very well this week and have hardly got any painting done. Added to that the weather has been horrible and it's been dark. Also I have suddently developed a great urge to paint some gladiators so have been trawling through the lead pile to see if I had got any (I had). </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Nevertheless, I have managed to finish six more Beja, so not a total write off. Perry Miniatures are closing down for three weeks next month but I still have plenty of figures to paint. I want to finish the Gardner Gun and get started on the Highlanders. </div><br /><div></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-12430271269033061532008-01-06T20:15:00.000+00:002008-01-06T21:33:25.794+00:00Royal Marines Light Infantry: Completed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOWsufYMTiz4_EUHPzmXTA8X4vGIm_BRJ721k-9VL49LZ509WXpUv52xHJhbSq2L3pfidO-0QLXrhDwfyFvaZ5ZXFOjm8ZzX-FT_UqETtH-vv_E1ckunz2rUrY5acqovx266C/s1600-h/RMLI+Regt+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152460193285022338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOWsufYMTiz4_EUHPzmXTA8X4vGIm_BRJ721k-9VL49LZ509WXpUv52xHJhbSq2L3pfidO-0QLXrhDwfyFvaZ5ZXFOjm8ZzX-FT_UqETtH-vv_E1ckunz2rUrY5acqovx266C/s400/RMLI+Regt+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">The Royal Marines, along with a force of sailors, were the first British troops landed at Suakin. The 464 men and 14 officers of the RMLI were commanded by Lt Colonel (brevet Colonel) Henry Brasnell Tuson, Royal Marine Artillery.</div><div align="justify"><p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">At El Teb the Marines formed the rear of the left hand flank of the square as it advanced, behind the York and Lancaster Regiment. As they approached and skirted the hill where the Beja were located they became the closest British to the Ansar lines. The men in the square were ordered to turn 90 degrees which put the RMLI in the front as they advanced on the dug-in Beja. The first Ansar charge of the battle caused the Yorks and Lancs, who had outdistanced the Marines as they moved forward, to fall back about 40 yards. The RMLI rushed up to close the gap and oust the Beja who had entered this gap in the formation. The Marines, along with the Naval Brigade and the Yorks and Lancs, were involved in bitter hand to hand fighting as they pushed the Beja out of their first position. The Marines had 2 officers wounded and 3 men killed.</div><div align="justify"><p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">At Tamai the RMLI formed the rear of the 2nd Brigade Square under Major General John Davis and accompanied by Graham himself. When the Black Watch charge opened up the square and the Beja flooded in, the whole British battalion was forced back onto the RMLI completely disrupting their formation. As the Second Brigade began its fighting retreat the Marines were a key element in keeping the steady discipline needed as troops from all the units in the Brigade became hopelessly intermingled. The Marines lost 3 men and 15 wounded at Tamai.</div><div align="justify"><p></p></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">100 RMLI later served with the Guards Camel Regiment in the Desert Column but that is another Army (about 2010)!</div><div align="justify"></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-35091542489803932072007-12-09T23:22:00.001+00:002008-05-14T14:51:50.058+01:00Royal Marines Light infantry Officer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvKSSDNK0Ljz4vc1RPyuRmwv4NRwI0IFnp2qrK4hXCMVMdgf2bmZy-kf4-DqhI_AtIsgLKu4GbomjTwYGnEN6pMjJxpyfV9SU4u5SCxv4Di4KyuFtP1U0M9Z1OUBtiazHYlK5/s1600-h/rmli+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142118469697139442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvKSSDNK0Ljz4vc1RPyuRmwv4NRwI0IFnp2qrK4hXCMVMdgf2bmZy-kf4-DqhI_AtIsgLKu4GbomjTwYGnEN6pMjJxpyfV9SU4u5SCxv4Di4KyuFtP1U0M9Z1OUBtiazHYlK5/s320/rmli+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Despite a trip to the US last week I managed to finish the officer and two more men for the RLMI; so that is a third of them done.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Although the RLMI had white leather equipment in the Sudan the officer's revolvers holsters and belts were brown.</span></div>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33102303.post-80108214643451295072007-12-08T22:01:00.000+00:002007-12-08T22:34:56.711+00:00Gordons Arrived!!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTScO283dRGxDBf_GeqnkIbfOn64PdUDN7Qf8XkhO3FZiJg5N9FAi1rXPZBeOLCFZpyk6XEAM2VD3Lw6BXGbBCaujyWqJnOoh-BFWEqrDti7EAOk5htG30pG04nEbubgpq01BT/s1600-h/Gordon+Highlanders+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141728546796204530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTScO283dRGxDBf_GeqnkIbfOn64PdUDN7Qf8XkhO3FZiJg5N9FAi1rXPZBeOLCFZpyk6XEAM2VD3Lw6BXGbBCaujyWqJnOoh-BFWEqrDti7EAOk5htG30pG04nEbubgpq01BT/s400/Gordon+Highlanders+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">I ordered these just before I left for California last week and they arrived whilst I was away. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">There do seem to be an awful lot of them! I liked the NCO figures so much that I cut a stripe off one and made him into a lance corporal, just so I could put him in the unit. You are only allowed one NCO in TSATF but I didn't want to leave him out so, for gaming purposes, I will only count the sergeant. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">There was quite a bit of flash on one set (well, a lot for the Perries, anyway) but I sat down and got them all filed and based whilst watching <em>Strictly Come Dancing</em> with the family (that Alesha Dixon is a fine looking woman, I must say). </span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIS-h3XE8W_Beve6iN1Dw76FnT8-TSk30jW1ys2r7R53nUT5k0Yy9GNh-UmFQBRuiVwYbggbH8iN4_NEBFdW7Ir9phJ_AP5i_WoAHSsxhI1lf1akzwJ7Aft5HJK05Tz54uGtNd/s1600-h/alesha+dixon+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141730951977890306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIS-h3XE8W_Beve6iN1Dw76FnT8-TSk30jW1ys2r7R53nUT5k0Yy9GNh-UmFQBRuiVwYbggbH8iN4_NEBFdW7Ir9phJ_AP5i_WoAHSsxhI1lf1akzwJ7Aft5HJK05Tz54uGtNd/s400/alesha+dixon+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> Alesha Dixon: Even more attractive than a Perry Highlander!</em></span><br /></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">And talking about gorgeous figures I love this officer holding up his helmet. This is the sort of figure the Perries do so well; oozing with character. I'm not going to put him in the unit, though, but am going to use him as a test figure for the tartan. I still need to finish the RMLI so mustn't start the Highlanders. I <em>can </em>start this one-off, however. And I am going to give him a red coat! </span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvZjoJedVmdRyZYyaFsRTCBRGyYdrhPbtH1Bdvoe232dKs5dQf10PLYcvCDlwgnA8AatSkCinDNawGzDTGNTN1IKNgAw2YthKOca8MipeZUTMyGf4tJHgRAL6K8UUeCS7I7o5/s1600-h/Gordons+Officer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141733670692188690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvZjoJedVmdRyZYyaFsRTCBRGyYdrhPbtH1Bdvoe232dKs5dQf10PLYcvCDlwgnA8AatSkCinDNawGzDTGNTN1IKNgAw2YthKOca8MipeZUTMyGf4tJHgRAL6K8UUeCS7I7o5/s400/Gordons+Officer.jpg" border="0" /></a>legatus hedliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078980742683576345noreply@blogger.com2