New Worlds, Old Wars review.

Number 92 of Helion’s Century of the Soldier series is another, not quite niche topic, covering the Anglo- American Indian Wars between 1607 and 1678. Author David Child’s has done an excellent job presenting a very readable account of the establishment and growth of English settlements in North America. In Europe, the great powers were busy fighting and bleeding each other dry in pretty much continuous conflicts such as the Thirty Years War, the British Civil Wars, various Anglo-Dutch and Anglo-French conflicts. Meanwhile across the Atlantic these same powers, although primarily the English (British), were busy establishing settlements and fighting the indigenous population (not always successfully) and each other for the much coveted wealth of the New World.

This is perhaps remarkably the first book I have read on the subject. While not making excuses for the behaviour of the European settlers towards the Native Americans, it remains a fascinating account of the period, focussing on the Powhatan Wars of Virginia, Smith’s War 1607-1609, Dale’s War 1609-1613, then moving to New England for the Pequot War, and King Philip’s War and the Abenaki War in Maine between 1675 and 1678. These were not massive European-sized conflicts, but equally bloody wars of ambushes and massacres, and the descriptions give a good insight into how the Europeans and Native Americans set about trying to destroy each other. Indeed chapter 10 is entitled Conclusion and Consequences- How the East was Won. Here, the author sums things up nicely. The Native Americans were doomed to loose, despite their often superior tactics and field craft, and we learn in detail how and why the Europeans slowly eradicated any threat posed by the indigenous population.

The book is well illustrated throughout with a wide range of contemporary and present day black and white images and includes several interesting maps of the Colonies (again, both contemporary and modern). A good selection of appendices finishes off the book, where we are able to read, among other things, examples of contemporary correspondence, both official and private.

I really loved reading this book and I learnt a great deal from it, and Helion are yet again to be commended for bringing topics such as this to our attention. If you have an interest in the early days of the colonisation of the east coast of North America (Virginia and New England specifically) then this book is for you. Highly recommend.

ISBN 978-1-915113-99-3. 201 pages.

The Next Helion Conference

This looks interesting. I wonder if I will be able to make it.

Fall of France 1940: WW2 French St Chamond 193mm howitzer

More stuff completed as the holiday period comes to an end (unless you’re retired in which case it’s one big holiday). I thought I’d do another piece for the 1940 French. I doubt I’ll ever use it except as an objective of some kind.

The ultimate (almost) in silliness. I saw this model before Christmas and just had to buy it (Mad Bob Miniatures). It’s a resin 3D print in 1/72 scale and is east enough to assemble except for the railings which a bit of nightmare trying to glue and then keep glued in place round each vehicle. I might have to replace them with wire in due course as I doubt they’ll survive their first game.

I’ve done them in travelling mode. 

The ammo carrier.

The complete model. I am rather pleased with it.
 

Christmas Holiday completions

 A right old hodgepodge of stuff left the painting desk this week. After a bit of a hiatus in the weeks leading up to Christmas I managed to get these figures finished and saw them march off to their barracks (boxes).

First an assortment of bits to add to the 1940 French.

A command radio truck. Resin.

Headquarters or artillery FOO. (EWM)

French staff car/half track. Metal from EWM.

Moving back in time 74 years we have some 1866 Hanoverians that have been on the painting desk for maybe two years! The rest of the army is long finished but as yet unbloodied.

George King of Hanover. The poor man was blind but still went into the field with his troops.

Hanoverian command stand.

Hanoverian dragoons. I already have too many cavalry for each and every element of my 1866 and 1870 armies but they’re colourful and fun on the tabletop.

I think my painting and gaming mojo is re-emerging after my period of pre-Christmas illness and general advanced decrepitude. Onwards and upwards as they say………..

French Group de Reconnaissance, May 1940

More gallant French for my France 1940 collection in the shape of a rather understrength Group de Reconnaissance. We have one squadron of motorcyclists (with dismounts) and one of obsolete underpowered, undergunned and unreliable Schneider Kegresse P16 armoured half tracks. 

I thought I’d leave the P16 in plain green as they’ll have been hauled out of retirement and issued to a few unlucky recce  units. All were lost during the short campaign. The models are from Early War Miniatures and are tremendous imho. The motorcycle combos are resin 3d prints and the dismounts are from CP Models.

The last picture is of a bit of an oddity but an amusing concept;  a 25mm AT gun mounted on the back of a Lorraine37L Chenillette tractor. This is also from Early War Miniatures.

Danish Army of the Napoleonic Wars 1801-1815 Volume 3: Norwegian Troops and Militia

My long wait for this book has finally come to an end. This third and final volume describing the Danish army of the Napoleonic Wars 1801-1814 by David Wilson, part of Helion’s from Reason to Revolution 1721-1815 series, continues with the same high level of detail as in the earlier volumes, and presents for us this time the uniforms, organisation and equipment of Norwegian troops and militia, Norway at that time being an integral part of the Danish monarchy, albeit as the poor relation of the partnership. The army was to be tested fighting against he Swedes, where it handled itself well.

This volume follows the same format as the previous ones, and after a brief introduction launches straight in to chapters on each of the different types of cavalry in the army; the high command and military school, line infantry, jägers, ski troops, artillery, colours and guidons, and an almost bewildering but clearly explained host of different classes of militia and coastal defence forces. I found these chapters on the Landevaern, volunteer jaeger and the citizen militias to be particularly interesting and enlightening.

As with Volumes 1 and 2 the book is very well laid out and a pleasant read, packed full of original artwork by the author, with 62 vibrant colour plates, depicting the uniforms and equipment of every regiment and troop type. There are also depictions of the flags and of many of the range of cannon available to the Norwegian armed forces.

The appendices provide supplementary information on  Norwegian cavalry, their horses, and there are also a couple of orders of battle and handy glossary. 

This is an excellent book and the entire three volume series has clearly been a labour of love.

ISBN 978-1-914059-81-0.  222 pages.  

New Additions to the French for 1940

Despite being poleaxed with an ear infection, flu and a badly strained groin on top of my usual woes I’ve not been wholly idle. 

Panhard 178 armoured cars of the 12th Cuirassiers and a radio truck

I’m not sure about this colour scheme but it’s quite striking.

Radio lorry for my French HQ.

I doubt I’ll get a game in before Xmas even if I could stand up. I hope to finish some more bits and bobs over the holidays, do a couple of books reviews and even tidy the Man Cave in readiness for the 2023 campaign season. Speaking of which I will be running a campaign for the chaps to start in Feb/March. More on this later.

What with everything that’s been going on at home I’ve not been able to do a calendar for 2023 and Christmas cards are off the agenda this year as time has run out.  Merry Christmas to one and all and normal service will be restored shortly……I hope!