In anticipation of a 1918 theme I had started work on preparing a game inspired by Dunsterforce's experiences in the Caucasus. It soon became evident that it was going to take me several years to get there so I fell back on trying to get Prince Valiant ready for a public outing. Well, while the hope is that the games will focus on the last year of the Great War, officially anything Great War related is in, so, so am I!
It's time for my 1914 figures to make a public appearance!
 |
| My grandfather, Hubert de Solla. |
The war was a terrible experience for many but not all only remembered it that way. My grandfather had served his time in the regular army, was called up with the other reservists, fought through the war and tried to sign up for the sequel. He also held on to his collection of toy soldiers and told stories of battles to his young grandson. I am dedicating this event to him.
 |
| French, British and Indian units taking on the Germans in 2015. |
My 40mm Toy Soldier game will be set during the Race to the Sea but will probably be a made up scenario to suit what I can field, reflect the sorts of actions that took place and make an interesting (hopefully) convention game. I need to put a move on and start churning out 1914 figures and terrain, not to mention actually writing down a set of rules but I'm really looking forward to getting it all together and seeing how it goes over.
Nice touch.
ReplyDeleteYour Grandfather had splendid moustaches!
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting the 1914 game ready - do you have any of those Belgian Machine Guns pulled by dogs?!
No, something for another year!
DeleteMy Greatgrandfather, Alexander McFarlane, was a regular - don't know what he did in the war, but the pneumonia epidemic got him in 1919. In India. Technically, WW1 was still going on as 1918 was just an armistice, which is why I've got one of those oversize pennies with his name on that they issued to the families of soldiers who died in the war!
ReplyDeleteI tend to forget that both my grandfathers fought but the second died when I was too young to remember and anyway, he wasn't a regular and appeared to have thought war a terrible, bad thing.
DeleteAn inspiring connection to the theme. I've always thought the Early Great War held much gaming potential given that it was still "open warfare" where conventional gaming treatments would apply--sort of like the Franco-Prussian war on steroids. Glad to see that you're thinking on Huzzah! is still evolving :) Good luck with the rules and the figures!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ed. Always easier to work under a bit of self inflicted pressure!
DeleteExcellent Ross. Glad to see the Dunsterforce link I shared will provide what I am sure will be an inspiration game.
ReplyDeleteIs that where I got it? I stumbled across a mention in the official history of the Canadian Corps in 2014 and its been on my mind ever since.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAnd here I thought it was the post from The Great War that I shared with the Atlantic Simulation Society FB group last month. Regardless of the source I thought it was a jolly good idea. Sorry I wouldn't be at Huzzah!
ReplyDelete