For we have got the Maxim and They . .what? we don't?

But you're working on one? Great, I'll ask the enemy to wait.

You're working on one for them too?!??

We're going to need new doggerel.

Wood and Wire.
If when I'm finished, I have something easily recognized as a toy MG, I'll be happy. 

Sidetracked by Sideshows

I didn't intend to do any Indian troops this early although they were in France by October. Not that I have anything against them, its only that for more than 40 years I've been putting off doing WWI in Africa and the Middle East and I was afraid they might distract me from my goal of a centennial Retreat from Mons game. However, I hadn't added even a single 1914 British soldier yet and the only suitable mold on hand was my Sepoy.

As usual it was Don Featherstone in his Battles With Model Soldiers who first showed me the attraction of wargames set in the so called Sideshows to WWI. What probably sealed the deal shortly afterward was picking up the Ballantine book Tanganyikan Guerrilla one Saturday on my way home from cadets. T.E. Lawrence didn't help and the only WWI project I ever did was a 15mm Arab ambush of a train, complete with tiny Lawrence.

Up into the hills!

Yesterday, instead of painting, sculpting  or converting,  I spent time online, especially at Harry's Africa and Harry's Sideshows reading accounts of  obscure but interesting battles and skirmishes from the early 20thC, well laced with first hand accounts.

I also read up on the mountain batteries that served overseas, none of them in France.

21st Kohat Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)

22nd Derajat Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)

23rd Peshawar Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)

24th Hazara Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)

25th Mountain Battery

26th Jacob's Mountain Battery

Some were only in East Africa, others served at various combinations of Gallipoli, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Persia with most being home in time for the 3rd Afghan War in 1919. The 21st Kohat Battery even earned the Title Royal. I couldn't find any mention of the Koolhat Battery.

But I am going to persevere with my game in France and then, then I will let my mind and spirit wander over deserts, cross veldt and  river, climb mountains and penetrate jungles.

PS. My sidebar seems to have disappeared. Anyone else having a problem like this? Can anyone still see it?

Forward the Guns!

An Indian Mountain Battery ready to take the field in Africa, the Middle East or wherever they are needed..



These are homecast Zinnbrigade Prussian artillery men with my sepoy heads. The mule is from. Irregular. I'm pretty sure no gunners in 1914 wore Blue puttees but I like 'em. Now I need a name. I dislike using historical unit names if I'm going to use them in campaigns that they never fought in.

The gun is a 90 year old toy that came with a mixed bag of 54's from the original owner's widow a decade ago. Its a little crude in places yet the carriage has the typical lines of rivets. I'm not sure about its make or what it was intended to be. It was certainly too small for the 54's. Last week I noticed a 40mm gunner standing beside it and thought "40mm toy soldier mountain gun"!


The grey paint is in rough shape but I am undecided about repainting a 90 year old veteran even if it has no monetary value.