Great War in the Garden

Wargaming can be expensive - it has been estimated that a Games Workshop army big enough for a battle costs around three hundred quid and that is before you start buying terrain. And who has a table big enough? Disenchanted with the hobby I once gave my collection of tanks and figures to my then young son to play with - he and the neighbouring kids had a great time, better than I could have had, playing war with them in the dirt and among the rocks - and they brought them back pretty much intact, and then it dawned on me...why try and fight on a table when you have a garden? Wasn't HG Wells' Little Wars - the book that started wargames in 1913 ('A Game for Boys from twelve years of age to one hundred and fifty and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys' games and books') all about doing it in the garden? (Read it online)
Now if that fills you with horror at putting your precious figures outside then maybe you shouldn't use them; maybe you should buy a load of 1/72 or if you have a large garden 1/32 plastics, give them a rudimentary paintjob, base them on washers for stability and use those instead. Wargaming the Great War in the garden means you can excavate trenches, dig out shell craters, and have unlimited space within reason. You can have enough room to use long range artillery fire, spotters, actually destroy trenches and troop build ups with some realism. Having cheap and cheerful armies means not spending your life modelling and instead getting outside on a sunny afternoon instead of hunched over a smokey table. Probably the easiest way is for the host to have a defensive position and the guest attack it - but be prepared for the occasional earwig or ants invasion. Whether you use normal wargames rules or ones that involve projectiles like corks to replicate howitzer fire is of course up to you. I suggest a combination of both. More about Little Wars and some great images
Harfields for plastic figures including the Armies in Plastic 1/32 pictured

The Great War scene in Russia

Some excellent snowy pics of recreated trench warfare from the era 1914-17 are on this site - mostly taken recently. As you can see winter's already arrived with scenes depicted reminiscent of the first Christmas in the trenches. Nice to see Lambs Navy Rum still has the power to keep out the cold even that far north. Apparently there was a rugby match between the Allies and the Austrians as well, between skirmishes.

Call of Duty3

Well it's nearly out - the excellent WW2 series for various consoles. What will it be like? How long will it be before I get sucked into this world? Promises even more vehicles and hand to hand options. Call of Duty 2 Big Red One was excellent and the online option very realistic - too realistic to make it a comfortable experience. If you don't have that one maybe you should get that one first as that will be no doubt cheap. Official site

World War One Action figures

Maybe you think this is in bad taste - but obviously it's the sort of thing that is prevalent for the World War Two period but we're not supposed to have toys of the Great War. Why is that? Is the implication that WW2 was nicer or is it simply more profitable - anyway check these out for an unusual gift idea for a small child relative or a deranged blogger...

These French and Germans ar made by Workshop toys - three and three quarters of an inch tall. I like them - this company's Samurai figures look good too. If you want Great War in the larger size like the German Trench Raider try these in the series Bayonets and Barbed Wire.

Lobositz reenactment pics

The 250th anniversary of this Seven Years War battle was fought this October. Pictures on this site linked Bitva u Lovosic 1756

Kilts

This is the only picture of me in a kilt so apologies for the low quality. Although it is indoors I did actually go out looking like this a few times. I am wearing Susan's Boy Jacket and some Kitsch 22 trousers. It was round about this time 79, that we recorded Shell Shock - see below.
There are some pretty cool kilts nowadays - see Utility Kilts -would I wear one now?

Great War Miniatures

A new range and a new company in 28mm - they look well sculpted - what they have at the moment is British and German for the last two years of the war. Apparently they tower over the old Foundry range but are smaller than Renegade Miniatures' line, but accuracy levels are high in equipment etc.
In 1/72 scale Hat are about to release Canadian infantry which should go down well with what's available already.

Shellshock by Animals and Men

A series of images Red and I put to our old 45 from 1980 'Shell Shock' a song about the Great War - hope you find the time to watch it.

bell tents

There's nothing more symbolic in my mind of Imperial Britain than a row of bell tents. This picture shows troops policing striking railwaymen in Wales. Also used by scouts they are still readily available.

French trench with donkey and poppies

The only photo from the Great War showing poppies.

Don't forget to wear your poppy... Remember soldiers don't start wars - politicians do - soldiers only get killed, injured, mentally scarred and ruined in wars but they don't start them.

Photo is from the excellent Heritage of the Great War site. There are some beautiful colour postcards and photos - also some interesting items on Tolkien and the Western Front.

Middle East in World War One

This is an interesting looking dvd about the area now known as the Middle East - called 'Blood and Oil' it looks worth checking out - there are trailers to watch. My Great-Grandad on my mother's side was in Mesopotamia so I am pretty interested...

Yorktown 2006 reenactment clips

Yorktown 225th Re-enactment DVD Preview

If you like 18th century warfare you might want to watch this clip - even if you don't I recommend you watch it - it's pretty spectacular - I even dragged Susan over to see it - the quality of the camera work coupled with large bodies of French, British and American revolutionary reenactors make this worth the effort of watching. I don't suppose we will get anything like this in scale in Britain but Napoleonic used to be small - this year's Jena was huge.
Anyway if you inspired to reenact the period check out my forum and if you want to build a Revolutionary period wargames army I recommend the Perry Miniatures range

Vivienne Westwood

Of course with the movie Marie-Antoinette out, and kids loving Pirates no doubt everyone is talking about the 18th century punk French revolution cross over so let's remember who started it - Vivienne Westwood - our most influential designer - she who mixed piracy and the Incroyables with walkman's and Bow wow wow. Mind you I think it was a mistake going for the Incroyables (reactionary dandies) side of thing - the sans-culottes were the true fashion radicals in my opinion- but I think the whole thing was anti-punk and that's where that was coming from...it could have taken off a lot bigger than it did but then I don't expect anyone minded - they've made enough since... anyway she is responsible for getting me into a kilt so bicorns off to her - a true original. I suppose there is still time for people to wear pirate gear on the street - pirate punk is a genre in itself now, so who knows










http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivienne_Westwood
'I can't think of any event in history that did more damage than the French revolution. Not only to culture, but also to society. Yes, I am English. It's in my bones. (Very unpatriotic and interested in French culture because although the revolution smashed so much, but nevertheless the French still had ideas up until the First World War)'. Vivienne Westwood

Schwimmwagen in a pond

there's something about amphibious cars I like - I think I want one of these...

Into the West

I actually enjoyed this - but I am a sucker for bison, flintlocks and indians and there were plenty of all these things in the first episode. I felt that it was in a tradition of trying to educate people as well as entertain them - I think John Ford would have enjoyed watching it. I have to admit that I am looking forward to the next instalment. Learn to speak Lakhota
If you want some further study I recommend 'To Live and Die in The West' which is a great book at a ridiculously cheap price.

18th century reenactment forum

I have set up this forum for reenactors across the world to keep each other informed with news of important events, anniversaries, new websites and photo galleries. Join up if that is your cup of tea and spread the word. By the way the fine artwork here of a tavern is by Sean O'Brogain all rights reserved 2004 Grand Alliance

Into the West

This big budget story of the clash between settlers and Lakota Natives looks unmissable visually - though the reviews have reckoned it to be corny and ridiculous with regards characters and story. Someone quipped on tv last night that 'this is for people who thought Dances With Wolves too short'. Very popular in America though and I shall try and tape it and no doubt moan about it. Battle sequences look good on the trailers.
Wiki on Spielberg's Into the West

Simple traditional designs

If you are the sort of person that gets excited by things like old-style stoves (Susan is) and objects like these washboards then this American store is the place for you. They have all sorts of useful things NOT IN PLASTIC - which is great as plastic is rubbish - it fades, cracks and then you have to get another - this stuff will last a proper decent length of time and look pleasant to the eye. The lawnmower is the only type I would contemplate these days, quiet, amphibian-friendly, and space-saving. Actually some of this stuff will be useful for World War One living history enthusiasts I should think.

Mitchards in Radstock

Bought an interesting map of Radstock c1902 the other day - mentions Uriah Mitchard on the council - not sure where he stands in terms of the family but an interesting genealogy link. Ican trace my family as coal miners with no exception back to 1768 - my dad broke the chain, thankfully. Try your family or if not work it out and tell me...photo of him here but I am not sure which one he is.

The Trench, a movie from 1999

This fellow Daniel Craig is everywhere - this will be his best moment for Great War movie fans - as a sergeant about to go over the top. The scene with the rum ration is priceless. I couldn't remember the plot so I borrowed this review - sorry for being so lazy...

















In 1916, the British Army suffered their bloodiest and most severe defeat ever in the Battle of the Somme; The Trench focuses on the awful prelude to the battle as seen through the eyes of a group of inexperienced soldiers. Billy Macfarlane (Paul Nicholls) is a 17-year-old boy who joined the Army to fight alongside his older brother Eddie (Tam Williams), whom he worships. As the members of their platoon wait for fighting to commence, Eddie climbs up on a hill to see what the German forces are up to. He's immediately hit by sniper fire, suffering a severe injury, and soon another man in the unit is killed. Suddenly the ugly reality of battle has been introduced to the soldiers, few of whom are out of their teens. While their commanders inform them bombing has wiped out most of the enemy troops, the continued attacks convince them this may not be the truth. The Trench marked the directorial debut of novelist William Boyd, whose books have often dealt with the First World War. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide IMdb for the Trench