Greetings...
Yes... An Old Book.
The Great War in England in 1897 by William Le Queux.
First published in 1894.
After talking to my friend David about this book I decided to read it again...
In my opinion this is one of the classics as far as Invasion Fiction is concerned...
Along with...
The Battle of Dorking. Reminiscences of a Volunteer... by George Tomkins Chesney. 1871
The Invasion of 1910... by William Le Queux. 1906
And of course The War of the Worlds... by H G Wells. 1898
The end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th saw a rise in the publication and popularity of invasion fiction... not dissimilar from the Red Scare of the 1950s-1960s...
The Great War in England relates a tale of an invasion from France and Russian and a heroic defence by the British nation.
If you can forgive the dated and somewhat jingoistic writing style it makes for a rip roaring and enjoyable read...
This book influenced me a lot when I was making my Shiny Toy Soldier Little Britons.
I think all of the books in my short list are still available in some form or another from Amazon, eBay or your local bookshop...
All the best. Aly
ALY MORRISON'S "BUTTERFLY" ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD OF WARGAMES AND TOY SOLDIERS
Showing posts with label Little Britons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Little Britons. Show all posts
Saturday, 5 September 2020
Tuesday, 18 September 2018
Some rather nice Little Britons...
Greetings...
This weekend I was sent some lovely pictures all the way from Wellington in New Zealand of Murray Nash's collection of Little Britons.
It is such a nice collection that I asked him if it was okay to post them on the blog... he said it was..
Its nice to see some familiar units here but there are also some that maybe I should add to my own collection...
I particularly like the Highland Light Infantry and the Russian Cuirassiers...
They were all painted by Nigel Fun-Nel who is from Hastings in New Zealand...
Wonderful toys...
And of course here is the cheap commercial plug...
http://www.spencersmithminiatures.co.uk/html/little_britons.html
All the best and a big thank you to Murray...Aly
This weekend I was sent some lovely pictures all the way from Wellington in New Zealand of Murray Nash's collection of Little Britons.
It is such a nice collection that I asked him if it was okay to post them on the blog... he said it was..
Its nice to see some familiar units here but there are also some that maybe I should add to my own collection...
I particularly like the Highland Light Infantry and the Russian Cuirassiers...
They were all painted by Nigel Fun-Nel who is from Hastings in New Zealand...
Wonderful toys...
And of course here is the cheap commercial plug...
http://www.spencersmithminiatures.co.uk/html/little_britons.html
All the best and a big thank you to Murray...Aly
Thursday, 12 October 2017
Little Britons... Photo shoot.
As I mentioned in my last 'A Gentleman's War' game, I have taken some photo's of all my units.
Here they are in no particular order with some comments and thoughts...
Tirailleurs Algeriens...a lovely colourful unit I chose the white summer trousers to make them even brighter.
At some point I will add another four men to bring this up to a full strength 'A Gentleman's War' unit.
This is French infantry wearing the 1911 Reseda uniform...
This experimental uniform was not very popular with politicians and the public and was eventually rejected for not being French enough...the trousers were originally the same colour as the tunics, I read somewhere that some troops wearing this uniform were mistaken for 'Prussians' and 'abused' by the public...
I rather like this uniform... these guys also need another four men to bring then up to strength.
French Republican Foot Guards... another lovely colourful unit... again they could do with some reinforcements.
The French 1906 trial uniform... made from beige-blue cloth with a Spanish style kepi.
Again sadly rejected for various political reasons... another unit I need to build up.
I especially like the Wolseley style helmet...
French line infantry... another six will give me two units...
French Chasseurs a pied... quite a sombre uniform to paint until you add the yellow piping and green epaulettes then they turn into another of my favourite units.
French Hussars... what's not to like?
In 'A Gentleman's War' you only need six men for a cavalry unit, so again a little upgrade will give me two units...
My only Russian Infantry...so far... a six figure skirmish unit.
I will definitely need to do more... the white summer uniform is so attractive.
The Russian Artillery... all of the guns are 4.7" Howitzers regardless of who is manning them.
French Artillery... these chaps are wearing the 1902 Trial Artillery Helmet.
This proved to be quite successful and was still in use by some units in 1915.
The Royal Scots Greys... one of my favourite cavalry units.
Of course two more figures would let me do a not very accurate second six man unit...
The Shropshire Rifle Volunteers... a very small unit that needs built up a bit.
Grey uniforms were quite popular with volunteers in the late 19th century so these could be used for a number of different units.
French infantry wearing the 1912 Edouard Detaille uniform.
Interesting details here are the khaki drill canvas equipment and the almost renaissance style helmet.
Sadly the helmet was not popular with the men and the uniform didn't really cut it with the politicians.
Bavarian 6th Chevauleger... green tunics pink facings and white plumes... no other reasons needed.
British Life Guards... So British...So William Britain's... and now So Little Britons...
Would it hurt to add a couple more... probably not.
French Cuirassiers wearing the Reseda uniform....it gives a modern look to an old classic.
Again a couple more men wouldn't go amiss...
The Royal Irish Lancers...a beautiful and classic uniform...and of course in need of one more man.
A small skirmish unit painted up as Black Watch...these could also represent any of a number of volunteer units that chose the highland uniform...and like everything else they could do with one more man...
A small unit of Rifles... once more they represent one of the many volunteer units who chose the 'Rifles' look...
Gosh! I have painted a few little units... mostly this was done to use up castings although again one more would help.
French Artillery... I chose to go for the Reseda uniform with the 1902 Artillery Helmet... A pleasing modern combination I think.
Cossacks!.... I definitely wont more of these...
British Fusiliers... another classic British uniform that is to good to miss...
British Naval Artillery,,, again a bit of a classic...
British Grenadier Guards...probably one of the most iconic and recognisable uniforms and 'Toy Soldiers' of all time... In my humble opinion.
The Black Watch... another cracking unit...I am not sure why I chose this unit as a lot of my family served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders... Ah! well I suppose I will have to paint another unit.
The Manchester Regiment...I like the nice clean contrast you get with white facings.
The 2nd Bombay Native Infantry... this is based on the William Britain's Figures, and shows an unusual error in that companies research... The correct uniform should be a Red Tunic with White facings and Dark Blue trousers... I decided to go the Britain's route because I like the look of it.
The Rifle Regiment... I cant remember what colour I used for the uniforms... but fortunately with twelve men I have more than enough...
Royal Field Artillery... I like the workman like look of this uniform...
Royal Horse Artillery... well it would be rude not to...
General Rust... named after one of my daughters favourite Discworld characters.
General Malchanceux... his name is inspired by my dice rolling abilities.
The 15th Ukrainian Hussar Regiment of Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna.
Pretty in Pink...
I read somewhere that the Grand Duchess was encouraged to wear a Blue Pelisse when reviewing the regiment in case the Pink was mistaken for bare flesh....
I will be finishing this unit...
Well that's them all...
It has been interesting for me to look at each unit in turn, most of them need a few more figures to bring them up to 'A Gentleman's War' strengths but there is no rush, I have been having great games with them as they are.
Its a perfect butterfly collection, the list of new units I want is endless...
Little Britons are all my own work and are available from ...
http://www.spencersmithminiatures.co.uk/html/little_britons.html
The bases are from Warbases...
https://warbases.co.uk/
I hope you have enjoyed this look at one of my favourite collections.
All the best Aly
Here they are in no particular order with some comments and thoughts...
Tirailleurs Algeriens...a lovely colourful unit I chose the white summer trousers to make them even brighter.
At some point I will add another four men to bring this up to a full strength 'A Gentleman's War' unit.
This is French infantry wearing the 1911 Reseda uniform...
This experimental uniform was not very popular with politicians and the public and was eventually rejected for not being French enough...the trousers were originally the same colour as the tunics, I read somewhere that some troops wearing this uniform were mistaken for 'Prussians' and 'abused' by the public...
I rather like this uniform... these guys also need another four men to bring then up to strength.
French Republican Foot Guards... another lovely colourful unit... again they could do with some reinforcements.
The French 1906 trial uniform... made from beige-blue cloth with a Spanish style kepi.
Again sadly rejected for various political reasons... another unit I need to build up.
I especially like the Wolseley style helmet...
French line infantry... another six will give me two units...
French Chasseurs a pied... quite a sombre uniform to paint until you add the yellow piping and green epaulettes then they turn into another of my favourite units.
French Hussars... what's not to like?
In 'A Gentleman's War' you only need six men for a cavalry unit, so again a little upgrade will give me two units...
My only Russian Infantry...so far... a six figure skirmish unit.
I will definitely need to do more... the white summer uniform is so attractive.
The Russian Artillery... all of the guns are 4.7" Howitzers regardless of who is manning them.
French Artillery... these chaps are wearing the 1902 Trial Artillery Helmet.
The Royal Scots Greys... one of my favourite cavalry units.
Of course two more figures would let me do a not very accurate second six man unit...
The Shropshire Rifle Volunteers... a very small unit that needs built up a bit.
Grey uniforms were quite popular with volunteers in the late 19th century so these could be used for a number of different units.
French infantry wearing the 1912 Edouard Detaille uniform.
Interesting details here are the khaki drill canvas equipment and the almost renaissance style helmet.
Sadly the helmet was not popular with the men and the uniform didn't really cut it with the politicians.
Bavarian 6th Chevauleger... green tunics pink facings and white plumes... no other reasons needed.
British Life Guards... So British...So William Britain's... and now So Little Britons...
Would it hurt to add a couple more... probably not.
French Cuirassiers wearing the Reseda uniform....it gives a modern look to an old classic.
Again a couple more men wouldn't go amiss...
The Royal Irish Lancers...a beautiful and classic uniform...and of course in need of one more man.
A small skirmish unit painted up as Black Watch...these could also represent any of a number of volunteer units that chose the highland uniform...and like everything else they could do with one more man...
A small unit of Rifles... once more they represent one of the many volunteer units who chose the 'Rifles' look...
Gosh! I have painted a few little units... mostly this was done to use up castings although again one more would help.
French Artillery... I chose to go for the Reseda uniform with the 1902 Artillery Helmet... A pleasing modern combination I think.
Cossacks!.... I definitely wont more of these...
British Fusiliers... another classic British uniform that is to good to miss...
British Naval Artillery,,, again a bit of a classic...
British Grenadier Guards...probably one of the most iconic and recognisable uniforms and 'Toy Soldiers' of all time... In my humble opinion.
The Black Watch... another cracking unit...I am not sure why I chose this unit as a lot of my family served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders... Ah! well I suppose I will have to paint another unit.
The Manchester Regiment...I like the nice clean contrast you get with white facings.
The 2nd Bombay Native Infantry... this is based on the William Britain's Figures, and shows an unusual error in that companies research... The correct uniform should be a Red Tunic with White facings and Dark Blue trousers... I decided to go the Britain's route because I like the look of it.
The Rifle Regiment... I cant remember what colour I used for the uniforms... but fortunately with twelve men I have more than enough...
Royal Field Artillery... I like the workman like look of this uniform...
Royal Horse Artillery... well it would be rude not to...
General Rust... named after one of my daughters favourite Discworld characters.
General Malchanceux... his name is inspired by my dice rolling abilities.
The 15th Ukrainian Hussar Regiment of Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna.
Pretty in Pink...
I read somewhere that the Grand Duchess was encouraged to wear a Blue Pelisse when reviewing the regiment in case the Pink was mistaken for bare flesh....
I will be finishing this unit...
Well that's them all...
It has been interesting for me to look at each unit in turn, most of them need a few more figures to bring them up to 'A Gentleman's War' strengths but there is no rush, I have been having great games with them as they are.
Its a perfect butterfly collection, the list of new units I want is endless...
Little Britons are all my own work and are available from ...
http://www.spencersmithminiatures.co.uk/html/little_britons.html
The bases are from Warbases...
https://warbases.co.uk/
I hope you have enjoyed this look at one of my favourite collections.
All the best Aly
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)