I know it may look like that I have been sitting on my backside and letting S.O.G. do all the heavy lifting with the painting, so I thought I had better show you a few teasers to let you know I haven’t been idle.
I have been working through finishing three sets of Sci-Fi terrain to fight over.
All of the pipe work from the Azazel stash. I wanted a gunky look and ended up using a left over DYI can of Satin Cabots Maple stain and varnish. This leaves the thick gunky, oily look that I was after. These have been painted in some old Citadel metal colours to give variety and interest.
Medium sized pieces from the Azazel stash in gold and bronze.
The larger chrome painted silo types also from the Azazel stash. On the right is also the Deadzone buildings on the way to being finished.
More Deadzone buildings and a silo from Knights of Dice (since been sprayed – quite ironical to paint a rattle can with a rattle can!).
TTCombat fan pieces to provide some “ground” texture.
These should all be finished in the next few days. I will showcase them then.
This is the second book of Cameron’s that i have read and it was up to the same excellent standard of the previous one.
“On 21 July 1942, a large Japanese reconnaissance mission landed along the north-eastern coastline of Papua, it would soon turn into an all-out attempt to capture Port Morseby. This is the powerful story of the three weeks of battle by a small Australian militia force, the 39th Battalion, supported by the 1st Papua Infantry Battalion and the Royal Papuan Constabulary, to keep the Japanese at bay. Outnumbered by at least three to one, they fought courageously to hold the Kokoda Plateau – the gateway to the Owen Stanleys. Critically short of ammunition and food and stranded in the fetid swamps and lowland jungles, they did everything they could to keep the Kokoda airstrip out of Japanese hands.
The “Fuzzy Wuzzy” angels that provided the long tenuous life line for the Australian Militia.
Not far away, and desperately trying to reach the Australians, were two groups of Anglican missionaries trapped behind enemy lines. With each passing day the parties grew, joined by lost Australian soldiers and downed American airmen. Theirs is a story of tragedy and betrayal.
This is the powerful story of the three weeks of battle by a small Australian militia force, the 39th Battalion, supported by the 1st Papua Infantry Battalion and the Royal Papuan Constabulary, to keep the Japanese at bay. Outnumbered by at least three to one, they fought courageously to hold the Kokoda Plateau – the gateway to the Owen Stanleys. Critically short of ammunition and food and stranded in the fetid swamps and lowland jungles, they did everything they could to keep the Kokoda airstrip out of Japanese hands.
Using letters, diaries and other first-hand accounts, from friend and foe alike, leading military historian David W Cameron, has for the first time written a detailed, compelling and provocative account of what occurred at the northern foot of the Owen Stanleys in late July and early August 1942. These are stories that deserve to be firmly embedded into the Kokoda legend.” From the Publisher.
For me there were several highlights in the book. The first was the excellent information it provided about the Papuan North Coast around Buna and Gona, both immediately before and after the Japanese landing.
The detail of the initial skirmish between the Papuan Constabulary and a Japanese Sea plane and the logistical difficulties the Japanese had are insightful.
The really gripping story, however, is the pathos, heroism and tragedy of the Australian missionaries caught behind the Japanese lines and in effect following the Japanese advance along the Kokoda track to try and get to safety. Their story is portrayed in this stain glass window found in St John`s Cathedral, Brisbane.
The window commemorates the four women missionaries who were killed in Papua in 1942 by the Japanese. The inclusion of their names in the Cathedral window is a reminder of the sacrifice and devotion to duty that these Australian missionary workers displayed when the Japanese invaded.
New Guinea Martyrs Sister May Hayman, Sister Margery Brenchley, The Rev’d Vivian Redlich and Miss Mavis Parkinson (Image courtesy of the Anglican Church Records and Archives Centre)
Over three hundred Christians lost their lives in New Guinea during the invasion and occupation of the island by the Japanese forces during Word War Two. The four women depicted in the stained glass window are representative of those who remained at their posts, refusing to desert the people they cared for.
New Guinea Martyrs John Stanley Duffill, Lilla Lashmar and The Rev’d Bernard Moore (Image again courtesy of the Anglican Church Records and Archives Centre
One of the martyrs, The Rev’d Vivian Redlich, was engaged to another, Mavis Parkinson’s friend and missionary nurse Sister May Hayman. Redlich and Hayman were separated at the time of the invasion. Both Parkinson and Hayman were killed at Popondetta after being imprisoned in a small coffee hut for days. A New Guinea local had tried to help them escape, but they had waived him away fearing he would get into trouble.
Originally it was believed that May Hayman’s fiancé, The Rev’d Redlich, was among the martyrs beheaded on Buna Beach. But following 70 years of secrecy and shame among the local villagers, it was officially revealed in 2009 that he was speared to death by an Orokaivan tribesman while on his way to reunite with nurse Hayman weeks after the Japanese invasion.
The Reverend James Benson was the only missionary to survive. Previously before his stint in New Guinea he lost his wife and two children in a tragic car accident.
In January 1942 the Anglican bishop, Philip Strong, had broadcast an appeal to them to stay at their work, come what may. Many of the missionaries themselves wished to stay and had already resisted calls to turn to safety. On 21 July 1942 the Japanese invaded the island near the mission station at Gona where Mavis Parkinson, a teacher, and May Hayman, a nurse, were based.
Eventually they were caught and murdered by the Japanese at Popondetta in August 1942. Their bodies were later recovered and buried at Sangara Mission Station. Mavis Parkinson came from Ipswich and May Hayman from Fortitude Valley. Lilla Lashmar, a teacher, and Margery Brenchley, a nurse, who had been working at Sangara Mission Station were beheaded on the beach at Buna. Their bodies were never recovered, as it was believed that they were thrown into the sea.
The story of Mavis Parkinson and May Hayman were told through lengthy letters to their family that were written daily on their quest for freedom, and were found in their grave at Popondetta by Doc Vernon.
Stories like these are terrible and serve to remind us that WAR IS TERRIBLE!
Their sacrifice is remembered on New Guinea Martyr day on the 2 September each year.
The uniform of these figures is broadly based upon the Portuguese Cabo, Cacadores who fought in Africa during 1961. – for no other reason than I like it.
They are more likely to be used for Insurgents for “In Country” games.
They consist of one standard squad, a machine gun support team and am RPG support team.
RPG support team
Machine Gun team
Standard team
I have also put together the final lot of Fallschirmjaeger for S.O.G. to paint up.
The scene was set for the Prussians of “W” to take on the might of Guru’s French in another game. We were trying to find a missing Arcanist which has led us to an abandoned partially ruined village. The church still stands but it stones are blackened. This needed investigating!
The French investigate two of the ruined houses.
The Prussians move up to search the remainder.
Despite his wounded arm and leg Caporal Jules Leger takes a long range shot at a Prussian rifleman and takes him down, only to see him revived by that Prussian witch!
Troops beginning to move on the Chapel.
The Prussian search found a “Revenant” who moved towards Sergent-Major Marcel Le Tonnelier
Sergent-Major Marcel Le Tonnelier’s search did not find anything that could help him against the “Revenant”
After a protracted melee Sergent-Major Marcel Le Tonnelier was finally felled.
More disaster was about to befall the French as the permanently injured Caporal Jules Leger o\f the 88th demi-Brigade was shot by the reincarnated Prussian devil.
The French have found the Arcanist and are trying to whisk him off to safety.
Meanwhile a ghost takes out another dastardly Prussian.
A Prussian with an enchanted pistol deals some revenge by inflicting four wounds on the ghost.
Another lucky shot takes down Father Severus Surius, Papal Delegate of the Holy Office of the Inquisition. We will remember to rack that one up!
The Prussian Saper fires his salt laden musket and causes the ghostly apparition to disappear.
Suddenly a random cannonball flies over the church and hits Caporal Godefroy Duclos from the 9th demi-Brigade escorting the Arcanist to safety. Fortunately Major en Second Jean-Paul Bounet was on hand to make sure he was escorted back to the French barracks for “questioning”!
A great game in which “W’s” Prussians only did slightly better than Guru’s French despite having three of them go down. Fortunately all those survived, although the wound on Sergent Florient Cormier, Sapper 88th demi-Brigade will be slow to heal, meaning he has three less health points for the next game.
Having only just recovered from the ordeal we were to learn that a changeling was hiding in a small farm and we would be required to investigate.
“Japanese Major General Horii Tomitarô, commanding the South Seas Force, was after taking Kokoda Plateau in late July tasked with entering the Owen Stanley Range to capture Port Morseby. After the battles for Deniki and Isurava, his troops were pushing south through the mountains. The Australians under Brigadier Arnold Potts, however, were not in rout, but were involved in a determined fighting withdraw. After fighting a delaying action at Templeton’s Crossing, the Australians took up a position along Mission Ridge, just south of Efogi Village. Horii and his battalions attacked and after two days of bloody hand-to-hand fighting, the Australians were forced to again withdraw. To the veterans who fought here the battle would become known as ‘Butcher’s Corner’. After several further delaying actions, Potts and his men took up a position on Ioribaiwa Ridge, just 50-kilometres north of Port Moresby. His brigade by now numbered fewer than 300 men. Here they were reinforced with the men of the 25th Brigade. Horii decided that he would establish himself of Ioribaiwa Ridge as his base for operations against the township. After a week of fighting the Japanese cut through the centre right flank of the Australian 25th Brigade, forcing the Australians to fall back to Imita Ridge, the last defensible ridge in the Owen Stanleys immediately behind lay Port Moresby.” From the Publisher”
The front cover has the iconic Damien Parer photograph, “Wounded Australian soldier is handed a cigarette by a mate, 1942” AWM Accession Number 013287
The book is the first of David Cameron’s three books on the battle of Kokoda that I have to read. It focuses on the Australian fighting withdrawal from Templeton’s crossing to Imita Ridge where the Japanese advance was finally stopped.
When writing about historical events it is very difficult to come up with any new startling insights, but despite this Cameron’s story includes stories, diaries and recollections from all facets of the Kokoda story. From the podiatrist who was treating the soldiers feet who had been saturated with water for weeks and were pulpy and when socks were removed so were several layers of skin, to Pott’s letter home to his wife scribbled on tissue paper while waiting for the Japanese attack on his headquarters.
These anecdotes provided the “colour” and information on the impact on the soldiers as the drama unfolded around them.
The diaries of of Doc Vernon who was in charge of the medical aid posts, and those of Salvation Army Major Albie Moore, responsible for their “tea and coffee” aid posts were enlightening to what they went through. Wanting, and needing to be as close as possible to the front required them to continually deal with the packing up and withdrawing with the troops to the next delaying position.
The history itself was well written, referenced and indexed, and if you were not well read on the Kokoda story provides great insights into the battle. From a gamers perspective maps like this one are excellent sources to translate to a tabletop.
I enjoyed reading this one for the behind the scenes insights it provided.
Well the first Bolt Action game yesterday did not go entirely to plan. In fact the first turn was disastrous. The game was the standard meeting engagement scenario. Axis were paired against allies and each tables results would impact on the overall “campaign” result.
A lucky artillery shot took out one of my Commandos and when I tested to unpin them, they rolled box cars which is a F.U.B.A.R.
Rolling on the F.U.B.A.R. table they reacted by shooting at my closest unit! This happened to be my Lieutenant who was in the open! Aaaarghhh!
Even having him duck for cover wasn’t enough to save him from two Vickers K machine guns.
Things did not bode well for the good guys as the Italians moved forward.
Out-numbered and out-gunned the Green Berets were in a wee spot of bother. Time for tea?
No way. I decided something stronger was required and went to the bar!
Made me feel better but unfortunately not the poor old Tommies as more go down.
Italians advancing even further.
Another Commando squad dwindling in numbers.
With my only two units hovering on the base edge it was time to call it a day.
Good guys 0 – Bad guys 1
The axis forces had the better of the Allies in the first round, and although we had gained a foothold on our beach heads we were on the defensive for the second game. The scenario was the Attacker -Defender surprise surprise! Having replaced our Lieutenant we hoped for a better result this time.
After some minor skirmishing which the Commandos were having the best of, things were just getting interesting as the Japanese and the Tommies were about to come to grips.
Japanese trying their typical outflanking manoeuvrer.
The Commando fire support was starting to receive causalities from a well placed Japanese HMG and would need to re-deploy.
Having dealt with one unit and then wiping out the Japanese command squad, the Commando Engineers with their flame thrower were under real pressure with six pin markers.
A well placed mortar round takes them out.
In the end there were very few Japanese left and and it was a big win to the Commandos ten to two VP’s. “Take that Tojo”!
Good guys 1 – Bad guys 1
The second round was a slight win to the Allies as the Gin and Tonics was warming them (me) up.
The last game was a fight over three key objectives as the Commandos took on the might of the Africa Corps.
Fritz was on one objective very quickly but the Commandos held two and were starting to mount a concerted attack on the German positions.
Commandos about to enfilade the advancing German machine gun squad.
The time was right for the Commando Engineers to take control. They moved left and flamed Rommel’s boys in the ploughed field. With the Vickers K’s keeping the Krauts heads down the Engineers then turned on the German Lieutenant in the building and it was more fried Fritz. The following turn they took out the squad behind hedge and it was all over.
With no Germans left on the field of battle the “Key Positions” were all in the hands of the Commandos.
Good guys 2 – Bad guys 1
I am glad that I finally worked out how to combine the use of the long range fire power and hard hitting power of the Commandos. A great afternoon. Well done John for organising this.
As my game finished early, and i needed to get home, I am not sure what the overall campaign result was, but at least I put the Allies on the start to victory for round three.
PS. Just received a communique saying Allies won. Take that Schultz – you know nothing!
I am hoping to do some of those daring deeds from “Commando” comics with my very small team of Commandos today at the “AXELS AND ALES” games day.
I am filling in for S.O.G who could not attend. I needed to use a Western Front allies team of 500pts to fit the scenario(s) we were playing. Now, Commandos at 500pts gets you very little so I am not expecting to replicate the deeds in the above excellent primary source material, but at least I will have fun trying.
Did you notice that in the Commando Comics Fritz always died with ‘ARGH’ or if it was really nasty ‘ARRGGHHHHH’ but Tojo died with ‘AIEEE’. Of course Allied soldiers died with a stiff upper lip and only slightly homosexual overtones.
Let’s hope that later today it is a case of “Eat lead Fritz!”
