Unsung heroes of the common wealth

So when most people think if the Second World War, they think Germany, Britain, Russia, USA maybe Japan. 

But no massive thought goes to the minor powers. Or the country's and people's who fought for/alongside the big powers. 

Now I must admit, when I look at my BA armies, I see mainly German, Britain Russia.

So this is my start if incorporating these minor country/powers into my army's, with the idea of doing a full stand alone minor power army in the future. 

So before a go any further, firstly, a shout out to the LRDG and BA.net chaps, I am an avid listener. If you havnt listened yet. I highly recommend it. 

Anyway, I am rambling again. 

The guys from there, mainly Brad, tend to run quite obscure army lists. Notably for me atm is his Indian commonwealth army. 

Secondly, the unit I am about to show you, tends to be very good in game, I will admit this was one of the reasons I have selected to run them. But also a nod to history and some unsong heroes IMO. 

The Gurkhas are natives of Nepal, have been a part of the Britsh and Commonwealth forces since as early as 1815.

Gurkhas are closely associated with the Khukuri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife and have a well known reputation for their fearless military prowess. The former Indian army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, once stated that "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha."

With a tournament coming up on the 1st of March using the .Net rules pack. Run by the BA royalty Bob Emerson on behalf of the PGS Wargames club. 

I've decided to take my 8th army, with a squad of Gurkas plus a M3 grant. 

A blitzkrieg minitures tanks that is hopfuly in the post. 

I am also taking the opertunity to run LMGs due to the .Net players pack, decreasing them to 5pts instead of 20pts. I sound like such a cheese gamer here. 

Here is my start to the Gurkhas, 

Thought I would add a picture of the finished job. Better late than never. 

As always thanks for looking.

Updates to follow

Three MMGs you say? .... Well then I simply must has two!!

"Honey I'm home".... Ah the Sturat light tank, an American tank adopted by the British who nicknamed it the "Honey", after a tank driver remarked "She's a honey".

Such a lovely looking tank, cool, small fast and agile, I was in no way swayed to buy two after I read the bolt actions stats for one. Because having 3 mmgs and a light AT gun is absolutely no use in mid war desert 8-). 

I bought these two stunning little models from Blitzkrieg miniture, through the Perry miniture website, and wow they are wonderful! 

The cast were lovely, a few little bits of cleaning up needed. 

Only one down side was I need to trim away where the turret sits in the hull, as it would not fit. 

But apart from that, AMAZING! 

The crewman, is from Perry Miniatures, their British tank crew set. Again as always from the perry brothers amazing sculpts. I have two dismounted models from the set, that I am making into a objective at the moment. More on that later. 

As always, thanks for looking.

Regards all, 

One of your 5 A day...

I'm a keen believer in getting your five a day, and one of my 5 a day is big guns! 

Today on the menu is the Iconic QF 25pdr!

The Ordnance QF 25-pounder, or more simply, 25-pounder or 25-pdr, was introduced into service just before World War II, during which it served as the major dual-purpose British field gun/howitzer. 

Combining high rates of fire with a reasonably lethal shell in a highly mobile piece, it was the British Army's primary artillery field piece well into the 1960s, with smaller numbers serving in training units until the 1980s.

I purchased two of WestWind productions, 25pdrs from their Berlin or Bust range. To add to my 8th Army Bolt Action army. 

These came with a large crew of 28mm figures in western field dress. These have gone in a draw probably never to be used. But the guns were perfect for what I need, no muzzle brake, that was fitted to the gun later in the war. They come with a little limber (ammunition carnage). 

No instruction 😒, but not to hard to figure out. 

8/10 product IMO. 

Without further delay, here they are:

I held back a few of the plastic perry chaps, and with a bit of cutting shutting and general gluing. Here is the result. 

I green stuffed some beret on a couple to give some originality. 

A few arms are standard, a few arms are bren gun carrying arms with the gun cut away. 

One chap in each crew has a shell in his hand, made from a shaped bit of resin I had lying around. 

The putty on the base, is 4grounds base render, LOVE this stuff, it's pretty much just filler, but just seems to be easier to work with. 

The camo net, I picked up off a military modeller on eBay. 

Any question please ask, 

I will endeavour to answer any.

Regards, 

My 8th Army adventure.

The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns. 

It was a British formation, always commanded by British officers, however its personnel came from throughout the British Empire and Commonwealth; complemented by units composed of exiles from Nazi-occupied Europe. Subordinate units came from Australia, British India, Canada, Free French Forces, Greece, New Zealand, Poland, Rhodesia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

My late grandfather, was a veteran of the Second World War, he first saw action as a young lad in France in 1939 with the British expeditionary force (BEF). Only later to be lost at the "the miracle of dunkirk", and turn up for duty a few weeks later, after clambering aboard a local fisherman's boat, and making it back to Blighty relatively unharmed.  

From there we was recirculated in to service and found him self in the Royal Engineers. 

With orders to ship out to North Africa, to fight "Jerry" in the desert as part of the British 8th Army. 

This is where my inspiration came from to A 8th Army themed Bolt Action Army (it's my third BA army, but the only one with sentimental value). 

So naturally when the Perry brothers announced their platoon in a box Desert rats, I was like a kid in a sweet shop. And rushed out to get my hands on them. Having already written up my winning lay list, a didn't just purchase one box. Some of those beautiful Blitzkrieg models may have dropped through my letter box also.  

So with help from a few Christmas presents from some deer friends, and a bit of my own spending I cracked on, with a smile from ear to ear. 

I purchased some 25pdr guns from WestWind Productions, and with a bit of cutting and shutting fashioned a crew from spares I had in the Perry box.

I will do separate threads for my individual pieces. (All threads will be linked with the 8th army tab).

For now I will show you the one model that means the very most, the one model that when people direct fire at it on the gaming table... Things get personal! (No I am joking, the model means a lot, but I am not a serious gamer. I mean it when I say I do this hobby for FUN!).

A 3 Ton OY truck, I know what your thinking "his favourite model is a truck?!"

But yes it is, a few months ago I went to visit my Nonna (she is Italian, a whole other story, but on short, my grandad brought her home after he married her in the liberation of Italy). Anyway, my Nonna showed me a picture of my grandfather, stood next to his truck that he drove during the North Africa campaign, and on the grill and number he had written the words "Kidderminster Kid" so of course I went strait home and ordered my self a truck, and did my best to recreate that truck, the truck that took my grandfather and his comrades in and out of danger for his country. 

Thanks for reading, 

There will be more posts, no so story like and sentimental I promise 😌

I will post up the 25pdrs next, and go some way to explain how I did it. 

Regards, 

P.s I wright most of these on my Iphone. I apologise for any typos and spelling mistakes.