Firstly these are for matt. he has had them for over a week but well it takes time to catch up. The figures are Great War miniatures and were a2 piece casting . the horse and rider were one piece while the lance and arm were another. Horse and rider together did make a trickier paint job but they got their in the end.
12 figures in all including an officer and a musician (who carries both a trumpet AND a bugle.)My Grandfather joined the army aged 14, (He lied about his age). And served in WW1. he was too young to serve in the trenches. you had to be 17 years old for that. So his job in the army was to take supplies to the front. The supplies were transported on mules. needless to say there was a war on and I hate to think of the horrors he was exposed to. But he must have seen some really nasty stuff.
A trench without any supplies will not last long. so the mule trains were frequent targets of the German artillery. Just as British and French artillery must have targeted German supplies. He never talked about it and how he lost a finger no one in the family knows to this day. Each time he was asked he yielded a different story. 
After the war he was "demobbed" and having no work, no home and no trade to fall back on he re-enlisted. But this time in the 4h Hussar cavalry regiment. Which after the war were in the middle east training Indian cavalry. We did hear some stories, but very few and did learn he had to take horses out into the desert and shoot them when they were too ill to carry on.
We also learnt that he would trust a black man but not an indian. Again we never found out why. I can only assume something happened but I just do not know, and cannot even begin to speculate. While in the army though it is known that he did learn to read and write which he was unable to do previously. We also know he had a pet monkey (again no details) and that he was an accomplished rider. Even winning a trophy for show jumping.After the army he married and drove a bread cart for the co-op. Again I cannot give details.
What I can say is the Horse tradition continues and that my sister has been invited to Hickstead this year. For those who don't know that is an international horse show that is occasionally seen on TV. So as far as I am concerned that is a big deal.
The cavalry looks great, Clint. I really like those. And the personal history is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about my family's history circa WW1. I had a Great (or Great Great Uncle) who fought in that war, as we have his Great War Medal and we know he was in a Yorkshire infantry regiment. Other than that, nothing. That was one side of the family, the other were Romany (at that time) so records and being termed 'British' is iffy at best in that time period.
Definitely being invited to an international event is a big deal.
Thank you Roy. A family member did most of the research on my grandfather. (I only did a very very little). I am sure a great many of us have a personal link to WW1 and for each of us it is very moving.
DeleteI think I tend to underestimate my sister at times! But she really is a good worse woman.
Awesome looking cavalry mate great job on them all. I think whats even greater is the tale of your Grandfather sounds like there were some interesting tales told about that finger i'll bet.
ReplyDeleteThank you Simon. When my grandfather passed I was too young to have noticed the finger, but talking to my aunts and Uncles no one actually knows and the story changed each time. It is something that happened before they were born and they were not told the same tale more than once. Personally I think it probably happened in the war and as the war was not something ever discussed I think it had some very painful memories. But I do not know at all.
DeleteGreat figures (I presume 28mms?, done with your usual panache.
ReplyDeleteYour bit of family history is fascinating too; my own granfather seemingly enlisted with his three brothers in the great war (two of whom died in action) and although I have his enlistement and demob papers I can't find anything else out about his 'service'as he's not actually listed on any offical list etc. My oldest living relative also claims he never served!
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Thank you Joe. I believe everyone has someone close to them who served in the great war. I am so sorry that 2 did not make it home.
DeleteI only found so much out as he re enlisted after the war. I imagine they were a little less fussy with records back then , both less jobs-worths and also because of the war.
The minis look awesome as always Clint and the personal history is fascinating. Sadly I know very little about my grandfathers and my great grandfathers service although I know they all served - sad but true.
ReplyDeleteThank you Andy. As for family history I would know nothing much, only family stories based on half truths. My cousin looked it all up so a big thanks to him. I did nothing.
DeleteThose guys look great Clint!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much jerry
DeleteNow they are jolly impressive Clint.
ReplyDeleteThank you Michael. They were a pain to paint but they look alright in the end.
DeleteThese are lovely, I am just looking expanding both Back of Beyond and VBCW armies so might get some of these. Lovely bit of back story too 🙂
ReplyDeleteThank you Matt. They would work for VBCW or BOB very well. Other makes are available though so make sure you have a look around before parting with any money.
DeleteNice looking cavalry Clint. Interesting bits about your Grandfather too!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rod. One never knows what will be interesting to blog readers. But I know I would be interested in reading other bloggers family history as it relates to military service.
DeleteWithout doubt one of your very finest paint-jobs Clint. They look outstanding imho, and would certainly draw my eye on the tabletop. Very, very nicely done, sir!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Simon.
DeleteI will be starting some Aeronef next week... or maybe the week after. And maybe some Russian Civil war or WW2 Japanese.... Not sure which yet.
Probably some Victorian Science Fiction. But Will need to wait and see.
Hmm, where was your grandfather's service in the Middle East? My own grandfather was in the South Persia Rifles.
ReplyDeleteThank you C6. I get different reports from different places. It is possible he might have been in Muttra in India or the middle east. Family history from the memory of the older gereration passed down through comments and stories remembered from their childhood. So I am afraid I cannot be more precise.
DeleteSorry about that!