Sunday, May 29, 2016

Toy Soldiers in the Sudan - Part II


The "lost cavalry" arrives. Bikkaner Camel Corps (top left), 21st Lancers (top right) and Mountain Battery (top center). Click on all pictures once or twice to enlarge the view.

But wait, there's more! Yesterday I was wondering if I would ever be able to find all of the Sudan cavalry and Dervish and the Boxer Rebellion figures - EVER :0  Well, as you can see in these pictures, perserverance paid off and I finally found the missing box.

In some respects, it was not a pretty sight as shown in the picture below. This is (was) a huge square of Steadfast Toy Soldiers and actually they are in better condition than you would think, based on the picture. Only a few rifles and bayonets are bent and twisted as most survived the storage. 

Steadfast British in the Mess Hall?
Below is a picture of the Mother Lode of Sudan Dervish and Fuzzies including some spectacular Dervish cavalry and camelry from Alymer of Spain. The fellows in the white coats in front are from the Trophy Boxer Rebellion range: Austrian sailors in the front left, Russians in white coats, caps and green trousers on the right. Behind the Russians are some sailors in blue wearing straw hats : these are British sailors, I think. Since I don't have shelf space for this lot, they will all be carefully repacked, repairs made if needed, and stored away in a place where I can find them.


I finally found the box containing all of the Boxer Rebellion and Sudan Cavalry and Camelry figures. These will probably be repacked and returned to storage.

Here is a picture of the left hand book case.  Some amazing Plantagenet Knights made for the Higgins Armour Museum are on display in the top two rows. Underneath them are the British Colonila artillery sections. The very top shelf contains ACW books - lots of Bruce Catton books that my Father owned and gave to me. It was his deep interest in the ACW that stirred my interest in history and ultimately led me to lead soldiers. Dad liked to visit the ACW battlefields and he took the family along with him when he made his trips to the battlefield sites. It was really a treat to follow him as he led me across the fields and explained what had happened there.

The left hand set of bookshelves store the artillery on the lower shelf and some Plantagenet Miniatures knights circa Agincourt on the top two shelves.

Some amazing knights representing the English and French at the Battle of Agincourt are the subject of the limited edition of Plantagenet knights, circa late 1980s. I found my first sets of these figures either at the Burlington Arcade or the Under Two Flags shop, both in London. These figures are shown primarily on the very top shelf below. Then Higgins Armoury commissioned a limited edition set (I was subscriber Number 8) of knights that were in more actionable poses, as seen in the center and bottom rows. They were expensive even back then and I had to cancel my subscription after receiving the first five sets. I was back in graduate business school and did not have as much disposable income as I had prior to going back to school. I really regret that I did not stick it out and remain in the subscription. I wonder how many other sets Plantagenet made?





















3 comments:

  1. Toy knights are fascinating!

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

    ReplyDelete
  2. Memories of good times and more. After all the castings get acclimated to sunlight again, they might benefit by The Sword and The Flame 20th edition. Get them, fit for action. Bill P.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is an interesting idea. I've acquired some reinforcements for the Madists over,the weekend

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