Monday 30 March 2020

Playing cards depicting episodes from the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688-89, c.1689

I got the new Helion book on the plug bayonet (which looks great) and they had a couple of these playing cards of the Glorious revolution which I didn't know about.    Here at the British Museum

Sunday 29 March 2020

England 1642-1649. Sergey Petrov

The original is for sale. Guache 29.5cm. x 42 cm. See more of the artist's work here (mostly 18th and 19thc)

Cheriton 1644

Today's anniversary this Parliamentarian victory. Wiki
Pic from https://www.flickr.com/photos/xerones/360864121/

Saturday 28 March 2020

More from Strelets-r - this time some pikemen

 More figures from Strelets-r. Useful if you want to use them for GNW

Wednesday 25 March 2020

'I Am Minded to Rise. The Clothing, Weapons And Accoutrements Of The Jacobites From 1689 To 1719'

OUT NOW!
This book throws new light on the men who fought for the Stuarts in Scotland from the beginning of the Jacobite cause in 1689 to Glenshiel in 1719 by drawing on the work of historians and a wide range of primary sources and therefore presenting a picture based on the evidence available. I am minded to rise looks at the variety of clothing and weapons used by the different Jacobite armies in this time period as well as their material culture used by them to show their allegiance to the Stuarts and the Jacobite cause. This book will appeal to those interested in the Jacobite Risings reenactors, wargamers, fans of Outlander, anyone with an interest in Scottish clothing from 17th and 18th centuries and the Scottish diaspora who, thanks to a growing interest in family history, are keen to know more about their Scottish heritage.

The Perfection of Military Discipline The Plug Bayonet and the English Army 1669-1705

Out now. See more here

Steel Fist 15mm Kickstarter

While visiting the world of small scale 17th century I thought we should revisit the Steel Fist 15mm Kickstarter. Looking very good.

Tuesday 24 March 2020

In Deo Veritas

'Dear All,

I'd like to announce the launch of the first book in the new Helion Wargames Series...

IN DEO VERITAS

Fast Play Rules for Exciting Seventeenth Century Battles in Smaller Scales

Designed to recreate actual battles, 'In Deo Veritas' focuses on the command decisions needed to maintain the motivation of the army. The six actual battle scenarios provide a range of different challenges from the warfare of the seventeenth century.
Battles are played at the brigade level with all major elements are on 75mm/3" wide bases. Using smaller scale figures (6-15mm) lets players give their units a realistic feel. The ground scale of 1" = 40yds means the typical 6ft x 4 ft table is large enough to accommodate most battles of the period.
Most players will already have everything needed to play (d6, tape measure and a deck of cards). More scenarios and game support will become available on the Helion Wargames Facebook page.
To learn the rules will take 2 hours or so using some of the smaller battles. Once you have become familiar with the core elements then your games will flow more quickly and a larger battle such as Wittstock should last for 3-4 hours depending on the arrival of the reinforcements!
Nothing is certain; but generals that hone their skills are more likely to be victorious.'

PLAYSHEET AND COUNTERS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE WEB PAGE

Monday 23 March 2020

The King's Irish John Barratt


This came today and very good it is. The story of the Anglo-Irish foot through their campaigns such as Nantwich and Marston moor. Some great plates by Sean O'Brogain. Read the blurb here

Sunday 22 March 2020

Saps

Traité des Sieges et de L'ataque des Places

Par le Marechal De Vauban

1704

French drummers c1713

Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684–1721)
Three Studies of a Military Drummer, ca. 1713

Friday 20 March 2020

Tuesday 17 March 2020

Friday 13 March 2020

La bataille de Denain 1712 par Jean-Louis Legens

Go here


Very good article "La bataille de Denain... il y a 300 ans" par Jean-Louis Legens from "Gazette des Armes" Issue 446, Oct. 2012 (link). It's well-illustrated with photos of various arms.

New WSS teasers from Strelets-r

 Strelets-r have released these images. They appear to be (spotted on the Forum) based on the painting of Villars at the battle of Denain 1712.
Marshal Villars leads the French charge at the Battle of Denain. Oil on canvas, 1839

Rearguard at Farleigh Hungerford 1685 - A Donnybrook batrep

Wednesday 11 March 2020

Saturday 7 March 2020

IN DEO VERITAS | Helion Wargames

If you are looking for 15mm wargames rules for your Steel Fist etc. here's an interview about the forthcoming rules from Helion.
here is the details of the rules from the back of the book- In Deo Vertias- In God We Trust
Fast play rules for exciting seventeenth century battles in smaller scales


Designed to recreate actual battles, ‘In Deo Veritas’ focuses on the command decisions needed to maintain the motivation of the army. The six actual battle scenarios provide a range of different challenges from the warfare of the seventeenth century.

Battles are played at the brigade level with all major elements are on 75mm/3” wide bases. Using smaller scale figures (6-15mm) lets players give their units a realistic feel. The ground scale of 25mm/1” = 15mts/40yds means the typical 6ft x 4 ft table is large enough to accommodate most battles of the period.

Most players will already have everything needed to play (d6, tape measure and a deck of cards). More scenarios and game support will become available on the Helion Wargames Facebook page.

To learn the rules will take 2 hours or so using some of the smaller battles. Once you have become familiar with the core elements then your games will flow more quickly and a larger battle such as Wittstock should last for 3-4 hours depending on the arrival of the reinforcements!

Friday 6 March 2020

Steel Fist 15mm ECW armoured pikemen

The Kickstarter is underway. To check it out go here. I must admit they look really tempting. And they are doing the correct drillbook pose for advance your pike.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1527901373/steel-fist-miniatures-english-civil-war-in-15mm?ref=project_build

Thursday 5 March 2020

More like Lions than men

I really enjoyed this book. Very good for a campaign - very detailed.
While some military historians of the English Civil Wars continue to focus on the national conflict and major campaigns, and assert that the considerations of counties and regions was little more than a disconnected series of petty local struggles, several new interpretations about the nature and effectiveness of local forces have challenged this notion. This book describes the parliamentarian armed forces in Cheshire commanded by Sir William Brereton in detail. Focusing on the military operations,organisation, leadership, pay and equipping of this army, it explores its contribution to the wider regional context. In doing so it utilizes a range of primary sources, many of which have neither been studied before, nor published. Although an overview of the broad military campaigns, and the regional and more widespread strategy of the conflict are provided, the author concentrates on the leadership, context and nature of the regiments under the command of Brereton and his officers, whilst casting light upon the composition, supply, clothing, financing and effectiveness of what would rapidly become a seasoned and important fighting force, albeit mainly on a regional stage. The book enhances our knowledge of the Parliamentary war effort and civil-war forces in the northwest and beyond, whilst locating the Cheshire army in its wider military and strategic context. Several new interpretations about the nature and effectiveness of local forces, as well as how the parliamentarian soldiers in Cheshire were recruited, trained, led, paid, fed, equipped and clothed, are extensively scrutinized.

The Army of Frederick the Great (Second Edition)

It was a famous army, but it is not always understood. It was praised for introducing a revolution in the art of war and notorious for the brutality of its discipline, but how did this really work? This is a study of the greatest army of its time by the finest historian of the wars of the 18th century.
We love the cover design! What do you think?
The Army Of Frederick The Great Second Edition is now available to buy on our website here: https://www.helion.co.uk/…/the-army-of-frederick-the-great-…

Sunday 1 March 2020

Battle of Alton 2020


The Army of James II

This one is also from 1987. Been superceded nowadays by the Helion book Army of James II

The British Army of William III

Anybody remember this booklet from 1987? My copy is fairly grubby. Apparently it's still available through Caliver Books.

Royal Welch Fusiliers at Minden 1759

As it's Saint David's day. See more of this exhibit at the RWF museum here