FPW Bavarian Infantry

A couple of 15mm Bavarian regiments for the Franco-Prussian War. 

The first is the 12th line infantry from von Tann's Bavarian 1st Corps, 2nd division. The figures are Essex Miniatures.

The second unit is the 2nd line infantry from the 1st division of the same Corps. Apart from most of the command base which are Eagle Figures, I do not know who the figure manufacturer is. I was fortunate enough to get these and much more being sold absurdly cheaply from a gamer having a clear out.

Both units have been based for They Died For Glory rules.

A Place in the Sun

The Easter holidays gave my family the opportunity to get away from it all.  So to sunny Barcelona we did travel.

The stay was all about the culture, architecture and food.  So, it was cava, tapas, street festivals, Gaudi and modernism throughout.  Alas, hardly anything military or hobby related.  However, here are a few photos that I slipped in.

This first one is taken from Montjuic.  It is a significant hill overlooking the city from the south.  With a wargamers eye I noted (and had an internal monologue about) how control of the heights all around Barcelona would be vital for its defence.  I should say that I know nothing about events during the Spanish Civil War.

On top of Montjuic is a fort, obvious position really.

And by the fort was this beast of a gun.

Carefully placed overlooking the port below.

Lastly, and rather sadly, we passed through the small square of Sant Felip Neri.  This square is both a public thoroughfare and the playground for the primary schoolchildren whose school entrance you can just make out on the extreme right.  You can also make out the damaged and pock marked brickwork along the walls.

As the memorial plaque below reveals, on the the 30th January 1938 a bomb from an air raid fell on this square during the children's break killing 42 people, most of them children.

A grim reminder that war is ugly and no respecter of the innocent.

Can A Wargame Look Too Good?

Back in February it was lovely to have the return of a much loved local show, Cavalier at Tonbridge.  The Rejects descended to support the show, admire the displays and stock up on goodies. See the show in more detail at BLMA and Don't Throw a One.

The games were a real delight to look at.  I lingered for a particularly long time at this game by Retired Wargamers Reloaded.

It was an absolute feast for the eyes.  Really beautiful. This must have been a real labour of love.  Well done to the Retired Wargamers.

However, in my admiration and salivating over this masterpiece I then realised that I wasn't looking at the wargame. The scenary was just so wonderful that I no longer saw a wargame, and nor could I follow its progess. I do not doubt that the issue is with me, but it made me think.

I love that our hobby has a strong aesthetic quality, but I did start posing a question. Accepting that this excellent exhibition was a demonstration game, can a wargame look so good that it ceases to be seen (or even function) as a wargame?

Over to you.

France at Bay

At the Cavalier show in February I saw this book at a reasonable price and snapped it up.

France at Bay by Douglas Fermer (published by Pen and Sword) deals with the Republican phase of the Franco-Prussian War. In otherwords, events following the French defeat at the Battle of Sedan until the peace and onto the Paris Commune. This is the second in the series with "Sedan 1870" being the first dealing with events leading to and including the debacle at Sedan.

If you are looking for orders of battle etc., then this is not for you.

What it is, is a very well written history that successfully weaves the military and political developments without overwhelming or confusing the reader.

Douglas Fermer has a good narrative style that pushes the story along in a compelling manner. This is combined with a very good analysis of events and decisions that screams that he really knows his stuff, and is up to date with research.  Unusually for this type of book it is a page-turner; you want to know what happens next... I say that as someone who already knew what would happen next!

A lot of focus tends to be on the battles of the early, imperial, part of the war. It is great to have such an accessible history on the post-Sedan phase of the war.

I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.