Some of Dave Lycett's collection.

60mm Persians from Expeditionary Force Miniatures

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Friend of Joy & Forgetfulness Dave Lycett sent me these pictures recently - all 1/32 (or thereabouts) additions to his collection. I think you'll agree, he's done some lovely work. He's planning to use About Ceasar, About Cromwell and About Bonaparte, three rulesets by Dirk Donvil for his games.

He's a regular at the Little Wars Revisited boards which are run by Mike Lewis of Black Cat Miniatures, which is a haven for 54mm collectors and wargamers. You'll find it at www.littlewarsrevisited.boards.net.

These are quite big photos and repay closer study, so do click on them to have a closer look. 

I'm grateful to Dave for sharing them with us and will be adding a few more over the next few days.

60mm Companion Cavalry from Expeditionary Force Miniatures

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60mm Persian Cavalry from Expeditionary Force Miniatures

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A rather magnificent chariot

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A Call to Arms English Civil War Pike & Shotte

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60mm Persian Infantry from Expeditionary Force Miniatures

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Happy Easter

Christ is risen!

Wishing you all a very peaceful and blessed Easter.

I saw this while I was at church today and thought that a story of reconciliation might be appropriate.

The Door of Reconciliation

"In 1492 two Irish families, the Butlers of Ormonde and the FitzGeralds of Kildare, were involved in a bitter feud. This disagreement centred around the position of Lord Deputy. Both families wanted one of their own to hold the position. In 1492 this tension broke into outright warfare and a small skirmish occurred between the two families just outside the city walls.

The Butlers, realising that the fighting was getting out of control, took refuge in the Chapter House of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The FitzGeralds followed them into the Cathedral and asked them to come out and make peace. The Butlers, afraid that if they did so they would be slaughtered, refused.

As a gesture of good faith the head of the Kildare family, Gerald FitzGerald, ordered that a hole be cut in the door. He then thrust his arm through the door and offered his hand in peace to those on the other side. Upon seeing that FitzGerald was willing to risk his arm by putting it through the door the Butlers reasoned that he was serious in his intention. They shook hands through the door, the Butlers emerged from the Chapter House and the two families made peace.

Today this door is known as the “Door of Reconciliation” and is on display in the Cathedral’s north transept. This story also lives on in a famous expression in Ireland “To chance your arm”. "

(Text from St. Patrick's Cathedral website)

Apologies if I have posted this before. If I have - stories of reconciliation bear repeating. If I have not - well here's something new. 

CP Models Second World War British Characters

I took delivery of these chaps recently.  They are some special Second World War British character figures from CP models and very lovely they are too.  They were painted by my pal Tamas and I think he did a fine job.

First amongst them is this diorama piece of a lightly armed commando killing a German sentry with a Fairbairn Sykes dagger. I haven't the faintest idea what I'll be able to use this for in a game, but it brought to mind all my bloody thirsty antics as a small boy reared on Commando, Warlord and Battle! comics. 

My father still tells the story of finding me, aged eight, in the grip of a high fever one night.  He had checked my bedroom only to find it empty and searched the house in a bit of a panic. He found me in the living room hiding under the sofa.

  "Dad are you crazy ? Get down - the Germans will see you."

Apparently it took some struggle to get me back to bed. 

I have a few military police figures - this chap is the latest addition. The redcaps are a much maligned branch and I've always wanted to do a game about them.

Possibly for traffic control? Or rear security. 

I've been reading through some of the war diaries of the Provost companies during the Normandy campaign.  It's a catalogue of points duty, dealing with looting and disorder and a steady trickle of casualties from shelling. I have been pondering how one might approach that in the context of a game. 

Another rarely seen figure on the wargames table, the army padre. 

Our own wargaming padre has written movingly about the experience of ministering to those in uniform.  He has also just posted a piece about the Canadian chaplains serving the Lord and the troops at Vimy Ridge which is well worth reading and which you will find here. 

Curiously enough, I have learned that a Kinch ancestor served in the Great War as an RC chaplain and paid for his devotion with his life. Something we shall have to dig into a little more deeply. 

This chap is described in the set as a despatch rider, but he seemed to be doing points duty here.  I shall have to scare up on the old Airfix motorcycle for him, possibly leaned artistically against a wall or some such. He may end up being inducted into the redcaps. 

This is a fine little set showing some of the rear echelon elements of an army. I would certainly recommend them and Tamas has done a fine job.  Hopefully Joy & Forgetfulness will be a little more active over the next few months - Kinchlets permitting. 

Getting a baby sitter is always such a chore.