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.