Gary's collection (1 Viewer)

[NZGary]

The battle of Lewis southern England 1264. The barons, unhappy with the unrelenting power of King Henry III, took up arms against the King in open rebellion. As the king tried to bring his rebellious barons to heal his superior force, around double the size of the barons army, was initially successful as a cavalry charge depicted in this scene by his son Prince Edward forced its way through the rebels ranks. However, flushed with success Prince Edward did not return to the battlefield with his cavalry and Henry's foot soldiers were left exposed. Henry attacked uphill and was soundly defeated.

After the battle he was forced to concede much of his power to the victorious barons.

 

[NZGary]

The Greek/Persian wars as Persia looks to bring to heal the petulant and disruptive Greek city states. I suppose one thing we can learn from history is that on the whole, faced with adversity, the city states pulled together to inflict defeat on their traditional foes. Of course Alexander would complete the job a hundred or so years later but for now it was enough to resist invasion and conquest by the reportedly vast armies of the Persian empire. Numbers of troops, reportedly in some cases of up to 1 million men, must have been vastly exaggerated. In the ancient world it would have been impossible to feed and keep such large numbers in the field. What is clear is Persia used her conquered peoples to fill the ranks of her armies perhaps on some kind of conscript basis. These troops were perhaps not as motivated as the Greeks fighting for their very survival.

 

[Horus]

Great photos Gary, you can almost hear the clash of arms !

Steve

 

[NZGary]

Palestine 1918. Mechanisation is becoming more prevalent as the first world war progresses. Australians on patrol catch up with an Arab regular mounted infantryman on his mule as they head for Damascus.

 

[farmertony]

This is an excellent series.
Thanks for posting.

 

[NZGary]

First up this week and its US Buffalo soldiers defending a hacienda against Apache Indians in around the 1880's. A tough job in dusty dirty lethal conditions. I have not collected much K&C lately but these were something a little different and are well done. I will get more. Gary

 

[NZGary]

I have been invited to write a series of articles on toy soldier collecting. All the articles need a selection of photos. I attach some of the photos (there were 25 of them!) to go with an article on ancient armies. Anyway I thought I would share. Gary

 

[NZGary]

I absolutely adore (is that too gushing for a toy soldier collector?) the First Legion Polish winged hussars. I still have a couple to go but they do look good on mass even if I say so myself. Oh and then there are the Ottomans to get. Good grief, there must be better things to spend my money on? Gary

 

[rwcowell]

The age of pike and musket.

Hi Gary,

Really very nice...
What makes up the church that is in the ECW diorama? Is it a hybrid of a couple different buildings or was the church a set made by someone...

Cheers,
Ricky

 

[NZGary]

Hi Gary,

Really very nice...
What makes up the church that is in the ECW diorama? Is it a hybrid of a couple different buildings or was the church a set made by someone...

Cheers,
Ricky

Hi Ricky. Commission build for me by Small Wonders Models.

Gary

 

[NZGary]

Casting light on the dark ages. I have always found it a bit odd that historians term the period after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and the 10th/11th century as the dark ages. I suppose the days of stone building was taken over by wooden, cob, thatch constructions. Technology seemed to go backwards and luxurious living seemed to be in the past. Damp, rotting, cold bleak Northern Europe where life was cheap and miserable - and then there were the Vikings!

But this is far from the truth with wonderful civilisations in existence , the Franks fight against the Muslim hordes who swept all before them, the Moors occupation of Spain and the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium and its fight against the Arabs and Persians. In this diorama Byzantium troops ready for battle against their hated Muslim adversaries. The Byzantium Empire was significantly shrunk in the 8th century and bore little resemblance to the once extensive Eastern Roman empire of 400 years earlier. Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia and Syria were all lost until the city state of the renamed Constantinople only remained.

 

[NZGary]

In this small diorama Roman Praetorian Guard on campaign with the Emperor question a local tribal leader somewhere in Northern Europe about the whereabouts of rebellious Germanic tribesman.

 

[Currahee Chris]

You do an excellent close up shot.

Nice work!

 

[29 Let's Go]

Thanks for posting your wonderful figures. Such a variety and great action.

Steve

 

[farmertony]

Gary,you have one of the most extensive,varied and well presented collections I've ever seen.You take a pretty good photo too.Thanks for sharing.

 

[NZGary]

Thanks all for your kind comments - really appreciate it. Gary

 

[NZGary]

18th July 1863 and just after Gettysburg Union forces are laying siege to Charleston North Carolina. Of key strategic importance is Confederate held Fort Wagner. Eager to prove themselves the first Union black regiment the 54th Massachusetts leads the attack at dusk. Its a virtual suicide mission as the only point attack is along the narrow beach. Around 20 cannon and 1,000 Confederate troops in prime defensive positions bar their way. They are cut to pieces and fail with the support of other Union regiments to take the fort. Their glorious brave act encourages other black Americans to rally to the cause and help sway the war in the Union's favour. Their commanding officer Colonel Shaw is killed early on in the attack. Fort Wagner remained in Confederate hands until short of supplies and the dead poisoning the forts well it is abandoned two months later.

 

[Horus]

Nice one Gary !

I remember seeing the film "Glory" with the scene you're portraying at the end. Well done for turning that into a diorama. :salute::

Steve

 

[Poppo]

18th July 1863 and just after Gettysburg Union forces are laying siege to Charleston North Carolina. Of key strategic importance is Confederate held Fort Wagner. Eager to prove themselves the first Union black regiment the 54th Massachusetts leads the attack at dusk. Its a virtual suicide mission as the only point attack is along the narrow beach. Around 20 cannon and 1,000 Confederate troops in prime defensive positions bar their way. They are cut to pieces and fail with the support of other Union regiments to take the fort. Their glorious brave act encourages other black Americans to rally to the cause and help sway the war in the Union's favour. Their commanding officer Colonel Shaw is killed early on in the attack. Fort Wagner remained in Confederate hands until short of supplies and the dead poisoning the forts well it is abandoned two months later.

I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!{sm3}{sm3}

 

[NZGary]

First up this weekend (well its Friday evening in New Zealand and time to light up the Barbie on beautiful early summers evening) its British cavalry and camel corps keeping Africa British in the Sudan 1880's.