New Releases For November 2017 - The Great War 1914-1918 (1 Viewer)

[jjDesigns]

THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918
WHEELS ACROSS THE DESERT

The 1st Light Car Patrol was formed in Melbourne during 1916 as part of the Australian Imperial Force during World War I.
First named the 1st Armoured Car Section, it was also known as the 1st Armoured Car Battery.
The unit fought against the Senussi in the Sudan and Western Desert. The 1st Armoured Car Section became the 1st Light Car Patrol on 3 December.
As their original three armoured car vehicles became worn out from hard use in the Western Desert and were irreparable due to shortages of spare parts, the unit was re-equipped with six model T-Ford light cars.
The cars were given names: Anzac, Billzac, Osatal, Silent Sue, Imshi and Bung.
These were traded in for six new Fords on 11 December 1917.
In May 1917 the unit was redeployed to Palestine by rail, and served throughout the campaign there. Like similar British units of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force it was used to conduct long range reconnaissance and patrol duties, often operating well in advance of forward cavalry units. By November 1918 they had reached Aleppo with the British Indian 5th Cavalry Division, where they were believed to be the furthest advanced Australian unit at the conclusion of the campaign.



The Long Range Desert Group was the brain child of Major Ralph Gagnold, Royal Signal Corps. To understand how the LRDG came about we must go back to 1916.

Italy had occupied Lybia in 1911, and although had been at war with the Senussi, an Islamic Religious sect, with Germany’s help they were able to persuade the Senussi to join the fight against the British.
The Senussi were expert raiders who could seemingly strike from nowhere and then disappear. Their usual method of attack was on camel back, and the Senussi were better fighters on camel back and they knew the desert well than the British camel mounted regiments which were initially formed to combat the Senussi threat.
The Senussi camels were however vulnerable to artillery and machine gun fire. But mobility was needed to chase down the raiders.
The answer came from the use of armoured cars, specifically the Rolls-Royce, but they could not keep pace with the fast moving camels, and were quick to bog down in the desert.
What was needed was a lighter more reliable car, that could move swiftly and carry the additional fire power.
This was the modified Ford Model T and gave birth to the Light Car Patrols.




WAD-23
WHEELS ACROSS THE DESERT,
AUSTRALIAN 1st LIGHT CAR PATROL 1917,
FORD MODEL T, “BILLZAC”.
(2pcs)


The LCP patrols operated in modified Ford Model T’s armed with Lewis machine guns, had wider tires, radiator condensers, and primitive sun compasses.
By a combination of LCP’s, Rolls Royce armoured cars, camel corps, and BE2 aircraft, the British were able to defeat the Senussi.
With the end of WW1 the LCP was disbanded, however the lessons were not forgotten.









More to follow..................................................

 

[jjDesigns]

WAD-23A
WHEELS ACROSS THE DESERT,
AUSTRALIAN 1st LIGHT CAR PATROL 1917,
FORD MODEL T , “BILLZAC”.
DRIVER.
(1pc)





WAD-23D
WHEELS ACROSS THE DESERT,
AUSTRALIAN 1st LIGHT CAR PATROL 1917,
FORD MODEL T, “BILLZAC”,
CREW WITH VICKERS HEAVY MACHINE GUN,
(6pcs)









THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN 1915


With World War I stalled on the Western Front by 1915, the Allied Powers were debating going on the offensive in another region of the conflict, rather than continuing with attacks in Belgium and France. Early that year, Russia’s Grand Duke Nicholas appealed to Britain for aid in confronting a Turkish invasion in the Caucasus. (The Ottoman Empire had entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers, Germany and Austria-Hungary, by November 1914.) In response, the Allies decided to launch a naval expedition to seize the Dardanelles Straits, a narrow passage connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara in northwestern Turkey. If successful, capture of the straits would allow the Allies to link up with the Russians in the Black Sea, where they could work together to knock Turkey out of the war.

The Gallipoli Campaign of 1915-16, also known as the Battle of Gallipoli or the Dardanelles Campaign, was an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied Powers to control the sea route from Europe to Russia during World War I. The campaign began with a failed naval attack by British and French ships on the Dardanelles Straits in February-March 1915 and continued with a major land invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, involving British and French troops as well as divisions of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Lack of sufficient intelligence and knowledge of the terrain, along with a fierce Turkish resistance, hampered the success of the invasion. By mid-October, Allied forces had suffered heavy casualties and had made little headway from their initial landing sites. Evacuation began in December 1915, and was completed early the following January.





GLT-11
THE GREAT WAR, 1914-1918,
THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN 1915,
TURKISH OFFICER,
(1pc)


More to follow........................................

 

[jjDesigns]

THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918




The British did not have a separate Corps of Signals in the Great War: it was agreed that an independent unit would be formed in 1918, but for various administrative reasons it was delayed until 1920.
At the outbreak of war in August 1914 all the British Armies signalling/ intercommunication requirements were met by the Royal Engineers Signal Services (RESS) that was formed in 1908. Previously, in 1870, the responsibility for all military communications was officially given to the Telegraph Troop, of the Royal Engineers.

A despatch rider (or dispatch) is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle (and occasionally in Egypt during World War I, on camels
Despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units. They had a vital role at a time when telecommunications were limited and insecure. They were also used to deliver carrier pigeons.




GWB-15C
THE GREAT WAR, 1914-1918,
Royal Engineers Signal Service(RESS),
DESPATCH RIDER ON MOTORBIKE with pigeon,
(1pc)






In the British Army, motorcycle despatch riders were first used in the World War I by the Royal Engineers Signal Service. When the War Department called for motorcyclists to volunteer with their machines for despatch work at the start of August 1914, the response was huge
The London office had 2000 more applicants than places, and a similar response was reported in regional centres around the country. If a rider and machine were approved then £10 was paid immediately, £5 to be paid on discharge (unless due to misconduct), and pay was 35s per week. The motor cycle would be taken over at valuation price, or would be replaced with a new one at the close of operations. Enlistment was for one year or as long as the war might last. The preference was for 500cc single cylinder machines and the horizontally-opposed twin cylinder. All machines had to have a "change speed gear". A list of spare parts was also required to be carried.




**PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION**

 

[lenswerks]

{sm4}

 

[villagehorse]

Lots of nice offerings here. Really like the use of the pigeon wagon with these new figures. Well done John. Robin.

 

[villagehorse]

Might be a terrain in the making here also. Robin.

 

[1st Rifle Brigade]

Hope to see the Motor Machine Gun Corps as new releases in the future with the Vickers machine gun mounted to the sidecar.

Mark

 

[ChrisTay]

Happened to chance by and must say, they look really good!! Feed the birds! - Mary Poppins