This is actually my second
attempt at a festive post. The first was written when I was tired, cynical and
had spent the week sitting in traffic jams, and turned out to sound very bitter.
So hopefully, this is a bit lighter.
Actually, I want to challenge the
readership. It isn’t a quiz, because I do not know the answer, but I would like
some ideas.
My local garden centre has, this
year, started stocking Airfix models and some figures (they have also started
on Hornby train sets). Being a wargamer, of course, I keep an eye on what they
have, but not being a WW1 or WW2 wargamer, I’ve never bought anything.
This week, however, I did notice
that they have World War Two Italian infantry and World War Two Gurkhas on
special offer, at a mere two pounds a box. They have a few other things as
well, like a Churchill Crocodile tank for four pounds, but the infantry caught
my eye.
The question I have for you is
this: Which theatre could I use both for? Did Italians and Gurkhas ever meet? If not, is the a reasonable and logical ‘what
if…’ campaign in which they could, assuming that I can obtain enough figures to
represent, say, a company of each?
I am not saying that I will dash
out and buy the figures, but I was just wondering and, not be an expert of
World War Two, I thought I’d challenge the assembled company. There is, of
course, no prize, except the normal internet kudos, but I shall nominate the
best comment, and also the funniest.
And in the meantime, a very happy
Christmas to you all, and thank you for reading and commenting.
East African campaign, there were Gurkha battalions in the Indian Divisions which took part.
ReplyDelete7th and 9th Gurkha Rifles fought in the Western Desert too.
ReplyDeleteI did wonder if any landed up in the W. Desert. I thought E. Africa might figure, and might be an interesting game.
DeleteAccording to the Great Oracle the North African and Ethiopean/East African campaigns would seem to provide a suitable setting to pit Gurkha and Italian toy soldiers against each other. It failed to answer the question "Why?" but did suggest that the Ethiopean and Somalian campaigns nicely tied in with the topic of Colonial Wargaming.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a Merry Yuletime celebration.
Hm. I guess Ethiopia was a result of Mussolini's adventures in the 1930's. As a teenager i read a novel about it. 'Wings Over Africa' I think it was called, about an ex-WW1 pilot flying and fighting there. I think they dismounted the machine guns from the plane to use in battle. I can't remember anything else about the book, though.
DeleteWestern Desert and Italy - 4 Indian Div. (Including my late Father in Law...)
ReplyDeleteThey got as far is Italy? I really didn't know that. I'd imagined that they (and the Indian divisions would have returned east after the end of 1941.
DeleteIt just goes to show how ignorant I am about WW2.
Sold at a garden centre? How odd that seems. As for an answer to your question, I really don't know and I don't know how to make this funny. Except to say that I spent some time following some Gurkhas around the Canadian prairie at British Army Training Suffield just at the end of fall. Bitterly cold at night. They were the most insanely and annoyingly cheerful people I've ever met under those circumstances, which would make me inclined to get some Gurkha figures just for that. FYI, Byron Farwell wrote a very accessible book years back called The Gurkhas, some good basic info. A very happy Christmas to you and yours as well. For my new years resolution I shall follow your thought-provoking blog more attentively than I do of late.
ReplyDeleteAh, the British garden centre; not really somewhere to go if you want plants. They tend to be tucked away in a corner, especially at this time of year. But gifts, furniture, cream teas, clothes, craft items, books, DVDs and other assorted odd items, including now Airfix kits and figures are readily available.
DeleteI am very tempted by the boxes, but I'm also trying to finish my Classical Indians by Christmas. something is going to have to give.
Have a 'cool yule' as some annoying people are still saying.