CORONATION POST (6) - HM BARGEMASTER and ROYAL WATERMEN

 Contining the Coronation theme, a look at one of the more esoteric bodies of the King's servants:

The reverse of this John Player's cigarette card states:

"H.M.'s Bargemaster and a Waterman - Although the Royal State Barge is no longer used, His Majesty's Bargemaster and a complement of twenty-four Watermen are still maintained. The present Bargemaster is J.T. ("Bossie") Phelps; the Watermen are recruited from riverside men of outstanding ability. The Regalia is not now transported from the Tower of London to the Houses of Parliament by river, but the Bargemaster and two Watermen conduct certain portions of it from St. James Palace to the Palace of Westminster at each State Opening of Parliament. The Bargemaster and twelve selected Watermen will be included at the head of the King's Coronation Procession to Westminster Abbey"

The original State Barge's last outing at Henley, 1912

CORONATION POST (5) - INDIAN ORDERS OF CHIVALRY

Of all the ancient (and some slightly more modern) knightly orders of chivalry (the Garter, the Thistle, St. Patrick, the Bath, St. Michael & St. George, the Royal Victorian Order and the Order of the British Empire), two sadly made their last public ceremonial appearance at the Coronation of 1937 - the Most Eminent Order of the Star of India and the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire:

The reverse of this Player's Cigarettes card states:

"The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (GCSI) - This Order, next in precedence to the Order of the Bath, was constituted by Queen Victoria in 1861, and has been enlarged from time to time. It was founded for the purpose of recognising the loyalty of Ruling Princes and Chiefs of India, and as a reward for services in and for that Empire. The badge is an onyx cameo of Queen Victoria's bust. The Order is divided into three classes - Knights Grand Commanders, Knights Commanders and Companions. Certain members of the Order are summoned to represent it at the Coronation ceremony. Knights Grand Commanders who are not peers will wear the mantle of the Order as illustrated."

And the reverse of this card:

"The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) - This Order was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1877 in commemoration of Her Majesty's proclamation as Empress of India in that year. Like the senior Indian order, the Star of India, it is conferred upon persons who have rendered conspicuous service in and for the Indian Empire. The Order has been enlarged from time to time and consists of three classes i.e. Knights Grand Commanders, Knights Commanders, and Companions. Certain members of the Order are summoned to represent it at the Coronation. The Mantle shown in the illustration will be worn by Knights Grand Commanders who are not Peers."

For more on the Order of the Star of India, see HERE.

For more on the Order of the Indian Empire, see HERE

HEREFORDSHIRE HOME GUARD WW2 (2) - A REDOUBTABLE LADY

Following the previous post on the Home Guard in Herefordshire during WW2, a little more:

“One of the more unusual units of home defence in Herefordshire was known as the ‘Much Marcle Watchers’. Formed before Eden’s speech, the unit came about when Lady Helena Gleichen, a distinguished artist and relative of King George VI, walked into the Headquarters of the Shropshire Light Infantry at Ross-on-Wye and asked for 80 rifles together with ammunition. She added that she could do with some machine guns as well in order to form a defence force. Stunned by this outrageous request, the officers stuttered that no guns were available and even if this were not the case they would not let her have any. Undefeated, Lady Helena went ahead and gathered together a force of men armed with an armoury of shotguns including Austrian rifles and bayonets taken from her own collection of guns. That same night the ‘Much Marcle Watchers’ were on duty ready to defend their beloved Herefordshire, the forerunners of the yet to be formed Home Guard.” (note 1)

Lady Helena Gleichen in her WW1 Uniform.

Lady Helena, an aristocratic and clearly redoubtable lady (note 2) lived at Hellens Manor, an ancient house and estate situated close to Much Marcle, seven miles north east of Ross on Wye and some two miles south west of Ledbury (note 3). In VBCW terms, this clearly places the estate at the very limit of Anglican influence (centred, in the south, upon Ross on Wye in the charge of Captain "Teddy" Jermingham) yet, at the same time, vulnerable to the increasing BUF build up in Ledbury itself. Quite what position Lady Helena took upon Edward VIII's intended marriage to Wallis Simpson is unknown, but it is unlikely that such a strong County personality would have passively stood aside, even from civil conflict, should it have swept uninvited towards her estate....

Notes:

(1)  Source - Herefordshire & Worcestershire Airfields in the Second World War by Robin J. Brooks pub. Countryside Books, Newbury (2006) pps. 226

(2). See Lady Helena's WIKI entry HERE

(3). Hellens still stands, and is open to visitors on escorted tours. See HERE for the history of the house (going back to at least the 12th century) and HERE for the Manor's modern web page.

(4). Lady Helena's memoirs, "Contacts and Contrasts", going up only to the end of WW1 but containing such charming chapter titles as "Yachting with Princess Eugenie", "About Horses" and "Dogs" can be found on the Internet Archive HERE

HEREFORDSHIRE HOME GUARD WW2 (1)

If any VBCW researchers care (or dare) to "cross the time streams", some basic information on the organisation of the Home Guard in Herefordshire during WW2, abstracted from an information leaflet produced by the Herefordshire Light Infantry Museum. According to the leaflet, Herefordshire had six Battalions of Home Guard, with perhaps as many as 10,000 men serving throughout the war, distributed as follows:

1st Bn.   (Leominster) - Lt Col A J Mellor ("HFD 1")

2nd Bn.  (Bromyard) - Lt Col J Knott CMG, DSO ("HFD 2")

3rd Bn.   (Hereford City) - Lt Col FP Loder-Symonds CMG (late RN) ("HFD 3")

4th Bn.   (Hereford Rural) - Lt Col RNH Verdin TD ("HFD 4")

5th Bn.   (Ledbury)  Lt Col JL Pearson CMG (Late RN) ("HFD 5")

6th Bn.   (Harewood End)  Lt Col BF Murray DSO ("HFD 6")

Clehonger & Allensmore Home Guard (Hereford Times). This is likely to have been
taken relatively late on in WW2 (post 1943), as the section is well uniformed,
all have rifles, and two have Sten Guns.

The Herefordshire Home Guard's duties were many and varied. According to the leaflet:

"There were detachments throughout the County, including a mounted patrol in the west of the County. In Ledbury duties included mounting a road block on the Gloucester Road at Underdown, providing guards at both ends of Ledbury Tunnel and the viaduct, and manning an observation post in Churchill’s Meadow (now the Churchill Meadow estate – then a field!). There were also ‘works’ units at Baroni Metals (making aircraft components) in Hereford, [together with the Royal Ordnance Factory at Rotherwas] and the Great Western Railway, these units carried out specifically local security duties."

GWR Home Guard, Hereford, on "local security duties" (Hereford Times).
This was probably taken much earlier in WW2 - sidecaps rather than helmets,
and only three HG have rifles.

SHINY STUFF - 28mm PEAKY BLINDERS

Ooh, shiny! Officially released at last Saturday's "Salute", Great Escape Games have added a 28mm "Peaky Blinders" gang to their gangster game, "The Chicago Way": 

GEG's Peaky Blinders - 7 figures for £20

Flat Caps, SMG, rifles, pistols - and Arthur's jolly useful Lewis Gun.

With Birmingham being only about 90 minutes away from Hereford by train - via a direct train line - it can only be a matter of time before the Peaky Blinders make an appearance in the Hereford VBCW....and if you want to convert three more figures to make up a "Went the Day Well" section - or perhaps an A/T bomber crew - THIS POST might help! 

Alternatively, you could pick up some of the "Brummie Mafia" figures from Empress Miniatures:

Empress Miniatures BCW9 - Arthur's Lewis Gun again!

Empress Miniatures BCW 10 - including Alfie Solomons from Camden Town.

HEREFORD - VICTORIA BRIDGE

After THIS POST on Queen Mary's visit to Hereford on 29th July 1937, some interesting historic photographs of the commemorative stone then unveiled, together with the nearby Victoria Bridge:

The stone c. 1938, situated at the junction of the newly created Queen Elizabeth Avenue

(a riverside walk along the Wye, here called "Princess Elizabeth Avenue").

The trees are newly planted. Note the interesting lamposts.

A contemporary drawing of Queen Elizabeth Avenue and the Victoria Suspension Bridge.
Again, the trees are newly planted and the lamp posts draw the eye.

A photograph of the same area in 1942. The Victoria Suspension Bridge is off to the right.

The Victoria Bridge in 1907, ten years after its opening in honour of Queen Victoria's Jubilee.
A very Victorian lady to the left.

A different view from 1910. The Wye is clearly flooding - note how high it is 
against the bridge pillars, and sluicing under the benches.

The same view colourised. We do like a colourised photograph

1912, and another colourised photograph. Edwardian ladies on the bridge, small
boy paddling in the Wye to the left. No Spring flooding!

Closer to our own VBCW time period - 1934. Elegantly cloche hatted ladies on the bridge.

A 1970s colour postcard. The lamp posts seem to have gone by now, but the Council
engages in formal planting and flower beds.

A contemporary photograph. No lamp posts, and a "more naturalistic" approach to the river banks.
The Bridge is now well over 100 years old.

For those interested in Hereford itself (both modern and during the VBCW), click on the "Architecture" label to the right. For the same kind of approach to the Jacobean "Old House" in the centre of Hereford, see the Bishop's Broadcasting Service HERE.

COMRADES KAMENEV, ZINOVIEV AND WINTERS

In the desperate propaganda battle (see HERE and HERE) that has developed since the Communist rout at the Battle of Dinmore, HM Government have finally struck back. A flurry of documentation and press briefings has emerged from the Shire Hall (prop. Staff Commander A.D.Mann) aimed squarely at Commissar Colonel Professor Winters, and the inevitable fate of those who displease Comrade Stalin:

David King's excellent book on Soviet photo manipulation and 1930's Russia.
By way of example, see the fate of Comrade Yezhov HERE

Last Man Standing - an example of Fleet Street's product.
Evidence that being a member of the 1917 Communist Central Committee
was almost as dangerous as being a HM Govt Field Commander in the VBCW.

NKVD Prison Photograph of Lev Kamenev, former Deputy Chairman of the Council
of People's Commissars (Soviet Deputy Prime Minister).
Shot on 25th August 1936 after a show trial.
Kamenev's WIKI is HERE

NKVD Prison Photograph of Grigory Zinoviev, former Chairman of the Communist International.
Shot on 25th August 1936 after a show trial.
Zinoviev's WIKI is HERE

HM Government's PR line is that, after defeat at the Battle of Dinmore, Comrade Colonel Professor Winters will shortly be 'recalled to Moscow" and "an inevitable fate". Can "the Great Survivor" of the Hereford VBCW possibly prove his critics wrong? Not if HM Government's latest (tongue in cheek) poster is accurate:

Note: a brief review of Zinoviev's earlier speeches may temper one's sympathy at his fate:

No.73 SQUADRON RAF - COLOURISED (AGAIN)

Following THIS POST on Cobber Kain and the 1937 Coronation Air Pageant, here he is nearly three years later, in March 1940, outside the Officers Mess at Rouvres, reading the telegram informing him of his award of a DFC:

The 1940 photograph. From LtoR, Flt Lt. Lovett, F/O Kain, Sgt. Pyne, F/O Orton

and the same photograph colourised:

otherwise known, from LtoR, as "Unlucky" Lovett, "Cobber" Kain, "Titch" Pyne and "Fanny" Orton

and the Pathe newsreel of precisely the same event, regrettably without sound:

Notes: 

(1). Sadly, none of these four RAF pilots survived the war.

(2). Sgt Pyne was shot down and wounded on 23rd April 1940, when his section was surprised by Bf109s of III/JG53 west of Merzig. After a period of recovery, "Titch" returned to flying duty, but was shot down and killed by Bf110s of III/ZG26 on 14th May 1940. He is buried in Choloy War Cemetery.

(3).  For "Cobber" Kain and "Fanny" Orton, see HERE

(4). Fl/Lt. Lovett acquired his "Unlucky" nickname through a series of misfortunes during the Phoney War, including shooting down a French Potez 63 in error. On 10th May 1940, the first day of the German blitzkreig, he was shot down by return fire from a Dornier 17 (which resembled the Potez 63 in appearance). Lovett managed to crash land his blazing Hurricane, but his hands were very badly burned. He was rushed to hospital and then air evacuated to the UK. After weeks of treatment, he returned to flying duty on 23rd July 1940. On 5th September 1940, he was again shot down but managed to bale out unhurt. Finally, but two days later, on 7th September 1940, he was shot down and killed in a crash landing close to the little village of Stock, Essex. Eye witnesses suggest that Lovett might have baled out successfully, but stayed with his stricken Hurricane in order to guide it away from the village. He is buried in Hendon Cemetery. See more at this Lovett Link

TYPES OF THE VBCW (2) - SENIOR FASCIST LEADER

 An occasional series of painted 28mm VBCW archetypes.

There are a number of 28mm figures suitable for use as senior "Fascist Leaders", but perhaps none better than this Empress Miniatures product (BCW4):

Empress Miniatures BCW4

Painted by Fairoaks 024

The beauty of this figure (in common with many VBCW figures) is that it can be painted in a number of different ways, to represent different characters (and even different factions):

BCW4 painted as a Royalist commander in scarlet tunic.
Unknown painter.

TYPES OF THE VBCW (1) - A SCIENTIFIC GENIUS

 An occasional series of painted 28mm VBCW archetypes.

Every VBCW faction (as noted HERE) needs "a scientific genius", possibly one of the most "Pulpy" of VBCW archetypes. Absolutely essential for the production of "war winning secret weapons" :

"A Scientific Genius"
28mm Plastic Heroclix Figure

(Re) painted by "Fairoaks 024"

HEREFORDSHIRE'S OWN SCIENTIFIC GENIUS - WINFORTON HOUSE

Most factions within the Hereford VBCW have their very own "scientific genius" to hand, essential for producing (or explaining) the odd (sometimes very odd) "secret weapon" occasionally featured in "Big Games" - one thinks of Professor Fergal McGonagall for HMG, the now marooned Professor Dave Ross of the BUF, Engineer Scott of the Ludlow Anglicans, and a host of others. Yet truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction....

Some time ago, we looked at "Airfields of the VBCW", relying on the seminal "Herefordshire & Worcestershire Airfields in the Second World War" by Robin J. Brooks (pub. Countryside Books, Newbury (2006)). However, save for Shobdon Airfield, captured by Comrade Colonel Professor Winter's Communist Front at the Second Battle of Shobdon, few VBCW factions have shown any great interest in developing (or acquiring) their own airfield. As noted above, the opposite is true in the field of scientific geniuses. Pps.17-18 of Brooks may therefore be of interest:

“Malvern, in Worcestershire, is known as “radar country”, for it was here that the early experiments in Radio Direction Finding and radar-equipped navigational aids were carried out, experiments that continue today in the same establishment. The technique of radar detection was developed in various ways in order to help the airmen who flew in our dangerous skies. Defford airfield was to play a definitive part in these flying experiments.

This was also the scientists’ war, and deep in the Herefordshire countryside another invention that would be instrumental in assisting the war effort, and radar in particular, was being perfected. Sir Thomas Merton is today almost unheard-of, yet one of his inventions was the long persistence radar screen, a kind of cathode ray tube. Unfortunately, someone else came up with the idea a year later and won the patent. The screen was created in two bungalows known as the ‘Laboratories’ adjoining a large property by the name of Winforton House in west Herefordshire. Purchased by Sir Thomas in 1923, it became a secret wartime base for much scientific research……………

“……..A later discovery involved the use of a special gas which, when applied to the engine of a fighter aircraft, would increase its top speed by about 45mph. This application was to be used to great effect during the battle with Hitler’s revenge weapon, the V1 rocket. On 24 August 1944, out of 101 V1s launched against the UK on that day, 97 were brought down, many by fighter aircraft with gas-boosted engines. A light-reducing black paint was also perfected by Sir Thomas in the ‘Laboratories’. When applied to bomber aircraft, this paint reduced the light reflected from the fuselage if caught in the beam of a searchlight to less than 1%.

            Secluded as it was, Winforton House played host to many of the leading scientists of the day. Henry Tizard and Barnes Wallis were among the frequent visitors there, together with Lords Cherwell and Berkeley. Sir Thomas Merton’s inventions played a major part in the defeat of Nazi Germany and Winforton House stands today as a testament to an unsung hero of scientific intelligence.”

LEDBURY BUF (8) - THE SLOANE RANGERS (ARMOURED INFANTRY)

The BUF experimented with tankettes throughout the VBCW, often using foreign built examples, such as this Italian made CV33 (itself modelled on the original Carden Lloyd tankette, built in Italy under licence as the CV29):

However, the BUF "Mailed Fist" battlegroup, recruited principally from London and consisting of some of Mosley's best equipped troops, used tankettes with specially built coachwork: 

A specially built BUF tankette, commanded by Storm Leader "Arnie" Clarkson....

...who orders his driver to perform "a doughnut" to show off his command vehicle to best advantage...

...Storm Leader Clarkson commands the 1st BUF (Kensington & Chelsea) Armoured Infantry,
colloquially known, for obvious reasons, as "The Sloane Rangers"..

...here providing a 'flank guard' for the main body of the Mailed Fist Battlegroup,
proceeding along the A438 Tewkesbury - Ledbury road...

The full section of the "Sloane Rangers", sufficient to deliver ten riflemen to any 
destination in armoured safety. It is said that "Bendor", the Duke of Westminster,
provided the necessary funds to raise and equip the "Sloane Rangers".

[Notes] 

(1). These tankettes are a simple conversion of the "non scale" Majorette "Sonic Flasher" tanks, now OOP but sometimes available in Ebay joblots:

Simply remove turret, paint black, and hurrah !

(2). For more (lots more) Ledbury BUF armour and vehicles, check out the LEDBURY BUF thread