ABYSSINIANS IN THE HEREFORD VBCW

In the run up to the 10th Anniversary Big Game, the presence of a strange party of "Abyssinians" in the very first Big Game, back in 2012, was occasionally noted. It may be that their presence at such an early stage in the VBCW campaign encouraged the subsequent appearance of even stranger troops (such as Anglican Tirailleurs or the Cameroon Highlanders, not to mention Chief O'Flynn and the Hill Enterprises (Dominions & Colonial) Loyal Volunteers etc., etc.), but the Abyssinians presence was originally explained on the basis that "Hailie Selassie had spent some of his time in exile in Herefordshire."

In fact, this is not quite right.

It turns out that Hailie Selassie actually spent his four years of exile in the UK living in Bath.

Nevertheless, as the Malvern Civic Society are keen to point out, he had also arranged for his grand-daughters (Princesses Aida Desta, Hirut Desta, Seble Desta and Sophia Desta) to be educated at Clarendon School in Malvern. The Emperor in exile was accustomed to staying at the Abbey Hotel, Great Malvern, when visiting them.

The Abbey Hotel, Great Malvern

Clearly, the exiled Emperor's presence close to the seat of all the VBCW action in Herefordshire can only have encouraged him to make the occasional intervention in the affairs of the County, perhaps limited to a "weekend school leave" or "long vac". Which leaves only a personality figure to find:

When not engaged in making jackbooted stormtroopers,
Lineol produced this contemporary version of the Emperor
and a parasol bearing servant - but in 54mm..

That's better! A lovely 28mm version of Hailie
Selassie produced by First Corps.

Only time will tell whether Hailie Selassie becomes engaged once more in the chaotic affairs of the Hereford VBCW.....