MILITARY UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE OVERSEAS 1938 (6) - THE RHODESIA REGIMENT

Moving north from Cape Town and crossing the Limpopo River (but obviously staying within the boundaries of the British Empire of 1938), we trek to Southern Rhodesia:

A Sergeant of the Rhodesia Regiment 1938

The reverse of this cigarette card (No.5 of 50) states:

"The Southern Rhodesia Defence Force originated with the early Pioneers and in 1892 developed into a volunteer force which served in the Matabele war and Rhodesia Rebellion. In 1899, it became the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers, with units in the principal centres and Rifle Companies in outlying districts. Volunteers therefrom served in the Boer War and Great War. In 1926 the Defence Act was promulgated, instituting compulsory peacetime training, and the Rhodesia Regiment - of two Battalions - was formed from members of the Southern Rhodesian Volunteers and other citizens in the larger towns. We show a Sergeant of the Rhodesia Regiment in Drill Order, standing in front of the Drill Hall at Salisbury, S. Rhodesia."

Notes:

(1). as to 28mm suggestions, the temptation is (of course) to start with an 8th Army figure in shorts as a base, either living with its "long socks" or converting them to match the Rhodesians' long leather gaiters. However, this would still leave you looking around for a Wolesley helmet, and both the webbing and shirt/jacket would be quite wrong. Probably the best "donor figure" would be from the Gripping Beast WW1 line, "BRIT 11 - British Section in Shorts":

Gripping Beast WW1 British in shorts - varieties of separate
heads are available, of which the Wolesley is one option.

Gripping Beast separate head options (British).

(2). The Drill Hall was built in 1902, and is a particularly fine example of its type. More background information (from 1956) HERE, and interesting contemporary accounts of the Duke of Connaught's visit in 1910 HERE:

The Drill Hall (now in Harare, Zimbabwe) still exists, but unfortunately we have been unable to trace a modern photograph of it, nor establish its present use. The equally impressive Drill Hall in Bulawayo is in use as a Police Administrative Building, and it may therefore be that same is true of the old Salisbury building. Leave a comment to this post if you can do better! Whatever may have happened to their Drill Hall, however, the Rhodesia Regiment has certainly marched away into history:

The Rhodesia Regiment marching away from the Drill Hall, late 1930s.
It may be that this is a contingent going to war in 1939, or an earlier
departure to Herefordshire in 1938...
(David Heppenstal collection, via Pinterest)

CORONATION POST (4) - THE KING'S CHAMPION

And on with the Coronation posts !

There's nothing like a good tradition, and nothing quite like "The King's Champion". The reverse of this 1937 "Churchman's Cigarettes" card states:

"For nearly six hundred years the head of the House of Dymoke of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire, has been hereditary King's Champion, appearing at nearly every Coronation down to that of George IV in 1821. The Champion is shown wearing the famous Dymoke armour, preserved at Windsor Castle, and in the act of throwing down his gage. The Manor of Scrivelsby came to the Dymokes from the Marmions, and is held in Grand Sergeantry. This means that the holder must perform some service in return for the Manor, and in this case, appear as the King's Champion at Coronations. The first Dymoke to perform the service was Sir John at the Coronation of Richard II [on 23rd June 1377]."

while a second card in the same "Churchman's Cigarettes" series explains:

"Just before the serving of the second course of the Coronation Banquet, it was customary for the Champion to ride into Westminster Hall, escorted by the Earl Marshall and Lord High Constable, and preceded by a herald; esquires carried his lance and shield. The herald read the challenge immediately on entering the Hall, the Champion flinging down his gage. No one taking this up, it was returned to the Champion by the herald. The challenge was repeated below the steps leading to the King's table. The Champions last appearance was at the crowning of George IV [on 19th July 1821]"

It seems unlikely that we will see "the King's Champion" at the Coronation of Charles III - see HERE for the detailed history. This may be just as well, as the present Dymoke of Scrivelsby is, ahem...a distinguished accountant.

Still, in the world of the 1938 VBCW, there is absolutely no reason why "The King's Champion" should not take the field in support of the justice of Edward VIII's cause - an ideal reason to include a 28mm mediaeval knight in a Royalist Platoon !

MILITARY UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE OVERSEAS, 1938 (5) - CAPE TOWN HIGHLANDERS

Another John Player cigarette card from 1938, on this occasion demonstrating the strong ties between the "Old Country" and Commonwealth:

The fearsome RSM of the Cape Town Highlanders

The reverse of the cigarette card (No.1 of 50) states:

"Under the Defence Acts of the Union of South Africa, every citizen between seventeen and sixty years of age is liable for military service in any part of South Africa, whether within or outside the boundaries of the Union. There is also a liability to compulsory service for all citizens between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-five. The Permanent Force is recruited on a voluntary basis, service being for a period of three years; re-engagement for periods of up to two years is permitted up to the age of forty-five for privates and 50 for non-commissioned officers. We show a Regimental Sergeant Major of the Cape Town Highlanders; the Town Hall, Capetown, appears in the background."

Notes:

(1). As to 28mm figure suggestions, Footsore Miniatures have some Scottish Highlanders (in glengarry cap) within their Early WW1 British range which would form a good basis for a 28mm Cape Town Highlander; alternatively Steve Barber Miniatures has produced WW1 London Scottish in glengarries that would do equally well.

(2). The Town Hall, Capetown, still stands:

 (3). The Wiki history of the Regiment can be found HERE. Some readers may enjoy the latest news of the Regiment (and evidence of continuing Scottish stubborness) at a time of great political change: "In August 2019, it was announced that 52 South African Army Reserve Units would have their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. The Cape Town Highlanders was due to be known as the Gonnema Regiment....[in June 2022] it was confirmed that the unit had not officially changed its name and remains known as the Cape Town Highlanders."

Add Edit:

The badge of the Cape Town Highlanders, from a contemporary cigarette card produced in South Africa:

MILITARY UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE OVERSEAS, 1938 (4) - HYDERABAD STATE FORCES

After this post on the Bikaner State Forces, another John Player cigarette card celebrating Britain's Indian Empire:

Hyderabad State Forces

The reverse of the cigarette card (No.32 of 50) states:

"His Exalted Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad is the Ruler of the premier Indian state, which has a population of over fourteen million, and covers 83,000 square miles in Southern India. He maintains three regiments of Lancers organised as a Cavalry Brigade and, in addition, three Infantry battalions, a Horse Artillery Battery and a Transport Section. His forces number nearly five thousand in all. A regiment of Hyderabad Lancers served with the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade on the Suez Canal and in Palestine during the Great War. The officer shown in Full Dress in our picture is the commander of the Cavalry Brigade; the Char Minar, Hyderabad, appears in the background."

Notes:

(1). a useful historical summary of the "Hyderabad Contingent" can be found HERE

(2). notwithstanding the scarlet of their Brigadier, the Hyderabad Lancers appear to have been uniformed in blue:

Hyderabad Contingent Cavalry

Officer, Hyderabad Lancers, 1917

while the Hyderabad PBI appear to have been uniformed in traditional scarlet:

Hyderabad Contingent Infantry, 1903

(3). for suitable 28mm figures, a "hidden in plain sight" gem of a manufacturer - Tradition of London. One of the oldest retailers of toy soldiers in varying scales, Tradition carry the venerable Charles Stadden 30mm line, including a small range of  "Indian Army c.1897". Although these 30mm figures remain imposing next to even todays 28mm figures (think of the size of Bob Murch's Pulp Figures and add a couple of mm), there is nothing quite like them elsewhere:

Charles Stadden 30mm Indian Infantry at attention. The range
also has a Bugler, Sergeant and Officer at attention. A simple
"paint job conversion" will produce Hyderabad Contingent Infantry.

Charles Stadden 30mm "Indian Trooper turning in saddle".
The range has a variety of other poses, including "parade positions".
Here painted as Skinners Horse, a liberal application of blue will
produce a Hyderabad Contingent Cavalry Trooper.

(4). although the Nizam and his Hyderabad Contingent sadly had no place in post 1947 India, the "Char Minar" still stands in modern day Hyderbad:

The Char Minar. This modern day view is pretty much the same shot as the background
 of the 1938 cigarette card. More INFO HERE

(5). For information as to Hyderabad's forcible annexation by India following independence and partition, see HERE. Bob Cordery of the "Wargaming Miscellany" blog has been doing some interesting work on this action, known as "Operation Polo" - see HERE.

A map of Hyderabad, showing its central size and importance to India.
Arrows show "Operation Polo" of 1948.
 From Bob Cordery's Wargaming Miscellany Blog.

MILITARY UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE OVERSEAS, 1938 (3) - AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE

Another cigarette card from the series issued by John Player in 1938:

Australian Light Horse

The reverse of the cigarette card (No.8 of 50) states:

"Members of all the Australian Light Horse Regiments served in the South African War and sixteen Regiments carry battle honours for the Great War. The members of the Light Horse Regiments, which are mostly drawn from country areas, are volunteers who provide their own mounts. The Regiments are numbered to correspond as far as possible with those of the Australian Imperial Force, but they also retain the old titles, "Royal New South Wales Lancers", "Victorian Mounted Rifles", etc. by which they were known before the Commonwealth took over control of defence matters from the separate states in 1901. We show a trooper of the Australian Light Horse; the City Hall, Brisbane, appears in the background."

Notes: 

(1). The 1938 ALH uniform appears unchanged from the 1914-1918 uniform, and there are a couple of 28mm WW1 ranges that provide suitable figures. Tim's Miniature Wargaming Blog has some nicely painted figures from Brigade Games, while the OverOpenSights blog has some splendid painted versions from Blaze Away miniatures (now marketed through Lancashire Games - including mounted and dismounted, and a Hotchkiss LMG), plus a lot more helpful information on the ALH.

(2). YouTube is awash with videos of the Australian Light Horse. Amongst others, here they are in 1939; and their fathers ("The Lighthorsemen") at Beersheba in 1917 (well worth a watch!)

(3). The City Hall, Brisbane, still stands - but now dwarfed by modern steel and glass development:

The City Hall, Brisbane, today.

MILITARY UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE OVERSEAS, 1938 (2) - BIKANER STATE FORCES

In 1938, India was still the "jewel in the Crown" of the British Empire, a place of (usually) playboy Maharajahs and their (always) colourful "State Forces", as exemplified by this contemporary cigarette card:

Indian State Forces - Bikanir (or Bikaner)

The reverse of the cigarette card (No.29 of 50) states:

"The Bikanir State Forces number about 1,800, consisting of one battery of Artillery, two motor machine gun sections, two squadrons of Lancers, an Infantry Battalion, and the Ganga Risala, a Captain of which is shown in our picture in Full Dress. This famous Camel Corps rendered good service in the early days of the Great War in the fighting east of the Suez Canal. Bikanir is one of the largest of the Rajputana States, but much of it is desert, and its population numbers less than one million. The Maharajah of Bikanir holds the honorary rank of General in the British Army and is an extra aide de camp to the King. The Old Palace and Fort, Bikanir, are shown in the background."

Notes:

(1). More details on the Bikaner Camel Corps (the 'Ganga Risala") can be found HERE. 

(2). Biographical details of the splendid Ganga Singh, Maharajah of Bikaner, can be found HERE. Definitely not a playboy Maharajah...

(3). No details can be found on the other elements of the Bikaner State Forces of 1938 (whether the exciting sounding "motor machine gun sections" or the "two squadrons of Lancers") but this toy soldier source suggests that Bikaner artillerymen were uniformed in blue, and that the artillery battery was camel-drawn;

(4). As to suitable 28mm figures, Mark Hargreaves of the "OverOpenSights" blog has already "been there and done that" (back in December 2014!) producing some splendid Bikaner Camel Corps figures from "Perry Sudan Camel Corps figure(s) with a Woodbine head" for camel mounted troops and "a Woodbine WW1 Indian Army figure" for dismounted equivalents, in both cases "with greenstuff additions to the head dress". Woodbine is now marketed by Gripping Beast :

Mark Hargreave's wonderfully produced and painted Bikaner Camel Corps.
Full information and many more photos at the OverOpenSights blog - well worth a visit!

(5). The "Old Palace and Fort", Bikaner, still stands; no longer home to a Maharajah (Mrs Gandhi officially abolished such titles back in 1970) - but, in the modern way, an "exclusive luxury hotel":

The Old Palace and Fort, Bikaner

MILITARY UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE OVERSEAS, 1938 (1) - BRITISH GUIANA

In 1938, the critical year of the Very British Civil War, John Player & Sons (part of Imperial Tobacco) produced a series of cigarette cards depicting the "Uniforms of the British Empire Overseas". Here in the Hereford VBCW, we do like a nice cigarette card - in this case, contemporary evidence of some of the troops that returned from overseas to fight for "the King Emperor" (or, if you're a Yorkist, fight to replace him with a different "King Emperor"):

The British Guiana Militia

The reverse of the cigarette card (No.48 of 50) states:

"British Guiana, which was ceded to Great Britain in 1814, has an area of 89,480 square miles and a population of over 328,000. The British Guiana Militia was constituted in 1891 and consists of a machine gun company and infantry companies. The Force is equipped with modern arms and is trained on the lines of the Territorial Army. It is under the command of the Inspector-General of the Police and has a permanent military staff to supervise its training. Our picture shows a Company Sergeant Major of the Militia; the Town Hall, Georgetown, British Guiana, appears in the background."

Notes:

(1). it appears that - unbelievably enough - no 28mm manufacturer has produced figures for the British Guiana Militia, 1938. However, West Wind have produced four Colonial Police that could pass; and Empress Miniatures' "Jazz Age Imperialism" lines might be profitably plundered for special items such as machine guns. Gripping Beast do 28mm separate heads in Wolseley Helmets. Any other suggestions, leave a comment!

(2). British Guiana became independent in May 1966 and was renamed Guyana. The 2022 population of Guyana was c. 808,000. Shorn of all imperial pretensions, The Town Hall, Georgetown still stands:

No Militia today - replaced with Mondeos and Toyotas. Sic transit....

"BRITAINS DEFENDERS" CIGARETTE CARDS DOCUMENT THE VBCW

We're very keen, here in the Hereford VBCW, on contemporary cigarette cards - a very useful way of investigating all sorts of aspects of life in the 1930s. See HERE, for example, for cigarette cards documenting the "Public Schools", with onwards links to cigarette card albums dedicated, respectively, to the "Royal Navy" and the "Royal Air Force".

As James produced the most historically accurate VBCW Force at the recent Autumn Big Game 2022, its only right that it should now receive its own "cigarette card accolade":

James VBCW Platoon, missing only his section of sailors.
Christened "South Walians" for the day of the Autumn Big Game 2022,
this force included a splendid Vickers Mk.2 tank, Carden Lloyd "Light Dragon"
carrier (with tow) and tracked Anti - Tank Gun.

It just so happened that an enterprising photographer was 'on hand' during the action around Llareggub, and his shots were subsequently sold to the Ardath Tobacco Company Limited for production in their "Britain's Defenders" series of cigarette cards:

James' "Carden-Lloyd Tank Car" advances. The gasmasks appear to be "precautionary
overkill" as any kind of Chemical Warfare was prohibited by "gentleman's agreement"
at the start of the VBCW.

A shot of James' "Experimental Anti Tank Gun" (with caterpillar tracks!)
deploying (before being close assaulted by the Aberaron Police, no doubt
for some infringement of the Highway Code)

James' splendid Vickers Mk2, here christened a "Heavy Tank", roars confidently forward
at the start of the day's action - before it went "Jumpy", then "Suppressed" and then had to 
be marked as "Running Away". Still, at least it remained a tank "in being" and was moving
forward again by the end of the day...

Note (courtesy of James): The Carden Lloyd AT combination and the Vickers Mk2 are both now sold by Empress Miniatures in their VBCW and WW2 ranges - see HERE for the tank and HERE for the Carden Lloyd.