Letters on: Fog of War, Haiti 1994, Time for Success, 7YW Assistance, War of the Roses Figures, thanks, Public Announcement, and Lone Warrior Pricing.

Dr. Owen Hartley - This [Lone Warrior 116] is another stimulating issue (I read my son's copy). In it, page 28, David Barnes, asks about Lonsdale Hale and the "fog of war". The following is a kind of answer - which fulfils what Graham Empson on pages 54-55 says so usefully about there always being someone out there who does know something!

Col Sir Lonsdale Augustus Hale (1834-1914). Royal Engineers 1853-83; major services South Africa 1878-89; prolific writer on military themes and contributor to professional debates; now more remembered for his works on the Franco-Prussian War, but better known in his lifetime for an excellent training manual on fieldcraft and regular warnings about foreign threats to Britain.

"The Fog of War" is the title of a pamphlet of his published in 1896 by the Aldershot Military Society. It is probably the first use of the phrase "the fog of war" to represent not so much the literal fog of a smoke-covered battlefield, but the uncertainties of command decisions in war [as smokeless powder became available the literal fog actually disappeared]. The phrase caught on in the English speaking world and is now a commonplace in its metaphorical sense.

[Owen, thanks for the information which I have passed on to David and not only does it prove that those Sappers get everywhere but it would appear we should boost our readers numbers by 1! Kenn]

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Paul Sidwell - I would like to publicly thank Geoff Barker for the ideas I got from his Haiti 1994 article in Lone Warrior 114, which I have used in other periods.

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Andrew Freeman - Time available for wargaming or related activities has been severely limited. The most I managed was when I took my daughter to visit my father over the May bank holiday. Since my father lives on Portland this proved very convenient for a brief visit to the Fisticuffs convention in Weymouth. Although a small show it was packed with games of all sorts. These covered a wide range of the usual periods and scales. Particularly notable was a huge Napoleonic action with hundreds of 54mm figures (yes the big ones!) covering half the floor of one hall. There were a relatively small number of traders and a large number of visitors on the day I went.

In some ways the show is a victim of its own success One of the organisers, Martin Goddard (Mr. Pig of Peter Pig) said they had nearly out grown the current venue. The next available step up in size is a big conference centres or halls which may not be economically viable. Currently the show is good value, £ 1.50 for one day or £ 2.00 for both days.

Speaking of Peter Pig, I was persuaded with little effort to buy a copy of his latest rules entitled "Hey You in the jail.". These are for small scale actions in the "old wild west', say 50ish figures per side, rather than a skirmish games with half a dozen personalised figures. As with his other rules these are simple, fun, good value and somewhat away from mainstream game mechanics. Of particular interest is how the game becomes part of a later picture, which can give uneven forces, reinforcements and delaying actions on the table. Definitely worth looking at even the period is not your thing. Of course if you are tempted Mr Pig can provide a fine range of 15mm figures, already including lawmen, posse, gunmen, cowboys, Indians, cavalry, Mexicans, individual personality packs (the same figure mounted, on foot and dead), buildings ........... There are more promised and where else will you find a set of rules with instructions on how to drop suitable phrases into the game like:

"Howdy stranger" (Simple farming folk asking for trouble), "It looks awful quiet out there" (Comment before enormous attack).

While I was in the area I revisited Portland Castle, a gun fort built by Henry VIII and now in the care of English Heritage. This has the normal range of cannons, guide tapes, etc. It has good views across the great Victorian naval base, now recently closed, and Naval helicopter base to be closed soon. In the harbour you can still see a couple of spare sections of the Mulberry harbour left over from D-Day. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

We also fitted in a trip to the local Portland museum. This has a typical collection of local history material. Items of military interest include pictures and documents relating to the naval base throughout its history. Amongst other things they also have a "Bouncing Bomb" which was tested nearby and recovered recently. They also a WW2 50OKg German bomb discovered in a nearby quarry recently (Apr 96). My father was evacuated whilst it was defused as part of the biggest peacetime evacuation since the war. Anyway, onwards and upwards as they say. I'll get that next article on the go soon, honest. [Andrew, this letter nearly reached the dizzy heights of being an Article. I recently "did" the Royal Navy Dockyards at Chatham and had a great time there is more about that elsewhere. Looking forward to hearing from you. Kenn]

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ASSISTANCE REQUIRED Steve Turner, 4 Wentworth Rd, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Lancs, WN4 9TU. Does anyone with the SWA know if any or all of Frederick the Great's Prussian "Garrison regiments" carried flags or standards during the 7 Years War? If they did, what did each look like, and what colours were used? I have all the detail I need about the rest of the army's, flags & standards (line regts., fusilier regts. cavalry regts. etc.) it's just annoying not being able to locate anything concrete about whether Prussian Garrison Regiments carried flags or not.

The point being that the lack of Prussian manpower during the war forced Frederick to deploy some of these regiments as field troops, taking part in battles as if they were front line regiments, although they were originally considered only as "reserve" units. This dire need for infantry may also have led to him issue flags for these particular regiments (if they didn't own them already) to use "in the field". However, nowhere can I find any mention of any (if they existed at all) therefore, I'd like someone, if possible, to confirm whether the Prussian "Garrison Regiments" did or did not, carry flags'? I'd be extremely grateful.

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Graham Empson - I am now the proud owner of two Wars of the Roses 25mm armies which I got from Warrior Miniatures. These really are excellent figures, very clean, negligible mould lines and very nicely cleaned up. It was really a very pleasant surprise to have figures where soapy water and tooth brush was all that was needed and when dry its straight into priming and painting. John, in my opinion, should be congratulated for providing excellent figures, very well detailed and despatched in such excellent condition. When I need any more figures I shall certainly be looking in his catalogue first and of course SWA members get a discount too.

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Andy George - I would like to thank the team behind Lone Warrior and the membership for providing articles etc. and giving me the means to wargame with my figures. Because I work evenings and nights finding an opponent has been impossible, but thanks to the rules systems in Lone Warrior I can have some great games. [Andy, great to hear that we are doing "something" right! Often feel, and other editors I have spoken to agree, that it is sometimes like sending the latest edition off into a Black Hole - there being no response. One could say that when members resub then that is a positive response and I agree and long may it continue, but it's good to get a letter like yours and to know there is "Life Out There!" Hope the Back Copies gave you even more ideas for the future. Kenn]

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Public Announcement. Must admit that after an absence of 17 years I have actually moved back into 25mm, but only for skirmishing! This was brought about by Village Green's Early Bushi figures which were too good for my 2" paint brush, so I got a local artist to do the honours and they are great. Keith painted the figures that Steve uses on his display stall - see them and weep! Kenn

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Committee Stuff! Membership continues to grow thanks to Michael Gray and all those who actively promote the Solo Wargamers Association. Due to excellent financial management on the part of the Committee, at a recent Postal Committee Meeting, it was decided that for the subscription year (97/98) those members that re-subscribe by 1 May 97 will only have to pay £ 10 UK/£ 13 Europe/£ 15 Overseas but those that miss the deadline will be on the usual £ 12/£ 15/17 limit. This will be the fourth year that we have had the same world-wide subscription level, and it was decided to repay, in a small way, the membership for their support over the years. Plus it is our 21st Birthday! You will note from the Accounts that we are in a sound financial situation and a special thanks to Craig Ambler and to Jeff Bayton for their work in this area. So you will see we are not scrambling for income, far from it, but feel it is only right to keep costs to our members to the lowest possible level without either sacrificing the content of Lone Warrior or the financial position of the Association. Perhaps I should also mention that there is a scheme for regular members who run short of "Hobby Money" for any reason to get a year's subscription free. No personal details are required, just let me know you would like to take advantage of this and that's it. Kenn.

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