Something of an academic title, obviously, and one you won't find on the shelves at W.H. Smith as yet. It doesn't apparently have an ISSN. I've acquired the first three in the run of this new, glossy magazine for reviewing elsewhere, but there are a couple of articles beginning to crop up which may prove useful to Solo Wargamers Association members with specific interests. The magazine costs £4 a copy and details are on.....www.archaeology.co.uk
The two items I've mentioned below are from Issue 3 (Jan/Feb 2004) by the way, and the magazine which is attractively produced in full colour, includes news of a forthcoming UK 'Timewatch' series for BBC 2 to be shown in the Autumn, on the subject of Caesar's Gallic War c52BC, which may be worth keeping an eye out for.
The two articles of interest deal firstly with the 'new' artillery of the Roman Emperor Trajan, around 100 AD, and in one of those detailed, and beautifully put together exercises in reconstruction, Dr.Michael Lewis of Hull University provides the Roman Wargamer with a good deal of practical information on several types of bolt-shooters and stone-throwers in service with the Legions.
The second article examines a 'Royal Fort', that of Chitral in the Hindu Kush, which dedicated Colonial wargamers will know was the site of an almost legendary siege in 1895. I don’t know of a modern account of the six week siege, eventually relieved by two columns from Peshawar and Gilgit, for the 'story' you'd have to turn to Sir George Robertson's 1898 book 'Chitral:The Story of a Minor Siege'. He was Political Officer in command of the 400 British and Indian troops holed up in the fort, along with the obligatory pro-British local ruler and entourage.
The article by Bill Woodburn provides an interesting set of plans and axonometric (yes, I had to look that word up too!) drawings of Chitral as it was during the siege. It's an ideal solo encounter, since neither side used artillery apart from two 'old guns' within the fort, which fired twice then gave up the ghost. It's a siege of sniping and sorties, and of attempted mining by the attackers.
It gave me several ideas for solo scenarios, and if you field Ghurkas or Afghans of the 19th century, this is worth taking a look at.
Bookcase
- The Coast Defense Journal Review
La Columna: Spanish Civil War Group Review
Arms and Armour: New Journal Review
Fighting in Normandy: German Army from D-Day to Villers Bocage Review
Current World Archeology Review
Health in Wargame Armies Review
Revista Ristre Napoleonico New Spanish Napoleonic Magazine Review
Medieval History Magazine Review
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