It is a fact that one's life can be molded from an early age by circumstances and events which, in my case, began at the age of six, when my absent Father, to ease his conscience, began giving me large amounts of Britain's Model Soldiers at Christmas and birthdays. So, the envy of all my school friends, I fought innumerable floor-battles, shooting them down with a varied-range howitzer which contrasted strangely with the medieval fort in which they were sheltering. Then, in the local library, I discovered a breathtaking book called LITTLE WARS written by H.G. Wells, a man who seemingly had never grown up. Now, guided by his rules, battles became realistic and order took over from childish simplicity, and a WARGAMER was born! It soon became apparent that it would be much more firn to have a real-live enemy on the other side of the field, and various schoolmates began to form a rota, occupying the kitchen table for hours on end. Without realizing it, we had began to be blessed by perhaps the greatest gift the hobby could bestow - comradeship, a social asset beyond price, which remains with Wargamers as long as they pursue the hobby. Those little model soldiers and guns become the catalyst, the chain that links us all together, without it you would not be reading this, I would not be writing it, our wonderful evening and weekends would not take place, and we would not congregate in large numbers at exciting conventions and meetings. Just halt for a moment, set your mind to thinking what would I be doing, how would I fill my life if I had never discovered our mutual hobby of wargaming? Oh yes, whatever the beginning was, whatever or whoever it was that introduced us to our hobby, it undoubtedly molded our lives in a most pleasant and harmless manner. Rare is the wargamer who contributes nothing to the hobby, plodding along holding the coat-tails of a fellow-gamer who willingly provides the soldiers, the terrain, probably even the venue. In a major or minor fashion, ALL wargamers participate, obviously some more than others, but all forming part of the indisputable interest and excitement which breathes so much life into the hobby. However, in all communities there stands out those who find so much inspiration in our hobby that they dig deep to find the time and ability to take their resolution to a point that adds to their own fascination while aiding and encouraging other hobbyists. This has caused some names to rank high in the annals of wargaming, and it is hard to find anyone more fitted to join their ranks than the originator of this stimulating magazine - Hal Thinglum. Single-handed almost, he has for many years sweated-away in a manner I know well from turning out my British WARGAMERS NEWSLETTER for 18 years, and to me this has resulted in a journal with warmth and dedication which I hope my own little magazine aroused among wargamers in its day. It is good to hear that the true worth so vividly demonstrated by Hal has been recognized in the higher echelons of the Wargaming world, and that Hal Thinglum has been added to the LEGION OF HONOR. There are many of us who will leave no stone unturned to get him the JACK SCRUBY AWARD in the near future. I intend, as I have always done, to give every bit of encouragement and support to Hal and his most impressive magazine, and I ask wargamers - all over the world - to do the same. It is an honor to be asked to write this Guest Editorial, allowing me to stand alongside a Man who is a REAL WARGAMER and an international figurehead in our hobby. Back to MWAN #100 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com