Being reviews of books and magazines wargamers might want to read.
You will probably all know by the time you read this of the untimely demise of the magazine "Practical Wargamer." Stuart Asquith, doyen of the editors who actually wargame themselves has, like Bismark in the old "Punch" cartoon, been "seen down the side" and has lost the magazine he nurtured for over a decade. The wargamer has lost an excellent magazine and the publishers gained opprobrium and not much else.
That's the bad news. The good news is the advent of English Civil War Times No. 55 from Partizan Press. This is the execution of King Charles I anniversary special. It's not as macabre as one might expect. However the first article is Bob Partridge's "The Execution of King Charles I" - a history rather than wargaming piece. It commemorates the 350th anniversary in detail - including how Charles wore 2 shirts so that he should not shiver on the scaffold and the beholders think he was afraid. The magazine is enlivened considerably for me by the inclusion of several vignette drawings by that excellent artist P.S. Beck.
Here's a rundown of articles appearing in this number. "Artillery in Ireland, 1641-53," by Sean Sweeny. "The Army of Lord Ferdinando Fairfax, 164245," by Dave Evans. "Armed Complete: Buff Coates," by John Tuicey (includes several colour photos of the genuine article). "A Drubbing for Skellum," by John Ban-att (Richard Grenville's attack on Plymouth, 1645). "The Storming of Leeds," by Dave Evans. "A Cure for the Scots, Part II," by John Barrett (troops from Ireland and the Royalist war effort, 1643-46). Events. Reviews - this time an interactive CD-ROM, "The English Civil War," Cromwell Productions Ltd., 1997, £ 19.99. So, lots of good material for ECW buffs.
Now a book, William Russell. Special Correspondent of the Times. Introduced by Max Hastings and edited by Roger Hudson. Published by the Folio Society, London, 1995, third printing, 1997. This is over 400 pages of Russell's dispatches for "The Thunderer" (The Times) - the Crimean war, the Coronation of Czar Alexander 111856, The Indian Mutiny, The American Civil War 1861-62 (Russell was more or less "Frozen out" after his reportage of the First battle of Bull Run and "The Times" seeming to support secession), the Marriage of the Prince of Wales 1863, the Battle of Koniggratz 1866, the Franco Prussian War, the Zulu War, By Train to the Wild West 1881, Egypt 1882.
Billy Russell was an Irishman with a considerable gift both of charm and perspicacious writing. Lots of good things here from someone who reported straight from the shoulder, and often got into trouble for A from the incompetent generals and administrators he exposed. The book can be seen about 2nd hand in the UK. A try might be made to get a copy form the publishers without joining their book society if enough of you write. The address is: The Folio Society, 44 Eagle St., London, WCIR 4FS, UK. Tel. 0171.400.4200. Fax 0171.400.4242.
Next, another very welcome wargamers guide - Number IX - from Stephen Manley. This is another booklet in The War of the Austrian Succession and gives a mass of information. Uniforms and equipment of Danish and German States' Armies 1739-1748. (Denmark, Bavaria, Hanover, Pfalz, Saxony, and the Hessian States) ISBN: 1900688 09 3.
This is part of a twelve part wargamers' guide, series, ISBN 1 900688 00 X. Info and availability from Potsdam Flags and Publications, 16, Buckminster Close, Derby, DE21 2EA, UK, or from Caliver Books of Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 3NH, UK. Number IX costs £ 4.99 + 75p P&P within UK. 10% discount for members of SWA. Stephen is happy to receive comments and enquiries from readers.
The general idea is to give gainers enough information to create the armies of the period in table-top form. Work in preparation includes volumes of the flags carried by armies participating in the war and on the naval forces of the various Powers involved. The nations are covered for organization, infantry, cavalry, marines (where they were fielded), grenadiers, artillery, musicians, NCOs and officers differentiations. There is no colour but there are tables of colours and excellently clear drawings of uniforms, horse furniture and so on. Wood work and iron work colours; for guns are included. There are some good and useful anecdotes too.
Thirty eight pages crammed with information - especially if you cannot read the German, French, or Danish of the sources. Well worth the money. Create your own small states forces in beautiful color - or several states and fight your own "Wars of Succession" - Ralph the First defeats the Pretender Barry of Basingstoke and so forth. Ring bound with transparent plastic front cover.
Next, The Courier magazine, #75. $5.95US or £ 4.50UK. Available from Caliver Books and Partizan Press in the UK or PO Box 1878, Borckton, MA, 02303, USA. Dick Bryant's well known magazine needs no introduction really. It is beautifully produced, color covers. This issue sees the second part of a WWI Air Warfare article by Bill Rutherford. This one is mainly about painting and modeling (the first part was about manufacturers of planes , in various scales, and comparing their modeling, finish and availability). Dick contributes an article on modifications to "Desperado" rules for the French and Indian Wars. (These rules, vol 1 & 2, are available from 3625 Sundart Drive, Lexington, KY, 40512, USA. Tom Kelly the author. US price $14 plus $2 shipping. In UK, from Partizan Press.)
Next there is an article about the Vietmeyer Memorial Game at Historicon 98, using Fred Vietineyer's own "Column Line and Square" rules, first written in the 1950's. The scenario used was Fred's version of Fuentes de Onoro, May 3-6, 1811. There's a good map to help you do it too. Then there's "The Rigors of Research" by Victor 0 Schmidt (for British spelling). This is an overview of various schools of thought to produce wargames - finishing up, "researching wargame rules then can be, for the serious gamer no light matter of whimsically pulling a sheet of paper to you, grabbing a pencil and scribbling down -'infantry shall move 3 inches and cavalry 6" (p. 30). To which I comment "Oh yes you can - its a game."
"Reviewing Stand" next - reviews of figures, rules, games and books. Interesting stuff. "On Holy Ground" - the First Crusade 1096 - 1101. "Day of Battle Supplement I" - by Chris Parker. These are period modifications to these rules. "Courier Dispatch" section is news about the Hobby including a calendar of wargaming events in the USA. "Trivia" is a fun quiz. "Once More into (the variable length bound) Breach: the Battle of Duchy le Chateau" by Jim Arnold. This is an amplification of a concept introduced by George Jeffrey several years ago. I don't bother with concepts of time in my own wargaming. For me a battle lasts "X" number of turns and that's it. Weather plays a part too of course. This article is made interesting in the clear maps. "Cedar Mountain" by Greg Novak is a "Fire and Fury" scenario of the battle of the title. Finally, "Dispatches from the Field," readers letters, and "Volley Fire," readers response to #74. 1 found "Painting Jacobite Armies" interesting myself (I have Culloden on the table at the moment), but readers have rated it with little interest. I find scenarios for rules I have not got and need to buy to play irritating to say the least, but it is a YsKy interesting magazine and I'm glad I subscribed - to replace the now defunct Practical Wargamer.
Next onto the pitch is "Battlefields" Vol I, Issue 7 published by Partizan Press, 816-818, London Rd, Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 3NH, UK, and On Military Matters, 55 Taylor Terrace, Hopewell, NJ, USA, Tel. (609) 466-2329. £ 3.50 or $7.00.
A bit of a "new look" about this issue and a new editor who, in his editorial, request contributors to submit their work. Most wargames magazines depend on the hobby to provide articles and some get fees for them. Wasn't then? "Death of a Legend" Castillon 1453. "The Ironclad Pirate" the Huascar Incident 1877. "Wargames Forum" battle scales. "Triptych" Russian Napoleonic by the late Carl Rearley. "Fields of Battle" Medina de Rioseco 1808. Review - Baccus 6mm Napoleonics. "Killibegs Kommando" Ireland 1941 - there's a new one! "Over the Seas and Far Away" Marlburian Wars campaign scenario. "Off the Wall" - this time morale rules for skirmish games by Derek Henderson. Events Diary. There are maps by Derek Stone - always worth looking at.
Next, "Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research" Spring 1999. Volume 77, Number 309. ISSN 0037-9700. Available to members on subscription from A.P. Bailey, ACIB (Hon. Treas. and Membership Secretary) c/o the National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HT. The journal appears 4 times a year. Interesting to anyone interested in Army affairs and history really. A rundown of contents includes the following. The Raid on Essaman 14 Oct 1873. An account of Edward Woodgate of an operation during Wolseley's Ashanti Expedition. Alumni of the Virginia Military Institute who served in the Military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth. Plan 1919, the other one (written by Albert Palazzo of Australian Defence Force Academy about the attempt to break the stalemate on the Western Front in WWI). Photographs of two "bullybeef" metal labels for the Crimea(!) Notes and Documents and book reviews (one of which is included in this "Knapsack").
Next, Mr. Brown's War, A Diarl of the Second World War edited by Helen D. Millage. Published by Sutton Publishing at E19.99. ISBN 0 7509 1783 0. Richard Brown kept this diary from 1939-1946. He seems to have had what was called "a reserved occupation," and so was not drafted into the Forces. He "did his bit" however as a member of the ARP, then the Home Guard and some Fire Watching too. He gleaned his information from the wireless ("Here is the news and this is Alvar Liddell reading it.") and the newspapers - he seems to have taken the Daily Telegraph. (My father, being a Labour Party supporter, took the Daily Herald, since disappeared.) Mr. Brown's diary is illustrated with a selection of archive photographs which along with the narrative helps to show how civilians coped with air raids, rationing, blackout, extra work for the war effort and their personal lives.
Book, My Boy Jack? The Search for Kipling's Only Son, by Tonie and Valmai Holt. Published by Leo Cooper. E19.95. ISBN 0 85052 407 5. John Kipling, an 18 year old subaltern in the Irish Guards was reported missing after the Battle of Loos, 27th September 1915.
In 1992 the War Graves Commission named the grave of a previously unknown soldier buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in France as John Kipling. Rudyard Kipling had searched unsuccessfully for his son's grave whilst undertaking the enormous responsibilities of being Commissioner of the Imperial War Graves Commission and writing the History of the Irish Guards. With all his fame as a writer and influence Rudyard Kipling was, in the end, just another father devastated by the loss of a young son in, what seems to me, a fairly futile war. Tonie and Valmai Holt are well known writers of military history. They also have founded "Major and Mrs. Hunt's Battlefield Tour Company." Both are Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts. This is a fascinating detective story and in-depth biography of Kipling as a father. One has only to read a few of Kipling's stories - "Puck of Pooks Hill" or "Stalky and Co." to understand the desolation that would overtake such a sensitive writer after such a tragedy.
Bitya u Hradce Kralove-L.P. 1866, or Schlacht bei Koniggratz 1866 by Jan Jakl- Published by Duncan Rogers This booklet, 64pp, is separate booklet with paper covers. Beautifully produced and illustrated. Translation in separate booklet. Contains armaments and a background to the war. The illustrations are outstanding and in color, with re-enactors in original arms and equipment. A famous painting by Vacav Socher is included as a separate color print. It's A3, folded, and on the back is a map of the Koniggratz batlefield. Duncan Rogers has translated from the German text which accompanied the original booklet. The whole thing makes a very interesting read and a must for wargamers in the period. For both ISBN 1874622 20 5.
A second booklet from Helion is a translation of "The History of K.U.K. Infantry Regiment Graf Khevenhuller-Metsch No. 35 during the campaign of 1866" by Captain Joseph May, also by Duncan Rogers. It was originally published as part of "Geschichte des Kaiserlich and Koniglichen Infantrie Regiments No. 35" by Carl Maasch, Pilsen, 1901.
The translator gives the reason for the translation that regimental histories often give more incidents and details that general histories very often miss. This unit was recruited in the Pilsen area and Capt. May joined the regiment on 1st November 1894 and was serving with the 14th company (Austrian regiments were HUGE) when he wrote the book. 2 maps are included in a pocket inside the back cover. Map 1 is of the German Reich, Bohemia and Moravia drawn by Captain May. Map 2, also by May, is of Pilsen and its environs. The booklet consists of 25 pages crammed with information giving a "window" into the Austrian Army of the time. There are explanatory notes of German terms and footnotes to help the readers' understanding. One is taken through the outbreak of the war and mobilization, the Night Battle of Podol, the Battle of Munchengratz, the Battle of Jicin, and the Battle of Koniggratz. There ate short items on the activities of the 4th Bn and 5th Bn in the campaign and the book finishes with appendices: 1. Casualty lists, 2. Officer casualties, 3. Bravery awards. ISBN 1 874622 35 3. The information in this little book will give the enthusiast for this era lots to recreate several battles of the campaign, with the assistance of the maps. It may also enthuse those who are seeking a new and different period to wargame in, I thoroughly recommend both of these booklets. They are available from: Helion and Co., 26, Willow Rd., Solihull, West Midlands, B91 1UE, England, Tel: (0121) 705 3393. Website: http://www.helion.co.uk. Email: books(&helion.com. There will also be figures in 25mm scale produced by Helion. I look forward to reviewing those.
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© Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum
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