The Reviewing Stand

Victorian Colonial Periodicals

by Capt. John Harrel

ARMY & NAVY MODELWORLD for April has an article by J. T. Thomson an a 'Sergeant Major 25th Foot The King's Own Borderers' in the early 1880's. The May issue has a nice report (with color pictures) on 'The Victorian Military Fair', by Richard Caie, complete with color photos of this annual Victorian Military Society event. The August issue his a nice article by Ian Knight on 'The Maori Wars', though it duplicates such material already published in a past issue of MINIATURE WARGAMES. Lastly, the September issue has an excellent article by Sebastian Dobson on the 'Imperial German Marine Infantry, 1900-1918.' Two full pages of color illustrations highlight this nice look are Germany's 'sea soldiers' who fought in all of her colonies.

Issue 44 of THE HELIOGRAPH has some ideas on 'Acting Independently in TSATF', by Grant Sigsworth, 'Using 25mm Figures in 'Science vs. Pluck", by Howard Whitehouse, and a game scenario for the Northwest Frontier called 'Kuda Bien."

Volume 6 Number I (Sept-Oct) of THE MIDWEST WARGAMER'S ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER has a complete set of rules for gaming 'The Banana Wars', by Paul Hinson. Now you, too, can intervene in Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean with your U.S. Marines.

MILITARY HISTORY for October contains an article by John H. Walker about Chinese Gordon and the Ever Victorious Army, 'Challenge for Heavenly Rebellion.' Good illustrations back-up a sound bit of research.

Number 8 (Aug-Sept) of MILITARY ILLUSTRATED has a short piece an 'Sir Evelyn Wood VC, GCB, 6CMG' in the 'Gallery' column, by Michael Barthorp and Pierre Turner (color paintings). One of the color plates shows Wood is a Colonel in 1879, a good study of in officer during the Zulu War.

MILITARY MODELLIN6 for June has in article an 'The West India Regiment', by Bob Marrion. Good uniform information, including a color plate of the 1st and 2nd Regiments during the Ashanti War, highlight the article. Also in the June issue is "The Indian Army from Cigarette Cards', by R. G. Harris. Many good uniform plates again, as well as information an various sets of cards, when they were issued and on what subjects. The July and August issues contain the first two parts of an article by Dan Featherstone an 'Queen Victoria's Enemies.' Dan's writing is always excellent and this new series is well-done, as expected. It contains good background information as well as some fine contemporary illustrations. Part three is due to be published in the November issue.

MINIATURE WARGAMES for August his a battle report by Ted Herbert an 'The Battle of Son-Tai, 14-17 December 1883.' This action was staged by the Victorian Military Society at Stake Mandeville in hopes of spreading interest in Colonial gaming beyond the 'traditional" English campaigns. StS's Editor Emeritus was one of the participants in the action.

Issue 49 of SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN, the Journal of the Victorian Military Society, contains several articles of potential interest. Rod Macneil presents 'The Defence of Asbigol Wells', a Sudan action from 1885, our own Lynn Bodin tells the story of 'Get Aguinaldo!", about the capture of the leader of the Philippine Insurrectos, and S. Manick continues his series on 'The Naval Brigades in South Africa', this time looking at the Boer War.

WARGAMES ILLUSTRATED, a new venture by ex-editor of MINIATURE WARGAMES, Duncan MacFarlane, has released issue number one. Colonial articles include 'Off to Fight the Zulus', by John Mengham and 'Wargasing Night Actions', by Pete Britton. The latter article uses Mukden from the Russo-Japanese War as its basis, while the first article examines the effectivness of firepower in the Zulu War. If the quality of the articles and advertising can continue, "WI" may likely overtake 'MW' in popularity.

The Reviewing Stand

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