Books
Zulu - Isandlwanaand Rorke's Drift, 22-23 January 1879 (Windrow & Greene, 128pp, $69.00+$10.00 P+P), by Ian Knight, with plates by Michael Chappell & Angus Mcbride. This is a the third volume of the Windrow & Greene uniform series (the previous two being The Thin Read Line and Into the Valley of Death, both reviewed in S&S in previous issues). It is large, coffee table format work full of black and white pictures and full color plates. The brochure indicates 150 early drawings and photographs, some never published before. There are 16 full color plates depicting uniforms in great detail. A limited collectors edition is also available for $128.00; it's bound in leather with washed ends and ribbon marker. Each copy is numbered and signed by the author and the artists. There will only be 250 copies available. Send your order to: Windrow & Greene, 5 Gerrard Street, London WIV 7LJ, UK.
Heroes for Victoria (Spellmount Limited, 192pp, $45.00), by John Duncan & John Walton, is a potpourr i of events and personalities documenting Victorian military history. It's of the large size "coffee table" variety, full of b/w pictures and drawings, as well as 8 pages worth of color prints. There are no new information within these books, in fact, most sources listed were from the 1970's, therefore not including some of the more recent findings in the field of Victorian military history. However, it will serve nicely as an introduction to attract new devotee to the period.
Canadian Campaigns 1860-70, by David Ross, Grant Tyler, with plates by Rick Scollins is the newest colonial offering from Osprey's Men-at-Arms Series. it documents the formation of the Canadian Militia, its mobilization during the Trent Affair, the campaign against the Fenians (IRA ala Canada), Wolseley's Red River Expedition of 1870, as well as a treasure trove of information regarding Canadian uniforms (Now you can correctly paint up your RAFM Canadian figures!)
I received the fall, 1992 military book catalog from Peter Jackson. As always it's full of hard to find colonial titles. For information write to: 23 Castle Green Crescent, Weston, Toronto, Canada M9R 1N5 (416)249-4796.
The Forgotten Records is a list of articles and lectures extracted from various hard to find journals and magazine, most nearly contemporary with the campaigns. All campaigns listed in the catalog are colonial in nature. For more information please write to: Victor Sutcliffe, 36 Parklands Rd. London SW16 6TE, UK.
Artists & Illustrations of the Anglo-Boer War (Femwood Press, 264pp, R295), by Ryno Greenwall, offers this definitive work on Anglo-Boer War art. The book covers illustrations from newspapers, magazines, and books; contemporary paintings and personal drawings; as well as postcards and artifacts (my personal favorite is a chessboard where every white square contains a Boer War battle scene). For more information write to: P.O. Box 15344, Vlaeberg 8018, Republic of South Africa.
Lahore to Lucknow - The Indian Mutiny Journal of Arthur Moffatt Lang (Pen & Sword Books Ltd., 192pp, £ 19.95), edited by David Blomfield, with introduction by Christopher Hibbert. Arthur Lang was an inexperienced officer who had to decide whether breaches at Kashmere bastion were wide enough to allow for attack, and then lead the assault himself. Lang was later recommended for VC three times, but never received one. This book is taken from his journal. A first person account not to be missed for you Indian Mutiny fans out there!
Subscriber Mark Keigwin reports on the following new books:
Isandlwana (Centaur Publications), by John Laband and Jeff Mathews is the fourth title in their series, published under the KwaZulu Monuments Council. The council is an historical society in South Africa whose goal is to educate the public about the Zulu War. The book serve as a "tourist's guide" to visitors who's interested in touring the battlefield.
Also by John Laband is titled: Kingdorn in Crisis - The Zulu Response to the British Invasion of 1879.
The Natal Papers of 'John Ross' (University of Natal Press, 228pp, R55,55), edited by Stephen Gray. John Ross (real name: Charles Rawden MacLean) was a ship's apprentice when shipwrecked off Port Natal, where he spend three years of his childhood as a castaway at Port Natal and Zululand. He became a favorite of King Shaka (I think the James Fox character of the Shaka Zulu miniseries was most based on him). This book offers the opportunity to rediscover history of early Zululand from a primary source which modern reader may find startling.
Frontiers - The Epic of South Africa's Creation and the Tragedy of the Xhosa People by Noel Mostert (Alfred A. Knopf,1992 1355pp $35.00) is a new and massive history of the Xhosa from the coming of the whites to South Africa to the 20th century. Though not a military history per se the book includes coverage of the numerous "Kaffir" Wars of the 19th century - especially the Seventh and Eighth Wars. It is well illustrated with photographs.
Interested readers willing to shell out the bucks will find once past the heavy moralizing at the beginning, that the book delivers good, solid, detailed (if tragic) history; rich in fascinating personalties and description. The book is very evocative in describing the setting. The author seems well versed in the anthropological, social ' political, economic, and of course the military background of the story. Readers that tackle the full 1300 plus pages will find themselves well rewarded and come away with a better and perhaps new understanding of the Boers and Britons, Bantu and Khoikhoi peoples that make up the story of South Africa. The only problem I had was with the physical BOOK itself the weak glue binding on my copy was not sufficient to hold together the massive bulk of this book. Recommended for the serious and stouthearted Colonialist.
For those interested in American Indians TIME LIFE BOOKS has just announced a new series on the American Indians. This is presented in the familiar TIME LIFE format and will include volumes on "The Mighty Chieftains", "The Way of the Warrior", and "The War for the West".
The Road to Isandhlwana by RWF Droogleever (Greenhill Books, London, 1992, $37.00) This is a new biography of Col. Anthony Durnford, covering his military career in South Africa, including Bushman's Pass and his last stand at Isandhlwana. Lots of photos.
By Order of the Great White Queen By Ian Knight (Greenhill Books, 1992, $37.00) The recognized Zulu War expert has put together an accountof the Zulu War drawn from first hand accounts of British soldiers and participants.
Vetern colonial wargamer Donald Featherstone has come through with two new colonial titles: Victorian Colonial Warfare: Africa, and in the same format: Victorian Colonial Warfare: India ($24.95 forgot the publisher). The African volume covers some little known African campaigns, including the Basuto, Kaffir, and Ashanti Wars. The volume on India surveys some of the early 19th century wars in India including the Sihk Wars and the Mutiny. Both volumes are oversize with plenty of illustrations.
The Immobile Empire - The First Collision of East and West (Alfred & Knopf, New York, 1992, $30.00, 630pp) by Alain Peyefitte covers Britain's expedition to open China to western trade, 1892-94.
Periodicals
MWAN (22554 Pleasant Dr., Richton Park, IL 6047 1) Vol. 11, No. I contains a complete set of Boxer Rebellion Rules by Bob Davis of HATSOFF (a series historical miniature club frequently featured in MWAN). Hal already announce that he will continue with the publication of MWAN (much to the relief of his fans), and the newsletter is improving both in content as well as presentation (laser printer does wonders!)
Soldiers of the Queen (Arm Farm Cottage, Blisworth Arm, Northamptonshire NN7 3EF, UK) No. 69 is on hand. Michael Barthorp presents the headline article on Crimean Sharpshooters. A biography of Thomas Carbutt - a Yorkshireman in Africa, is written by Ian Castle. Ian F.W. Beckett gives us another look at Wolseley and the Ring. My personal favorite of this issue is a look at Victorian and Edwardian fiction of future war, by Roger Stearn. It's fascinating to see what "alternate universe" stories could come out of Victorian England.
The Heliograph (110 17 SW 125th Ave. Miami, FL 33186) No. 74 contains Andy's usual witty conversations (a personal editorial style much like Hal's MWAN), Howard Whitehouse presents an article on the Mahdist army, applicable to Howard's Science vs. Pluck rules. Howard also gave us other useful information in this issue regarding gunboats on the Nile, other river crafts, trains, and signals & communications. Rules to use them are also presented, so if you are a SvP player, this issue is indispensable!
Practical Wargamers Sept/Oct issue contains an article titled: "Heads Even, Tails Zulu" by Graham Hockley. It presents a very simple set of skirmish rules using a coin to resolve combat!
The August issue of America's own Historical Gamer gaves us an interesting piece on Canada and the Boer War, by David Smith.
For the skilled modellers who find inspiration from well constructed miniature buildings, Wargame Illustrated No. 58 contains an article by Ian Weekly of Battlement on "The Market of Bhowelpore".
Miniature Wargames No. 112 gives us a host of colonial related items. Colin Ashton and John Ingleby presents Part 11 of "The First China War" (Opium War). Jim Webster presents a closer look at the Arab Revolt during WWI. Greg Blake gives us a most unusual offering: The Kalkadoon War of 1874 - 84. It's colonial war in 19th century Australia (something that I know absolutely nothing about before I laid my eyes on this article).
Rules
They Died for Glory - The Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871 (Quantum Printing Co., 44pp. $10.00), by Dave Waxtel and Robert Burke (Yes' our very own back issue personality). It is a revised edition of the same rule set that was previously published in the Courier. It is in the "TACTICA" style of glossy paper and color photo - a treatment of wargame rules that can really suck a person into a period (witness the success of Tactica & Fire and Fury).
The rules themselves are simple and straight forward. Some questions from the first edition have been cleared up, and there are additions of more "chrome" rules, as well as host of well researched historical scenario. All color photos feature masterfully painted Wargame Foundry figures that literally take one's breath away! Inclusion of period Kriegsspeil maps is a nice touch.
Miscellaneous
If you've missed last season's Indiana Jones television series on ABC, you certainly should get hold of someone who has videotaped it. In case you are not familiar with, the premiise of the show: each episode has young Inidiana Jones (a 18 year old version of Harrison Ford) involved in some historical incident, meeting famous personalities and making history behind the scene.
The time period is that of 1910 to the First World War. The closest analogy I can think of is that of the Flashman papers (of course Young Indy is not a coward ... ). You see Young Indy cavorting with Howard Carter (of King Tut fame), Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, De Gaulle, Albert Switzer, Winston Churchill, Picasso, and a host of other characters. Of particular interest to military enthusiasts are young Indy's involvement in the Pershing Expedition (he was a Villista), a Belgian Expedition through the Congo, and trench warfare in Flanders. The show was saved from being canceled due to a vigorous letter campaign by the show's loyal fans. This is the kind of program that can get youngsters interested in history, and I applaud ABC's decision to produce this program. Catch it on Mondays at 10:00 PM. Don't miss it!
French and Indian War fans will delight in The Last of the Mohicans a big screen retelling of the James Fenimore Cooper Story. This movie is a visual treat with great nature scenes, bloody battles, authentic uniforms (I think Philip Haythornwaite was a consultant) and a realistic depiction of woodland Indians. A good adventure yam with a somewhat overpowering soundtrack however.
Computer Games
Rorke's Drift by Impressions a British Software Company. Available for the IBM. This game requires 512k memory, it Supports CGA, EGA, & VGA and uses a mouse interface. The game was designed by miniatures wargamer and is meant to resemble a man to man skirmish tabletop miniatures game. While the graphics are not state of the art (the little animated British figures are "quaint" and remind me of the old Mike' Models colonial figure line) one does get the tabletop feel.
In this game the player gets to command the 100 man plus garrison at Rorke's Drift. Using the mouse and a the player gets direct each individual officer, soldier, medic, and "storesmen". Figures can be directed to: change facing, load, fire, move, or pass out ammunition. Each figure is rated for melee, fire ability etc. The game ends when the game clock reaches 7:00 am 23 January, 1879 or when the Zulus wipe out the garrison.
American computer gamers used to the "slick" state of the art American wargarne tiles from the bigger software companies will find this game lacks the in-depth documentation and the polish of a well developed game. One gripe I had was the lack of "volley fire" provisions. The game allows for moving men in groups but not for firing them as a group. This makes it rather tedious as one must direct each figure to aim and fire, designating an individual target etc. This may be no worse than what you do on the table top but why not take advantage of the computers abilities. Also it seems the Zulu "artificial intelligence" (A.I.) is a little aimless, but there's enough of them some 4,000 that enter the playing area in small waves or as dribs and dabs to make (A.I.) irrelevent.
Overall I found the game (even with the mouse) too slow and cumbersome to play comfortably on my 386-25. Perhaps on a faster computer the interface may be a little smoother. I feel the game concept is good and with better development it might work. Maybe trying to animate a game on this scale is a bit much for current home computer and software technology to do smoothly. Interested computer colonialists can obtain this game from: IMPRESSIONS Riverbank House, Putney Bridge Approach, London SW6 3JD. Gainers local to the San Francisco Bay area can purchase the game at GRIFFON SOFTWARE AND GAMES, 1707B S.Bascom Ave., Campbell, CA. 95008, discounted to $39.00.
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© Copyright 1992 by Milton Soong.
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