Field Days - a Sunday afternoon manoeuvre

 The militia forces finally have the opportunity of a run out - as two young visitors to FLW HQ have requested a game.  The available forces are a little slim, as they are all involved in the North American naval campaign, but a game can always be produced at short notice...

Scenario

The fortress guns are under attack from a small Militia field force

Army Red/Garrison - defending 

2 x heavy fortress guns with RGA crew

1 x company of infantry

Signals section

HQ - with piano

The Command Post with Mess piano 

Army Red/Militia - attacking

3 x companies of infantry

2 x light guns

HQ

The Militia baseline - cannons firing

The game was played with (mostly) HG's rules, and my two young visitors were eager and excellent shots.  The poor Toronto Scots were wiped out by one heavy shell, and the garrison had one cannon knocked out.  The Garrison fire being very ably directed.

The Garrison troops were not helped by being in white drill order ...

Play ended as dinner was served, and an honourable draw was declared.  Toy soldier games are indeed for boys of all ages.  And khaki will be the uniform of the future.

Field Days - time for tea

 As the militia are forming up, there is obviously the need for a tea break, and a sing song around the piano.  The Canadian militia figures are pictured here having a break - the naval campaign continues on the other blog ...

But while enjoying the sunshine in FLW land, there are darker clouds on the horizon, and it is anticipated that FLW will return to the South African war later in the year ...

Field Days

 

 

The winter quarters is well and truly completed, and the planned 1870 siege games are nearly ready, but will be postponed by the arrival of the lovely Spring weather, and a resumption of outdoor Kriegspiels, and Garden Campaigns.

On the other blog, there has been much tinkering with the Fred T Jane pre dreadnought rules for the garden, and a mini campaign is under way.

 

Here, it is always good to return to those proper ‘Little Wars’ types, the yeomanry, militia and Territorials of the Edwardian era.  They are being dusted off for some Militia Field Days, as part of the Imperial Defence Committee’s requirements.  The threat can come from anywhere …  Mars, Germany, America??

 

Here we see the Toronto Scottish and Governor General’s band ‘standing to.’  These are the lovely Tunstill’s toy soldiers. 

 

This set (below) is a particular favourite – operating in a very difficult environment. 

And here are some signallers.

 All set for the Field Days, under the watchful eye of Lord K.

Kriegspiel sieges

 This winter quarters has been interesting, with some good reading, painting and planning.  

The first game of the season is also in an advanced state.  This will be an 1870 style siege, using some fascinating military manuals from the period, and featuring the armies of the North German Confederation, or Army Black as they appear in Garden Campaigns ...

Elastolin castles will be a key feature.

There can never be too many Elastolin Castles.

Splendid Little Wars in Sheffield!

 Congratulations to Tim and the team for a very fine 1914 Little Wars game in brave little Belgium - always a FLW favourite!

https://megablitzandmore.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-last-redoubt-belgium-1914-part-1.html

Kaiser Manoeuvres

 

The November shades have arrived and it is now dark at 17h.  This is a transitional time of year, and the time for 'winter quarters' and planning ...

On the other blog, the aim is to develop a FT Jane type of naval campaign set in 190?.

Here, the main effort will be in an indoor Kriegspiel set in the FLW era and using Moltke's practical schemes for the inspiration.  

It is also an opportunity to share some of the photos that didn't make it into Garden Campaigns.  

Over where? Over there ...

 This year's garden wargame activity has been concentrated on garden sieges on the sister Blog;

https://shandyandvauban.blogspot.com/

The summer campaign was based on the Victorian siege exercises in Chatham in the 1860's.  The 'winter quarters' activity is a more Wellsian naval campaign set in North America 190? ...

I hope that you have all enjoyed a happy summer of garden wargaming.

Funny Little Wars - Boer War game at the Conference Of Wargamers

 I was delighted to watch this excellent After Action Report from Bob C.  It is truly the spirit of Little wars and Funny Little Wars, and a Wellsian original.  Bravo to all our friends at WD!

https://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.com/2025/07/a-new-youtube-video-its-fair-kop.html

And here, another incarnation of Backsight Forethought - he of Duffer's Drift fame.

I now need to get to work on a Campaign drinks cabinet ...

Garden Campaigns - available at Tradition, Stcokholm and the Armoury, London

 

A Kriegsspiel in Sweden

 On a recent visit to Sweden, I had the pleasure of visiting the castle of  Roserberg.

'At Rosersberg Palace, north of Stockholm, time has stood still. The rooms remain almost untouched from the 1795-1860 period, with well-preserved interiors and collections. King Karl XIV Johan and Queen Desideria were the last members of royalty to live here'

It is the most remarkable time capsule - and had some delightful surprises.  

A Kriegspiel, complete with Army Red and Blue!

Erik from Tradition was one of our delightful hosts.  

https://www.kungligaslotten.se/english/royal-palaces-and-sites/rosersberg-palace.html#:~:text=till%20funktionella%20kakor.-,Rosersberg%20Palace,of%20royalty%20to%20live%20here.

Garden Campaigns - available now.

 

Garden Campaigns is now available from; 

Garden Campaigns

Garden Campaigns is the second volume of Funny Little Wars.  It continues the story of HG Wells classic toy soldier wargames book, 'Little Wars' and provides a system for playing HG's Kriegsspiel suggestions and annotations.  It also explores the extraordinary Edwardian novelist, William Le Queux and his book,  'The Invasion of 1910.'  A series of campaign games is developed from this truly Wellsian, and Little Wars, 'shocker'.   Zeppelins, forts and many new rules are included. 

  

The book will also be available at Tradition, Stockholm and the Armoury of St James in London.  

Garden Campaigns - update - proof reading and contents

  Things continue to move forward with the Garden Campaigns, and the proof reading is nearly 50% completed.

The new edition aims to recreate HG's amplifications at the end of Little Wars, and it is also a homage to William le Queux's 'The Invasion of 1910.'  This is a remarkably Little Wars type of book!

Garden Campaigns - coming soon!

Wishing all friends in toy soldier land a very happy New Year.

And Garden Campaigns will be appearing soon - the cover artwork is below.