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 ...
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.
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 ...
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
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.
 |
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.
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.
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.
Erik from Tradition was one of our delightful hosts.
Garden Campaigns is now available from;
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.
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!
From Divisional HQ,
Hotel Supremo (5*), Venice
Commander, there have been logistical issues…
Would you prefer the mules to bring forward:
The mountain artillery
or
The HMG company ...
Bombardment phase
The Austrian HE fell in front of COPSE A
The attack followed with the Alpini scaling the left flank and the Arditi assaulting the Table. Excellent Italian artillery fire silenced the defenders on the ridge line.
Both sides used gas, and the assault was pressed home in very limited visibility.
