IHMN: The Forces of the British Empire during the War of the Witches, Part 2

“I do not understand exactly what you mean by fear," said Tarzan. "Like lions, fear is a different thing in different men, but to me the only pleasure in the hunt is the knowledge that the hunted thing has power to harm me as much as I have to harm him. If I went out with a couple of rifles and a gun bearer, and twenty or thirty beaters, to hunt a lion, I should not feel that the lion had much chance, and so the pleasure of the hunt would be lessened in proportion to the increased safety which I felt."

There are many British "non-governmental" agencies whose impact will be felt and needed in the War of the Witches:

1. Lord Greystoke's Company.  John Clayton, Viscount Greystoke, better known as Tarzan of the Apes, was raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes is greatly feared and admired throughout the world in the late 19th and early 20th century. No other group has fought the Witch King more than Tarzan and his faithful companions.

Dismayed that Tarzan's inspired leadership is cancelling the dread he causes, the Witch King decides to take on the Lord of the Jungle personally.

2. Allan Quartermain.  Quatermain is an English-born professional big game hunter and occasional trader in southern Africa, who supports colonial efforts to 'spread civilization' in the 'dark continent', though he also favors native Africans having a say in their affairs. An outdoorsman who finds English cities and climate unbearable, he prefers to spend most of his life in Africa, where he grew up under the care of his widower father, a Christian missionary. His sarcastic comments offer a sharp critique of European conventions. In many adventures, Quatermain is joined by two British companions, Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good of the Royal Navy, and by his African friend Umslopogaas. 

 Quatermain and Umslopogaas

 Captain John Good and Warriors of the Kukuanas

 3. Lady Prudence Fiona Throckwaddle and the Anti-Slavery League. None strike fear in the heart of the Zanzabari and Arabs slavers (other than Lord Greystoke) than Lady Prudence Fiona Throckwaddle, of the North Piddle Throckwaddle's. A formidable woman (just ask her deceased husband) she has lead numerous anti-slavery raids and most famously, she guided the raid at Iringa, which liberated more than 700 slaves. Though not popular with the German Authorities in the area (the infamous tea party incident with Herr Doktor Professor Oberst (Ret.) Sanders) they grudging allow her much latitude in her operations as she is now a signatory of the "Alliance" in the Secret War against the "Witches".  Baroness Grete Wölfflin has been assigned by Herr Doktor Professor Oberst (Ret.) Sanders as the Imperial German Liaison to the Anti-Slavery Leauge.

 Eunice Montjoy pulls her pistol to the left of Lady Throckwaddle while Lady Imogen Millais-Scott walks up with her sword cane. 

4. The Nightengales. What more can be said of the famous Professor Nightengale?  The Discoverer of the Hidden Kingdom of Natagala, the drinking companion of Professor Challenger, and the man who accidentally killed three Troglodytes in the first encounter with the Witch King (Huzzah!)

The meeting of Professor Nightengale and King Mehluli

Miss Nightengale is a power to be reckoned with.  Witty and smart, she invented a miniaturized proto-steam electrolysis device that acts as an arc generator and power source for her steam fist.  It is also rumored that she has been seen recently as a companion to the so called "Caretaker" or "Doctor" who is currently in Chinese custody. She also has one of two silver keys known to exist - a powerful weapon against the Witches.  The key is in the possession of the American Randolph Carter.

Miss Nightengale and her father

The Nightengale Expedition of 1890

Next Up:  The Evil Witches (BWAH HAH HAH!!!)

IHMN: The Forces of the British Empire during the War of the Witches, Part 1

"In times of war and not before, God and the soldier we adore. But in times of peace and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted." - Rudyard Kipling

The British Empire has been blessed with wealth, scientific achievement and adventurous men and women. Though society is stratified and many leaders slow to adapt to new technology and tactics, the British are formidable in the War against the Witches.  Here are the governmental forces involved:

1. The village of North Piddle. In 1795, a large stony meteorite was observed during its fall to Earth at a cottage near Wold Newton in Yorkshire, England and a piece of it, known as the Wold Cottage meteorite, was carefully analyzed by both British and French authorities and they concluded that an extraterrestrial origin was likely. 

The meteor strike near North Piddle

The village of North Piddle is a small civil parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, England.  North Piddle was named after Piddle Brook, on which it stands, and has approximately 200 inhabitants. On December 17, 1896 there was an earthquake in the region that "exceeded in violence any previous instance of seismic energy there within the present century".  The earthquake was preceded by a loud roar "as of thunder" or "a rushing mighty wind", and residents whose windows were facing north saw a "great light", which some attributed to a large meteor . . .

 The Ruins of the North Piddle Manor

Though North Piddle is tucked away in a remote corner of England, many famous dignitaries have been spotted there recently and there are rumors of an attempted robbery of the British Museum Warehouse annex located in North Piddle that was foiled by Scotland Yard.  For some unexplained reason, North Piddle is a focal point of the War of the Witches.

The British Museum Annex in North Piddle 

2. Scotland Yard. Another name for the Metropolitan Police Service, and is also the name of the building where it has its headquarters. The name derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement in Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London, which is the responsibility of the City of London Police. Recently, more and more of the Metropolitan Police has seen itself on detached duty . . .

Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Watson and members of Scotland Yard. 

 Sergeant Ridgewell Hawkes of the North Piddle Constabulary with Inspector Stanley Hopkins

3. Department H (there is no Department H).  Department H (there is no Department H) was formed by Mycroft Holmes for direct action against threats to the British Empire outside of the British Isles.  Though the Prince of Wales's Extraordinary Company is more than capable in handling most threats, they've been engaged in protecting the home islands.  When Mycroft activated Department H (there is no Department H) he chose Colonel Dugald Armstrong, VC, DSO, etc., to lead Department H (there is no Department H). So far Department H (there is no Department H) has failed spectacularly in the stopping the Witch King of Sokur and in fact they lost the famous Professor Nightengale.

Department H (there is no Department H)

4. The Gordan Highlanders.  What more could be said of the Heroes of the Battle of the Lost City of Opar and the Roopkund Lake Incident with Chinese Imperial Forces? Bydand!

 Captain Anderson, Sergeant McDuff and Piper Kidd lead the Gordon Highlanders 

5. The 14th Sikhs. Without the 14th Sikhs, victory against the Imperial Chinese Army's "Special" units would not have been possible.  Plus machine guns are cool.

The "Wand of Automatic Missile Fire"; known in the ancient Elvish as the Maxim Machine Gun.

6. The Queen's Own African Rifles.

One of the most famous units in the British Army . . . and they like loud explosions. It's men like these that forged an Empire.

When you positively, absolutely, have to take the target out!

Next Up: Non-Governmental Forces of the British Army - "God Save the Queen!"

IHMN: The War of the Witches

"The danger to the country, to Europe, to her vast Empire, which is involved in having all these great interests entrusted to a man that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of every day life is very great! We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat; they do not exist."  Queen Victoria to Mycroft Holmes about his brother in her agreement to have him lead the United Kingdom's fight in the Secret War, August 28, 1894.

"My dear Watson, occasionally Mycroft he is the British government [...] the most indispensable man in the country."  From the private notes of Dr. John Watson, MD in referring to the adventure of the Bruce-Partington plans.

 First known photo of the Witch King taken during the Roosevelt expedition to the lost Roman army outpost of Castellum Dimmidi in deepest, darkest Africa.

The War for the subjugation of the world has started. Early hints to the danger in Africa, as warned by the American adventure Theodore Roosevelt, went largely ignored. But it was the first encounters with the Witch King of Sokur by Roosevelt in 1893 that historians have officially stated as the start of the "War of the Witches."  We were horrified at how unprepared we were and the complete irrelevance of mankind in the face of the cosmic horrors that apparently exist in the universe. Some quietly, some too slow to survive, the nations of the world (and other organizations) unleashed the full power of science to develop weapons to stop these unspeakable menaces; however, it soon became apparent that their are no dangerous weapons, only dangerous men. And the man the world turned toward was Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, MD confronting the Hound of the Baskervilles.

It was Holmes that was appointed In Her Majesty's Name to coordinate the nations and organizations that would fight for the survival of humanity - and, as he stated to Her Majesty, "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth? 

Statue of unknown origin taken during the Professor Challenger Expedition of 1893. 

In 1894 Tezla accidentally discovered that there were portals that would allow transport to other worlds. Though kept secret, it was not long before the rumors started about the World of Oz, and the Wicked Witch of the West.

The Wicked Witch of the West was spotted in the African Kingdom of Natagala and most recently, near Dodge City in the United States of America.

We thought with all of the advances, both socially and scientifically we were entering a new period of peace and stability throughout the world.  Our dream failed . . . but we learned to fight In Her Majesty's Name.

2019: Hobby Plans and Goals

Now that 2019 is upon us, I have devised my plan for 2019.  My painting business, Toy Soldiers and Dining Room Battles, continues to grow and will take up some painting time.  These will be for me:


Finally finish these $%%&&@### units:

1. Two units of Scottish infantry for the English Civil War.  They will portray both Covenanters and Royalists for Montrose's army.  All my English Civil War forces are based for Victory Without Quarter which I think are the best ECW rules out there and they are absolutely free.

2. Two units of Scottish cavalry that will both Covenanters and Royalists.

3. One Scottish artillery gun.

Also a new project as I am thinking of doing WWII in 28 miniature.  Might as well do the Germans first:

4. One platoon (approximately 30 figures) of Late War German Infantry.

The major Gaming Project will be a campaign for In Her Majesty's Name based on previous games I have played that is now building up to the "War of the Witches." It will involve, of course, the curious adventures of Professor Nightengale and daughter, the village of North Piddle, unspeakable horrors, a league of assassins, Scotland Yard's greatest, the American Secret Service, the Imperial Chinese, Oz invaded, Opar defended, tea drunk and bold talk from a one-eyed fat man. And why did the greatest mind of 1895 travel to Miskatonic University? The Secret War of 1895 is going to heat up in 2019.  More on the campaign and the forces involved later.

New Home . . . New War Room

The latter part of 2018 was spent moving into our new dream house . . . love it!  And with most of my Honorable Sons out of the house (they do grow up) I now have a dedicated hobby room (as named by my Beautiful Bride, Chief of Staff and Minister of Finance) or as I like to refer to it - The War Room. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to build the gaming table in this room or in the garage.

Side Note: My Beautiful Bride (The Chief of Staff and Minister of Finance) refers to them as my "toys" (shudder).  I have explained many times that they are accurate historical representations in miniature . . . in other words toy soldiers, not toys.

 Plenty of space to paint and lay out projects. The pillow is actually to raise me up as the chair is a little to short - something to be fixed in the future.

 An I love me wall (as we used to refer to them when I was on active duty).

 

 More mementos.

 

 Close-up of the painting table where the magic happens.

 The plaques are not really "I love me" but a tribute to the men and women I served with in the U. S. Military.  My first real unit, the 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry (The Raiders).  I served in Bravo Company and Combat Support Company.

 The 2nd Brigade ("Bad to the Bone") 9th Infantry Division (Motorized). Where I learned to really plan and how to get the right stuff to the right troops and the right time.

 Combat Support Company (The Scorpions), 2nd Bn, 47th Infantry. Ne Conjuge Nobiscum!  Learned more about commanding troops in this company than anywhere - thanks boss!

 The 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry (the "Warriors" - later reflagged as the 7th Battalion, 6th Infantry) 3rd Brigade (The Iron Brigade), 1st Armored Division (Old Ironsides).  Here is where I learned to command troops in battle and there is no kill like an overkill.  I had two commands and was blessed with three excellent 1st Sergeants and 3 excellent XO's that allowed me to command.  I salute you men.

I was blessed to help train some of America's finest young men and women to become 2nd Lieutenants in the United States Army at The University of Alabama.  Built by Bama and Roll Tide!

 Oldest known photograph of the Alabama Corps of Cadets.  They fought in the Battle of Tuscaloosa on April 3 - 4, 1865.

 I was very active in Scouting both as a participant and an adult leader.

 Yes . . I did graduate from college.

Left to Right: National Defense Service Medal, Field Grade Officer Good Conduct Medal (showed up to work on time and only spilled a Coke once on a computer keyboard) and being in the wrong place at the wrong time medal (thank goodness for the steely eyed killers around me. (YOU know who you are men and I'm glad you got the recognition you deserved! For the everlasting glory of the infantry) Flanking are reproduction Lieutenant Colonel Union Infantry Chevrons from the American Civil War.

 Memento of the Cold War - Soviet Paratrooper beret. 

 

 The Austrailian Hat that Honorable Son #2 (The Captain) wears when we fight the Desert War in WW II.  You play better wearing a hat.

 George Washington.  What more could be said?

As a side note when I taught American Military History and Evolution of Modern Warfare at several Southern Universities and Colleges, I would be inevitable asked who were the greatest generals in American History.  This is my personal list in no particular order:

1. George Washington

2. Winfield Scott

3. Ulysses S. Grant

4. Robert E. Lee

5. George Marshall

Again this is my list.  Get 50 historians and gamers together in one room and you will have 50 different lists.

 My Cheering Section.

 

 Old lithographs and prints are excellent sources of information.

 

 Books!  Hobby references and daily Christian devotionals.

 Beer Steins from our Friends and Allies (please ignore our current Commander-in-Chief).

 Regulars by God!

 Regulars by God!

 

 Closet Space!

More Closet Space!

Yep . . . it's going to be a good year.