Emperor's Own: Ethiopian Forces in the Korean War: The History of the Ethiopian Imperial Bodyguard Battalion in the Korean War 1950-53

On June 25, 1950, as he was flying back to Washington D.C. to deal with the outbreak of war in Korea, US President Harry Truman thought, “In my generation, this was not the first occasion when the strong had attacked the weak.

I recalled some earlier instances: Manchuria, Ethiopia, Austria. I remembered how each time that the democracies failed to act it had encouraged the aggressor to keep going ahead. Communism was acting in Korea just as Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese had acted, ten, fifteen, and twenty years earlier…

If this was allowed to go unchallenged it would mean a third world war.” In response to North Korea’s invasion of South Korea, the United Nations sent an urgent plea to its members for military assistance. Sixteen nations answered the call by contributing combat troops. Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, a stalwart advocate of collective security, dispatched an infantry battalion composed of his Imperial Bodyguard to affirm this principle which had been abandoned in favour of appeasement when the League of Nations (the predecessor to the United Nations) gave Fascist Italy a free-hand to invade Ethiopia in 1935.

The unit designated “Kagnew Battalion” was actually successive battalions which rotated yearly and fought as part of the US 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. When they arrived, these warriors from an ancient empire were viewed with suspicion by their American allies as they were untested in modern warfare.

Their arrival in Korea also coincided with the de-segregation of the US Army. However, the Ethiopians eventually earned the respect of their comrades after countless bloody, often hand-to hand battles, with all three battalions which served during the war earning US Presidential Unit Citations. Remarkably, Kagnew was the only UN contingent which did not lose a single man as prisoner of war or missing in action.

Until now, few have heard the story of their stand for collective security and against aggression. The Emperor’s Own provides insight into who these men and women were as well as what became of them after the war.

Air Power and the Arab World 1909-1955: Volume 1: Military Flying Services in Arab Countries, 1909-1918

At a time when multiple wars are raging across much of the Middle East, it is almost forgotten that it was Abu al-Qasim Abbas ibn Firnas ibn Wirdas at-Takurni – an Andalusian inventor, physician and engineer – who was the first person to undertake experiments in flying with any degree of success.

That was back in the 9th Century A.D. Nigh on a thousand years later the Arab World's critical strategic location made it almost inevitable that these regions would be drawn into the imperial rivalries of the leading European powers, while the Ottoman Empire struggled to maintain its existing position in the area.

This in turn meant that the first bombs to be dropped by military aircraft fell on Arab soil. Not surprisingly, as the Arab countries slowly achieved their independence, they too wanted to have air forces.

In 1948 the first such Arab air forces were thrown into battle in an ill-fated attempt to keep Palestine as a primarily Arab country. Based on decades of consistent research, but also newly available sources in both Arabic and various European languages, and richly illustrated with a wide range of authentic photography, Volume 1 of the Air Power and the Arab World, 1909-1955 mini-series is telling the story of the men and machines of the first half century of military aviation in the Arab World.

Dwarf Gyro from Nathan J Hunt‎

Nathan J Hunt‎ did this tiny Dwarf Gyro up for Man O war but he can be easily printed to scale for warmaster.

Dwarf Gyro

Tanaka 1587: Japan's Greatest Unknown Samurai Battle (Retinue to Regiment)

In 1587 the 1,000-strong garrison of tiny Tanaka Castle in Higo Province (modern Kumamoto Prefecture) on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, held out for 100 days against an army ten times their size sent by the great general Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

When the castle fell it was burned to the ground, and for four centuries the epic struggle lived on only through a handful of letters, two little-known war chronicles and in the folk memories of the local people who continued to make offerings on the now anonymous hillside to comfort the tormented spirits of Tanaka’s dead warriors.

In 1986 everything changed. Prompted by the approaching fourth centenary of the battle the local council set in motion a systematic archaeological investigation of the castle site. Many interesting finds were made, but the greatest discovery of all came in 1989 in a distant library when a researcher unearthed what turned out to be Japan’s oldest surviving battle map. It featured a detailed drawing of Tanaka Castle during the siege that matched up exactly with the picture that was emerging from the excavation.

The unique document also contained so much extra information that, when combined with the archaeological finds, the written materials and local folklore, the almost forgotten siege of Tanaka became one of the best documented battles in the whole of Japan’s samurai history. Tanaka 1587 tells the complete story of the epic struggle for the first time outside Japan by using the evidence that is available from history, literature, folklore, archaeology and cartography. It is based on the author’s own translations of the chronicles and the archaeological report together with his extensive fieldwork over a period of many years.

The story is presented as an exciting (and sometimes violent) historical narrative illustrated with unique photographs and maps. The contribution of the battle’s enshrined spirits to present-day folk religion is also assessed, while attitudes towards the site’s conservation, preservation and celebration provide a fascinating insight into how modern Japan views and exploits its samurai history in a society that has had to come to terms with a violent past. Before 1987 the siege of Tanaka Castle was virtually unknown beyond its immediate boundaries.

Just as thirty years of painstaking work and enthusiastic publicity have transformed its status within Japan, this unique ground-breaking book will enable Tanaka’s story to be understood and appreciated by a much wider international audience.

Project Update #25: Infernal Chaos Dwarfs & Hobgoblins Miniatures, Kickstarter from Dancing Yak Miniatures

Hobgoblins and evil dwarf miniatures in 10mm and 28mm scales.

Sorry thought i posted these with last update more armor shots of before and after.

We hope you like them.

Kickstarter
Dancing Yak Miniatures

Project Update #46: War Across Europe 3D Print STL files, Kickstarter from WOW Buildings

WOWBuildings War Across Europe 3D Printing stl Files.

Train wheels, cab, track now has clip ends, carentan building ffp file changed to stl, and the accessories ammo dumps should now print fine

Kickstarter
WOW Buildings

King George's Hangman: Henry Hawley and the Battle of Falkirk, 1746

‘Hangman Hawley’ is one of the villains of the ‘45 and holds a prominent place in Jacobite demonology but was also held in contempt by those who hated the Jacobite cause. He is reputed to have been a man who enjoyed hanging his own soldiers, looting from his enemies, and harrying defeated foes, yet he was defeated in the only battle that he ever held command. No one has come forward to defend his reputation. However, the Duke of Cumberland, commander in chief of the British army in the 1740s and 1750s declared him to be a highly capable cavalry officer. He certainly had the experience; being given his first command when less than ten years old and who fought in Spain, Flanders, Scotland and Germany, rising from ensign to lieutenant general, being wounded in the process. This book covers both Hawley’s professional and personal life. In both he was a figure of controversy. Many hated him – especially Jacobites and civilians – but among soldiers his reputation was more mixed. Drawing on numerous sources this is the first attempt to provide a full length study on an important and controversial figure in eighteenth century British history.

A Complete Orchestra of War: A History of 6th Division on the Western Front 1914-1919

The 6th Infantry Division was the last division planned as part of the BEF of 1914. It took part in the fighting on the Aisne and the Battle of Armentières in 1914; and then served in the Ypres salient for 18 months (including its recapture of Hooge in August 1915), before its translation to the Somme in 1916 to take part in the Battles of Flers-Courcelette, Morval and the Transloy Ridges.

In 1917 it was involved in heavy fighting at Loos as a result of the Battle of Arras, and again in the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917. In 1918 it would bear the brunt of the German offensive as part of Third Army on 21 March, and would finish its war with Fourth Army in the Hundred Days campaign from the Hindenburg Line onwards. A brief operational history was published in 1920.

This new history covers the operations in detail, but devotes two chapters to study of the division’s commanders from its four major-generals to its battalion COs; a chapter to the divisional and brigade staff; a chapter to training and another on the development of divisional firepower; and reviews medical services, engineering and logistics. The book seeks to place the division within the context of the tactical and operational development of the British Army in the First World War.

Project Update #24: Infernal Chaos Dwarfs & Hobgoblins Miniatures, Kickstarter from Dancing Yak Miniatures

Hobgoblins and evil dwarf miniatures in 10mm and 28mm scales.

Hi all sorry for lack of updates.We have some good news for you. So here it is. We have been finishing up upgrading the chain mail armour for the dwarfs. Yak figured out an much nicer way of making the armour for the dwarfs. We have been upgrading it.Molds should be made over the next few weeks if all goes well and then we can start casting them up and getting orders out. We this should be much cleaner and closer looking to real mail.We do apologise for still not getting all invoices out. other stuff has taken priority and keeping things on schedule is more important than getting paid earlier. model on right is upgraded chain mail .All the best DYM

Kickstarter
Dancing Yak Miniatures

Now Stocking Scale Specialties Decals from Pendraken Miniatures

We're pleased to announce that we're now stocking the full range of Scale Specialties decals!  Originally developed and sold by Norm Harris (who sadly passed away a few years ago), and then continued by his widow Penelope, the complete range of 6mm and 10mm sheets has now been purchased by I-94 Enterprises in the USA.  As we stock their own range of decals already, it made sense to add these excellent designs to our website as well!

The decals are split into 6mm (1:300th) and 10mm (1:160th) designs.  The 6mm sheets are all aircraft markings, mainly WWII with a few Korean War designs, covering British, German, Japanese and US planes.  The 10mm sheets are split into Aircraft and Vehicle designs, all for WWII, and covering British, German and US options.  These will be a great fit for our own 10mm/1:150th vehicles and provide some nice extra options to go with the I-94 products.

There's also a couple of 10mm Samurai sheets which will come in very handy for our upcoming new Feudal Japanese range!

All of these are bigger than the I-94 decals, coming in either 20x12cm or 12x9cm sheets.

The full ranges can be found on the Minibits website here:  while the 10mm designs have been added to a new 'Decals' section of the Pendraken site here:  (along with the existing I-94 decal options).

Scale Specialties Decals 
 
Vehicles

SS-160-001   British Armoured Division - NW Europe 1944-45   £4.95

SS-160-002   German (Heavy) Panzer Units - Panzer Abteilung 506, Tiger I & II - 1943-45   £4.50

SS-160-003   German Panzer Units - Panzer IV & Panther - 1943-45   £4.50

SS-160-004   U.S. National Vehicle Insignias   £4.50

SS-160-005   U.S. 1st Arm. Div., 13th Arm. Regt - North Africa, 1942   £4.50

SS-160-006   U.S. 1st Arm. Div., 1st/13th Arm. Regt, 4th Arm. Batt. - Mediterranean, 1942-43   £4.50

SS-160-007   U.S. 1st/2nd Arm. Div., 1st Arm. Regt - North Africa/Italy, 1942-43   £4.50

SS-160-008   British Combat & Support Unit Insignia & Markings - El Alamein, North Africa   £8.95

       
Aircraft

SS-160AC-001   US National Insignia for P-38, P-40, P-51 and Spitfire IX   £3.95

SS-160AC-002   German National Insignia for BF-109 and FW-190 Fighters   £3.95

SS-160AC-003   British National Insignia for Spitfire, Hurricane, P-40 & P-51 Aircraft   £4.50

SS-160AC-004   British RAF Squadron and Individual Aircraft Codes   £4.50

SS-160AC-005   US 8th/9th Air Force Fighters, including the 479th Fighter group   £9.95

       
Samurai Banners

SS-10SAM-001   Takeda Clan Flags, Banners & Standards   £5.50

SS-10SAM-002   Uesugi Clan Flags, Banners & Standards   £5.50

NOTE: Some of the website images have been altered to show off the white designs, but all of the actual products are crisp prints on a light blue backing card.

Forum Discussion
Pendraken Miniatures

BTR-60 Company from Plastic Soldier Company

The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs). It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen in public for the first time in 1961.

BTR-60 Company

The Plastic Soldier Company Ltd

Roach, Termite & Mantis from Traders Galaxy

Roach, Termite and Mantis from Traders Galaxy

Roach, Termite & Mantis

Traders Galaxy

Napoleonic French Guard Cavalry from Pendraken Miniatures

These are the two cavalry types which have already been sculpted, but never production moulded:

Guard Chasseurs a Cheval

Guard Grenadiers a Cheval

I'll do my best to get them sorted out asap as we've had them for quite a while now.

Some Gargoyles

As well as some Guard infantry and artillery crews.

Although I don't know how these Guard Horse crews differ to the ones we've already got on the website, there's been some debate as to what's what over the years.  Originally the website ones were Horse crew, but then we got conflicting info that they were Guard Horse, which makes these sculpts below a bit redundant...

Guard Horse artillery crews:

Old Guard foot artillery crews

Old Guard Grenadiers

Forum Discussion
Pendraken Miniatures

Project Update #45: War Across Europe 3D Print STL files, Kickstarter from WOW Buildings

WOWBuildings War Across Europe 3D Printing stl Files.

I have made a picture file, i will start putting pictures up to act as instructions

Kickstarter
WOW Buildings

Chieftain Troop from Plastic Soldier Company

The FV4201 Chieftain was the main battle tank of the United Kingdom during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

A development of the Centurion, the Chieftain introduced the supine (reclining) driver position to British design allowing a heavily sloped hull with reduced height. A new powerpack and improved transmission gave it higher speed than the Centurion despite being heavier due to major upgrades to armour protection and the armament, this allowed it to replace both the Conqueror and Centurion while performing their roles effectively. It remained in service until replaced by the Challenger 1 which shared a large number of the Chieftain's features.

Chieftain Troop

The Plastic Soldier Company Ltd

Faithful in Adversity: The Royal Army Medical Corps in the Second World War

The Royal Army Medical Corps was present during all engagements in the Second World War.

From the frozen wastes of Norway through to liberation from the death camps of Germany and the Far East, RAMC personnel were frequently close to the front line, risking their lives to provide medical support to a mobile army in a mechanised war. Nearly 3,000 army medics were killed during the war as a result of enemy action and exposing themselves to dangerous tropical diseases.

Using much previously unpublished material from public and private family archives, this book charts the story of those who remained true to the motto of the RAMC: Faithful in Adversity.

Camel Pilot Supreme: Captain D V Armstrong DFC

In aviation’s pioneering days the best and bravest airmen pushed the boundaries of flight in all dimensions and attitudes. When aeroplanes went to war this exploratory art, now known as aerobatics, was called ‘stunting’ in breezy RFC slang. Initially forbidden as foolhardy, its importance for survival soon became paramount in the life and death mêlées of dogfighting.

But pilots still delighted in the joy and exuberance of aerobatting for its own sake, and they recognized a master of that very special skill in young D’Urban Victor Armstrong, whose displays were nothing short of electrifying. Fluid and dramatic, performed with flair at ultra-low level, his exhibitions left spectators shaking their heads in disbelief. Even a century later his feats – some illustrated here – continue to evoke astonishment in piloting circles.

Until this biography little was known about his wartime experiences, and even less about his South African background. His great value to the authorities lay in his superb handling of the Sopwith Camel, which upon its introduction had taken a heavy toll in fatal trainee accidents. While still on active service he was sent around the units providing vivid proof that, properly handled, the stubby little fighter delivered the key to combat success: unrivalled manoeuvrability. His resultant fame eclipsed his other distinguished role in pioneering night flying and night fighting, an equally vital skill he was also detailed to demonstrate around the squadrons.

In these pages you will find yourself in the cockpit of the F.1 Camel and become acquainted with its rotary engine. You will meet many leading names including Billy Bishop, Cecil Lewis, Norman Macmillan, Robert Smith Barry, and the harum-scarum Three Musketeers from War Birds. Armstrong takes his place alongside them as one of the legendary figures of the first great aerial war.

Website is Working Again from Arrowhead Miniatures

Good news is that the website is working properly again. Apparently the outage was due to the circumvilliation of the web loading widget control systems.

Arrowhead Miniatures

Project Update #4: Samurai-Ninja-Warrior-Monk-Ratmen Army Kickstarter from Cromarty Forge

Beautiful, highly detailed, lead free pewter and resin, rat-men army for 10mm tabletop wargaming.

Stretch Goal 3 Unlocked

Thanks so much to all of you, Especially Moises, Brent and Steve, the Palanquin is now unlocked. This little piece will carry your hero's in style!

Seriously, thanks for all the support, for letting people know about this campaign and for getting the word out. If there is anywhere else you think I could be advertising this Kickstarter please let me know.

Cheers

JB

Kickstarter
Cromarty Forge

WIP Wednesday – My Squishies from TTCombat

What’s that coming over the hill?

It’s a Scourge!

Fin has been diligently painting away on some Scourge, updating the studio colour scheme, so we thought we’d show the fruits of his labours.

Fin’s getting a lot of models painted for some new Starter Army boxes and the new 2-Player Starter Box too.

We’ll have more information in exactly what’s going in them soon. It’s mostly plastic, but you may notice something a bit new in the picture above.

TTCombat

Grenadier Guard & Coast Guard or Cadets Good Ground LLC

These are on the way to my casting company. The Grenadier Guard of the Supreme Power and The Coast Guard or Cadets are beautifully sculpted by Robi Baker for my growing line of 10mm Mexican-American War figures.

So Far From God

Grenadier Guard of the Supreme Power

Coast Guard or Cadets with Command

Good Ground LLC

US Mounted Command from Good Ground LLC

MAW Mounted US officers for the So Far From God range are on the way to our casting company.

So Far From God

US Mounted Command

Good Ground LLC

Stone Fences from Spellcrow

Stone Fences for 10mm scale will be available from Friday. Set will contain four segments, 55mm each. Exactly the same set is shown in the picture. We hope you like it!

Stone Fences

Spellcrow