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Gents,
I’m kicking off 2018 with a new series of posts aimed at an under gamed period of colonial warfare - British colonial conflict on the Australian continent aka the Australian Frontier Wars.
This subject does not get much main stream press and has little available on it. My purpose is to provide a solid base for gamers to possibly look at this period in colonial history as a potential gaming topic (1788-1900 ish) and try something unique...or at least different from Zulus and Mahdists!
We shall look at some of the story behind the wars, the types of troops involved, engagements fought, figures to use and generally the war-gaming potential just like any other colonial conflict. It is from this perspective that the series of posts shall be focused - a gamer’s perspective.
The idea with this thread is to use it as a place of discussion on the topic relating to gaming it, uniforms/dress, scenarios, AARs, etc that my blog posts highlight. Often people don’t post comments on blogs but do use a forum like LAF for general discussion - I’ve followed many threads like this and find them very useful. Hopefully this will be a resource point for future use, so please feel free to post related content here if you wish - all useful info is welcome.
Please note, sometimes this topic can be ‘derailed’ by shifting away from the conflict side of things and devolve into other realms of discussion. This is not the place on this thread nor my blog entires for such ‘distractions’ - so please, enjoy some new content, add some if you have any and perhaps take a fresh look at something that is not that well known about.
Enjoy.
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-10D
Happy Wanderer
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_4302.jpeg)
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I know almost nothing about the Australian Frontier Wars, I read the post in your blog and yes, I'd like to know more!
I mark this thread and I'll follow it with interest! Congratulations for your approach of the general issue!
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Read your blog,interesting :)
Love the tribal warpaint on those minis :)
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Very cool...who makes the Aboriginal warriors?
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They are simply gorgeous! :-*
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Definitely a refreshing change from Zulus and Mahdists! I'll follow this with interest. Something that would be quite helpful would be a discussion of what wargaming resources are out there to help model the conflict - especially sources of Aborigines. The settlers would be easy.
Though I haven't seen them in hand, I've always liked the look of QRF's 15mm Koori: http://totalsystemscenic.com/product/kor01-koori-aborigine-warriors/
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Those blokes look the business - lovely work. And a very nice photo as well.
Doug
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The body painting on these plus the decorations on their weapons and shields is spectacular, great use of colours too!
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Where's the didgeridoo, mate? And have you tied your kangaroo down? lol
Seriously, those are some of the best painted minis I've ever seen. Very cool!
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Gents,
Thanks for your kind/encouraging comments...that warpaint does look cool if I say so myself :D
The aboriginal warriors are from Eureka Miniatures and shall be covered in my next post - if you like 'em then Eureka Nic is the man to speak to ;)
I've not seen the 15mm Koori as 28mm is kinda my thing. The low scale skirmishes of AFW engagements IMHO lend themselves to this figure scale very well.
I shall be posting related material for further investigation into the topic regards resources I've found useful and shall be providing background from some of the harder to find resources that not are easily obtained.
So, the idea is that you should get a fairly good look at what the possibilities are. Hopefully, you could get figures before you get any book related material to get you going, but I would recommend the Australian Frontier Wars mentioned in my blog post as a cracking good place to start.
...more to follow.
Happy W
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/img_60503.jpeg?w=809)
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If you make any changes that would prompt the question....Didgeridoo?
I know bad pun.
Did ya redo? We'll it works with an American accent.
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I won't get drawn into any debate about the nature of these conflicts but I will add my voice to the praise for your brushwork. Those 'Denisovians' really look magnificent, gorgeous painting.
By the by the chap at the front is a fairly good likeness of Uncle Jack Charles, noted thespian and former cat burglar. Truly lovely chap, he lives locally, I was chatting with him in Northcote just a few weeks ago.
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Happy W - a very thought-provoking blog post. I understand your focus, and it's one that I believe will aid in understanding.
Though I haven't seen them in hand, I've always liked the look of QRF's 15mm Koori: http://totalsystemscenic.com/product/kor01-koori-aborigine-warriors/
I've not seen the 15mm Koori as 28mm is kinda my thing. The low scale skirmishes of AFW engagements IMHO lend themselves to this figure scale very well.
I have a whole army (BBDBA IV/12b, other Melanesian) of these I bought after stumbling on an article a few years ago on a large scale battle outside Sydney in the 19th century between two groups of Aborigines. Had no luck in finding it now, but there's a some useful information out there on indigenous warfare weapons and tactics.
The miniatures themselves are good for 15mm, though they'll need the addition of brass spears (where I've got up to with them), and should paint up well. Here's a fantasy HoTT army of them:
http://hordesofthethings.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/army-showcase-australian-aboriginal.html
Ian Hernon's 'Britain's Forgotten Wars' has a chapter on the war in Tasmania that gives a good feel for the situation.
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Happy W, totally understand your going for the larger scale. Just thought I'd mention them.
Von Lucky, thanks very much for the link to that fantasy army. I love the look of it so much I'm almost tempted to do it m'self!
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That aboriginal list looks quite the business...very creative!
I hadn't seen Ian Hernon's 'Britain's Forgotten Wars' but it looks really good. I've ordered this one. It does show just how wide sweeping were the operations of the British Empire that's for sure and to some degree puts in perspective the activities of the British in relation to all interactions with native peoples in lands they ventured into - nice recommendation.
After you've had a primer from 'Britain's Forgotten Wars' check out this book - "The-Black-War" by Nicholas Clemenets - very good. In depth and wide reaching. It really gives you an excellent picture of what was happening.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Black-War-Fear-Resistance-Tasmania-ebook/dp/B00JD01NS6
HW
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I am Australian and I think the only book I read that made me think about gaming this period was the book you mentioned on you blog, Australian Frontier Wars, 1788-1838 by John Connor. It is a military history book about a touchy subject that is often very political.Good book and recommended. I thought about gaming some of the Australian skirmishes by converting them into a Cape Frontier Wars setting, I enjoy doing that, Sikh War battles become Mexican American War battles, Little Big Horn moves to Zululand etc.
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Gents,
In this instalment we have a look at rules and figures and thoughts around such things related to Frontier War games.
The period lends itself to a number of ways to portray actions and players will usually find their favourite rule set able to be used without too much trouble.
Please pop over and have a squiz…
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-15U
Cheers
Happy W
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/img_59751.jpeg)
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/img_5957.jpeg)
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Those aboriginal miniatures look great and I think you're handling a potentially topic in a very well.
This is a bit off topic but, have you come across any good books on aboriginal mythology?
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My primer was the children's books by Dick Roughsey (an Australian Aboriginal artist from the Lardil language group in Queensland):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Roughsey
While it doesn't go into any depth on the myths and legends (being children's books), it's the colour that has burnt its memory into my mind.
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Some information on mythological figures here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_Aboriginal_mythological_figures
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Nicely done.
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"Those aboriginal miniatures look great "
;) The war chief is a bit 'shiny' so I'll need to hit him with the dullcote again :o
"This is a bit off topic but, have you come across any good books on aboriginal mythology?"
Certainly not off topic but I confess, I haven't focused on this aspect of the Frontier Wars. Aboriginal mythology however is certainly an important part of indigenous culture - but no more relevant to colonial gaming than African or Native American mythology would be for example. That said, there was a most excellent HOTT list that had aboriginal mythology in it that Von Lucky put a link into above - certainly one to run your eye over.
"My thread "Fighting Down Under" from 2010 produced a quite heated debate. So far this thread has been able to avoid that."
I've laid out my thoughts out on this in my opening post - 'nuff said on that...we'll leave all that in the past. There is alot of interesting material related to our subject yet to discuss and my next (rather large) post will focus on something of a military history timeline to provide some structure around the subject before we take a closer look at putting together an aboriginal force...and let's not forget the soldiers/settlers as well! ;)
Happy W
Here's a shot of the old Cannon Fodder aboriginal warrior next to the Eureka Denisovans...I must admit, I still quite like that old CF sculpt :D
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My 2010 thread "Fighting Down Under" about the same topic produced a quite heated debate. So far this thread has been able to avoid that.
Yes, and let's keep it that way, please, guys. The arguments pro and con have been hammered out ad infinitum in almost every thread we've ever had on this topic and I don't think I've seen a single person persuaded to the other side's point of view, so there is little point in us doing it all again.
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I cant find the Denisovans on Eurekas site, which category are they listed under?
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Thank you Plynkes and Bezzo - subject closed on that.
@ Munindk
I can’t find them either! Eureka certainly do make them. I ordered via an email using the Greens pics shown in my last post and noting which number of each I required.
Edit - Eureka can be contacted via email from their website.
Not my next post, but the two afterwards will focus on my use and thoughts on conversion of the Denisovans so that might be worth looking out for.
HW
Cheers
PS a question if I may chaps.
On my blog, I tend to use a fair bit of discussion, with perhaps less eye candy, on subject matter. Do you think the posts are to long or should be more succinct? I’m curious as to how much people actually read ‘lengthy’ posts that are a bit more in depth. With so much to cover, less frequent but slightly longer and more cohesive posts seem to me the way to do it...or should they be smaller and more frequent bite size chunks? - your comments would be appreciated.
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Just a note, we are open and have been since 2nd January. Our physical shop front, isn't open until 19th and 20th January.
These figures haven't been officially released yet, so if you would like any now please e-mail us at nicr@eurekamin.com.au
Nic EUREKA MINIATURES
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In this post we take a look at some military (and general) history. The idea with this post is to provide structure around Frontier Wars engagements in a military context. This should enable you to get an idea of the conflict zones and possible areas of interest worth further investigation.
I’ve capped this chronology at 1831 and will follow up by pushing it up to 1855, which is my selected cut off date at this point for the period I’m looking at just at the moment.
As you can see from the year by year dot points there is alot of military activity. It is in no way complete nor mean’t to be. It should prove a useful jump off point to dig deeper at specific topics that either interest you or suit your current miniatures collection.
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1Gy
Happy W
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/bb.jpg)
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PS a question if I may chaps.
On my blog, I tend to use a fair bit of discussion, with perhaps less eye candy, on subject matter. Do you think the posts are to long or should be more succinct? I’m curious as to how much people actually read ‘lengthy’ posts that are a bit more in depth. With so much to cover, less frequent but slightly longer and more cohesive posts seem to me the way to do it...or should they be smaller and more frequent bite size chunks? - your comments would be appreciated.
I probably prefer to read posts that are a quarter of that length when just posted like this (to be able to read them at the time), but when I'm doing research, etc for a project I prefer for it to be all together. I'll probably leave that particular post open in my internet tabs and read it when I've got the time (over the weekend most likely).
But you should do what you want that is the best way to present your work. Reading blogs is something we all do differently anyway.
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I found it very interesting and read it in one sitting :)
It is a bit long, but its hard to do a long timeline that isnt and because it is a timeline, its easy to split into several sittings. I prefer long posts, perhaps with a table of contents that links to headlines, to several posts that cover the same topic in continuation.
I agree with von Lucky: post the way that works for you, then people will read it the way that works for them :)
And keep up the good work, this is most impressive!
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Gents,
In this post I round out my chronological military ‘history' of Frontier Wars confrontation. Whilst putting this together it staggered me to see just how wide spread the levels of resistance was by tribes, clans and tribal coalitions vs army, police, armed settlers and civilians. Both sides really were locked in a desperate struggle.
Whilst perhaps not as dramatic in the sense of the 'lightening fast' campaigns and large force concentrations of contemporary conflicts like the Indian Mutiny or New Zealand Wars the ‘drip-drip’ insurrectional nature of guerrilla warfare in Australia really does define frontier conflict and in many ways best reflects our table top clashes when we play with 50-100 miniatures in a whole host of possible scenarios.
There is much to dig your teeth into here and as you can see the colonial forces arrayed are (and can potentially be) quite diverse.
Whilst I know chronology posts aren't ‘sexy’, I think it is important to lay out the historical nature of the conflict early on so as to give players a feel for the subject given how difficult it is to easily sequence in regions of confrontation in what was literally a century of warfare on a whole continent.
Next post we’ll return to miniatures again so you’ll have a bit more to look at…hope to see you then. ;)
Cheers
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-114
Happy W
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/1850-victorian-native-police1.jpg)
Victorian Native Police
PS Thanks for your thoughts Munindk and von Lucky on posts.
"post the way that works for you, then people will read it the way that works for them"
Possibly the best bit of blogging advice I've heard ;)
PS I know there were two articles in Miniature Wargames issues #112 (September 1992) and #113 (October 1992) – The Kalkadoon War 1874/84 by Greg Blake. Does anyone have those and would be able to scan them and send to me please? As usual, my sporadic buying of magazines missed these two issues.
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You may find this interesting. It provides not only the cartography of these conflicts but the introduction provides a summary of their nature.
https://c21ch.newcastle.edu.au/colonialmassacres/introduction.php
I did have the first part of Greg's article. I can't remember much of it save that it was accompanied by one of Greg's trademark illustrations. It may indeed have been unique in that it didn't contain a recognisable image of Greg himself in the tableau. His book on Eureka is notable for his self portrait as Peter Lalor on the front cover.
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Fair do's, the point has been made. But that's enough. If you don't like Happy Wanderer's thread or his historical position or whatever, I would ask you to please ignore the topic and move along, rather than having this thread descend into yet another bloody row like all the other ones did.
Thank you.
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Not my intention. That resource is a useful tool if you are researching the topic. The intro provides a useful summary of the nature of conflict by region and period. The map purports to show all scenes of conflict involving six or more fatalities. In some instances the detail ascribed to each incident is considerable. I happened to live in the vicinity so I looked at the Lake Jack Smith cluster, something I am familiar with and found that the detail included the type of shotgun used by Angus McMillan, the ringleader of the Warrigal Creek/ Gammon Creek/ Red Hill massacres. For those interested, it notes that the culprits described themselves as the 'Highland Brigade'.
I'm purposefully not commenting. My views on the topic are known. This thread is likely to stay more civilised (ironic in light of the subject matter) simply because the progenitor is more thoughtful than the previous ones.
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I've just read the second part of the timeline and it was as interesting as the first part. Possibly even more so as the resistance seems to become more organized and they're actually winning a few (short term) victories.
This makes the 1840's look like an interesting time to place a campaign as you can keep it historically accurate and still allow either side to win or lose. Territory changes hands as native land is settled, settlers are driven off and it gets resettled with the help of police/mounted police/army or gets ignored for a few years. The natives cant win in the long run, but if successful they can keep their land a little longer.
I already have an idea on how I might run a campaign:
I'd go with a situation where the settlers didnt have any trouble initially, but then an expansion will trigger an attack from the natives, which then leads to an escalation of raids from both sides and ending with a big decisive battle. This is, very simplified, a pattern that seems to repeat itself in several of the conflic areas.
Both sides will get to raid the other, with different objectives like killing sheep/cattle/settlers, clearing a part of the battlefield of native forces and so on. Each victory will give the player some resources or advantage in the final battle, things like tribal alliances, a contingent of mounted native police or soldiers, a fort, control over good hunting grounds that lets the tribe use more resources on warfare, alliances with other tribes.
If running the game for a group I'd like to make 3 maps, one showing tribal boundries, sacred sites, good hunting grounds, the second showing settlers farms, outposts and grazing areas, the third map being an overall map which only includes details as they become known to all players. In regular warfare the combatants are usually after the same areas for the same tactical reasons, but I think not knowing which areas the enemy is interested in attacking/controlling could be interesting.
I'm thinking something like 5-20 combatants per side for most the raids a few larger raids with double that amount and somewhere between 50 and 100 a side in the final battle.
I'd need a few civillians, some cattle and sheep too, not to mention terrain.
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Not a bad idea for a campaign - simple and yet complex.
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Some really good ideas in there Munindk - very interesting.
You are right that by the 1830s -1840s greater organised resistance made conflict more widespread and sustained. Weapon technology had not advanced and the smoothbore musket/carbine was still predominant in colonial forces, unlike the dominance breechloading and repeating weapons would have in the later half of the century in places like Africa, North America as well as Northern parts of Australia.
Even though weapon technologies remained largely unchanged the mounted trooper tilted the battle space in favour of the colonial forces when pursuit took hold and this was a major factor in countering the natural cross country advantages the aboriginal forces initially, and to a degree, always had.
It is also clear by the 1830s -1840s that tribal clans/bands became well aware of the impact white settlement had and what was in store for them if they did not resist, so the intensity of confrontation rose on both sides as the stakes became higher. Therefore, relative to the aboriginal coalition clan sizes and/or larger tribe populations, extended periods of warfare were more sustainable than in the initial confrontations around the turn of the 19th century.
Your campaign ideas might fit in really well with my thoughts on the use of Congo, Smooth & Rifled and/or TMWWBK. You could also make the campaign area generic or non specific, basing it on a certain type of campaign such as the recovery of land or access to a major river which happened many times. Pitting one group of Aborigines against a local combined settler/native police/army force would all be historical in one way or another - just as we would do for any other colonial ahistorical campaign ala Science vs Pluck type stuff.
I’ve also put together some ideas about a mapless campaign but I think your suggestions about tribal boundaries sacred sites, good hunting grounds, settlers farms, outposts and grazing areas sound really good. Congo would be a good vehicle for AFW small campaign and scenario clashes and my up coming post will deal with the use of Congo in some detail so keep an eye out for that. I picked up the discounted Congo campaign supplement from Foundry a week ago and might have a closer look at that and see if there is a suitable campaign structure in there that could be worth pinching.
Lots of good stuff there Munindk, keep those thoughts coming...and yes von Lucky, simple yet complex!
Cheers ;)
Happy W
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I dont have any useable rules at the moment, but I might pick up both Congo and TMWWBK, since both have gotten great reviews all around.
I might lean towards Congo as it looks more story/scenario focused, uses fewer miniatures the TMWWBK, and I've seen a few posts on the forums about shooting being overpowered, though the muskety nature of the AFW might mitigate that. Also TMWWBK seems to have a sort of dark humorous undertone, which might be inappropriate for this particular setting. Not that colonial warfare was a jolly thing in general, but the AFW seems a bit more grim than a lot of other settings.
On the other hand TMWWBK isnt quite as tied to the African setting as Congo, I think it has a campaign system built in, its a lot cheaper and it looks like it supports larger forces better than Congo.
If I ever get the project started, I'll probably buy both and hack something together using bits from both.
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I've been thinking about fire. A brushfire as a campaign element that is, I'm not a pyro.
Somewhere in your timeline there was a mention of the aborigines setting fire to settlers houses and it sparking a brushfire. A local fire here got me thinking that a brushfire could be used in the campaign.
It could be a terrain hazard, a fire moving from one board edge toward the other at a pace of D6+X inches a turn, influencing the players tactical choices. This would turn a shallow water feature or a river into a safezone from the fire.
It could also be an element in a scenario, where the aborigine player has to start a fire, or put out a fire. Maybe its the settlers trying to smoke out the aborigines instead? Alternatively it could be an escort scenario where one player has a group of civilians that have to be escorted to safety from a raging brushfire, I could see either side as the defender/escorter.
A third option would be to make it an advantage gained from a raid. You get to arm a few of your models with torches that can start fires if applied to certain terrain elements (huts, dry bush etc), fires then spread in random directions. Or it could be that you get to choose which board edge the fire starts at in the next scenario?
Or a combination of the above.
Say the aborigine player has won a raid and gained torches as a weapon for 3 warriors. He elects to use them to burn a settler farm. First part of the raid is sneaking up to a building to start the fire. Second part is the settlers trying to escort civilians to safety. The third part could be a straight up fight with a fire raging across the board, or it could carry over into the next scenario instead, with the brushfire being a terrain hazard?
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Fire is most definitely a weapon of choice for tribal warriors. In a number of raids they set fire to crops, usually just before it was ready for harvesting, which could cause severe food shortages depending on the location and dependance of the crops by the local population. Early clashes along the Hawkesbury River in Port Jackson (Sydney) for example plunged the settlement into a food shortage from aboriginal raids burning crops in the early years.
Setting fire to buildings to smoke out the occupants was also a well used tactic by tribesmen. Once out the occupants would then come under spear attack and with luck the building would also be burnt down.
Both of these types of actions are typical of the Frontier Wars clashes so in anticipation of such I made sure one of my warriors came equipped with a flaming torch ;)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p0iVSqjwoVSWc2mv6pDuzW7JW-j7A51Ab2Nk8y1AIrxdRHixQUkfxBOkYNZ0Ih4oXzfU1YSVOsJhjg76zEswP0M8ZGV3zEEGBjW5oYHRSOPua_YzlxM7n9PcZjAf4FbhVValyoVFjZUGljzKecHsjCTjI8rR6qTv6zXsq6Iya9VE12zNTyKd5LmW1JAL52qbj72ZVUsgKnqf16JuJbN56vmbBJZ6K1Q_ic5WkgU2DumMLkn_ZKfnTzyK06xX_XWgPAM6KNSR2TlE-_bA2zlMEUABsqUwKXnOUAWqFylsvZ8DZyPP9XpUBHf8ry7-s8w-ppbfuutyjoREdWredfhWNk3ngP-mP3aO7JO1Yx7kcNBfSU0vUa6sC6RkWHXPidgQVWvie_gQAtgiY3gxKXvD6TXwa2R3iTgVy2eDQxNReekyQ4asP44iisEI2PlHyNSpDDlaQgc6yDJlXroSjYNKGaVwz5cQrP9kP5O2-2hOOXqcXVPQyqF0oJjEqDMFwNFmLyUWznCfz4WpMkplZxRS6hfo4B-uzjuKm1AzwnfLhD5mrXFVf1ElW_IjBi9C-w38USFTIBMENkSfTSKqBl1wKywbFNBDGZ26qHIpBg8=w1457-h1093-no)
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Ok,
We’ve had a look at some background to get a feel for frontier conflict up to the mid half of the 19th century - lots going on.
Now a return to some miniatures! In this post I’m showing the conversions I did from the Eureka Denisovan range to create a diverse looking aboriginal war party out of less than 10 figures.
Naturally enough other conversions would be possible but the examples show how easily the Denisovan minis are able to be made into figures that look different enough too create an ‘in motion’ warrior force.
Plenty of pics in this post so pop over ;-)
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-19E
Cheers
Happy W
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/image001.jpg)
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/img_4351.jpeg?w=809&h=607)
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Another excellent post!
After lost of reading its good to see some miniatures, and some lovely ones at that. You've made some fairly simple but very very effective conversions.
I'm curious to see the Denisovan models you've decided not to use. If one was more adventerous with the green stuff, I think the new Perry plastic Zulus might make good aboriginals.
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It's worth noting that fire was a normal part of Aboriginal land management in various ways. Fire was used to clear pasture for grazing prey like kangaroos and wallabies. In some parts of the north, where native grasses grow to six or seven feet it was used to clear sight lines for hunting or drive prey towards a hunting group. Whilst that's not to say it wasn't used in warfare you can readily understand that European observers might conflate it's normal use with hostile intent.
By the by, research has revealed that a number of Australian birds may be contributors to the phenomenon of wildfires. Various types of kites have been observed in multiple locations and on multiple occasions picking up burning twigs at the edges of wildfires and then dropping them in other parts to refresh or expand the blaze. On at least one occasion this behaviour was repeated several times, suggesting it was deliberate.
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2018/01/this-is-why-aussie-firehawk-raptors-are-spreading-bushfires
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-03/smart-bushfire-birds/7216934
As if there wasn't enough to be scared about our native fauna already.
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Hi Carlos,
As you say, the use of fire by aboriginals in a range of ways certainly made its use in warfare a natural progression. Research by Dr Ray Kerkhove also has shown that tribes used smoke as a means of communication and signalling in frontier contacts.
I didn’t know about birds being contributors to wild fires...interesting. I’m not sure I can include ‘fire birds’ in any army list though :D ;)
Cheers
Happy W
Pic below
Camel train with Aboriginal signal for "strangers who have crossed into neighbour's territory" - near Uluru, NT c.1940
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Maybe not pyromanical kites but you should incorporate birds into your game. Disturbed flocks of Galahs or cockatoos are a surefire method of detecting something moving in the lanscape and they are audible and visible for a long way off.
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“Disturbed flocks of Galahs or cockatoos are a surefire method of detecting something moving in the lanscape and they are audible and visible for a long way off.”
Something like this might blend in nicely with my Congo adaptation...nice one ;)
Clans also used domesticated dogs as a quasi early warning system against approaching enemy...something I had included...but I guess they both achieve a similar effect.
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Zombicide crows vignette with an appropriate PJ?
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I've just gone through all the conversions on your blog. I'm now seriously considering expanding my Denisovan warband, just a little bit ;) Perhaps another small order to Eureka before Salute?
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Gents,
In this post we follow up our look at using the Eureka Denisovan range of figures for our aboriginal tribal warriors.
Now we take a look at how to paint our warriors and get them on the table in quick time to boot. One of the neat things with doing these figures as I’ve mentioned in a previous post is that they cover the entire period of the frontier wars and will provide good service which ever period you choose to play…not to mention the pre contact period.
These figures paint up very quickly as this post shows so getting your own Koori clan together should not prove beyond the paint skills and effort of any committed or wavering LAFer.
Cheers
Happy W
https://agrabbagofgames.wordpress.com/2018/01/17/australian-frontier-wars-painting-aboriginals/
PS @ Matakakea - ;)
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/img_6027.jpeg)
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/article-2035096-0dc58df300000578-912_468x488.jpg)
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/img_6046.jpeg)
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I say! Just seen these; nifty painting there!
Eagerly awaiting a huge flock of evil-smelling battle-budgies firebombing Sydney.
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That first photo is particularly lovely.
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I'm impressed by the results you're getting from just spray and dip. Are you using the dip in a can or the ink in a bottle?
The use of markers for all the thin lines and dots is very clever and it brings hope to a slow painter with unsteady hands like me :)
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@ von Lucky
Thanks chap ;)
Painting
I use the dip from the can applied with a brush. White marker is a life saver ;)
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Happy Wanderer would you Mind posting a picture of the marker pens please. I'm not sure what pens your referring to or the make. A picture would greatly assist !!
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Hi Mike1879
I bought my in Oz...but I’m sure there is an equivalent wherever you are.
The Pen is this one.
http://www.inkjetwholesale.com.au/printer-accessories/uniposca/pc-5m-poster-marker/14850/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7oSTo4jg2AIVF42PCh2eJweaEAQYASABEgLQHvD_BwE
It’s a marker pen so has a kind of paint property to it...it works really well and is permanent.
The pen would work equally well for Darkest Africa tribesmen and North American Indians as well...very useful!
Cheers
Happy W 😉
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Many thanks for that Happy Wanderer. That gives me a starter for 10 to know what I'm looking for. Cheers 👍
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If your area has them, go to an art store (where they sell canvas and oil paints, etc). I got a fine one to draw stripes on my 15mm tracksuit wearing dudes.
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Gents,
In this post we take a close look at aboriginal warfare. The first two posts will be focused on traditional aboriginal warfare which lays the ground work for understanding the adaptive warfare they engaged in when fighting white settlement.
Whilst I know we have primarily been focused on aboriginal topics in the broader look at the Australian Frontier Wars this is largely because so little is understood or easily accessible on the topic. I guess I’m trying to give you a ‘free Osprey’ on the subject so that if you wish to gather a clan together you have an understanding of the background, motive and methods of how they engaged in conflict. This provides background on the native forces so they do not appear a 'faceless foe' in our table top clashes.
The white settlers, British army and police forces will be looked at later but for now let's bring the discussion around the native warriors of Terra Australis.
I hope you find these posts interesting…
Cheers
Happy W
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-11W
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/45_v_aus_abo.jpeg)
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Gents,
Here is a very nice battle report from a game played last week.....the clash at Cleland's Cabin, Parramatta Road, 1816.
Played on Mac's lovely terrain mat, it made for an excellent game. ;)
Cheers
Happy w
http://macslittlefriends.blogspot.com.au/2018/01/the-battle-of-parramatta-road-1816.html
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WJspbg9jmiA/WmHExrkl69I/AAAAAAAACng/GVVh0I1u5YwcYINpZVvb3Z0Yj06CHR-dACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_6437.JPG)
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y0uG0JsJpoU/WmHFICwHmAI/AAAAAAAACnw/nYhMfXExTmAnWgXrh9nTkiQNbSBbtSKiwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_6440.JPG)
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Wow, nice terrain... very evocative.
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Excellent game. The figures look superb in the terrain which looks spot on !! Out of interest where did the terrain mat come from ??
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Okay, a quick reminder of rule 1.3:
1.3 Acting politely.
Remain polite. That’s it.
I realise that this topic arouses strong feelings, but try to do as Alex asks and remain polite. I feel we're skirting the line here. Please make sure you keep the tone civil or refrain from posting if you can't.
Thank you.
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A cow, a pig, six or seven sheep, and a couple of roos! Critters always enhance a game - at least photographically. Though maybe we need sculpts of animals running scared shitless for realistic battle scenes! Then again, most of the human figures don't really reflect combat responses, I suppose. Gorgeous game visually.
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A cow, a pig, six or seven sheep, and a couple of roos! Critters always enhance a game - at least photographically. Though maybe we need sculpts of animals running scared shitless for realistic battle scenes! Then again, most of the human figures don't really reflect combat responses, I suppose. Gorgeous game visually.
What he said.
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Gents,
Continuing on with our look at Traditional Aboriginal Warfare we examine the numerous weapons that were available to aboriginal warriors. These same weapons would be used against white settlers from first contact until the early twentieth century.
Whilst seemingly out dated, in many respects these traditional weapons best provided an established warrior people with a sustainable and viable style of resistance warfare. This defied the efforts of many colonial administrations who limited modern weaponry to aboriginals and enabled them to continue to adopt a style of warfare best suited to their natural talents.
After this look at traditional warfare we shall see how aboriginal adaptive warfare evolved in the face of the emerging threat posed by white settlement.
Cheers
HW
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1v1
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/attack.jpg)
PS Thanks chaps for kind comments ;)
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Right, clearly the message is not getting through, despite repeated requests to members to play nice and stop picking at the scabs. It appears I did not make myself clear enough when I asked people to leave this alone, so let me spell out as plainly as I can what the new rules for this thread are:
Any further posts that are deemed to be of an aggressive, offensive or inflammatory nature; and any further posts that are attempting to provoke a reaction, no matter how politely they are phrased, shall be removed from this thread. That applies to both sides of the argument.
If you have a valid point and information of interest, post it politely. If your point is to simply attack or goad the other side into reacting: don't post.
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Gents,
Now - back on topic.
In this post we look at how aboriginal tribesmen adapted their traditional methods of conflict amongst themselves to meet the new enemy - white settlers. We take a look at how they came to resist and in what form it took shape.
Initially the limitations of small garrison force sizes and slow loading smoothbore weapons enabled the aboriginal peoples to achieve a level of parity in weapon technologies, though the lethality of firearms was much greater than tribal weapons.
The natural bushcraft skills also played a big part in mounting an effective resistance though the mounted horsemen was the colonist’s answer to try and remove this advantage. That said, clans and bands once again adapted to try an negate that advantage as well and to a degree never lost an ability to achieve tactical mobility.
What one sees as you look deeper into the subject is that the aboriginal peoples adapted to new tactical and 'strategic’ threats in a considered manner - they just did not come out to confront heavily armed white setters and ‘die for honour’ or anything like that. Their’s was a much more cat-and-mouse game of resistance and fighting.
This series will be in three parts and then we shall swing back to rules, miniatures and stuff like that. By the end we shall have a good grasp of many of the factors that were in play that made Australian continental warfare unique. Please feel free to comment and get us back focused on this most interesting subject - thanks chaps...
I hope you find something new that is of interest.
Regards
Happy W
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-16Z
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/kalkadoon-1900aboriginal-tribes.jpg?w=730&h=544)
Kalkadoon warriors – c.1900. These would be typical of the warriors that fought at Battle Mountain.
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/img_e58571.jpeg)
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Happy Wanderer, here is a new book, soon to be available, which may be of interest.
https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/books/sydney-wars/
The blurb: "Described by one early colonist as ‘this constant sort of war’, The Sydney Wars tells the history of military engagements between Europeans and Aboriginal Australians around the greater Sydney region.
Telling the story of the first years of colonial Sydney in a new and original way, this provocative book is the first detailed account of the warfare that occurred across the Sydney region from the arrival of a British expedition in 1788 to the last recorded conflict in the area in 1817. The Sydney Wars sheds new light on how British and Aboriginal forces developed military tactics and how the violence played out.
Analysing the paramilitary roles of settlers and convicts and the militia defensive systems that were deployed, it shows that white settlers lived in fear, while Indigenous people fought back as their land and resources were taken away. Stephen Gapps details the violent conflict that formed part of a long period of colonial strategic efforts to secure the Sydney basin and, in time, the rest of the continent."
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Great pick up Ragnar...book pre ordered.
"The Sydney Wars sheds new light on how British and Aboriginal forces developed military tactics and how the violence played out. Analysing the paramilitary roles of settlers and convicts and the militia defensive systems that were deployed, it shows that white settlers lived in fear, while Indigenous people fought back as their land and resources were taken away."
Well, that's pretty much what this series of posts is all about and I'm glad to see the academic class weighing in to approach the subject with fresh eyes from a military perspective. Its a healthy 288 pages and a descent print size to...looks good. ;D
I guess we wait an see what it's like but this series of posts is in deed prescient to its release and the potential Frontier Wars can offer to those so inclined.
Thanks Ragnar.
Happy W
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Gents,
Part II of the three part series on Aboriginal adaptive warfare. This is a quick introduction touching on weapon use and pre battle rituals and tactics.
In the last post we'll round out our discussion.
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1wQ
Cheers
Happy W
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/aboriginal_attack_lake_hope.jpeg)
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Top notch and a refreshing experience to see this period of history wargamed.
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Gents,
In this last post on the aboriginal way of war we take a detailed look at tactical methods and strategies used. This is the longest of the three posts and should give you a very good understanding of the tactics used by aboriginal warriors.
Everything is included from farm attacks, livestock raids, fire attacks, ambushes, hit-and-run raids, terrorising attacks, subterfuge, etc. Pretty much any type of guerrilla warfare attack there is was in the arsenal of the average aboriginal clan.
We also take a look at some of the limitations of the aboriginals when faced with white settlement and the advances of weapon technology and also some of the most dangerous opponents, detribalised aboriginals turned Native Police.
I Hope you have enjoyed this series on Aboriginal warfare. Whilst it has been a little bit ‘history heavy’ I think it was really important for such an under exposed topic to get some sort of cohesive structure around it from a military and gaming perspective.
Hopefully I’ve provided a good deal of information for prospective Frontier Wars gamers to get an understanding of the factors involved so they may formulate suitable scenarios and potential force types as well.
...we may take a short break after this huge information dump and then provide thoughts and ideas around using Smooth & Rifled for Frontier Wars gaming and then a battle report to follow on...lots more to dig into there.
I hope you will join the discussion...
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1EN
Happy Wanderer
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Thanks Bezzo,
Your positive encouragement is most welcome. I’m glad I’ve rekindled your interest to have another look at this topic from the gaming and military perspective. I recall a number of your excellent posts in previous threads, themselves an inspiration to me to delve deeper -thanks.
As 28mm gamers there is much to offer in many respects, in a different colonial way in the manner in which Frontier Wars engagements were conducted.
Not entirely different, naturally enough, from many other colonial clashes typical of all the colonists empires, but quite enough to be worth a small investment in aboriginal minis, a fistful of sheep, a roo or two and a repurposed 19th century colonial few..there you go, I’m channeling Henry Lawson! 🙄🙄😬
... you now have something quite different in your lap.
Considerable effort has gone in researching these posts from Dr. Richard Broome, Dr. Henry Reynolds, Dr. John Connor, Dr. Ray Kherhove, Dr Nick Clements, Dr Libby Connor and many, many other sources. These are all heavy weight modern historians with a good empirical, even handed eye for the facts and a modern reflective view on frontier conflict in toto, though off course all with different emphasis and perspective.
I shall be posting a selection of recommended readings at some point down the line, only touching the surface on what is out there as you can imagine. I’ll,be sticking to the ‘gamer’s guff’ to keep focused on topic. My intention off course has been to largely distill much of the above down for the wider LAF audience relating to its military and gaming potential and is only a (solid) primer for others to go away and spark an interest.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Kind regards
Happy W
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As a reminder to all involved, please do not post copyrighted material on the forum. Gets us in all kinds of trouble.
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Happy: You've put on a clinic here! Brilliant! It only makes me wish someone would do a comprehensive and dedicated range fort this period :)
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Happy Wanderer
Wow!!! Great review , insight , research , figures , painting , conversions , terrain . :o :o
Absolutely top shelf old boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol lol lol lol lol
Cheers
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Happy Wanderer - I find your informative pieces a fantastically inspriring source of useful information and it has rekindled my intention to explore the whole genre of "early warfare". Thank you for the effort.
I recall an article in Miniature Wargames by the great Andy Callan which sought to recreat the warfare of Papua New Guinea and involved figures mounted on inverted bottle tops so that movement by finger flick (like Subbuteo) was inderminate but skill related. It was probably around 35 yrs ago and I will dig it out. Maintaining morale was vital in success - as it always is, but success was also measured in acquiring status rather than simple victim head count.
Do you know which magazine number contained this article ?
i remember too about an article where there was a color plate with native warriors. But impossible to find it again (Wargames Illustrated, Miniature Wargames, or Practical Wargame...).
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It was Miniature Wargames Issue 11. Send me a pm with e mail and I can send you the pdf's. The Kalkadoon articles were in Issues 112 and 113. I have those too.
thank you Bezzo.
ok for the pdf. I have a great collection of these magazines but not in good order. Need some classification in that lots.
Pm sent
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Happy to help. The best aspect of LAF is that we are ready to assist each other.
That and offer constructive advice, help and encouragement.
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All articles sent nervisfr and if anyone else wants them please contact me. And Hu Rhu I agree. Constructive comment is always welcome.
Great service ! ;)
once again, thank you Geoffrey to send me back to the good old time of wargame magazine reading..... ;D ;D ;D
May be a new project for me ...................oh no ! Never ending story. :D
Based on the 28mm Perry's Xhosa natives with a new aircut of course (from the hadendowa ?) :P
who says ?
Eric
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“Based on the 28mm Perry's Xhosa natives with a new aircut of course (from the hadendowa)
That’s what I did for my musket armed warriors... I green-stuffed their hair lol ...Perry Xhosa...
;)
Happy W
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“Based on the 28mm Perry's Xhosa natives with a new aircut of course (from the hadendowa)
That’s what I did for my musket armed warriors... it green-stuffed their hair...Perry Xhosa...
;)
Happy W
any pictures ?
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“Any pictures?”
Well, it wouldn’t be LAF without a picture...and it’s been a while ::)
This is best from my iPhone snaps. The three guys in trail have Rifles..you can see them. It was a bit of an experiment but the lean look and puttied hair works fairly well enough I think.
As a side note - Eureka Miniatures (Nic) mentioned to me that if sufficient interest was avavilable some extras could be added to the Denisovans...Aboriginal...range...maybe 4-6 sculpts would be all that is needed to save on to many conversions...it’d certainly be worth thinking on. IIRC 6 figures would need about 500 figures. You need about 100 in an army and when combined with cherry picking the existing range would not too much to aim for??
...think on it chaps...and here’s the pic.
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Lovely work. :D :D
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Awesome brushwork. Smashing stuff. ;D
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Gents,
With alot of history talk stuff down the pipe we take a look at some gaming….thanks for sticking with me.
Here were are starting with our small skirmish level game scale of play - in this case using Dadi&Piombo’s Smooth and Rifled system.
The post includes full army lists for Aboriginal and Colonial forces, including explorers and bushrangers for some added twists. There are also game play sheets which will enable you to jump straight into the game…all this for the cost of zip...
You can get the rules from the Wargames Vault if you don’t have them and want to have a go or follow the link on their home page.
http://www.wargamevault.com/product/137231/SmoothRifled
http://smooth-and-rifled.blogspot.com.au/
In the post we look at some reasoning behind a number of my ideas on using S&R and I’ve included a new “Farm Raid’ scenario you can try specific for frontier war games.
There should be a good deal to mull over in your mind so I hope you enjoy…finally we got to the game!
Cheers
Happy W
…here you go…
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1a5
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/img_4383.jpeg)
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/img_4371.jpeg)
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Interesting thread and great painting.
cheers
James
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I have to say I do not know much about this period but I know what I like and I like your setup, some nice conversion work and lovely terrain and painting :)
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Gents,
Following on from our discussion and release of army lists for use with Smooth & Rifled for the frontier wars we take a close look at a fictional ‘sharp encounter’ on the road west of old Sydney town, c.1816.
The battle report highlights aspects of the rules and how Smooth & Rifled can be used for such small actions, barely below a reportable encounter or perhaps a few lines in official report or perhaps a paragraph or two in a private memoir.
For us it gives an indication of how these clever rules handle the platoon leader view of an action or a tribal leader in charge of mob.
Lots of pics, I hope you enjoy.
Regards
Happy Wanderer
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1Hz
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/img_64401.jpeg?w=809&h=613)
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Now, that's a proper flock of sheep!
Oh, dear, am I going to get a reputation where sheep are concerned! :o
lol
Happy, last I checked their website, seems Eureka has discontinued the whole 300/500 club concept, might double check with Nic.
Love the Cape Buffalo - though I suppose not meant to be so here, more of an Asian buffalo (though maybe I need to know more about the fauna of Australia).
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Now, that's a proper flock of sheep!
Oh, dear, am I going to get a reputation where sheep are concerned! :o
lol
Happy, last I checked their website, seems Eureka has discontinued the whole 300/500 club concept, might double check with Nic.
Love the Cape Buffalo - though I suppose not meant to be so here, more of an Asian buffalo (though maybe I need to know more about the fauna of Australia).
inthought Cape buffalo was just introduced Asian water buffalo? I suppose the question is when were they introduced into Australia.
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inthought Cape buffalo was just introduced Asian water buffalo? I suppose the question is when were they introduced into Australia.
No, the Cape Buffalo is a distinct species, native to Africa.
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Great AAR and pictures- a visual treat!
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Fantastic :-* atmospheric table and miniatures
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No, the Cape Buffalo is a distinct species, native to Africa.
Oh yeah ,should of remembered watched enough nature programs ::)
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Okay, did some checking. The animal in the photo above is pretty clearly an African Cape Buffalo from the boss of its horns but, because of the setting, is being used as an Asian Water Buffalo. This is probably very simply because of a lack of a correct model - or maybe what was ready at hand. No matter, still a wild beastie which is always cool for me.
As to the water buffalo in Australia, that same checking revealed they were introduced to the continent by humans in the 1800's and significant - but unsuccessful - attempts have been made to eradicate them from Australia because of habitat damage.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
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...gents thanks for the comments and elicit description of the said water buffalo!
Certainly a beast of the Northern states but in my case I just like them and they step in for bullock dray (train) draught animals and will stand in until I find suitable proxies...
...they look good though 😉
@Eradicate them - in my old job I flew around American game hunters up north who went on Buffalo hunts…NT legalised ‘sport culling’ as way to at least bring in some tourism!
Cheers
Happy W
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Gents,
I’ve been pushing a fair bit down the pipeline so I’m offering up a number of suggestions for your own investigation. I’ve use most of these sources and many others not listed in my blog posts thus far.
Lots to look at and plenty to read – needless to say, only scratching the surface if one is prepared to dig a little more.
There is all the background information you need for skirmish gaming the Frontier Wars in these titles and I hope you investigate further as it is well worth it.
…happy reading!
HW
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-11U
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/mcintyre_slvmp000900-1.jpg)
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Gents,
We’ve focused heavily on the Australian indigenous native forces in the posts describing the Australian Frontier Wars. Now we turn our attention to a look at the British Army in its service in Australia. The three part series will look at the early, mid and later years where the British army first became involved (1788) until the final operations c.1870.
From a figure perspective you will find your peninsular Brit, or shako, bell topped and forage capped figures all being able to be pressed into service somewhere along the line…grab some tribals and fight it out down under for something different ;)
I hope you enjoy a look at a slightly different ‘backwater’ British army, though not untypical of many such colonial detachments throughout the empire.
Enjoy
Happy W
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1j0
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SljmJGMRIYmt-3QI_WND7pWJH1o6X-b0dhZTr7toQ7zRwbvHmp8epVMKmHy3D4VCZ0Zb6rdjXHhjCCQDvvHMDob4Kpg7aUo5eJn3ICpgjDwYsoFbuS5kVZjJBIFE0p-NxbGLw5allvzXBQlYsNLDqT2WQcVYdGR5vbFVt6WjT9ipWuOHVxvflNbzBqJLW1uX2SZlciScclP5s69Xu8K3_eE5tvtDO-KZq9GbboGEkYVBhl_vp52HKKgqZsZyd1AEaQMqzOmUdFhRzo1wfdhiyAW4Rp1lHNWmsVPtAOw2BDuwNJSC6TfVzfVFYMLGOW9uREtwIMgaY88AO9mQjNWVkW-rcEcmEN5lLFJwZfCpazChhSc0Ofn4R0hPyvex8fNUvVeXGLQR-zXiMybqu33moU2-Ek5-Hwkg2a_m5LWkMvIY3_lp6IbWAHGt5WNuAsZLlsMSnW86kiQkEYP8iQkS7Xr-CydmXtdm-C7sjSb0MePz6CgHQ1A1hEBrmqSmimJbnXWX42Cf_3rxTXiIas3c2zNoYoH3BqAeBVb116qKwRX6pYhGeeOCQ-UnfGME2ln8e8C_M9O-ShWCDnvSgXjCxH9q_A4iF1sZrDOqplg=w1025-h777-no)
Redcoats under attack!
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fET9yFsig7X-Vf_WTFaM2HhWkirbILz1sou8pSFodr9U0ccBlZn6FFnNEq6AcTrrr-su7YGBkMYdHFjjWSwfipXcBk20_d5ivj9nG1T--TWGMoHF4VUO0VKepRKdHOfetbuv86TCwnhO6tqU5oJM2Xb_rm1apW1EdcqI6KRxy2gmjwfezDKaE6XdkF0XE6e02OtP-Dcz3_uMb7VILrqbXjhjOSzUish6h0E7LKqK43mhUima1BqKv3KVtTuxLEUN_GIBawiPn26pSht9JdjKLhAB7DST0SxELaUueQ5NIwo5C1dHjOo3Gocef4EzwZxovkVAi6EZLRZdTFXNexz6tKxpzs75y7nNjaweazGyfU1kjm_5yk1z1BmjmEkVpoSzB3ade18tRLBF1OXjkiApZ3oIIyNxU67tEzkI_ZZVvLf2ZmZ9liEWd77j9HotJykk6IXG5aaQeEJJwTs54D5HRQOaf3FQojHcVmKpmb-WCyb2249O2BiSWR4EZun-5ptHtYFlZfs9kPzR_VNQwTR8TGMcV-SkJJHqqscnLE9wCISkAwn2NDp2FN0m3-e73iR0yjvm9FewCWDt3W145ZpkOIroMnmkIbLvjAgkf-E=w1025-h611-no)
Note: redcoats in this pic are a mix of Victrix, Perry and Brigade Games (who do a nice campaign kit British soldier - very good for Australia).
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An Aside, Happy Wanderer used your New zealand Land Wars modified QR and lists in Muskets and Tomahawks on Tuesday at the club and they work a treat :D thought I would let you know, thanks for the hard work too 8)
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"and they work a treat :D thought I would let you know, thanks for the hard work too"
Thanks Lowtardog...great to see that work getting used by others -which is the idea ;) Thanks for mentioning it - much appreciated...got any pics of the game, a brief AAR of how it went...that would be nice to see ;D
Happy W
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We got a few snaps will try and pull something together :D
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Cool ;)
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Gents,
In this post we look at the British army in the mid years in Australia ie the 1820s to the 1830s. This period involved the expansion of a number of military operations, significantly in Tasmania where major counter insurgency style operations were undertaken in a a veritable guerrilla war.
This period represents the high point of British army military activities in the new colony with significant operations in New South Wales from Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) in the south to the border of the soon to be state of Queensland and South Australia.
Operations out west continue in southern Western Australia and flirtations in the 'Top End' off the coast of northern Australia (near modern day Darwin).
…lots to read on the Brit army down under…
Enjoy
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1kh
(https://i2.wp.com/web.archive.org/web/20050501070654im_/http://www.militarybadges.info/brits/images/uniforms/15-police.jpg)
Mounted Police field dress, 1832
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In this last post on the British army we take the service years of the 1840s up to the 1870. This includes the 'great rebellion' of the Eureka Stockade where redcoats stormed the defences writing themselves into the history books.
Progressively operations against the aboriginal population reduced as local forces and native police assumed the roles of ‘civil defence' and local Australian military organisations started to appear.
…so we end the hard history again and return to the gaming side of things in our next post. I hope you've picked up a few new perspectives on the British army in Australia in the 19th century.
Cheers
Happy W
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1kC
(https://web.archive.org/web/20041121222952im_/http://www.diggerhistory.info/images/asstd2/19-12rof.jpg)
Private soldier 12th Regiment of Foot 1854
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Ok Gents,
..we’re off doing something different.
Outback!…a Congo style themed game of exploration set in Australia.
The following post will give you all the details you need to mount an expedition into the Australian hinterland in the manner of Flinders, Blaxland, Eyre, Leichhardt, off course Burke and Wills and so many of the other explorers of Australia…this is rich gaming territory for the avid Aussie adventurer.
We’ll take a look at unique characters that can play their part with a complete adaptation of the existing Congo game to allow you to jump in boots and all without anything else to do but read on…it's all there for you...
So grab a cuppa and see what Outback has to offer…enjoy!
Happy W
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1c2
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/aus-map-51.jpeg)
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/img_5970.jpg?w=607&h=455)
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Chaps,
In this post we expand out the factions in Outback, my conversion of Congo for use in the Australian Frontier wars.
These extra factions are more specific and take the game toward more of a ‘war themed’ game than the original exploration game though off course the two intermix to a degree.
So some added content for you to peruse.
Enjoy
Happy W
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1nN
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T_IgKcvCjFZVMe-tfT3sNRYYpXKBUmFfG1R6CfRM5jHr54MbNsXApIJ9Z1oMa4CtAe6-J4QU2ZxBO6Kvapw9HLDq0jvNKBVzL_2Rqha1x0mgtAkdG37paYmmVJePQWQfw2-ZR0lr3dPIgrH1j0K1Y-V_cuLsFB3gocFKysLFLwj0GdaVd4QQ77ols1b7ptOzJZ16SeUwwSWY0xBX6Qdx5-igcXshMw6O5YkP8BILdP2VmbOaj4V4V2A9Eagmpe6qLBf75v3oE1AkOs7_lKt5JdEvwz5TLSoam24ekf0J7Ku8SZvbGA9noYIyS_EPth-EvOAeZCTmAba1BxMpch0ypgINWf6gr9btrh257cnMEtZx1FFCQycASpMyrW58lasC_CmQu8aBwi43WAIL45f4yhJGo9jBd1TpRk2lMUTedsZ9Qb6SsdYDoGD1lYEu5RdjOoZOmv7dGeL8sm15zBZiuMcsOI8WEEzwbHFSMQJWeXO1jn2zYzi7rlEA_wSFtOGNCSmay_c1SjydBRsbimgxQBX0zbPC9sn3Mfjj8J4mH2139i2iq6e8kiD-ay07BMIV_eubxbzHNIKkChdo8t6DoPNvQJGqe9NcxzpboA=w964-h1120-no)
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As a man of some Aboriginal heritage (Worimi) I am loving this project. All that can be asked is that such topics are treated with respect and they have been. As long as we dont reenact massacres like Myall Creek (and why would you want to?) this gives credit to a people who in the popular imagination were seen as at best apathethic to the colonisation when in fact the opposite is true. I have today ordered my own Denisovians to paint as Koori and will be getting some perry brits to oppose them. There are those who say that in reality resistance was not really encountered and they do the first Australians and injustice. If our games dont fully reflect the reality of the conflict but capture the spirit isnt that all we can ask for?
Great project looks really good!
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Hey Jason,
It's great to see you enjoying the AFW content. I've intentionally put a lot of work into this project as I wished to show it in its best possible light and I think I have achieved that goal - there was alot going on and not alot of what most people have heard!
Anything IMHO that sheds light on this subject in a fair and balanced, and historically factual way, is positive and speaks to how we can learn from mini gaming as well as enjoy the other aspects of it as well.
There is as much potential for skirmish gaming AFW clashes as in any other colonial clash and I think that has become apparent from my series of posts. It's fantastic you are going to get yourself a clan together and 'have to'...it'd be great to see any of you handy work or AARs for the rest of us to enjoy...I shall keep an eye out.
There's still a bit more to come down the line so I hope it is of some use.
Great stuff.
Cheers
Happy W
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/img_4217.jpg)
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I was thinking that I would use the Perry plastic brits for Macquarie 1816 period. Do you think the Belgic is the better choice for shako?
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The 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot, which formed the troops of Macquarie's expedition were issued Belgic shakos before leaving England for service in Australia - so I'd go with Belgic.
FYI - they were nicknamed the 'Red Feathers' amongst a few other sobriquets, had Light Yellow facing colors, serving in Australia from February 1814 until proceeding to Madras in 1817.
As an aside, the Belgic was in vogue from 1812-16 before the Regency shako was implemented 1816-29, then the Bell Top Shako. I’d use them interchangeably as they both have the ‘bell top' look with the regency shako being a bit higher. I actually think these figures (Oronico Miniatures) would work really well for the post Belgic shako Brits in Australia look…they fit Perry’s size wise as well.
(http://www.orinoco-miniatures.com/image/cache/data/P1080929-500x500.JPG)
;)
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Thank you! I’m thinking about the Perry carlist wars British legion for later brits
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Perry Carlist War Brits will work fine...that'd be the 1830s look to be accurate but as I say you really can start to get away with it from 1816 onwards if you can overlook the Regency vs Bell Top slight height difference - not a big one IMHO....those Perry's are lovely. Oronico Miniatures have a nice campaign look to them so both offer whichever style you prefer.If you really want a campaign look then the 1st Afghan War brits from Studio Miniatures will also work.
http://www.studiominiatures.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=category&id=52:british-army&Itemid=508 (http://www.studiominiatures.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=category&id=52:british-army&Itemid=508)
In this post I had a good chat about minis - maybe worth a read if you missed it ;)
https://agrabbagofgames.wordpress.com/2018/01/04/
Cheers
Happy W
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Gents,
Here is a article on frontier warfare in Tasmania by Australian Frontier Wars historian, John Connor. It's not to long and a very interesting piece going into a good deal of military detail on operations in Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania)....the stuff we like - certainly worth a read with a cuppa.
Enjoy.
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/img_5691.jpg)
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1gg
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Gents,
In this post we look at using The Men Who Would Be Kings for frontier wars clashes. The higher figure totals in this rule system will allow for a more spectacular game. Alternatively the smaller ‘half kings’ game still allows players to use the game with smaller numbers of figures.
TMWWBKs provides a unique style of play and the many tweakable rules allows enough variation and combinations that a frontier wars game can be had in the spirit of the original rules.
The post includes full rules for each force type and army lists for the entire period - there should be something useful in there for anyone interested in the topic.
Enjoy
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-11m
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/image002.jpg)
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Gents,
In my final instalment on the use of different rule systems for the Australian Frontier Wars, we take a look at the ‘small battle scale’. For this we use (the re released) Death in the Dark Continent.
This post includes rules and army lists for both sides. Whilst Death in the Dark Continent seems too large a scale for AFW clashes, if the rules are taken to be a 1:1 scale, which they often are for Darkest Africa clashes for which they are intended, then they fit rather well. Also, the new version of DITDC includes a skirmish scale game which may be appropriate for some minor clashes as well.
All in all they are eminently usable for AFW engagements if DITDC is to your taste.
Cheers
Happy W
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-18a
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/screen-shot-2018-04-30-at-4-23-56-pm.png)
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(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/c-359-natives-attacking-shepherds-by-samuel-calvert-1864.jpg)
Resistance - a campaign for the Australian Frontier Wars
Gents,
Wrapping up our series of posts on the Australian Frontier Wars I provide a simple campaign system for use that should be very easy to implement and can easily be converted to any colonial setting - so it might well be off use to any game setting.
Campaigns often come to an inconclusive end due to the requirements of planning and bookkeeping and sometimes the services of an umpire, but this campaign, Resistance!, requires only the keeping of one number to keep track of the action!
Before each battle players set up the campaign dynamics which should take little more than 10 mins and then they may conduct a campaign, in a setting of their choosing. They may use a map to locate fictional encounters with some creative thinking which can provide some element of creative campaign narrative and theme, but it is not required.
I hope you have enjoyed this series and there will certainly be additions made as time goes by…
Happy Wanderer
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-16O
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/img_4332.jpg?w=187&h=300)
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I'm increasingly drawn to the Perry Brothers' Cape Wars range (which, by the way, I wish they'd go back to and do the rest of the stuff they said they were going to). Seems like it would be a good fit with your campaign system, it also being a settlers, soldiers and warrior natives kind of deal.
I shall keep this in mind if and when I ever get around to such a project. Thanks!
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I’ve enjoyed your series very much. Great figures, nice terrain, and a lot of useful history I didn’t know.
And so much better without the interruptions and attempted derailments. Well done for seeing it through. A very well researched and presented wargames project. Looking forward to future additions :)
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Gents,
Thanks so much for lasting the distance!
Your comments are much appreciated and I trust there will be a good body of information for people to use as a resource should they wish to try something different or delve into some further research of their own. Whilst certainly not as 'sexy' as some colonial topics it has an appeal all of its own in many respects.
I think my stated aim of portraying the period in a positive way has been achieved.
@Plynkes
I very much had the Cape Wars in mind as an alternative setting for this campaign system...and yes, more form the Perry's on this one please!
The Operations used in the Resistance campaign could easily be converted to more conventional military operations by regular forces or campaign specific operations by one military force or tribal people.
I think it will work rather well for Africa which I intend on using it for as well...it's nice and simple and you can add the chrome to make it campaign specific.
;)
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Agree with all previous comments. My children had alerted me to some of this, although being the passionate, activist young people that they are, the language has always been loaded with terms like ‘genocide’ and ‘massacre’. I’ve always told them that traditional British military history seems devoid of histories of any conflict on this scale, so I doubted how much was real, as opposed to rhetoric. Your posts and blogs have not only opened my eyes, but helped me understand why these conflicts are absent from the traditional British military historiography.
Hats off to you - good history, good wargaming and good figure painting - the three things that keep me in the hobby!
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Well done on a good thread. Looking forward to what you tackle next :)
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Gents,
In many of the photos on my blog and specific to this period are the distinctly 'aussie' gumtree. For those that are interested, in this post I show where I get my trees from and a few snaps of the types available.
...this may be of use...
Happy W
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1a7
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/img_64561.jpg)
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Always good to find new types of gaming foliage :)
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Ahem. One more reminder: After all the trouble in the past this thread has a zero-tolerance policy on baiting, argumentative behaviour and attempted derailments. Be they from the left or the right of the political spectrum.
If you are posting on this thread, have a long, hard think about what you are saying before you hit "post", or chances are your post won't be around for long.
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Nice looking table! :-* :-* The fellows driving off the sheep are just crying out for a dirty comment but I shall refrain lol
Lon
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...that table is rather nice isn't it...I can't lay claim to the mat, that belongs to Mac, and I believe it's had so many positive comments it might be getting its own Instagram page... :D :D
...the terrain is mine however! ;)
The action fought was documented on Mac's blog and worth a read and for some more eye candy. Here it is incase you missed it...
http://macslittlefriends.blogspot.com/2018/03/setting-nepean-ablaze-1816.html
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9BJE5KaGjPA/Wq7fYyjnzzI/AAAAAAAACt4/YUHukquEF4E0vnp5m3jiXZcMSRGS5onBACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_E6590.JPG)
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Gents,
In this post I’ve knocked up the first of a good many armed civilian settler miniatures to paint for the Napoleonic era. There aren’t any specific figures for the Frontier Wars but the dress of the day followed European/North American trends so these figures will fit the bill nicely.
As there are few if any shots of these figures online they may proves useful for those looking for these types of minis.
Cheers
Happy W
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1LN
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/img_8191.jpg?w=809&h=607)
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Looking good - and a nice tip on the trees.
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Lovelly thread. :-* :-* :-*
I may give a try on 1 or 2 aborigenes.
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Interesting little known period.
Mark
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Gents,
Recently a book was published by Dr. Stephen Gapps - The Sydney Wars. I meant to give it a review on the blog but things slipped away.
Nevertheless, there is a very good review of it online which I'll post a link to here - worth a read of an excellent book. For anyone interested in Australian Frontier Conflict it's a 'must buy'.
Cheers
https://www.phansw.org.au/the-sydney-wars-1788-1817-bringing-together-the-sources/
(https://ms-newsouthbooks-com-au.s3.amazonaws.com/WorkImage/WorkEdition/9781742232140_3a9a5d5e2ffc_400w40q.jpg)
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Gents,
Whilst not directly related to frontier wars, Osprey Publishing have released a new title on Australian Bushrangers 1788-1880. The artwork is very nice showing a number of plates useful for frontier wars themed games.
The cover has a very nice depiction of a Victorian Native Mounted Police trooper in green uniform - looking quite similar to the South African Cape Rifles. The content is also useful as bushranger related content does cross over to frontier warfare.
Useful plates directly related to AFW are;
Pte, 46th Regt; Van Diemen’s Land, 1817
Pte, 3rd Regt mounted detachment, 1825
Trooper, Mounted Police, 1832
Tpr, Native Mounted Police, 1852
There are others that show civilian dress as well which also give a good indication of the civilian look through the 19th century.
I have a copy and recommend picking up for those interested in conflict down under.
Take a peek here
https://www.amazon.com/Australian-Bushrangers-1788-1880-Men-at-Arms-Knight/dp/1472831101
Cheers
Happy W
(https://ospreypublishing.com/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/958def80b7ce809d46640f86aa46835c/9/7/9781472831095_5.jpg)
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Hm, might have to check out that Osprey having recently acquired Ned and his buddies in their 'armor' from Highland Studios in 15 mm. Love the movie. Know it ain't precise. Really miss Heath Ledger, he made some cool movies.
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I played the Glenrowan scenario many years ago using (amongst other things) Airfix HO/OO cowboy figures. I seem to recall I had some buckets in that scale, and replaced the heads of cowboys with them as part of their conversion into the Kelly gang. :)
Might have to have a look at this one.
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@FifteensAway - its got a nice overview of all Bushranger types and some of their engagements. Quite a bit of small scenario info in a general sense so worth it for that. There is a nice section on Ned Kelly and layout of Glenrowan as well…perfect scenario set up actually.
"Really miss Heath Ledger, he made some cool movies.”
Agreed - a top Aussie actor gone to early for sure…and Ned Kelly was one of his better roles IMO…good movie too!
@Plynkes - times have moved on since Airfix 'Aussie' cowboys ;)
There are a nice selection of photos that show the Australian colonial ‘look’. The plates are very good for that.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a range of minis focused on these types though to be fair lots of substitutes could be used. The Aussie cabbage tree hat is distinctive however. The DMH Ned Kelly minis look good…if a bit ‘exsy'.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I014s25tbpc/VztyxA--7UI/AAAAAAAAZo0/z2Glm7563bYaG4NJK6faByBCcNPQTwdsQCLcB/s400/IMG_6055.jpg)
Nathan at the Lonely Gamers did a nice treatment of the DMH gang.
http://lonelygamers.blogspot.com/2016/05/bushrangers-gang-dead-mans-hand.html
Interestingly the pic below (from the Osprey - after the Victorian State Library) shows some of the Aboriginal Queensland Native Police used to track the Kelly gang. The trooper on the left has a cold weather coat over the issue white QNMP trouser whilst the central figure has a double breasted coat and the right figure a pinstriped jacket. They are quite different to how one might expect the Aboriginal NMP to look. They are quite small as well showing the marked difference between aboriginal peoples across Australia.
Happy W
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I have read all the posts,
what interesting history.
Great looking games.
Thanks for all the history.
You are the best, Happy Wanderer.
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Thanks Marine0846,
...much appreciated 😊😊
I hope you’re a Wargames Illustrated reader as there will be a bit of Frontier Wars content in an upcoming theme issue ...ssshhh 😉
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Mr. W., thanks for the additional info on the Osprey. As a lapsed WI reader, let us know the issue when it is public and I might go pick it up if the local hobby store as extra.
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... no probs FifteensAway...shall do.
I’m planning on doing a bit of AFW content leading up to the WI articles - as well as providing some support material to go with it for the included battle scenario.
I’m not sure if that’s in the theme issue, (I hope so), but could be in the follow up month...it provides a complete AFW adaptation for use with Sharp Practice! for the included scenario and more. The scenario could be played with any low level game system but is aimed at SP.
HW
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So I need to buy a bundle of Denisovans? I only have around a dozen indigenous fellows at the moment. ;)
... no probs FifteensAway...shall do.
I’m planning on doing a bit of AFW content leading up to the WI articles - as well as providing some support material to go with it for the included battle scenario.
I’m not sure if that’s in the theme issue, (I hope so), but could be in the follow up month...it provides a complete AFW adaptation for use with Sharp Practice! for the included scenario and more. The scenario could be played with any low level game system but is aimed at SP.
HW
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" I only have around a dozen indigenous fellows at the moment."
...well, as a spoiler, you'll need 48 tribal warriors for my SP scenario and 25 Brits. The Brits are a mixed group of civilians and regulars. Terrain is minimal. - mostly open bushland and a river along one edge.
...that's the 'battle' at 1 to 1 scale!
:D
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FNmhzw0GHwj4Wo9f3IYY40Vnnti_leIRFtmoEaDufn7bctwhr9ry6mI4fhzWGrcwxwMk490V-UbsXPKH9mm0qqHSsCiEmlOxL-6CbczGG4OfTgvEUJ535KlDXBDxHltvs7eaoMB9ps3yKlfkTDGkBQVLLpQwPPG_pNfkUZNYzAZPr9yPNLlQIIB8GJXhYKFxNDh0oOlZyXudWtWebmnd8nTX9_omGRKKnrbu-o1hMHARyObjs3E_qtLmcbktnVrD4fgkz9bkbzb0Sx7GeBhiHii0aSZqvBLxsu_M1f3uD502FRyReTCnwODiWI-520wiCDThd4pwIryAI4mt50I59qW-g4-vi6epTYUWQpfa3u2erLTjRc4sVAET9f5D5ahV5-xcAVmtWZjb6MzIPyezxXNOoCS5jnxossA57gl8ADeHTDFWTUgGT_Wdl0zCpSEMfewLxcztzN9d9MouRbxZ7eVOEmD5I9_6kVa9XeXd2Xcpqw_HBmobrz0hsf2f5XSBn5TImisS64s7Ope1trM0A9ga4oDmxiIR0Arvu-ovPOtnfMEKm0AC_dc3O0XiJ9OfTJnvogYXlZbPerLv1wZMl2awf0ES_-r9nd3oqKi41Z3cbdqQqnRFoj7TeZ306r1zfaaY6NkyQA_GA89Y_l9WtoleCRZuq5E=w846-h362-no)
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:) :) :)
" I only have around a dozen indigenous fellows at the moment."
...well, as a spoiler, you'll need 48 tribal warriors for my SP scenario and 25 Brits. The Brits are a mixed group of civilians and regulars. Terrain is minimal. - mostly open bushland and a river along one edge.
...that's the 'battle' at 1 to 1 scale!
:D
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FNmhzw0GHwj4Wo9f3IYY40Vnnti_leIRFtmoEaDufn7bctwhr9ry6mI4fhzWGrcwxwMk490V-UbsXPKH9mm0qqHSsCiEmlOxL-6CbczGG4OfTgvEUJ535KlDXBDxHltvs7eaoMB9ps3yKlfkTDGkBQVLLpQwPPG_pNfkUZNYzAZPr9yPNLlQIIB8GJXhYKFxNDh0oOlZyXudWtWebmnd8nTX9_omGRKKnrbu-o1hMHARyObjs3E_qtLmcbktnVrD4fgkz9bkbzb0Sx7GeBhiHii0aSZqvBLxsu_M1f3uD502FRyReTCnwODiWI-520wiCDThd4pwIryAI4mt50I59qW-g4-vi6epTYUWQpfa3u2erLTjRc4sVAET9f5D5ahV5-xcAVmtWZjb6MzIPyezxXNOoCS5jnxossA57gl8ADeHTDFWTUgGT_Wdl0zCpSEMfewLxcztzN9d9MouRbxZ7eVOEmD5I9_6kVa9XeXd2Xcpqw_HBmobrz0hsf2f5XSBn5TImisS64s7Ope1trM0A9ga4oDmxiIR0Arvu-ovPOtnfMEKm0AC_dc3O0XiJ9OfTJnvogYXlZbPerLv1wZMl2awf0ES_-r9nd3oqKi41Z3cbdqQqnRFoj7TeZ306r1zfaaY6NkyQA_GA89Y_l9WtoleCRZuq5E=w846-h362-no)
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Gents,
Hot on the heals of this article some bloke wrote in Wargames Illustrated...
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DvIGJHLvojeR08oResW0y2jCdJHEx-K2tNgYh8RIOU4jr98qsgO1QdUlCQa94fg24PYi_pO3sS5InCQ2u8oQvmpA9XrwrfeIBytBFwPWaH1mQ7dRfDTA4-iSTTk-150FdbMFWWvlCFaBlSsUjIGtSffyp5Bq0T8LZcliOVaO2yk8n7tgzIc3qfnu3Minb_qxTJUGqH8OXyg4MwfX7Z-AWf3qvOAN5Hl2yW5pjcQTOL5qfuOKa7wrnIs7w7VkXvaHNfGRuwPx5tfl9jKB4QW7bOCjDQ_-NI-7c8rEw44Bzmw-6hArqlit2pp6ID5Z78cPuoZ2Bk_raSZ3n2LwS4NzQJIMJ1b9Gp36zP-MgcSKtcYrT6MwEIiMkZbrJzyBqEm118CvYMaK1wXZSUCcPrbJj7zh9g3KsnSNruSpwIoWtM3W5oDrzKlvzpTzO3iOLGm99pjUZYQyftValzYuLQuB2hE5NvPS0bR8rFy2nXgWpUx5WM7HHRj-CO7zjGyI0U5wCxPd66LdKwcieJ5gG3e1_aSdx3068jv1c3NtqXRf5n6VBu1AYgvbiGKFHq0Q_4wM6v1Ll161otKzZxJl74yhsCdUfiCI90MP6b6xZpzmEobnA-KC5FEnEsLeFhEJFHAwZ0NjnxtsZh9cE8YQzJd5z3PGWgssJXYiSmO4u30Qedc892CJaVmnEw=w379-h527-no)
...is the release of a new book by good friend, Dr. Ray Kerkhove...never a more timely release! :D
https://www.boolarongpress.com.au/product/the-battle-of-one-tree-hill-the-aboriginal-resistance-that-stunned-queensland/
(https://i2.wp.com/www.boolarongpress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/The-Battle-of-One-Tree-Hill-300.jpg?fit=1789%2C2681&ssl=1)
The book goes into a detailed history of the fierce contest fought between the aboriginal resistance leader, Moppy and his son Multuggerah and the Darling Downs clans and their twin victory at One Tree Hill against the colonial forces of soldiers, armed settlers and police.
As far as frontier wars content goes this is top notch stuff, which includes all the details surrounding the struggle over the Darling Downs, not just the One Tree Hill engagement. So in this respect it provides very good information of all campaign activities by aboriginal forces and the armed response by the colonial authorities.
Highly recommended...if you’re interested in Australian (British) colonial history, this is a story untold...until now. Solid background reading to set games in if undertaking frontier wars clashes.
Cheers
HW
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My issue of WI arrived yesterday, so that is my breakfast reading for the next week. Now I'm off to base some gum trees, wattle and bottlebrush trees/bushes.
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Gents,
The second part of an article on the Australian Frontier Wars was published in the September 2019 edition of Wargames Illustrated. As supporting material for the article a scenario using Two Fat Lardies' Sharp Practice! rules was provided.
In this post I am making available a supplement to use for Sharp Practice! that covers Frontier Wars from 1788-1855. The rules are specific to SP but ideas could be adapted to other rules systems and are pertinent to the scale of game played.
I hope they are of some interest..check them out here.
https://wp.me/p1YrZG-1PO
Cheers
Happy Wanderer
(https://agrabbagofgames.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/pinjarra-article-e1569455066493.jpg?w=222&h=314)
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I appear to have been sadly amiss and only discovered this thread this weekend. Keep up the good work. This is really inspiring.
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Gents,
I happened upon a reenactment uniform manual,on a recent trip to Tasmania. It has good uniform coverage and other interesting notes within.
I’ve added a few pages on the (new) blog.
https://agrabbagofgames.blogspot.com/2022/03/british-regiments-in-van-diemans-land.html
Cheers
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Hmm. I’d take that guide with a pinch of salt, it’s riddled with the most basic of errors.
The supposed depiction of the 48th Foot circa 1817 -1824 shows Napoleonic, short tailed jackets. The plate showing the 40th Foot circa 1825-1830 shows them in uniform styles that came in at least two decades after that period, etc, etc, etc. Indeed the only two plates that bear any resemblance to their purported subjects are on p28 and p53.
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Thanks Carlos
Still a good ‘general guide’ as to unit service dates and ‘inspiration’. These are only a few plates so I wouldn’t trash the entire book unless you have a more thorough read. There’s 60 odd pages in there, these are only a few sample pages.
I would say that the 40th had yellow facing so that plate is incorrect in that regard. 40th regiment image and notes attached.
Off course, uniform details are all available on my blog so easy to cross reference there.
😉
https://agrabbagofgames.wordpress.com/2018/02/11/
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Gents,
Author Stephen Gapps has given us a look ‘over the ranges’ at the Bathurst War of 1822-24 on the open New South Wales plains in his new book.
Gudyarra: The First Wiradyuri War of Resistance - The Bathurst War, 1822–1824
A quick review here.
https://www.busseltonmail.com.au/story/7583714/a-nuanced-account-resistance-war/?cs=14252
Read an article (p26) Stephen wrote for Military history mag as a primer….good mag too!
https://issuu.com/hardiegrant/docs/wartime_summer_2022
You can listen to his chat here as well.
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/the-wiradjuri-war-of-resistance-as-it-happened-on-both-sides
All excellent Frontier Wars content.
Happy W
👍🏻
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Gents,
Much has been done in recent years documenting Frontier Conflict in Australia from archival sources.
Several books of recent times go into a great amount of detail describing the encounters as outlined in my blog posts about the Australian Frontier Wars.
https://agrabbagofgames.wordpress.com/2018/01/23/australian-frontier-wars-aboriginal-way-of-war-part-i/ (https://agrabbagofgames.wordpress.com/2018/01/23/australian-frontier-wars-aboriginal-way-of-war-part-i/)
These should be off interest to the colonial gamer and specifically those looking in detail at Australian Frontier Warfare.
These are worth adding to your colonial history library as they provide many details of Aboriginal vs European encounters as well as descriptions of inter tribal warfare.
FYI
Gudyarra: The First Wiradyuri War of Resistance — The Bathurst War, 1822–1824
Dr Stephen Gapps
https://www.historians.org.au/book-reviews/gudyarra (https://www.historians.org.au/book-reviews/gudyarra)
Stephen Gapps continues his study of settlement conflict following on from his excellent Sydney Wars book describing first settlement conflict in the Sydney basin area. This time the expansion over the mountains into western New South Wales is covered describing the Wiradjuri conflict where mounted troopers were first used to tip the balance in favor of the settlers, not without some significant ‘pushback’. Just as in his last book, this gives excellent detail on warfare on the Western Plains of NSW.
How They Fought: Indigenous Tactics and Weaponry of Australia’s Frontier Wars
Ray Kerkhove
https://www.bookdepository.com/How-They-Faught-Ray-Kerkhove/9781922643582?redirected=true&selectCurrency=USD&w=AFCCAU9604DQM9A8YC5B (https://www.bookdepository.com/How-They-Faught-Ray-Kerkhove/9781922643582?redirected=true&selectCurrency=USD&w=AFCCAU9604DQM9A8YC5B)
I was contacted by Ray Kerkhove informing me of his pending release of his book which is sure to be a definitive work. I have discussed several topics covered in the book with him and his knowledge is wide and exhaustive. The initial reviews look very promising. Ray Kerkhove is one of the leading authorities dealing with Frontier Conflict emphasising an empirical and balanced approach to understanding the many conflicts that occurred.
https://boolarongpress.com.au/product/how-they-fought-indigenous-tactics-and-weaponry-of-australias-frontier-wars/ (https://boolarongpress.com.au/product/how-they-fought-indigenous-tactics-and-weaponry-of-australias-frontier-wars/)
Queensland’s Frontier Wars
Jack Drake
Preview
https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Queensland_s_Frontier_Wars/P38-EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 (https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Queensland_s_Frontier_Wars/P38-EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)
This looks to be a very detailed and in-depth analysis of the conflict in Queensland, arguably the most controversial and brutal of the theatres of war where Europeans encountered Aboriginal groups. The introduction of the breechloading rifle significantly shifted conflict in the settler’s favour and the blood letting was akin to that experienced in Africa at this time. Reading the preview the author seems a little prone to strong anti-settler sentiment and uses somewhat ‘charged’ terms within but nevertheless the detail looks very good and seems exhaustive. This is all a matter of perspective off course so each to their own on that account.
There are quite a few new books in this field, the above being geared toward the colonial gamer setting up background and scenarios for games set during this period. For a fairly complete outline of books and other ‘mediums’ on Frontier Conflict this link is quite useful.
https://australianfrontierconflicts.com.au/resources/books/ (https://australianfrontierconflicts.com.au/resources/books/)
As you can see, the current generation of authors are producing a large body of content now describing settlement and conflict ‘down under’.
…plenty to see here ;)
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If you have access to 3D printing, the Wargames Atlantic Digital Napoleonic Spanish Guerilla set has some very usable parts for early colonial settlers and convicts.
(https://cdn2.myminifactory.com/assets/object-assets/651730e0cad577.06936930/images/resize-spanish-guerrillas.jpg)
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They would do very well. 👏🏻
Thanks for the heads up.