Battle of Madagascar

[Captain Blood]

I just ordered 20 Artizan French Foreign Legion from The War Store.  Now I just need to figure out how to paint them.  Only thing I know about the FFL in WWII is that some supported the Vichy and some supported the Free French.

In the Second World War, my father - then a very young man - was a British officer in the Indian Army. The biggest operation he took part in was the invasion of Madagascar, which is a theatre of war I don't think I've ever read about anywhere, but was basically a British-led amphibious operation spearheaded by South African, Indian, and I believe ANZAC troops, to take the Vichy French held territory in the Indian Ocean.

It's rather special to know that my father was probably one of the last Britons to actually fight against the French at bayonet point.  :wink:

[Plynkes]

The King's African Rifles and the Rhodesians were involved in the Malagasy campaign, too.

Didn't know that the Indians or ANZACs were there, but I know the Aussie navy was involved.

The book on the history of the KAR has a chapter or two on it, so it is written down in at least one book!  

[W.B.Kurgan]

Here's a wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Madagascar

[Captain Blood]

Here's a wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Madagascar

Thanks. Very interesting. Yes, my dad was in the landings at Diego Suarez. He always said these were the forerunner to the landings in Italy and later Normandy, and that a lot was learned about amphibious operations from this rather neglected little sideshow in the Indian Ocean...

Apart from that, the best thing I've ever read about Madagascar is Flashman's Lady - which is utterly brilliant, but about 100 years earlier than the events of 1942!  :wink:

[Prof.Witchheimer]

moved it to WW2 Board

[Plynkes]

This is the book I was talking about:

[xeoran]

What an interesting little campaign, particuarly for another Indian Army descendant like me.

I really hope someone will come out with WW2 minis for the various African campaigns.

[the commissar]

A good general history of the campaign in Madagascar is included in

"Five Ventures" by Christopher Buckley

This is an interesting book and includes the WW2 campaigns in Iraq, Syria, Persia and the Dodecanese. I think this is long out of print but I picked up a copy second hand on Amazon.

If any one is interested the Tetrarch Light Tank was used by the British for the first time during the Madagascar invasion.

[xeoran]

Cheers for the info. Another book to pick up, particuarly for the Iraq stuff (I harbour a deep seated desire to one day field the nails Iraqi Levies). :love:

[Helen]

What an interesting little campaign, particuarly for another Indian Army descendant like me.

I really hope someone will come out with WW2 minis for the various African campaigns.

Hi Xeoran, As a suggestions why don't you ask Lon at Brigade Games for possibilities in his Ends of the Earth Range!

I suppose also it depends on what scale you are wanting too!

[Hammers]

Apart from that, the best thing I've ever read about Madagascar is Flashman's Lady - which is utterly brilliant,   :wink:

Indeed it is!

[xeoran]

Hi Xeoran, As a suggestions why don't you ask Lon at Brigade Games for possibilities in his Ends of the Earth Range!

I suppose also it depends on what scale you are wanting too!

Isthere any scale but 28mm?  :wink:

Good idea, I'll pop the suggestions on there.

[W.B.Kurgan]

Here's an article on the BBC about it:

The Assault on Madagascar, by Ian Billingsley

[xeoran]

For those who have i there is a great article on the Battle of Madagascar in Purnell's "History of the Second World War" (the one Basil Liddell-Hart edited). Has a lovely pic of British commandos in the area.