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With all due respect and admiration for the services of the British Army Commandos in World War II. Here are two of my photos of the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge in Scotland. By the end of the war 25,000 men had passed through the Commando course at nearby Achnacarry.
(https://i.imgur.com/3Kh0kgE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ONFjh0R.jpg)
I have recently decided to assemble and paint an Army Commando force and hence this thread to record progress. In my usual style, these turned out to be a rather eclectic and eccentric bunch of soldiers. Inspiration derives from the great Commando comics plus authors such as James Delingpole and Michael Asher. Also, in a fit of nostalgia, The Hotspur, The Victor and The Valiant comics of boyhood. Doug em4 and myself had a long e-mail discussion about boyhood comic heroes and Doug was the inspiration behind the naming of some of my Commando characters.
(https://i.imgur.com/2bWUs80.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pWkuedJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Z7radQY.jpg)
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So, without further ado, the first group of Snapforce. As the Special Service Brigade under Brigadier Joe Haydon was expanded to twelve Commando units, Lieutenant Colonel Hector McSnapcase, the Laird of Glencairn was quick to offer his services to Admiral Roger Keyes, appointed commander of Combined Operations. McSnapcase had assembled his unit from inhabitants of the Glencairn Estate originally, ghillies, crofters, poachers and farmers. However, as their reputation spread volunteers flooded in from all over the Commonwealth and other countries allied to Britain.
(https://i.imgur.com/eWbpsNO.jpg)
L to R: Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, Pipe Major Shughie McFee, Hector McSnapcase, 'Tickle' McScrotum, Captain Peter Fleming.
Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba is an ex-international rugby forward from Fiji. The Laird's 'pipey', Shughie Mcfee lives in a croft on the Glencairn estate right by the Crossroads and has been the piper at Glenbogle House clan events and highland games for many a year. Hector McSnapcase is the current Laird of Glencairn and inhabits his ancestral home, Glenbogle House. McScrotum is the aged and wrinkled Glencairn head-ghillie. McScrotum will follow the Laird into battle wearing his lucky Celtic scarf! He will of course, also carry a bottle of the Laird's favourite whiskey, Glen Goolie, a dram of which will see them through the worst that Jerry can throw at them. Captain Peter Fleming, the explorer is the originator of the stay-behind Auxiliary Units as well as the man who blew up Montgomery's flower beds! He has armed himself with an elephant gun, the .577 Nitro Express.
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(https://i.imgur.com/TKMvUek.jpg)
L to R: Chief Petty Officer Jon Pertwee, Arnold Tabbs, Nick Smith, Alf Tupper, Stavros the Greek.
CPO Pertwee is the Commando's naval liaison officer from the frigate HMS Troutbridge. After falling out with the commander of HMNB Portsmouth, Vice-Admiral 'Burbly' Burwasher, Pertwee found himself transferred to Snapforce. Arnold Tabbs is Nick Smith's old mucker from Glenbogle Rangers. Tabbs was considered a hard-man at the Rangers and dominated the midfield. Nick Smith, the 'Wizard of the Dribble' was the top player at Glenbogle Rangers. Unusually he was not only captain of his side but also coach and manager! Alf Tupper used to live with his Aunt Meg in Anchor Alley, Loose-Chippings. The house had one room upstairs and one room downstairs; Alf's bed was a mattress on the kitchen floor. He was employed as a welder working in Ike Smith's welding shop which was located under a railway arch, his wages were £1. 5s per week of which he paid his Aunt £1.2s.6d for rent. This meant he had 2/6d for himself. Following a bust up with his Aunt Meg, he moved into Ike Smith's welding shop, sleeping on a mattress by his workbench. Alf joined the Much-Piddling Harriers paying a subscription fee of half a guinea; he was only a member of the Harriers for three weeks and was instructed to return his membership card by Major-General Kenwood-Chef the Honorary Secretary, following an on-track fight with ‘Catsmeat’ Potter-Pirbright in the 440 yards at the Much-Piddling Harriers Sports meeting. According to Alf ‘Catsmeat’ called him a ‘guttersnipe’. Alf's staple diet is fish and chips wrapped in newspaper. Stavros the Greek originally hails from Santorini. He emigrated to England before the war and was running a kebab shop called Abra-Kebabra in Much-Piddling. When Stavros was called up he immediately volunteered for the Commandos, hoping for a posting to the Aegean where he could fight the Axis forces occupying his homeland.
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Absolutely smashing! The backstories always make these units special (aside from the painting naturally) - can't wait to see them in action!
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Absolutely smashing! The backstories always make these units special (aside from the painting naturally) - can't wait to see them in action!
Thanks, Dr Bogo. The first game for them is planned for early March.
The canoeists will have a foot version each, two of which are painted and shown already.
(https://i.imgur.com/LWRkrZH.jpg)
Nick Smith, Arnold Tabbs, Wally Brand, 'Limp Along' Leslie Tomson.
All four of the canoeists are old friends and players from Glenbogle Rangers. As a child 'Limp Along' Leslie's family were involved in a car accident, his parents were killed but he survived with a leg injury which never quite healed. Leslie's leg helped him curl the ball in an unnatural manner.
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What a fine body of men and we have yet to see the appearance of the RAF liaison personnel - made up of a true legend.
I’ll say no more for now.... ;)
Great stuff, Snapcase. You’re mad but in a very good way :D
Doug
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What a fine body of men and we have yet to see the appearance of the RAF liaison personnel - made up of a true legend.
I’ll say no more for now.... ;)
Great stuff, Snapcase. You’re mad but in a very good way :D
Doug
Thank you, sir! ...and now, Doug's boyhood hero the flying legend, Matt Braddock. Doug flew with Braddock on many a dangerous mission in his younger days!
(https://i.imgur.com/EfsTrZy.jpg)
L to R: McAuslan, Seth Starkadder, Karamjeet Singh Judge, Wackford Squeers, Matt Braddock.
McAuslan, the dirtiest commando in Snapforce and possibly not the full jar of Marmite has had his training on the grenade range. Now he's in a quandry trying to remember what Sergeant Major Tudor Bryn 'Shut Up' Williams told him about hand grenades. Does he throw the clip-thingy on the side of it or does he throw the lumpy bit in his hand? What to do, eh? Seth Starkadder is the youngest son of Judith and Amos Starkadder. He grew up on Cold Comfort Farm. Judith has an unhealthy passion for her own son, Seth. Amos Starkadder, Seth’s father is the hellfire preacher at the Church of the Quivering Brethren. Seth is handsome and over-sexed, with a passion for the movies. As a boy he was given a .22 rifle and became an expert shot, bringing rabbits home for the pot. The Laird of Glencairn spent some time on the North West frontier between the wars and quickly came to recognise the fighting qualities of the warriors who inhabit that area. Wishing to take the war to the enemy, Karamjeet Singh Judge, a Sikh obtained a Lieutenant's commission and volunteered for service in the commandos. Wackford Squeers, despite his unfortunate name is a first class signaller. He can get a bleep out of a tin can and some string. He went to school at Dotheboys Hall in Yorkshire. Flight Sergeant Matt Braddock is one of the best pilots in the RAF and has flown many different types of aircraft on many dangerous missions. However, he does have a knack of upsetting senior officers (occasionally offering to punch them) and refuses to be promoted above the rank of sergeant. When the Laird of Glencairn came to the Air Ministry looking for a Forward Air Controller for Snapforce, the Air Ministry staff put Braddock's name forward in a trice. A potentially suicidal posting with the Commandos plus attaching Braddock to the 'Pongoes' seemed to be killing two birds with one stone for the staffers at the Air Ministry. So, Snapforce gains a 'Crab' Commando FAC.
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Creative stuff.
I look forward to hearing of their adventures.
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Brilliant!
Mad but true story which maybe of interest? Great Uncle Bill ,ex-detective in Kingscross (Sydney), petty officer in the RAN(he ran away to sea before becoming a policeman) seconded to the RN for special duties,became a commando doing goodness knows what ,possibly with Ian Fleming’s chaps? Met Stalin on a propaganda mission,returned home returning to the police,and becoming a selector for Australia ‘s international Rugby Union side (he had won a best player thing in the 20s,which still have).
And finally he was half Austro-Hungarian on his fathers side...!
Stranger than fiction.
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Creative stuff.
I look forward to hearing of their adventures.
Thanks, Ultravanillasmurf, more to come. ;)
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Brilliant!
Mad but true story which maybe of interest? Great Uncle Bill ,ex-detective in Kingscross (Sydney), petty officer in the RAN(he ran away to sea before becoming a policeman) seconded to the RN for special duties,became a commando doing goodness knows what ,possibly with Ian Fleming’s chaps? Met Stalin on a propaganda mission,returned home returning to the police,and becoming a selector for Australia ‘s international Rugby Union side (he had won a best player thing in the 20s,which still have).
And finally he was half Austro-Hungarian on his fathers side...!
Stranger than fiction.
Hi Blackwolf, thanks for that fascinating story. A real-life hero. I have the book about Ian Fleming's commandos. I have a miniature on the painting desk ready for the Commandos which I'm now going to say is Great Uncle Bill.
What is Bill's surname for my back story?
Will post when painting is complete.
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Snapcase...! For God’s Sake man. What about the Mounties....?
Doug
;) :D :D
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Uncle Bill would be honoured I’m sure :)
His full name was William Martin Coleman,the children took their mothers name,and anglicised their forenames (his was Bela).
Look forward to seeing him :)
Cheero
Guy
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Brilliant. Completely mad, but brilliant!
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(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/87495/e59z58zgz1iqrh4r44yx3eclmkq2jcco.jpg)
;)
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Snapcase...! For God’s Sake man. What about the Mounties....?
Doug
;) :D :D
Well, I managed to finish the Mounties but I stalled on their opposition (only producing two). See Maintiens Le Droit (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114095.0).
Thanks Guy. Uncle Bill is now at the front of the queue of volunteers to join Snapforce. Watch this space. I wonder if his nickname was 'Wild' Bill Coleman?
Brilliant. Completely mad, but brilliant!
Thank you, Dr De'Ath, that's the way I like it!
Harry, nice picture there, thanks. Just the sort of thing that inspired my commandos.
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Harry, nice picture there, thanks. Just the sort of thing that inspired my commandos.
Here's a few more, I gleaned the book from a junk shop in Cleethorpes for a quid. Magnificent collection of rogues you have there Your Lordship!
:-*
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/86988/d40bp1is6ofge0085deacz0moghaffwj.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/86988/7q8fwbl1glq2dxh6m8o1mz6prnsekcei.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/87495/iapy1z8u3u0olyp0g9rcmw5m2eabq47y.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/87495/kcksh50syus66xl8pbmj5x9ddvqc0pcb.jpg)
:)
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There's always wry humour and undertone to your project. Thats perfectly in tune with the subject. So I'll be watching for future progress.
Mark.
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There's always wry humour and undertone to your project. Thats perfectly in tune with the subject. So I'll be watching for future progress.
Mark.
Thanks, Mark. Quite a few more characters lined up on the desk now.
Here's a few more, I gleaned the book from a junk shop in Cleethorpes for a quid.
Those really are evocative images, Harry, thanks. I'm sure Doug em4 will be along in a minute and try and sequestrate that book on the grounds that it is a National Treasure! All for a quid, superb.
Magnificent collection of rogues you have there Your Lordship!
...and more planned from all over the globe.
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Blackwolf’s Great Uncle Bill…
(https://i.imgur.com/o2CByMi.jpg)
Bill Coleman is an Austro-Hungarian Australian from Sydney. He ran away to sea and joined the Royal Australian Navy. By the time war broke out, Bill was a Petty Officer and was seconded to the Royal Navy for special duties. He volunteered for 30 Assault Unit created by Commander Ian Fleming. He was snaffled from 30 AU by Ian Fleming’s older brother Peter who is already a commando in Snapforce. ‘Wild’ Bill is now a member of the hard-bitten rogues who form Snapforce. After the war, he will go to Russia as part of a propaganda mission and meet Stalin who will try to drink him under the table with Kremlin vodka! Returning home, he becomes a policeman and will then play international Rugby Union for his country before becoming a selector. A real-life hero.
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Excellent work on Uncle Bill - Blackwolf will be very proud and excited I’m sure.
@Harry Faversham - what a great find. I had the Matt Braddock hard-backed book when it came out but I don’t think I still have it - i must have a look through the dusty shelves.
It’s great to see Matt flying again, with his VC ribbon dangling by a single thread.....
Doug
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Wonderfully done Snapcase :-* A moment of great emotion I must say,and not a little giggle.
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Just the ticket for a tad of inspiration.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51NaK1xDCAL._SX379_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
:-*
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Wonderfully done Snapcase :-* A moment of great emotion I must say,and not a little giggle.
Blackwolf, I am very glad you like my version of Uncle Bill. Looking forward to seeing him in action! One or two others in my Commando are real-life heroes like Bill Coleman, such as Talaiasi Labalaba and Karamjeet Singh Judge.
Harry, I'd not seen that book before, looks rather good. I think I'll order a copy, cheers.
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If it pleases so Your Lordship, you may want to glean this one, at the same time...
(https://d1w7fb2mkkr3kw.cloudfront.net/assets/images/book/lrg/9781/8537/9781853756627.jpg)
;)
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Another great project, keep them coming :)
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Another great project, keep them coming :)
Many thanks, Ballardian, there's a few on the desk now nearly finished.
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The long term aim for Snapforce is a game which features a raid on U- Boats docked in a harbour town. The harbour town idea was inspired by jbemmett's superb thread here: French Harbour Town. (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=105623.0) Some work on scenery needs to take place before that happens. I also need to paint more Kriegsmarine. This photo has been seen before on another thread but these chaps will form the basis of a new game, defending their submarines against the Commando raiders.
(https://i.imgur.com/ejwivAr.jpg)
L-R: Matrose Friedrich Engelmann, Obergrefreiter Albert Zöller, Oberleutnant Hans Bothmann, Oberbootsmann August Ronshausen, Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien, Stabsmaschinist Gustav Böhm, Obersteuermann Hans Sammann, Obermaschinist Gustav Werder, Matrose Heinrich Heinz, Fähnrich z. See Iwan Oldekop.
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This photo has been seen before on another thread but these chaps will form the basis of a new game, defending their submarines against the Commando raiders.
(https://i.imgur.com/ejwivAr.jpg)
L-R: Matrose Friedrich Engelmann, Obergrefreiter Albert Zöller, Oberleutnant Hans Bothmann, Oberbootsmann August Ronshausen, Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien, Stabsmaschinist Gustav Böhm, Obersteuermann Hans Sammann, Obermaschinist Gustav Werder, Matrose Heinrich Heinz, Fähnrich z. See Iwan Oldekop.
I’m surprised their distinguished captives are not included in the photo😀
Doug
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I’m surprised their distinguished captives are not included in the photo
Due to my dilatoriness in attaching the last chapter to my AAR on 'On the Day, Went the Eagle's Landing Well?' this has not actually been revealed to the general public yet. However, I will get on with it shortly!
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Terrific collection and much after my own heart here. 👍😬
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......this has not actually been revealed to the general public yet. However, I will get on with it shortly!
You’ll note I was careful not to reveal the identities, and not only because of a natural tendency to modesty.
Doug
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You’ll note I was careful not to reveal the identities, and not only because of a natural tendency to modesty.
Doug
Duly noted, fair point well made, that man! ;)
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Terrific collection and much after my own heart here. 👍😬
Cheers, SABOT! :)
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Four more figures painted for Snapforce. A mixture of truth and fiction here! Doug em4 put me on to Druce. One of those cases where real life is stranger than fiction.
(https://i.imgur.com/V15fbbT.jpg)
L to R: Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny, Captain Henry Carey Druce, Ronnie Biggs, ‘Buster’ Edwards.
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is on attachment to Snapforce to learn about Combined Operations. Captain Druce is famous for heading into battle wearing a black silk top hat. He specialises in sneaking through enemy lines dressed as a French peasant. On one occasion at Deelen, the troop was in a café awaiting the arrival of the Canadians before liberating the airport when a German motorcyclist arrived. In his saddle-bags was a ham that he had stolen from Arnhem. Druce, still in his top hat, ordered the man to get off his bike and, when he did not respond, seized the ham and knocked him off the machine with it. Biggs was born in Stockwell, Lambeth, London. Facing a dishonourable discharge for desertion he volunteered for the Commandos. His old school friend ‘Buster’ Edwards was born in Lambeth, the son of a barman. After leaving school, he worked in a sausage factory, before joining the Commandos.
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Great project! :D :D :D
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Thanks warburton. Game coming this weekend!
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Thanks warburton. Game coming this weekend!
Excellent!
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The game has been played and the AAR is on my blog. It's in 8 parts with rather a lot of photos but it was great fun! Some pictures here to tempt you.
Part 1 - Operation Pilchard (Setting the Scene) (http://madlordsnapcase.blogspot.com/2019/03/part-1-operation-pilchard.html)
(https://i.imgur.com/eVklyW3.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Ah9rdGq.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/31Dx7dd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WZu7CEU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/spa6UKg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oTUs1ga.jpg)
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Having been privileged to have a preview of the AAR (yeah - I know; how cool am I? VIP access...!), I can say this is a real cracker with all the much-loved pizazz of the classic Snapcase game. Read it...!
One complaint, m'lud - you should have put the photo of the chimney sweep ambling along, whistling a cheery, cockney tune; love that scene.
Doug
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Having been privileged to have a preview of the AAR (yeah - I know; how cool am I? VIP access...!), I can say this is a real cracker with all the much-loved pizazz of the classic Snapcase game. Read it...!
One complaint, m'lud - you should have put the photo of the chimney sweep ambling along, whistling a cheery, cockney tune; love that scene.
Doug
Thanks Doug, it was just a shame you couldn't make it to command the Kriegsmarine. I'm not sure I handled Prien as well as you would have done! ;)
Anyway, your wish is my command, herewith the photo of Claude Miggins walking down the road to the Pilchard Inn. A real cheerful, chirpy Cockney if ever there was one!
(https://i.imgur.com/LZ6BcST.jpg)