German Camel Co. info needed

[adlerhobby]

Im looking for any info about battles for these units for gaming Ive recently picked up the book Uniforms of the German Colonial troops 1884 1918 by Charles Wooley published by schiffer military books, Having found out that thier are figures for these guys in 28mm has me really excited to jump in. anyone else gaming in the area Id love to here from you and any suggestions and ideas youd like to share Thanks for you time
Gordon

[Plynkes]

Unfortunately they didn't see any action in the Great War as far as I'm aware. That's going from memory. I need to check that, but I think I'm right.


Edit: Looking it up in a magazine article I knew I had lying around I've found the reference. By 1914 the four camel companies had been reduced to one, and it was stationed in the far north of the colony, thus it missed out on the fighting in the south.

[adlerhobby]

I should have mentioned Id like info from before WW1 too 

[Plynkes]

They were involved in the Nama rebellion. In 1908, in the last action of the war an expedition led by Friedrich von Erckert (the "father of the camel corps") was dispatched to suppress the last Nama guerilla band, and capture its leader Simon Kopper of the Franzmann Nama (also sometimes called Simon Cooper and Simon Coper). The force consisted of 23 German Officers, 373 rifles, 4 maxim guns, 4 medics, 120 non-whites, 710 camels as well as horses, mules and riding oxen.

They didn't get him. They managed to surprise the Nama and kill about 50 of them in a sharp fight; while losing 14 men themselves, including Erckert shot through the head. Kopper and his band got away. It turned out the battle had taken place inside British territory. They never did catch Kopper, and in the end bought him off. He was given a pension jointly funded by the Germans and British as long as he stayed in Bechuanaland and didn't make a nuisance of himself. He died in 1913.


I'm afraid I don't have blow-by-blow details of the fight itself.

[Plynkes]

Some Camel detachment figures I painted a few years ago for the Lead Painters' League, available from Tiger Miniatures (http://www.tigerminiatures.co.uk/):



I think by the end of the Namakrieg the Germans had mostly swapped their grey uniforms for khaki ones, mind. I painted mine grey to match some others kindly given to me by a fellow LAFer.

[adlerhobby]

beautiful figures AND scenery wow thanks for the inspiration

[S J Donovan]

There was an article in 'Colonial Conquest' (published by Caliver books) concerning there camel troops.  You could also join OstAfrika@yahoogroups.com  as there is usually some discussion about Southwest Africa.  Also go to hererowars.com.  If you are looking for Tiger's camel mounted germans in the US try recreationalconflict.com