Author Topic: Help finding figures for Vichy French in Syria (Read 14735 times)

Rob_bresnen · « **on:** May 14, 2014, 09:15:53 AM »

I am interested in doing figures for The Vichy French army in the Syria-Lebanon campaign. I am in tow minds if to do this in 28mm or 20mm/1:72

Artizan make nice French Foreign Legion in 28mm, which are perfect, and Wargames foundry do them in 20mm

But I want the Troupes Speciales (locally raised troops) and Colonial Troops too. Does anyone make, in either scale, suitable figures for Senegalese, Algerian infantry or Moroccan Tirallieurs? How about Circaasian mounted troops (which are described as being dressed like Caucasian Cossack)?

The availability of these figures will probably end up dictating the scale I end up using.

westwaller · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:30:44 AM »

Artizan have 2 packs of senegalese and three packs of algerians in their Foreign Legion ranges are they suitable?

Sterling Moose · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:44:55 AM »

Askari Miniatures do some of what you are asking. Meant for an earlier period but the Circasian mounted troops should do the job. Not fantastic sculpts but they paint up pretty well.

http://www.askari-minis.com/webstore/index.php?cPath=42

http://www.askari-minis.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=21_28

Captain Blood · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:57:41 AM »

By the way, you've probably read it... But just in case you haven't, I'd massively recommend:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Englands-Last-War-Against-France/dp/0753827050/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400061141&sr=8-1&keywords=war+against+france

'England's Last War Against France: Fighting Vichy 1940-42' by Colin Smith.

Without doubt, the best-written, most fascinating military history book I've ever read.

Lots of wonderful eyewitness detail (and great inspiration for scenarios) from the Syrian campaign, as well as the wider war against Vichy France.

Arlequín · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2014, 10:58:52 AM »

+1 For 'England's Last War Against France' here too! As the good Captain implies, all history books should be written like that!

This is a relatively new interest for me too, but I believe that the Artizan Tirailleurs and Senegalese might sadly be a touch too early. If I recall correctly, the Tirailleurs abandoned their 'baggy pants' during the Great War and both they and the Senegalese wore boots and puttees in Syria, with somewhat more discrete head wear too.

The Woodbine design 'WW1 in the East' range might be closer to the mark though.

As for some of the local special units, I might be tempted by the Perry Sudanese range Bashi-Bazouks to fit the bill, for others by Artizan's Great War Arabs. Not exact, but close enough for me at least.

Circassians I don't know, but surely there must be a Interwar/Russian Revolution/Polish range somewhere which has something similar?

I am sort of hoping that the Perry's might 'discover' the Syrian campaign and knock out some figures for it, which could also be used for the brief fighting of the Torch Landings too. The French Army is woefully under-represented in WWII though.

Rob_bresnen · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2014, 01:00:41 PM »

Thanks for the prompt reply and good ideas...it's looking like 28mm so far...

Those Woodbine ones certainly look closer to the mark...It's a pity Artizan's African troops are no good because it would have been nice to have got them from the same manufacture as the FFL.

I haven't read that book but based on your recommendation I have just ordered it off Amazon

From the photos I have found the African troops in the Syria-Lebanese campaigns seem to wear puttees or even shorts- here is a photo...

And these gunners look African, and are wearing the French tin hat

Rob_bresnen · « **Reply #6 on:** May 14, 2014, 01:17:11 PM »

I have just found this photo of teh circaasian cavalry...it is an interwar period photo, buit it is teh best I can find so far. It clearly shows tehir cossack style uniform...

I thought these might fit the bill

Brigade Games

http://brigadegames.3dcartstores.com/Russian-Mounted-Cossacks-Command-3_p_581.html

Copplestone castings

http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/images/bu35.jpg

What do you think?

Also has any body any photos of what the local troops looked like? Wiki says they wore a combination of French and native dress, with head scarves, turbans or fezs, but I can't find a photo. I was hoping to use the Artizan WW1 Arabs, as they are lovely, but I am not sure if this is very realistic.

Bindonblood · « **Reply #7 on:** May 14, 2014, 01:50:01 PM »

while it doesn't help with the native troops, the French are available from Elhiem (although designed for the Far East, they work for Syria too)...

http://www.elhiemfigures.com/ourshop/cat_815624-FarEast-French-ColonialTropical.html

Arlequín · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2014, 01:57:22 PM »

In the top photo of the Senegalese, one of them seems to be wearing British 'Eyeshields Anti-Gas Mk. II' on his hat, so they might be a Free French Unit. Having said that Rommel famously wore them too.

The special units varied, depending on type;

There are a couple of photos of Bedouins here: http://www.entretemps.asso.fr/PaulChanoine/5.Syrie.htm
Some other odd photos of various troops here: http://www.lyceelyautey.org/marocomb/plugins/diaporama/diaporama.php?lng=fr&diapo_id=3&diapo_page=2

A few more odd photos pop-up if you search for L'armée du Levant.

I would say that the Artizan Arabs should be fine for Bedouin units, not so much for others like the Druze.

lou passejaire · « **Reply #9 on:** May 14, 2014, 02:10:17 PM »

warning, there were tirailleur troops on both sides during syria campaign .

1st Free French Division consist of 4 "bataillon de marche" of african troops, 1 Legion Bataillon and one Marines bataillon.

the first and second pictures are of Free French Bataillon de marche , fighting with the british forces . they use a mix of french and britsh equipement .

you can find pics of Free French Tchekeresses here :
http://www.1dfl.fr/decouvrez-ses-unites/le-groupement-des-tcherkesses/
i think that the vichy forces won't be different

this drawing is of 1940 tchekeresse troops .

former user · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2014, 02:17:33 PM »

any Circassian "cossacks" will do, the best I know are from Copplestone. Actually, what people nowadays know as cossack attire is actually circassian.
as for the african troops, You can use the artizan tirailleurs for meharistes, also try any SCW moros, they work well for Algerian campaign dress, especially the baggy trousers and puttees

pacofeanor · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2014, 09:05:01 PM »

Quote from: Bindonblood on May 14, 2014, 01:50:01 PM

while it doesn't help with the native troops, the French are available from Elhiem (although designed for the Far East, they work for Syria too)...

http://www.elhiemfigures.com/ourshop/cat_815624-FarEast-French-ColonialTropical.html

does anyone have photos of those miniatures ?

best regards
paco