The Camel Corps - Britian's Special Forces

It would be another 32 years before T. E. Lawrence developed modern Guerrilla warfare - and another 60 years before the Special Forces idea would come into its own.

In 1884 it was no less than revolutionary. It had the 'ol Skool' in fits of apoplexy and The Duke of Cambridge (no not William) called it 'outragious'...

The Desert Column was simply an innovation. British Troops had never operated on camels before, and even more - there was no repository of expertise in the British army at that time on which to draw. Wolseley, it is said, had thought long and hard about what king of troops would be needed for the desert march. They would have to be men who were extremely fit and adaptable, preferably with combat experience. They would be deep inside hostile and unfamiliar territory, facing a fanatical enemy of unknown, but vastly sperior strength. One false move would result in the same situation that had done for Hicks...

The above is an extract from one of my favourite books on the subject of the Sudan in 1884...Michael Asher's excellent, "KHARTOUM...The Ultimate Imperial Adventure"...

I will focus on my recommended library in a later blog...today I have decided to post images of those 1100 or so gallant fellows who volunteered to dash across such inhospitable terrain - as part of Wolseley's first 'Special Forces' unit - and save Gordon and the 30 to 40 thousand inhabitants of KHARTOUM!

This picture postcard journey will start with images of some 54mm figures...then a few images I have collected over the past few years - I have included some of my images of the superb HaT figures - and end with a few links to some excellent Camel Corps painted figures...

Go Strong into The Desert is a great source of information...

Here are a few other great links for your interest...

http://www.hat.com/Othr8/Bowden12P.html

http://www.bennosfigures.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4339

http://www.soldatinionline.it/Gallerie/andreamelani/British-Camel-Corps.html

http://www.bennosfigures.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=686

http://www.fuhrmann-figuren.de/1zu72-figur/haet/hat-camelcorps1884/camel-corps-1884.htm

I'm updating my links list - on the right too as there have been simply hundreds on new colonial postings...also adding a few new titles (17th & Bengal Lancers)...Alan and Taran should be pleased!

All the best to you all

Duncan

Gentlemen in Khaki

This post is deadicated to Mr Mannix, Kipling, Nick, Garrison, Armond, Sander, Alan and the many many other Colonial enthusiasts...

First here is an image of a British Sgt. 9th Lancers, Afghanistan, 1880... A few images of Sudan infantry from Kitchener's invasion force...

Some early painted 54mm from one of my earliest recollections of Colonial Infantry...
To the core of today's blog topic...the various wars and conflicts in Afghanistan between 1878 & 1900...Drummer-roddick saving his offier
Images from my collection - The Frontier Ablaze, North-West Frontier Rising 1897-98






Throw this in for Alan and Mannix...1st Boar war British - but still keeping with the Gentlemen in Khaki theme...


And finally to where my interested all started here...with this set of images from the Suakin Campaign...
Which leads me on to my next posting - Afghan Regular and Iregular forces...I have found my collection of great images which I have collected over the last few years. Once I get my new scanner to work (aaagggghhh) I will post them for all...
Just maybe we can convince HaT or someone to produce a range or Pathans or Afghan Regular troops...what fun we will have painting and sculpting that lot!
Over and out for now
Duncan