As discussed in the last part of this series of articles, I’m presently looking at the British and Indian armoured units that fought in the Burma Campaign of World War 2. In the last article I looked at the British 7th Armoured Brigade, which fought to delay the Japanese advance into Burma during 1942, then the 50th Indian Tank Brigade, which after having a difficult ‘birth’ in the 1st Arakan Campaign of 1942/43, went on to provide armoured units to XXXIII Corps for the relief of Kohima and Imphal in 1944 and then to support operations by XV Corps to finally drive the Japanese out the Arakan in 1944/45.
This time I’ll be looking at the XV Corps Armoured Group and specifically the 25th Dragoons, who gave the Japanese their first real bloody nose in Burma.
XV Corps Armoured Group
Following the defeat of the 1st Arakan Campaign of early 1943, Lieutenant General Bill Slim‘s XV Corps immediately began the process of learning the lessons of the campaign, re-training and planning a renewed offensive. With the elevation of Slim to command the new XIVth Army later that year, command of XV Corps passed to Lieutenant General Phillip Christison, who continued Slim’s good work in hardening the army for jungle warfare and also developed Slim’s plan for a new Arakan offensive, with the limited objective of recapturing Akyab Island and its all-weather airfield and port.
The XV Corps plan was for the 5th Indian Division to attack down the Arakan coast, with the Mayu mountain ‘spine’ on their left. On the other side of the mountains, 7th Indian Division would attack down the Kalapanzin Valley. On the extreme left flank, the 81st (West African) Division would use it’s ultra-light capability to penetrate the dense jungle of the Kaladan Valley and guard against any Japanese attack from that direction. The 26th Indian Division would be in reserve at Chittagong, with the & 36th Indian Division in deep reserve at Calcutta. Elements of these divisions, along with elements of 3 Special Service Brigade, would be made available to mount amphibious attacks along the coast.
With the 50th Indian Tank Brigade having been withdrawn to India in 1943 to re-train for Operation ZIPPER, XV Corps was lacking an significant armoured capability. It had some light armoured recce capability in the form of the Mechanised Wing of the 3rd Gwalior Lancers and the 81st (West African) Recce Regiment, but what XV Corps needed was a full regiment of medium tanks armed with 75mm guns that would be capable of destroying the types of bunkers that had been encountered during the previous Arakan Campaign. Slim therefore ordered 254th Indian Tank Brigade to transfer one of its two Lee medium tank-equipped armoured regiments to XV Corps. The regiment selected was the 25th Dragoons, which was a new regiment, having been raised in India in 1941 from a cadre of the 3rd Carabiniers. They were moved with the utmost secrecy to the Arakan.
Some peculiarities of the 25th Dragoons’ organisation were that the Recce Troop (referred to as the ‘Scout Troop’ in most accounts) consisted of Universal Carriers and Jeeps instead of armoured wheeled scout cars. The Intercom Troop however, included four Lynx Scout Cars (Canadian Ford version of the ubiquitous Daimler Dingo). As soon as Japanese counter-attacks became apparent on 4th February, an ad hoc reserve squadron was created from spare tanks and personnel in the regimental rear-echelon area. This unit, designated as ‘R’ Squadron, was placed temporarily under the command of 5th Indian Division (the rest of the regiment at that time was with 7th Indian Division). Unfortunately I have no information as to the strength of ‘R’ Squadron.
A Lee of the 25th Dragoons, fires on Japanese positions in the Ngakyedauk Pass 1944
Owing to the secrecy of their move (not only to conceal the fact that tanks were being moved to the Arakan, but also to conceal which units were on the move), all markings were ordered removed from the vehicles of the 25th Dragoons. Hardly any photos of 25th Dragoons’ tanks show markings of any kind, not even squadron markings. However, some bore individual tank names, which were usually painted in white above or near the top of the side-doors or front-quarter and sometimes at the top of the glacis, and occasionally a number on the upper glacis, being perhaps a troop number or individual tank number.
A tank regiment couldn’t survive in isolation and was going to need a lot of support from other arms, so ‘A’ Company of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Bombay Grenadiers (Motor Battalion) was assigned to provide close infantry support. The Motor Company organisation was large, with four platoons, each of three sections. This allowed a platoon to be assigned to provide close security for each of the armoured regiment’s four squadrons. A troop of the 401st Field Squadron, Royal Bombay Sappers & Miners, along with an independent troop of 6x Valentine Bridgelayers would ensure that roads, tracks and bridges in the area of operations were capable of dealing with 30-ton tanks. The Engineer Field Troop included some Universal Carriers for engineer recce tasks (e.g. going forward to survey routes, bridges, harbour areas, etc).
Lees of the 25th Dragoons in the Ngakyedauk Pass, 1944
There was no Armoured Brigade Headquarters within XV Corps, so in January 1944 an ad hoc Armoured Group Headquarters was created under Colonel S. H. ‘Atte’ Persse of the Indian Armoured Corps (who had earlier been directly tasked by Slim to get the 25th Dragoons, plus support to the Arakan) to take control of the growing number of RAC/IAC units and their supporters.
As mentioned above, the only ‘armoured’ unit initially under the command of XV Corps Headquarters was the Mechanised Wing of the 3rd Gwalior Lancers. This regiment belonged to the ‘Indian States Forces’ (ISF), which were units raised by the myriad of quasi-independent ‘Princely states’ and seconded to the Indian Army. The Mechanised Wing comprised two squadrons of Universal Carriers. The regiment’s Horsed Wing, comprising two squadrons of the very last horse-mounted cavalry in Commonwealth service, was assigned to 7th Indian Division as their divisional recce element.
I’ve got very little exact information on the organisation, uniforms or markings for 3rd Gwalior Lancers, though as the Corps Recce Regiment their vehicles should have carried the XV Corps badge shown above, which was three ‘V’s on a red disc. The Vs represent a corps of three divisions advancing south and when added together as roman numerals add up to 15. The Vs could be white or black – both are seen in photos. The Arm-of-Service (AoS) sign should have been a green-over-light blue square, with ’44’ serial and a white bar across the top to signify corps troops, with white squadron signs signifying an unbrigaded regiment. I doubt that these were painted on the horses’ arses however, but never say never…
As the 81st (West African) Division had been sent to the dense jungle of the Kaladan Valley, the division’s heavier elements were largely left behind with XV Corps. 81 WA Recce Regiment was therefore adopted to supplement the 3rd Gwalior Lancers in the Corps Recce role. The regiment comprised three squadrons; ‘A’ Squadron being Nigerian, ‘B’ Squadron being from the Gold Coast and ‘C’ Squadron from Sierra Leone.
Universal Carrier of ‘B’ (Gold Coast) Sqn, 81 WA Recce Regt
Each Squadron had two mixed Recce Troops with Universal Carriers and ‘armoured scout cars’ of an unknown type (probably Dingos) and two Assault Troops, being large motorised infantry platoons, with four rifle sections apiece. The HQ Squadron also included a 3-inch Mortar Troop transported by Universal Carriers.
The men of 81 WA Recce Regt unusually continued to wear KD uniforms through the first half of 1944 and generally wore steel helmets. By contrast, the rest of 81 WA Division in the Kaladan Valley left their helmets in depot, wore bush-hats and began to receive JG uniforms (by air-drop) in January 1944. 81 WA Recce Regt’s vehicles were marked with the divisional sign of Ananse, the cunning spider of West African legend, depicted in black with two white eyes, facing downward on a yellow background. The yellow background was usually square when painted on vehicles, though circular when worn as a uniform badge and there is a photo of an 81 WA Recce Regt Carrier with the circular version painted on the side of the barbette (between the headlight and the Bren-port). The AoS sign was that of an infantry division recce regiment; green-over-light blue with ’41’ serial. Squadron signs were white.
As mentioned in the last article, ‘C’ Squadron 149th RAC was temporarily attached from 50th Indian Tank Brigade and was a late addition to the XV Corps Armoured Group, arriving in April 1944 to replace the departing 25th Dragoons and being withdrawn the following month to rejoin its parent regiment at Kohima. The squadron was equipped with Sherman V medium tanks and as such, was the first Sherman unit to fight in the Burma Campaign.
XV Corps slowly built up the pressure on the Japanese 55th Division in the Mayu Peninsula through November and December 1943 into January 1944. 81st (West African) Division had crossed over the mountains into the Kaladan Valley, where it was steadily advancing on Kyauktaw, meeting only light resistance, building roads and airstrips as it went. 7th Indian Division by contrast, was meeting stiff resistance in the Kalapanzin Valley, though was making reasonable progress. 5th Indian Division advanced down the western side of the Mayu Range until it reached the Maungdaw-Buthindaung road, facing the ‘Razabil Fortress’ which had proved to be an insurmountable obstacle 12 months previously. During this period, the 81st West African Recce Regt had one squadron guarding the Naf Peninsula west of the Naf river, while the rest of the regiment patrolled the western side of the Mayu Range from Maungdaw to Bawli Bazaar, watching for Japanese infiltration in concert with covert recce parties from ‘Z Force’. The 3rd Gwalior Lancers did likewise east of the Mayu Range, with some patrols east of the Kalapanzin River.
Vengeance dive-bomber
On 26th January 1944, 5th Indian Division launched Operation JONATHAN; a deliberate assault on the Razabil Fortress. The assault started with a dawn bombardment by the Allied Strategic Air Force, followed by wings of RAF and IAF Vengeance dive-bombers and a heavy barrage by 5th Division and XV Corps artillery, concentrating mainly on the fortified hilltop known as ‘TORTOISE’. Unfortunately, while the Liberator heavy bombers were accurate, some Mitchell medium bombers attacked the wrong target and tragically succeeded in destroying one of the 25th Dragoons’ tanks and damaging two others, with one man killed and six wounded.
As the barrage lifted, the tanks of 25th Dragoons moved forward in their very first engagement, blasting at close range the Japanese bunkers that had been exposed by the high-explosive onslaught. The tanks proved highly effective in this role, but couldn’t negotiate all of the terrain and couldn’t be everywhere at once. Consequently, as the infantry moved forward, the Japanese infantry, who had remained relatively safe in their deep bunkers and tunnels, some of them 30 feet underground, now re-emerged to cause horrific casualties among some units. For example, the Sikh Company of the 1/1st Punjab Regiment was reduced to only 21 men.
During this battle, ‘A’ Squadron of the 81st West African Recce Regiment was unfortunately misused by 5th Division to support an infantry attack in the manner of tanks and as a consequence suffered the loss of four Carriers in quick succession to a 37mm anti-tank gun. The tanks of 25th Dragoons by contrast suffered only light damage to a few tanks (ironically in some cases to British anti-tank mines re-used by the Japanese) and had only very light casualties.
After three days of fruitless assaults, Operation JONATHAN was declared a failure and 5th Division consolidated along the road from Maungdaw to the Tunnels, as General Christison wondered what to do next. However, the Japanese were about to take that decision out of his hands. Since August 1943 the Japanese had been formulating a plan to launch a limited invasion of India, taking Manipur province and its capital Imphal before the Monsoon (which falls roughly June to September each year) and then using Imphal as a firm base for a further invasion of Assam once the rains ceased. This plan, designated Operation U-GO required a preliminary diversionary attack into the Arakan and this subsidiary plan was designated Operation HA-GO.
Operation HA-GO struck 7th Indian Division with thunderclap surprise on 4th February 1944. Sakurai-Butai, being the main attack force consisting of a heavily reinforced infantry regimental group, struck north up the eastern side of the Kalapanzin Valley, infiltrating 114 Brigade’s lines to capture Taung Bazaar. It then crossed over the Kalapanzin and attacked the main body of 7th Division from the rear. One battalion group, designated Kubo-Butai also passed west over the Mayu Range on the 5th, to cut the main Maungdaw to Bowli Bazaar road at Briasco Bridge on the 6th. The main part of Sakurai-Butai struck southward, cutting the Ngakyedauk Pass on the 6th and linking up on the 7th with Doi-Butai, advancing from the south. A wedge had now been driven into the heart of XV Corps, separating the 5th & 7th Indian Divisions.
However, the Japanese did not have it all their own way, as the Horsed Wing of the 3rd Gwalior Lancers detected the Japanese move at Taung Bazaar, giving 7th Division and XV Corps some warning of the impending attack. As the mist lifted on that same morning, a Carrier patrol of the Lancers’ Mechanised Wing also caught a Japanese supply column in the open and completely wiped it out, thus depriving Sakurai-Butai of much-needed supplies.
Even so, many units were in abject confusion and individual battalions fought as isolated units. 7th Division Headquarters suffered worse, as it was quickly overrun. Thankfully though, General Frank Messervy and most of his headquarters personnel managed to escape the disaster and made their way by whatever means they could to Sinzweya.
The village of Sinzweya sits at the eastern end of strategically-critical Ngakyedauk Pass and housed the XV Corps ‘Admin Area’. This location contained the bulk of the corps’ forward logistical, medical, engineering and administrative elements, as well as a number of field, medium, light AA, heavy AA and anti-tank artillery batteries. It also had the misfortune to be the convergence point for Sakurai’s and Doi’s columns.
Thanks to the early warning provided by the 3rd Gwalior Lancers, XV Corps HQ at Bowli Bazaar was able to quickly and accurately assess the Japanese intentions. General Christison ordered the 26th Indian Division to move forward immediately from its reserve position at Chittagong, to secure the Goppe Pass, re-take Briasco Bridge (with the assistance of ‘R’ Squadron, 25th Dragoons, which was now frantically forming at Bowli Bazaar) and counter-attack to relieve 7th Indian Division. 5th Indian Division was ordered to counter-attack through the Ngakyedauk Pass and likewise relieve 7th Division. 36th Indian Division was also ordered to move forward from Calcutta. 7th Division (plus 9 Brigade from 5th Division) was put immediately on to ‘air-supply’ courtesy of the RAF, while 5th Division was to be supplied by sea via the recently-captured port Maungdaw.
Brigadier Geoffrey Evans, commander of 9 Brigade, was also ordered to take command of the ‘Admin Box’ position at Sinzweya and to defend it at all costs. Evans swiftly moved to Sinzweya, taking with him two infantry battalions (later joined by a third) and a mountain artillery regiment. He was soon joined there by two squadrons of the 25th Dragoons and the Armoured Group’s support elements (the Engineer Troop, Bridgelayer Troop and ‘A’ Company, 3/4th Bombay Grenadiers). Evans was also soon joined by General Messervy and the survivors of 7th Division HQ.
The Japanese assumed that they were going to defeat each isolated Commonwealth ‘Box’ in the same old way; surround them, cut them off from supply and grind them down until they folded. However, this wasn’t the same old Commonwealth army… This army had spent the last year training intensively and organising itself for just this sort of battle. The surrounded boxes would now sustain themselves from supplies delivered by air and hold out to act as ‘anvils’, while the 5th and 26th Divisions would act as the ‘hammers’, crushing the Japanese between them. Slim had tried to do this before, but his men now had the training to achieve it and with air superiority and unprecedented levels of integration between land and air forces, the supplies could now be carried by air largely unmolested, while the Vengeance dive-bombers and Hurribombers could provide precision close air support and harry the Japanese lines of communication. XV Corps also had the tanks of 25th Dragoons and the Japanese simply had no answer to this new development.
Lees of the 25th Dragoons near Razabil, 1944
Over the following weeks, the Japanese dashed themselves to pieces on the ‘boxes’ of 7th Division and particularly the Admin Box, all the while being hard pressed by 5th Division attacking from the west, 26th Division from the north, 81st (West African) Division in the east and RAF and IAF from the air. The besieged boxes were even supporting each other, launching attacks and strong patrols to support other boxes under attack, as well as providing mutual artillery support. The 25th Dragoons in particular were constantly on the move, sallying out with strong infantry support to attack Japanese strongpoints and break up incoming attacks.
The Japanese had planned to use the supplies captured from overrun Commonwealth units to sustain themselves, but apart from the 7th Division Headquarters, no units had been overrun and the Japanese were now starving and running low on ammunition. At last on 24th February, the leading elements of General Briggs‘ 5th Indian Division, supported by the tanks of 25th Dragoons, broke through the Ngakyedauk Pass to relieve the Admin Box. XV Corps ‘switched off’ the air supply system and supplies and reinforcements were soon flowing once again from Maungdaw, Bowli Bazaar and through the Ngakyedauk Pass. However the Japanese, although severely weakened by heavy casualties, starvation and lack of supplies, were still dug into the hills around them and for the next few weeks, the 25th Dragoons were sallying out constantly from the fortified boxes, destroying one Japanese strongpoint after another.
General Briggs, GOC 5th Indian Division (in the bush-hat) hitches a ride on a Lee 25th Dragoons as his forces relieve the Admin Box on 24th February 1944.
The Japanese had suffered their very first major land defeat in their war against the Commonwealth. However, the main event had now opened in Manipur province, as Operation U-GO commenced with a three-pronged advance on Imphal and Kohima. With the 26th and 36th Indian Divisions already in the process of relieving the 5th and 7th Indian Divisions in the Arakan and the 25th also moving into the region, Slim was frantically shuffling the pieces around on the board. XXXIII Corps, which for the last year had been preparing for Operation ZIPPER, was ordered to entrain for Dimapur and from there advance by road to Imphal (the road was still open at Kohima at this point). However this would take several weeks to achieve. The best option to reinforce Imphal would be to fly the battle-hardened 5th and 7th Divisions straight from Chittagong to Imphal and Dimapur; literally fly them straight from one battlefield and into the heart of another!
However, the battle for the Arakan was ongoing, as the fresh 26th and 36th Divisions took over the fight, still supported by the XV Corps Armoured Group which was now reinforced by the Shermans of ‘C’ Squadron 149th RAC. 81st West African Recce Regt now took on something of a new role. While one squadron continued with the traditional mechanised recce role in support of 36th Division near Maungdaw, the bulk of the regiment left its armoured vehicles behind and instead operated in support of the Commandos of 3 Special Service Brigade, conducting raids along the Arakan coast, causing havoc to Japanese lines of communication and destroying a number of artillery pieces. However, with the point of crisis now moved to the IV Corps front at Imphal, the Arakan offensive was halted and the new front line established along the Maungdaw to Buthidaung road. The assault would be renewed after the Monsoon.
Men of ‘C’ (Sierra Leone) Sqn, 81st West African Recce Regiment, posing with a Japanese rifle and helmet captured on one of their amphibious raids.
In late May 1944 and with the Monsoon imminent, the XV Corps Armoured Group was disbanded. The 25th Dragoons and ‘C’ Squadron 149th RAC were already moving back to Cox’s Bazaar, where their tanks were to be put into storage for use by 50th Indian Tank Brigade after the Monsoon. The men of 149th RAC were sent north to rejoin their regiment at Imphal and the 25th Dragoons were withdrawn into India to re-equip with Sherman III and Sherman V DD tanks and to re-train for Operation ZIPPER. The Engineers and Bombay Grenadiers returned to 254th Indian Tank Brigade at Imphal. In August the 3rd Gwalior Lancers were withdrawn to India in August to completely mechanise and finally say goodbye to their horses. The 81st West African Recce Regiment continued in their water-borne recce/raiding role throughout the Monsoon and completely divested themselves of their AFVs. When the 82nd (West African) Division arrived later that year, the 82nd West African Recce Regiment was also immediately converted to the amphibious role and both regiments joined the 3rd Arakan Campaign when that kicked off in December 1944.
In May 1945, ‘A’ Squadron of the 25th Dragoons was called upon to provide armoured support for 19th Indian Division on mopping-up operations in central Burma. Leaving their tanks in India, the men were flown to Meiktila and there took charge of sixteen ‘clapped-out’ Sherman Vs of the 255th Indian Tank Brigade. The squadron was split into two half-squadron groups, with one group going to Kalaw and the other to Toungoo. This proved to be a depressing and demoralising experience for both groups. The Japanese, although beaten and fleeing from Burma, still had teeth and even succeeded in destroying a Sherman with a 75mm gun, killing a troop commander and his gunner. In another incident, the popular squadron 2ic was also killed. Yet the Japanese remained elusive and the tanks were unable to decisively get to grips with their enemy. After a month of fruitless driving around central Burma, ‘A’ Squadron was finally recalled to Meiktila and the men were flown out to rejoin their regiment; there to be either repatriated home or to prepare for the long-awaited Operation ZIPPER (now assigned to 50th Indian Tank Brigade, following that brigade’s final withdrawal from the Arakan in June 1945). However, the Japanese surrender in August 1945 meant that Operation ZIPPER never happened. Some elements of the plan were used for the re-occupation of Malaya, but the 25th Dragoons were not required and stayed in India until their final disbandment in 1947.
Modelling & Painting
The Lee models shown above are by Battlefront Miniatures/Flames of War. They’re actually painted for the 3rd Carabiniers of 254th Indian Tank Brigade. As mentioned above, the Lees of the 25th Dragoons were almost completely devoid of markings and don’t seem to have even had squadron signs painted. Similarly, the Shermans of the regiment’s ‘A’ Squadron at Meiktila in 1945 probably still carried the markings of their previous owners (254th Indian Tank Brigade) and would have been a mixed bag.
The 81st West African Recce Regiment Universal Carrier model is by Skytrex. Markings described above.
The Vengeance dive-bomber was scratch-built for me from balsa and plasticard by the supremely talented Martin Small.
The Shermans of ‘C’ Squadron 149th RAC were marked for 50th Indian Tank Brigade and are described in Part 5.
I covered the paint colours and recipes in Part 5. The vehicles fighting with XV Corps Armoured Group in the 2nd Arakan Campaign would almost exclusively have been painted in S.C.C. 13 ‘Jungle Green’.
Anyway, that’s enough waffle for now. Next time I’ll be looking at the 254th Indian Tank Brigade and there’ll be a lot more photos of my models!
The recent 75th anniversary of VJ Day and conversations with our friend Olivia on the 
The first Allied armoured formation to arrive in Burma was the British 7th Armoured Brigade, which was originally ordered to reinforce Singapore (from North Africa), but was diverted to Burma, where it would come under the command of Eastern Army (the precursor to XIVth Army). The brigade consisted of two regiments, the 7th Hussars and 2nd RTR, each with 52 
7th Armoured Brigade arrived in Rangoon in late February 1942, in the midst of the Japanese invasion and two days before 
With the departure of the 7th Armoured Brigade from the theatre, 
The organisation of these three tank regiments was very much the same as the regimental organisation used by 7th Armoured Brigade, with 52 tanks per regiment, though with two significant differences. First, instead of the more commonly-used 
Armoured crew were initially dressed in Khaki Drill (‘KD’) tropical uniforms, for which I use a Humbrol 72 Khaki Drill with a heavy highlight. Uniforms gradually changed to Jungle Green (‘JG’) from late 1943 onwards, for which I use Humbrol 116 US Army Green with a heavy highlight. However, tank crew seem to have continued to wear KD long after the infantry had universally adopted JG (see photo above of a tank commander in KD talking to Indian infantry in JG). Berets were black for all regiments, though crewmen could also wear the RAC helmet, US tank crew helmet or for Sikhs, the traditional turban in KD or JG.
Note that I have not included the full array of support units, as I’ve no idea what their AoS serials would have been. Note that when the 149th RAC and 150th RAC were transferred to 254th Indian Tank Brigade, their seniority would have been unchanged, so would have simply carried on with the same markings, just changing the formation sign (if it were painted at all).
Some markings were meant to be universal to all vehicles, but were not always painted. Yellow ‘bridging discs’, with weight-class in black were almost always seen painted at the front-right of the glacis plate. War Department registration numbers were painted on the tank sides. From mid-1944 onwards, white Allied stars were meant to be painted on the sides and top of all AFVs and this order was enthusiastically obeyed by the 254th and 255th Tank Brigades, but seemingly not by the 50th Tank Brigade. It’s been suggested that tanks in Burma, like most in NW Europe, did have a circled star painted on the turret-top or engine deck, even though no star was visible at the sides.
Game Sequence
Players deploy their divisions alternately in any order, starting with the Austrian player. However, the 62e de Ligne (Colonel Petit’s command) must be the last French formation to be placed.
The Austrian Army of Italy Order of Battle
Players deploy their divisions alternately in any order, starting with the Austrian player. 
Terrain Notes
Special Scenario Rules
As Mrs Fawr will tell you, there’s nothing I like better than sitting around at home playing with myself and the lockdown has given me ample opportunity! Last month I thought I’d set up something a bit bigger and better than another solo game of X-Wing, but my dining-room table isn’t all that big (3 feet by 5 feet), so I had to find a scenario that would fit the available space, or at least have a map that could be ‘trimmed to fit’ and which would also fit my collection of models. The scenario ideally needed to be an assault on a fairly static defensive position, as those tend to work best for solo play, as you can play the attacker ‘against the scenario’. Freewheeling encounter battles like the 
Above: Here’s how it looked on my dining-table!
Above: An overview of the starting positions, looking from the Reb side toward the Union side. Apologies, but for some reason all my small ‘orchard’ trees are in autumnal colours and therefore look a little out of place for July.
Above: In the centre of the Union III Corps salient is the Peach Orchard Knoll, which is occupied by Graham’s Brigade of Birney’s Division, reinforced by two batteries of artillery. Graham’s Brigade included the very snazzily-dressed 114th Pennsylvania Infantry, otherwise known as the Zouaves d’Afrique, which I just so happen to have painted! 🙂 
Above: Aligned along the Emmitsburg Road north of the Peach Orchard is Humphrey’s Division. Carr’s Brigade, reinforced by two batteries, is deployed along the road itself with Brewster’s Brigade in reserve and Burling’s Brigade deployed behind the Trostle Farm. Note that I haven’t painted any specific commanders for this battle, so the HQ flags have the XII Corps star badge instead of the III Corps diamond. 
Above: Aligned along the low Cemetery Ridge to Sickles’ right-rear is the left-hand division of Hancock’s II Corps, namely Caldwell’s Division. Note that the HQ flag here should be the shamrock badge of II Corps, not the crescent of XI Corps. A battery of reserve artillery is also deployed forward near the Codori Hose.
Above: South of the Peach Orchard, Barnes’s Division of Sykes’ V Corps had been inserted into the centre of Birney’s Division, in order to defend the Wheatfield position. Tilton’s very weak brigade is deployed along the edge of woodland, on the bank of the West Plum Run, with his left flank linking with De Trobriand’s Brigade, whose line follows the river for a short distance before turning left to follow the line of the stone wall along the southern edge of the Wheatfield. Sweitzer’s Brigade is in reserve at the Wheatfield, along with another battery. Note also that I’ve used I Corps HQ flags for V Corps, so they have the I Corps disc badge instead of the V Corps ‘iron cross’.
Above: On Tilton’s right, three batteries of artillery sweep the gap between Tilton and Graham. 
Above: The left of Sickles’ line is formed by Ward’s Brigade of Birney’s Division, which is deployed at right-angles to De Trobriand and whose flank is protected by the rocks of The Devil’s Den.
Above: To Ward’s rear, Vincent’s Brigade of Barnes’ Division (Sykes’ V Corps) has taken up a strong position on the commanding rocky heights of the Little Round Top and has spent its time wisely, building some hasty breastworks from the abundant lumber and boulders around the position. An artillery battery is negotiating the steep, rocky and wooded slopes to join Vincent in his eyrie. The single officer figure on a circular base indicates Vincent’s status as an ‘Exceptional’ brigade leader.
Above: The right wing of Longstreet’s Confederate I Corps is formed by Hood’s Division, which is ideally placed to roll up Sickles’ isolated corps.
Above: Law’s Brigade, on the right flank of Hood’s Division, has seized the Big Round Top without opposition and is preparing to launch an assault on Vincent’s Little Round Top. In Fire & Fury game terms, Law can just reach Vincent in a single move from his starting position if he rolls a ‘Double Quick’ on the Manoeuvre Table. I decided that as the Rebel commander, I would have one attempt at seizing the Little Round Top with Law’s Brigade, in the hope of capturing it ‘on the bounce’. After that I would not commit any more resources to its capture and would instead concentrate on the other two objectives – the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard/Emmitsburg Road.
Above: Hood’s remaining three brigades; GT Anderson on the left, Robertson on the right and Benning in reserve, move forward from the Slyder Farm to assault the Devil’s Den and the Wheatfield. 
Above: On the left of Longstreet’s I Corps, McLaws’ Division is arranged in two lines, two brigades forward and two back, supported by seven artillery batteries, with the intention of launching a direct assault on the salient. Here’s Barkshaw’s Brigade, deployed to the left of the Warfield House. Wofford’s Brigade is coming up in reserve. To the right of the road is Kershaw’s Brigade, with Semmes’ Brigade in reserve. Just visible on the left of the picture, near the Spangler Farm, is Wilcox’s Brigade. This is the right-flank brigade of RH Anderson’s Division of AP Hill’s III Corps.
Above: Another view of the opening positions.
Above: Longstreet’s assault is preceded by a massive cannonade by seven batteries of Confederate artillery. In terms of numbers, the Union side has more guns, but the Rebels are able to concentrate all their guns on to a small number of targets. Very quickly, the Rebel gunners damage and silence the two Union batteries on the Peach Orchard Knoll, aiding McLaws’ assault enormously. 
Above: However, the Rebs don’t get it all their own way, as one of their batteries is silenced and driven off by Union counter-battery fire. Additionally, in something of an own-goal, two Rebel batteries are temporarily forced to withdraw to replenish their ammunition limbers following the intense bombardment.
Above: Union guns also put an end to poor Dobbin, loyal steed of General Hood. Enraged by the death of his faithful four-legged companion, Hood (now on foot) attaches himself to Law’s Brigade and orders the charge! The ‘Rebel Yell’ is heard for the first time this day, as Law’s men sweep down into the saddle and up the other side to assault Vincent’s breastwork’s. Astonishingly, Vincent’s men fire high and do no damage whatsoever to the Rebel charge! The returning Rebel volley however, is the very model of military efficiency, as dozens of Union soldiers are snatched back from the breastwork’s by Rebel Minié bullets! [in game terms. this really was the epitome of unlucky/lucky dice-rolling, with the Rebels inflicting suffering no loss and then inflicting Withering Fire on the defenders! But worse was to come…]
Above: Whooping in triumph, the Rebels swarm over the breastworks and get to work with their bayonets. Vincent’s men are no match for the Rebels and are driven back from the Little Round Top with heavy losses. The Union battery commander is shocked to see the infantry streaming down the hill towards him and frantically orders the drivers to turn their limbers around!
Above: The rest of Hood’s Division pushes forward against Ward’s Union Brigade at the Devil’s Den. Ward is occupying a strong position, but the sheer weight of enemy fire soon whittles down his strength.
Above: Even though his artillery support has been silenced, Graham’s Brigade gives a bloody nose to Barksdale’s Rebels as they cross the valley in front of the Peach Orchard. 
Above: Humphreys attempts to move one of his two remaining batteries to Carr’s left, in order to better support the Peach Orchard position, but the watchful Rebel gunners quickly destroy the Union battery as it attempts to unlimber. 
Above: The fall of the Little Round Top triggers a scenario rule, allowing Caldwell’s Division to be released. Historically Caldwell counter-attacked down the valley of the East Plum Run and fought over the Wheatfield. On this occasion however, Caldwell advances past the Codori House to reinforce Sickles’ right flank , with the intention of eliminating the threat posed by Anderson’s Confederate Division and then rolling up Longstreet’s left.
Above: With the Little Round Top having fallen and with Ward’s Brigade in the Devil’s Den being hard pressed and outnumbered 3:1, Barnes pulls Sweitzer’s Brigade back to cover the left flank and counter any advance by Law’s Rebel Brigade from the Little Round Top. The battery in the Wheatfield also slews its guns around to face the new threat to the rear.
Above: Sykes’ reserve battery meanwhile has narrowly escaped capture at the Little round Top and unlimbers at a safe distance to bombard Law’s exposed brigade. This single battery was to be a constant thorn in Law’s side throughout the day, inflicting a constant stream of casualties and disorder.
Above: The Rebels had been hoping for Graham’s Brigade at the Peach Orchard to be quickly swept away by the volume of fire directed at them. However, with one Confederate battery silenced, two batteries withdrawn to replenish ammunition and most of the remaining Rebel artillery concentrating on counter-battery fire, Graham proves to be remarkably resilient. The firefight for the Peach Orchard soon degrades into a battle of attrition, which is the last thing that the Rebels, with inferior numbers, want to get into. Both Graham’s and Barksdale’s Brigades quickly become worn and both have depleted ammunition. The Rebels suffer further woe as Barksdale (an Exceptional brigade leader) is mortally wounded by a Minié ball.
Above: Behind the Peach Orchard, three Union batteries make like miserable for the Confederate gunners, successfully knocking out one of the batteries on the Seminary Ridge. However, they are forced to switch their attention to Kershaw’s approaching infantry and the Rebel gunners renew their counter-battery fire, damaging and/or silencing off all three Union batteries in succession.
Above: Ward’s Brigade, isolated and unsupported among the rocks of the Devil’s Den. is coming under intense pressure from Hood’s Rebels. He decides that it would be better if his brigade were to fall back from the rocks and align with de Trobriand’s Brigade at the Wheatfield. However, Hood isn’t going to let him escape so easily and orders an immediate assault on the Devil’s Den. GT Anderson’s Brigade doesn’t receive the order and remains stationary, though Robertson, accompanied by Hood himself (who has now found himself a new horse) leads his men into the rocks. Benning meanwhile, reforms his brigade into a column, with the intention of by-passing the Devil’s Den and attacking the Wheatfield from the rear.
Above: Already weakened by fire, Ward’s brigade simply disintegrates and is soon fleeing in disorder up the East Plum Run!
Above: Hot in pursuit of the defeated foe, Hood urges Robertson on through the Rose Woods and soon comes up against de Trobriand’s Brigade, which is strongly emplaced along the stone wall bordering the Wheatfield.
Above: Ward somehow manages to rally the shattered remnants of his brigade and they take shelter behind a stone wall, alongside Vincent’s demoralised command.
Above: Meanwhile, back at the Peach Orchard, Humphreys has inserted Burling’s Brigade into the line on Graham’s right and has thickened Carr’s line, ready for a left-wheel against McLaws, in concert with Caldwell’s attack on the right. Brewster’s Brigade has also been shifted to the left, to replace Burling in reserve behind the Peach Orchard.
Above: And not a moment too soon, as McLaws finally manages to coordinate a major assault on the Peach Orchard! The remains of Barksdale’s Brigade charges across the road in concert with Kershaw’s fresh brigade from the right. The silenced Union artillery and Tilton’s tiny Union brigade are unable to disrupt Kershaw’s charge. Wofford’s Rebel Brigade meanwhile, shifts to the left to counter the growing threat from Humphreys’ Division.
Above: After a long and dogged resistance, Graham is finally ejected from the Peach Orchard and the Rebels break through! Kershaw captures a battery and Barksdale pushes back Burling’s Brigade. However, Brewster’s Brigade, waiting in reserve behind the Peach Orchard, pours a withering fire into Kershaw’s men. Kershaw himself almost becomes a casualty statistic as his ADC takes the bullet meant for him.
Above: General Hood seems unstoppable this day, as sword in hand, he leads Robertson’s Brigade through the Rose Woods, in a charge to seize the Wheatfield! De Trobriand’s Brigade lays down withering fire, which manages to kill Hood’s second horse, but the return volley is just as telling and is quickly followed up by the Rebel Yell as for the third time today, Hood puts an enemy brigade to flight!
Above: As de Trobriand’s men scatter, Robertson’s Brigade breaks through to capture a Federal battery and the Wheatfield! With two objectives now in Rebel hands, the Union forces now suffer a permanent manoeuvre penalty until they can seize them back. That might not actually take too long, as Robertson is weakened and Sweitzer’s Union Brigade is in the ideal position to mount an immediate counter-attack. However, the Union’s ability to launch charges is severely restricted in this scenario (they have to roll a ‘Double-Quick’ on the Manoeuvre Table) and that is now increasingly difficult.
Above: Tilton’s tiny brigade, still positioned just west of the Wheatfield, is now completely surrounded by Rebel forces and Tilton wonders how he’s ever going to extricate his command. His dilemma is resolved in short order, as his brigade is annihilated by a sudden storm of Rebel fire…
Above: On Sickles’ right, Caldwell’s Division is advancing past the Warfield House with the intention of knocking out RH Anderson’s Division and rolling up Longstreet’s left flank. Caldwell isn’t restricted by the Union scenario rule regarding charges, so should be able to launch an immediate assault. However, Wilcox’s Rebel Brigade falls back from its advance position at the Warfield House and crosses back over the stream to take position behind a stone wall (here represented by a fence, because I’d run out of stone walls!), thus forcing Caldwell to come into the Confederate artillery’s killing ground. RH Anderson meanwhile, narrowly escapes death as Union artillery kills his horse with a long-range shot (the Rebels are losing a lot of horse-flesh!). Lang’s tiny Rebel brigade meanwhile (at the lower-right corner of the photo), comes under long-range musketry from Brooke’s Brigade and immediately suffers losses.
Above: Back at the Peach Orchard, Burling’s Union Brigade manages to launch an assault on the remnants of the late General Barksdale’s Brigade and completely annihilates it. Brewster was meant to follow this up with a charge on Kershaw to re-take the Peach Orchard, but refuses to advance, despite remonstrations from both Sickles and Humphreys. Carr however, with his right flank covered by Caldwell’s Division, wheels his brigade forward to threaten Wofford’s flank.
Above: With his flank being turned by Carr’s Brigade, Wooford has no choice but to withdraw his brigade back to the foot of Seminary Ridge, falling in with Semmes’ fresh brigade on his right and Wilcox on his left. However, this now means that Kershaw is on his own at the Peach Orchard.
Above: Help for Kershaw is soon at hand, as GT Anderson’s Brigade suddenly emerges from the woods , bypasses Sweitzer at the Wheatfield and hits Brewster in the flank!
Above: Somewhat unsurprisingly, Brewster’s outflanked Brigade is defeated by Anderson’s charge and retreats to the Trostle Farm.
Above: Caldwell commences his assault on the Rebel left: Zook’s Brigade is making slow progress as he comes under long-range musketry from Wilcox’s Brigade, though Kelly’s Irish Brigade manages to circumvent the stream and aims for Wilcox’s right flank.
Above: Brooke’s Brigade, on Caldwell’s right flank, comprehensively smashes Lang’s Rebels and sweeps them from the field! Breaking through, Brooke drives on to cross the stream and threaten Wilcox’s left flank.
Above: On Caldwell’s left, Cross’ Union brigade assaults Wofford’s flank as he withdraws, though somewhat astonishingly is comprehensively beaten off and retreats back behind the Warfield House!
Above: Shockingly, Sickles’ III Corps has now reached its Heavy Casualties threshold and all units in Sickles’ III Corps (and Caldwell’s Division from II Corps) will now have an additional penalty applied to their manoeuvre rolls in addition to the penalty already incurred by losing key objective locations. Nevertheless, Brewster’s Brigade rallies and is soon advancing once again, to exact revenge upon GT Anderson at the Peach Orchard.
Above: Speaking of revenge… Despite the loss of general army morale, Sweitzer’s Brigade manages to roll a ‘Double-Quick’ and launches a charge against Robertson in the Wheatfield.
Above: Robertson may have won a stunning string of victories earlier in the battle, but his men are now worn and disordered, while Sweitzer is fresh. Robertson is soon ejected from the Wheatfield and Sweitzer takes control of that key location! However, Benning’s Rebel Brigade has now arrived and quickly deploys to outflank Sweitzer.
Above: Benning’s manoeuvre is not without risk however, as de Trobriand has rallied near the Weikart Farm and threatens to outflank Benning in turn.
Above: Not too far away, Vincent’s shattered brigade decides that they have had enough and shamefully flee the field. Ward’s and Graham’s similarly-wrecked brigades also falls back, though rally at the Weikart Farm. However, they will play no further part in the battle.
Above: On the other side of the battlefield, Caldwell’s Division is building up to mount a three-pronged assault on Wilcox’s Brigade, just west of the Spangler Farm. Wilcox (with RH Anderson in attendance) is positioned solidly behind a stone wall, though Brooke, having defeated Lang on the Confederate left, is now threatening to outflank Wilcox. Wilcox has no choice but to refuse his left flank to face the new threat.
Above: Caldwell’s assault finally erupts, with Zook attacking frontally as Kelly and Brooke take the flanks. However, Wilcox’s refused flank somehow manages to halt Brooke’s charge by fire, while Kelly’s Irish Brigade is utterly destroyed by supporting fire from Wofford and canister fire from a battery on Seminary Ridge. That leaves only Zook’s Brigade to assault the stone wall alone… Zook is handsomely repulsed with very heavy casualties!
Above: Meanwhile, Humphreys and Sickles personally encourage Burling and Brewster to push the Rebels back out of the Peach Orchard. Both brigades roll the required ‘Double-Quick’ manoeuvre and launch their assaults – Burling against Kershaw and Brewster against GT Anderson (who has in the meantime extended his line in order to maximise firepower). Burling is comprehensively defeated by Kershaw in the Peach Orchard and retreats back to the Trostle Farm. Brewster is also beaten off and grudgingly falls back from Anderson’s line. However, despite these Union setbacks, the Rebels have also now reached their Heavy Casualties threshold!
Above: At the Wheatfield, Benning halts his column and forms line to the flank. His men pour a withering volley into Sweitzer’s flank, inflicting very heavy casualties. Sweitzer’s men have had enough and retreat to the relative safety of the Trostle Woods.
Above: However, Benning is himself outflanked as de Trobriand re-enters the battle! Nevertheless, the Union musketry proves ineffective and they inflict only light casualties on Benning’s Rebels. De Trobriand tries to persuade his men to close with the bayonet, but they’re not having any of it.
Above: Thanking his lucky stars, Benning wheels his brigade back from the renewed threat of de Trobriand while the ragged remnants of Robertson’s Brigade recapture the Wheatfield. However, a brand-new threat has just appeared on the crest of the ridge!
Above: At long last, Union reinforcements have arrived from Sykes’ V Corps! General Sykes himself appears, along with Weed’s and Day’s Brigades from Ayres’ Division. The situation at the Wheatfield and on the Little Round Top is about to get interesting…
Above: General Ayres meanwhile, appears at the Weikart Farm, along with Burbank’s Brigade and a fresh battery of artillery.
Above: Seeing the fresh Bluecoats massing at the foot of the Little Round Top, Law starts to worry. His brigade has continued to suffer a constant trickle of casualties from Union artillery and his men are starting to lose confidence.
Above: While things may be looking up for the Union on the eastern flank of the battle, in the centre and west they are going from bad to worse. Having been repulsed, Brewster’s Brigade is now being shot to pieces by the Rebel infantry around the Peach Orchard.
Above: The rest of Humphreys’ Division is also collapsing. As Semmes’ and Wofford’s Rebel Brigades resume the advance, Carr and Burling fall back in front of them as the broken remnants of Caldwell’s Division flee past their flank. 
Above: The view from behind Carr’s Brigade as it all goes to rat-poo around them. 
Above: Having comprehensively repulsed the rest of Caldwell’s Division, RH Anderson joins Wilcox in destroying the remnants of Brooke’s Brigade. Caldwell, watching from the Spangler Farm, can only look on in despair, before spurring his horse for the relative safety of Cemetery Ridge.
Above: Having destroyed Caldwell’s Bluebellies, Wilcox’s Brigade forms up on the left of McLaws’ Division and joins the general advance. Behind them, the Rebel guns pound the last visible Union targets into submission.
Above: Humphreys’ Division disintegrates in front of them! Brewster’s Brigade, shot to pieces by GT Anderson’s Rebels, staggers back to the Trostle Farm, where they find Sickles standing around, wondering where his corps went…
Above: While Burling’s brigade heads for the hills along with the remnants of Caldwell’s Division, Carr, Graham and a gaggle of damaged batteries attempt to make a stand along the banks of the East Plum Run. However, some Bluebellies still have fight in them, as Burbank’s freshly-arrived brigade (at the right of the picture) crosses the river and plunges into the Trostle Woods, with the intention of attacking GT Anderson.
Above: Back at the Wheatfield, Benning manoeuvres his brigade into position along the stone wall. Robertson falls back behind the wall and forms up on Benning’s left. A pair of Rebel batteries also unlimbers at the western edge of the Wheatfield, creating a lethal killing-ground among the trampled wheat-stalks. The first victim is de Trobriand, who approaches too closely and who is then put to flight for a second time, this time carrying away General Birney with him! 
Above: De Trobriand’s men this time don’t stop running, but Union forces continue to build up in this corner of the battlefield. Ayres’ Division forms up for the assault (all the time under fire from long-range Rebel artillery) and he is now joined by Crawford’s Division.
Above: Back at the Peach Orchard, McLaws and RH Anderson have now completely cleared the Emmitsburg Road of Union forces and claim it as their third captured objective!
Above: With the infantry having taken the objective, Rebel batteries move forward to take up position on the Peach Orchard Knoll, from where they can better sweep the approaches to the Wheatfield and the slopes of the Little Round Top.
Above: Back at the Wheatfield, Benning has reached the cover of the stone wall, but is taking heavy fire from several freshly-arrived Union batteries. Day’s Union Brigade has formed line in preparation for an assault on the Wheatfield, but has been stalled by Rebel artillery fire and the general loss of confidence that is infecting the Union side. Impatient at the delay, Fisher (from Crawford’s Division) orders his brigade to remain in column and bypasses Day, aiming to outflank Benning.
Above: On the Little Round Top meanwhile, Weed’s Brigade is pushing forward and inflicting casualties on Law’s Rebels, though suffers losses in turn. These casualties tip Sykes’ V Corps over their Heavy Casualties threshold. Weed loses momentum at the critical moment and fails to press home the attack. Law’s men use the opportunity to fall back to cover among the trees on the southern side of the crest.
Above: Seeing Weed’s assault stall on the crest of the Little Round Top, Crawford sends McCandless’ Brigade up the slope in column, with orders to take the heights or die trying! General Ayres also spurs up the slope in an attempt to get Weed moving.
Above: Despite the support of McCandless’ fresh brigade and the personal intervention of General Ayres, Weed still fails to press home his attack. McCandless however, is made of sterner stuff and his brigade column sweeps over the crest, taking back the objective and charging over Vincent’s former breastworks to utterly crush Law’s Rebels! General Hood can only watch in despair from his position at the foot of the hill as Law’s Brigade is scattered to the four winds. With one of the three key objectives now back in Union hands, it is imperative now that he maintains control of the Wheatfield! The sun is now setting and he prays for God to bring him night!
Above: Sadly for Hood, the Bluebellies are certain to arrive at the Wheatfield before nightfall! Covered by four artillery batteries, Day’s Brigade has deployed into line and is about to assault across the East Plum Run. Fisher’s column meanwhile, is marching to outflank the Wheatfield position, forcing Benning’s Rebels to wheel back away from the Wheatfield, in order to face the new threat. Two more brigades (Wheaton’s and Bartlett’s) have also arrived as reinforcements from VI Corps, but are probably too late to achieve anything meaningful before nightfall.
Above: GT Anderson’s Brigade once again becomes the focus of Union counter-attacks as Ayres’ Division launches its assault. Day charges across the Wheatfield and Burbank emerges from the Trostle Wood. Ayres also sends a battery forward with Day, in the hope that they will be able to assist him in defending the captured objective.
Above: However, Day’s Brigade and the supporting Union guns are hammered by the Rebel artillery – two batteries firing canister across the Wheatfield, plus a third battery behind Anderson and another two batteries on the Peach Orchard Knoll. Burbank, despite his covered approach through Trostle Woods, suffers losses to Anderson’s rifles and the Union assault is beaten off. The two Union brigades retreat back across the East Plum Run.
Above: With the latest assault beaten off, the Rebel artillery concentrates its efforts on counter-battery fire, as it’s unable to spot Fisher’s Brigade approaching through the Rose Woods. However, night is starting to fall and the longer-ranged guns start to fall silent.
Above: Shattered remnants of Sickles’ III Corps mill around the Weikart Farm.
Above: Some remnants still hold a line along the East Plum Run, though luckily for them, McLaws is content to hold the line of the Emmitsburg Road and has no interest in hunting down the last of Sickles’ men.
Above: Ayres’ Division soon rallies, but shows little interest in renewing the assault. Thanks to long-range Rebel artillery, the two brigades from VI Corps are also slow to march into danger. As the sun sets below the horizon, the Rebels start to breathe a sigh of relief, as they still have control of two of the three objectives; the Wheatfield and the Emmitsburg Road/Peach Orchard line.
Above: Suddenly, a loud “Hurrah!” is heard as Fisher’s Brigade bursts from the Rose Woods and storms across the Wheatfield! Longstreet is astonished at this last-ditch attempt by those Blue-bellied rascals to steal a victory point in the very last turn of the game!
Above: Fisher’s column is utterly shredded by close-range musketry from Benning’s Robertson’s and Kershaw’s brigades firing into the flank, as well as two batteries firing point-blank canister immediately to his front and another four batteries firing shot and shell from the direction of the Peach Orchard!
Above: However, there is no Rebel unit actually ON the Wheatfield and despite taking maximum casualties, there is nothing to actually stop Fisher’s Brigade from seizing the objecting for the Union! “Christ on a velocipede!” rages Longstreet, as he realises to his horror that this is the last turn of the game and there is no way to get back that Victory Point! 
This is the last part of my series on my 15mm Army of the Duchy of Warsaw. In 
1st Chasseurs à Cheval (Strzelcy Konni)
Breeches were dark green with a wide facing-coloured stripe at the side and worn with hussar-style boots, edged in facing-coloured lace and tassels. On campaign green overalls were worn, again with a stripe or double-stripe in the facing colour. Grey overalls were also used.
Horse furniture was a dark green shabraque and round valise, edged in scarlet lace. Officers’ shabraques were edged with a double row of gold lace. Saddle-covers were white sheepskins, edged in scarlet dog-toothed cloth and as with the French, the sheepskin saddle-cover was often used on its own, with the shabraque saved for parade order. Some sources show black sheepskins for officers, or none at all, just the shabraque.
Trumpeters of the 1st Chasseurs wore a white habit-kinski with brass buttons and scarlet facings as for the rest of the regiment. Epaulettes were the same as the rest of the regiment, with the addition of a mixed green & yellow aiguillette in full dress. White colpacks were worn by the trumpeters of all companies. These were decorated with a scarlet bag and cords, with scarlet-over-green plume or a scarlet pompom. Breeches were initially green with scarlet stripes, though may have later changed to scarlet breeches with gold stripes and Hungarian knots. Overalls were dark green with a double scarlet stripe. Had I waited for the Rawkins book to arrive, I would have discovered that the trumpeters of the 1st Chasseurs typically had the same shabraques as the rest of the regiment, with black sheepskins (possibly having white shabraques edged red at some point). However, I followed an internet source which suggested reversed colours of scarlet with a green edge… sigh…
As with their French figures, AB Figures don’t produce any Polish light cavalry standard-bearers, due to a general order from Napoleon, banning light cavalry regiments from carrying their standards on campaign. However, Polish standards do look pretty spiffing and emphasise their ‘Polishness’, without which these chaps could easily be mistaken for French, Italian or even flippin’ Neapolitan Chasseurs! So I made my own Chasseur Eaglebearer from a spare trumpeter figure, utilising a Polish Eagle taken from an old Battle Honours figure (also sculpted by Tony Barton back in the day). 
3rd Uhlans (Ulani)
The czapka was made of black leather with a blue cloth-covered ‘box’ and brass fittings. The black lower part was separated from the blue upper box by a band of white lace. The box was originally edged with white piping, plus a white ‘X’ across the square top, but this had changed by 1809 to black piping. I actually painted the czapka top in a very slightly lighter shade of blue to make the black piping stand out. The front of the czapka was decorated with a white metal eagle, standing on a brass crescent, on which was enameled the number ‘3’ in black. A white cockade was worn on the front-left face of the box and was fixed in place with a brass button and white or brass cross. Above the cockade was a black pompom or full-dress plume. Full-dress cords were white. 
Officers had gold lace and piping on the ‘box’, silver cords and a gold cross on the cockade. Plumes and pompoms were black for junior officer ranks and white for senior ranks. After 1811 all officers’ pompoms were gold.
Horse furniture consisted of a blue full-dress shabraque and round valise, edged crimson (gold for officers) and a white sheepskin saddle-cover, edged with crimson dog-toothed cloth. As with the Chasseurs, it was often only the sheepskin that was worn on campaign. 
The elite company trumpeters are recorded as having white kurtkas with crimson facings and piping, with white fringed epaulettes. Trousers are recorded as either dark blue with crimson stripes or the reverse, crimson with dark blue stripes (I opted for the latter). Headgear for the elite company was a ‘proper’ colpack of white fur with crimson bag and white cords and plume. Headgear for the other companies isn’t recorded, so I’ve opted for the most common pattern for trumpeters, which was a white-topped czapka, with scarlet lace and piping and a scarlet pompom.
Again, I converted some Uhlan Eaglebearers (and a Cuirassier Eaglebearer) from other figures and some donated Polish Eagles. Fighting 15s don’t produce a 3rd Uhlans standard, but they do include some generic Polish standards without regimental numbers, so I used one of those and added a yellow Roman numeral III in the bottom corner of the fly, as that was a common way of indicating the regimental number. I did the same for the 7th (VII) Uhlans and the 14th (XIV) Cuirassiers. 
6th Uhlans
The uniform is basically the same as the 3rd Uhlans mentioned above, except that these are in campaign dress, so they’ve covered their czapkas with linen covers (black waxed covers were also common), have removed their pompoms and epaulettes and have reversed their lapels to reveal the dark blue reverse side (the lapels were completely detachable and could be reversed like this to protect the coloured facings).
Regimental distinctions for the 6th Uhlans were a white collar piped crimson, crimson lapels and cuffs piped white, dark blue turnbacks piped crimson and crimson piping on the rear of the kurtka. Trouser stripes were crimson, as was the shabraque-edging. Elite company headgear is not certain, though was probably a Chasseur-style fur colpack. A trumpeter of the 6th Uhlans is described as having a white kurtka with light blue facings and no piping (I clearly didn’t know this when I painted mine!). One other mistake I made is that the piping around the reversed lapels should probably be white, not crimson.
Lance-pennants are recorded as either scarlet-over-white or as scarlet-over-blue-over-white. All other details were as for the 3rd Uhlans. The officer is wearing a crimson Morocco-leather cover over his cross-belt in order to save the expensive gold trimmings from the elements. This was a very common item among cavalry officers of the Napoleonic Empire. 
7th Uhlans
Shabraques were edged yellow, as were the sheepskin saddle-covers. Officers are shown as having black sheepskins.
There are no specifics recorded for the uniform of the elite company. Lance-pennants are recorded as being either scarlet-over-blue-over-white, or as yellow-over-blue-over-scarlet. I’ve opted for the latter version, as it fits with the yellow theme.
Trumpeters are described as wearing a white kurtka with yellow collar and cuffs piped scarlet, scarlet lapels and turnbacks without piping and all other piping scarlet. Epaulettes were scarlet with yellow crescents and brass scales. The czapka had a white ‘box’ with scarlet lace, piping and cords and a scarlet plume or pompom. Overalls were dark blue with a double yellow stripe. Saddle-covers were made of black sheepskin with a yellow cloth edge. Trumpet cords were mixed scarlet and white or mixed scarlet and yellow.
14th Cuirassiers (Kirasjersky)
However, the regiment had suffered grievous losses at Borodino and worse was to come during the long retreat back to Poland. Nevertheless, the survivors, amounting to 20 officers and 77 men, finally made it back to Warsaw and joined with their depot squadron and new recruits to rebuild the regiment. However, as Poniatowski rebuilt his army during the first half of 1813 it was clear that the regiment could not reform as Cuirassiers. It kept the title, though lost the iconic steel cuirass and was now classed as a regiment of light horse, being brigaded under General Uminski alongside the newly-raised regiment of Krakusi. Uminski’s Brigade would form the cavalry element of Poniatowski’s VIII Corps for the coming campaign. 
AB’s new(ish) range of Late Cuirassiers are perfect for the 14th Cuirassiers, as they’re wearing the shorter-tailed coat. However, they don’t do a late Cuirassier standard-bearer, so I’ve used an Early Cuirassier figure for that job (again modified with a Polish Eagle).
Thus far they looked just like French Cuirassiers, though there were some significant differences. To start, the ‘metal’ colour of Polish Cuirassiers was yellow, whereas the French had white metal. Thus the Poles had brass buttons and gold officers’ epaulettes, as well as yellow edging and grenade badges on their blue square shabraques and the number ’14’ in yellow, within a box of yellow lace on the ends of the square valises. They also had brass scaling on the straps of their epaulettes. Most unusually, officers had shabraques and holster-covers of a completely different colour; namely crimson, edged with gold. As discussed above, they lost the cuirasses in 1813, though kept the other uniform details, including the helmets.
Right, that’s it! My next post will be an American Civil War after-action report for a solo game I played recently of ‘Sickles’ Salient’ during the Battle of Gettysburg. I never knew that playing with myself could be so much fun…
Equipment consisted of two white cross-belts, supporting a sabre-briquet and a black cartouche decorated with a brass grenade badge.
Horse Artillery
Headgear was initially a black uhlan-style czapka with white piping and cockade, scarlet cords, scarlet pompom, scarlet full-dress plume and badges very similar to those of the Foot Artillery. This was changed in 1810 to a black fur colpack with green bag piped scarlet, scarlet cords, white cockade and scarlet pompom, topped off with a scarlet plume in full dress.
Poniatowski’s ADCs wore a unique hussar-style uniform in crimson, sky-blue and silver, as shown above. Other Polish ADCs wore a far plainer uniform, as modelled alongside Kellermann and shown in the background of the General of Brigade painting above. This was a relatively plain uniform in Chasseur à Cheval style, consisting of a dark blue habit-kinski with sky-blue collar and crimson piping down the front and around cuffs and turnbacks. Buttons and epaulettes were silver. This was worn over a crimson waistcoat, decorated with silver hussar-lace. Trousers were dark blue with crimson side-stripes and the shabraque was dark blue, edged crimson. Belts were black, edged silver. this was topped off with a black fur colpack with crimson bag and sky-blue pompom. The AB Figures Polish Chasseur à Cheval officer figure is perfect for as an ADC.
Enough for now! Polish artillery next time and then the cavalry. 🙂 Oh go on then, have some more generals…
Here’s a close-up of the 1st Infantry, showing the post-1810 regulation uniform in detail: The half-lapels and turnbacks were white, while the collar and shoulder-straps were dark blue, all edged with crimson piping. The crimson piping also extended down the front seam of the coat below the half-lapels. Cuffs were crimson with white cuff-flaps and may or may not have been piped white. Buttons were brass. 
The infantry-pattern czapka headdress was essentially just a squared-off black felt shako, unlike the cavalry czapka, which was a heavier leather helmet topped with a cloth-covered square ‘box’. All regiments had a brass band just above the brim, pierced with the regimental number. This was then surmounted by a white metal eagle and a white cockade. Centre company pompoms were sky-blue for most regiments and white cords were worn in full dress.
The Grenadiers wore scarlet fringed epaulettes (some had white crescents or even white epaulettes with scarlet crescents) and bearskins with brass plates and scarlet rear-patches, decorated with a white lace cross. White or scarlet cords and scarlet plumes were also added in full dress.
Some sources show the 8th Infantry as adopting the 1810 regulation uniform or a variant using rose-pink instead of crimson. While that would certainly add a splash of colour, I wonder if the pink is a mis-translation of crimson from a faded picture or faded survivng uniform?
While I haven’t painted any of these regiments, the 9th to 12th Infantry Regiments originally wore uniforms with white facings with scarlet piping and brass buttons, though again, most adopted the 1810 regulation uniform or other oddities of their own making.
When a 13th Infantry Regiment was raised in 1809, it wore an esoteric uniform made from captured Austrian uniform cloth, being white with sky-blue facings. I did want to paint this unit, but it doesn’t appear to have been reformed following the 1812 campaign and wasn’t therefore at Leipzig (the remnants ended up as a fortress garrison). Nevertheless, I think I might have to paint the 13th one day, as it’s such a spectacular uniform.
One notable feature of the 14th to 17th Regiments is that their centre companies are recorded as having pompoms coloured by company as per French regulations: 1st – green, 2nd – sky-blue, 3rd – aurore (orange) and 4th lie-de-vin (violet). Sky-blue pompoms with company-coloured tufts are also recorded. Some of the 1st to 13th Regiments may also have used company-coloured pompoms.
In the 1st Edition of Mr Rawkins’ Army of the Duchy of Warsaw book, he stated that the tops of infantry czapkas were decorated with a box of lace tape around the edge and an ‘X’ of lace across the centre, very much like cavalry czapkas. However, in the latest edition, he has revised this to ‘infantry regiments may have decorated the tops with piping or lace’. However, give me an inch and I’ll take a mile… I like the look of the ‘X’ and it makes them stand out as being Poles not French, so I’ve painted it on all my infantry.
Following the disastrous 
As the war went on beyond Normandy, some of the division’s sub-units were converted to amphibious vehicles such as the 
Instead of the usual main gun, a highly unusual 
In addition to the Spigot Mortar, the AVRE retained the hull MG for self-defence and the crew would also often carry other engineering stores such as demolition charges, wire-cutters and Bangalore Torpedoes. To use these, the AVRE would drive up to the obstacle and a crewman would crawl out of one of the hatches (usually the floor-hatch) and use the vehicle as cover as he place the charges. He would then crawl back in and the vehicle would reverse before detonation of the charges. A variety of demolition charges were also developed that could be mounted on frames at the front of the AVRE, which would drive up and push the charge against the obstacle to be demolished and hold it in place as it was detonated (I presume that the crew were also issued with ear-plugs).
Other kit commonly carried included the Small Box Girder (SBG) Bridge (which was useful for ramping sea-walls or bridging anti-tank ditches), Fascines (which were huge bundles of chestnut palings, used to fill smaller trenches and craters) and Bobbins (which were huge reels of matting that would be laid out onto soft mud, to provide a more solid roadway for following vehicles).
Another element of the 1st Assault Brigade RE was the 87th Assault Dozer Squadron RE, equipped with armoured versions of the Caterpillar D7 Dozer. Their unit serial was ‘819’, again on a cobalt-blue backing. This is a lovely model by Skytrex.
The 
Another vehicle used by 1st Assault Brigade RE was the Churchill ARK Mk I (Armoured Ramp Carrier, abbreviated by a dyslexic). This was a turretless Churchill hull, designed as a quick and easy way to place a ramp against a sea wall. It had two treadway-decks added on top, plus two matching ramps at the rear. They would usually carry a fascine at the front, in order to create another ramp at the front of the vehicle. I’m not sure which unit(s) within the brigade operated these, so I’ve marked it as belonging to the 149th Assault Park Squadron RE, whose serial was ‘1236’. This lovely model was converted for me from a Flames of War hull by the supremely talented Martin Small.
The ARK Mk II was developed in Italy, which had matching ramps at front and rear. If trying to bridge particularly deep ditches, ARKs could also be stacked! 🙂
As mentioned above, the 30th Armoured Brigade operated Sherman Mk V Crab flail tanks. This is a lovely Skytrex model, modified by Martin Small with ‘flails’ made from wire.
Here an AVRE belonging to 5th ARRE follows a 22nd Dragoons Crab. A dispenser on each side of the hull dropped a trail of white chalk-dust to mark the cleared path for following vehicles. At night, following vehicles used the array of four small red guide-lights (each mounted in the centre of a white disc) to keep station directly behind the Crab. 
