“DISPATCHES”
AUGUST 2016
Welcome to this month’s “DISPATCHES”
and ... the hottest time of the year in Hong Kong! It was a
welcome break to head down to Australia last month and meet
several hundred enthusiastic K&C collectors in Brisbane, Sydney and
Melbourne and enjoy the cool but sunny Aussie winter.
However, here we are again back in “The Pearl of the Orient” and
down to work once more. Here are the latest releases and updates for
August 2016 ....
1.
BEING
RELEASED IN AUGUST
a)
The
Return of the LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP
Back in 2007, K&C released a small
selection of LRDG vehicles and men that helped tell the story of one of the
most unusual irregular units the British Army ever spawned
...
Originally called “The Long Range
Patrol” ... it was a reconnaissance and raiding group that was to
operate independently far behind the Axis frontlines in North Africa.
The men for this unique unit came from New
Zealand, Rhodesia and, of course, British Army battalions and regiments and all
were volunteers.
At any one time the LRDG never numbered more than 350 men
and contained many colourful characters with equally colourful and often dramatic backgrounds. Among them was ...
EA113 “Lieut
Col. John “Jack” Easonsmith D.S.O., M.C.
John R. Easonsmith, known to his friends as “Jack”,
was born in Bristol, England in 1909. He joined his local Territorial
Army unit in 1939 as a Private and by 1940 had been promoted to Sergeant
and recommended for a commission. In December 1940 he was posted to the
Middle East and volunteered for the Long Range Desert Group.
As a Lieutenant he first commanded
the New Zealand ‘R1’ Patrol before being promoted to Captain in
August 1941.
He led the highly successful BARCE
RAID which disrupted German and Italian communications as well as
putting out of action an Axis airfield there and destroying over 30 enemy
aircraft parked around the airstrip.
In October 1942 “Jack” Easonsmith was awarded the Distinguished Service
Order in addition to a Military Cross given to him
earlier ... and promoted to Major.
One year later, by now a Lieutenant Colonel, he
commanded the entire LRDG during an ill-fated campaign in the Dodacanese Islands off Greece. Here, he
was killed in action on November, 1943 during the Battle of Leros.
Our figure portrays him during his earlier “Desert Days.”
EA114 “Double Trouble”
The men of the LRDG
were definitely not “Parade Ground” soldiers. They included in
their number many individualists who operated best in small unit operations.
Here, an LRDG
officer consults his map while his “dismounted” driver examines a captured MP40
“Schmeisser” machine pistol ... Their casual
and comfortable style of mixed uniforms would give any Regimental Sergeant
Major a heart attack!
EA115 “ LRDG
ATTACK JEEP”
This is the first
of 2 “Attack Jeeps” K&C are producing. This one mounts
a heavy .50 calibre machine gun opposite the
front passenger seat and a pair of Vickers .303 machine guns on the
back.
Plentiful supplies
of water and petrol are also carried as well extra ammunition. A 2-man crew
completes the set.
AVAILABLE: Early August
b) “PROTECTING THE DESERT VILLAGE”
As regular readers of the Treefrog Forum know
this once-retired piece of the “Desert Village” series has been
very much requested by collectors old and new for quite some time. That
being the case ... Here it is once more ...
SP036
“The Desert Village Wall”
The perfect add-on piece to help protect any
village setting in the Middle East for virtually any historical period ..... From Biblical times right
up to the present day.
AVAILABLE: Early August
c)
STATUES & PLINTHS
The final
batch of bronze-coloured statues and stone plinths to
help decorate any village square or town centre ... perfect
for displays and dioramas.
SP084 “The Mounted Kaiser”
An
equestrian figure of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.
SP084-GR “Kaiser Wilhelm
II on Large Statue Plinth (Greystone)”
SP084-SA “Kaiser
Wilhelm II on Large Statue Plinth (Sandstone)”
SP087 “The
Medieval Trumpeter”
A
familiar statue figure on any European village or town square.
SP087-GR “The
Medieval Trumpeter on Square Statue Plinth (Greystone)”
SP087-SA “The
Medieval Trumpeter on Square Statue Plinth (Sandstone)”
SP088 “The
Mounted Russian Officer”
A Napoleonic
Russian Officer that makes a fine statue ....
SP088-GR “The
Mounted Russian Officer on Large Equestrian Statue Plinth (Greystone)
SP088-SA “The
Mounted Russian Officer on Large Equestrian Statue Plinth (Sandstone)
AVAILABLE: Early August
d)
“FIGHTING GREEKS”
Going back many hundreds of years before we
return to the time of Ancient Greek Warriors ... And their
battles against Persians and Trojans.
AG033 “Odysseus”
A standing figure
of one of Greece’s most legendary warriors and the man who thought up the idea
of the “Wooden Horse of Troy” and brought an end to the ten-year
long Trojan War.
Here, he stands
ready to lead his men into battle ... For more information on Odysseus and
how he brought an end to the Trojan War read the special feature in the latest
edition of K&C’s own “COLLECTOR” magazine ... get a copy from
your local dealer or see it on K&C’s own website.
AG034
“Hoplite Charging w/Spear”
AG035 “Hoplite Advancing w/Sword
& Shield”
AG036 “Hoplite Throwing Spear”
AG037 “Hoplite Crouching w/Spear”
AVAILABLE: Mid August
e) “The FALL OF MALAYA, SINGAPORE & HONG
KONG”
In the early hours of December
8, 1941, the Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan simultaneously invaded the
British colonies of Malaya and Hong Kong.
Just over nine weeks later they had conquered Malaya, captured Hong
Kong and saw the rising sun flag fly over the city of Singapore ...
In the long history of the British Empire this was the single biggest defeat
ever suffered by military force of arms ... and signaled the beginning of the
end of Britain in the Far East.
By the time the Japanese entered Singapore they had
suffered just 10,000 casualties ... British and Empire forces losses totaled
over 130,000 .... killed,
wounded and captured.
Although, on the British side, there were a myriad of military disasters and
blunders there were also many individual acts of bravery and heroism
....
We hope to tell both
sides of this fascinating story ...
JN026 “Attacking Japanese Officer”
‘Nambu’
pistol in one hand, samurai sword in the other this officer leads his men from
the front.
JN028 “Advancing Japanese Soldier”
Moving forward clutching his “Arisaka 99” rifle this Japanese infantryman
is already tough and battle-hardened after years of fighting in China ...
JN029 “Advancing Firing Rifle”
Another Japanese soldier takes careful aim.
JN030 “Charging Flagbearer”
This infantry NCO has attached a small,
personal “good luck” banner to his rifle as he advances on the enemy.
JN031 “Kneeling Firing”
This kneeling soldier also carries a small
satchel of his field rations over one shoulder. The Japanese infantry
were expected to “live off the Land” for most of their food carrying
only the minimum of army-issued rations.
JN032 “Type 89 Grenade Discharger”
The Type 89 was colloquially known as a “Knee Mortar”
and was a short-range weapon used for close-in infantry combat in urban as
well as jungle warfare. Our crawling Japanese Infantryman moves closer to
the enemy in order to get maximum results.
JN037 “Crouching Soldier”
With rifle and bayonet this infantryman
moves cautiously forward.
JN038 “Fight To The Death!”
A vicious hand-to-hand
combat between a Japanese soldier and his British / Australian / Canadian
opponent.
JN040 “Type 95 ‘Ha-Go’ Light Tank”
The Imperial Japanese Army first used this
Light Tank during the Sino Japanese War of the mid 1930’s.
It was intended to be an infantry support tank and never designed to fight
other tanks.
Mounting a 37mm main gun and 2x7.7mm
machine guns it carried a crew of 3 and saw extensive action during the Malayan
campaign.
This first-released version comes in typical
Japanese camouflage ... with an open-hatch turret and a Tank commander
figure. Just 2,300 were built in 9 different variants.
AVAILABLE: Mid August
f) “AT
EASE ...”
WS326 “Smoke Break”
For a brief moment
the fighting has stopped and this Waffen
SS soldier takes the time for a quick cigarette.
AVAILABLE: Mid August
g) “RETURN
TO ARNHEM”
Every August and
September each year K&C returns to the battle which took place in and
around this Dutch town between 17-26 September 1944.
As one of our best known
series we have told, in miniature, many different aspects of the battle as it enfolded
during those desperate days in the Autumn of 1944.
Here, we show some of the British 1st Airborne
soldiers that have been captured by the Germans ...
MG067 “Arnhem
Road Sign”
Based on an actual photo
this little sign makes a very useful diorama / display piece.
MG068 “Under
New Ownership”
A captured Airborne Jeep
driven by a German soldier ferries 2 x slightly
wounded Paras back to a P.O.W. cage.
In the front passenger seat seats a watchful guard.*
MG070 “Walking
Wounded”
A bloodied Glider Pilot
sergeant makes his way into German captivity.
MG071 “Surrender
& Search”
Every captured soldier has
to empty his pockets and hand it all to his captors for inspection ... Another Glider
Pilot goes “into the bag”.
MG072 “Marching Into
Captivity”
Out of ammunition ... food ... water ... and luck! This Para, hands on head, is
marched to the rear accompanied by his Waffen SS
captor.
MG073 “Comparing Notes”
A Wehrmacht officer
shows his map to an NCO to find out where exactly the enemy is
...
ABAILABLE: ALL MG sets Mid
to Late August
*”Under New Ownership” Jeep Late August / Early September
h)
“ROBIN & HIS MERRIE MEN”
From Arnhem in Holland to
Sherwood Forest by way of Nottingham Castle in one swift jump!
RH012 “Will Stutely”
Another
of Robin’s Merrie Men ... this time stringing his long bow.
RH013 “Arthur a Bland”
Arthur was caught
red-handed by the Sheriff’s men poaching one of the King’s deer (a hanging
offence in those days).
Fortunately he managed to escape and found refuge and safety in Sherwood
Forest.
RH014 “Robin in
Disguise”
One of the most-told tales of
the legendary Robin was when, in disguise as a poor tinker, he took part in (and
won) an archery contest sponsored by the Sheriff of Nottingham
.... Here, Robin, with not a bit of “Lincoln Green” about him,
prepares to take a shot at the target.
RH019 “Archery Targets”
A pair of
straw-filled targets supported by simple wooden stands await the contestants’ arrows.
ABAILABLE: Mid-Late August
i)
New Versions of Old Favorites
A fresh new look to
some still popular figures and sets ...
HK252 “The Wonton Seller”
Wonton soup and noodles is still a firm favorite with Hong Kong
people ... a Century before Wonton sellers had portable street stands to offer
their delicious, hot bowlfuls to passing customers.
HK253 “Mother &
Child”
Even just 30 years ago you could
still see some Hong Kong mothers carry their infant offspring on their backs as
they went about their daily business.
HK263 “The New
Sedan-Chair Set”
Up until the 1930’s sedan
chairs and their passengers were a familiar sight on the streets of Hong Kong
... Now long gone alas.
WS324 “Spoils of War”
A young piglet is carried off by a Wehrmacht
soldier ... Alas for the pig it is not destined to become a pet!
WS327 “The Apple Thief”
This Wehrmacht soldier has come across a box
full of apples ... Perhaps they fell off the back of a truck
...?
AVAILABLE: Early August
2.
BEING RETIRED ...
As the new comes
in some of the older items have to go out ...
Item
Description
BBG051 The
Sniper
DD106 The Big Three
DD186 Kneeling
w/Rifle & Bayonet
DD187 Kneeling
Pointing
DD219 Walking 101st Airborne Paratrooper
DD224 M3A3
Stuart
FW156 The Rescue
MK129 Kneeling
Firing Crossbow
NA289 Drummer
Boy w/Sword
RA016 Shouting
Red Army Officer
RA017 Red Army
Soldier Charging
RA018 Red Army
Soldier Firing from Waist
RAF044 Air Marshal
Sir Arthur “Bomber” Harris
TRW065 The
Last Bullet
WH002 “Medic &
Wounded”
And that my friends is that for one more month ... I hope there’s at
least a few things for you in there.
All the Best and ... Happy Collecting!
Andy C. Neilson
Co-founder & Creative Director
King & Country